EN 1063


EN 1063, or CEN 1063, is a security glazing standard created by the European Committee for Standardization for measuring the protective strength of bullet-resistant glass. It is commonly used in conjunction with EN 1522 to form a ballistic classification system by which armored vehicles and structures are tested and rated. A similar classification system primarily used in the United States is NIJ Standard 0108, the U.S. National Institute of Justice's Standard for Ballistic Resistant Protective Materials which includes glass and armor plate.

Threat Levels

The protective strength of a glazed shielding is rated based on the type of munitions, or threat level, it is capable of withstanding. There are 7 main standard threat levels: BR1-BR7, each corresponding to a different type of small arms fire. Additionally, there are two other threat levels corresponding to shotgun munitions.
To be given a particular rating, the glazing must stop the bullet for the specified number of strikes, with multiple strikes placed within 120mm of each other. The glazing should also be shatterproof and produce no spalls after each strike. Lastly, the classification levels are numbered in order of increasing protective strength. Thus any sample complying with the requirements of one class also complies with the requirements of previous classes. However, the SG classes do not necessarily comply with BR classes.
The precise test requirements and bullet types used are as follows:
ClassWeaponCaliberTypeWeight Range Velocity Impact EnergyShots
BR1Handgun/Rifle.22 LRLB/RN2,6 ± 0,110,00 ± 0,5360 ± 10170 J3
BR2Handgun9×19mm ParabellumFJ/RN/SC8,0 ± 0,15,00 ± 0,5400 ± 10640 J3
BR3Handgun.357 MagnumFJ/CB/SC10,2 ± 0,15,00 ± 0,5430 ± 10940 J3
BR4Handgun.44 MagnumFJ/FN/SC15,6 ± 0,15,00 ± 0,5440 ± 101510 J3
BR5Rifle5.56×45mm NATOFJ/PB/SCP4,0 ± 0,110,00 ± 0,5950 ± 101800 J3
BR6Rifle7.62×51mm NATOFJ/PB/SC9,5 ± 0,110,00 ± 0,5830 ± 103270 J3
BR7Rifle7.62×51mm NATOFJ/PB/HC9,8 ± 0,110,00 ± 0,5820 ± 103290 J3

LB - Lead Bullet

FJ - Full Metal Jacket

FN - Flat Nose

RN - Round Nose

CB - Cone Bullet

PB - Pointed Bullet

SC - Soft Core

SCP - Soft Core & Steel Penetrator

HC - Hard core, steel hardness > 63 HRC