Laminated polycarbonate composite product reinforces school district entryway, helping to protect from forced entry

PITTSBURGH, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- School safety is now a common consideration for educational facilities throughout the country. Procedures are often in place to address potential threats and situations, and proactive precautions are taken. One Massachusetts school district employed tactics including locking facility doors and installing security cameras, but a weak point of entry remained – the glass windows and door insets.

To address this vulnerability at the school administrative office's entryway, the school district sought to replace the existing one-inch insulated glazing units with tempered inner glass insets in the doors and sidelights. Several alternative solutions – including limited glass and safety window films to 'harden' the district entryway – did not offer the level of protection the district wanted.

A specially designed composite laminate with Makrolon® polycarbonate sheet was the district's chosen solution. It is a laminated product consisting of outer layers of glass with a custom security-strengthened substrate core. The strengthened core is enhanced by Makrolon® polycarbonate sheet's exceptional durability, strength and impact resistance.

Makrolon® sheet composites offer simple, cost-effective and proven solutions to help eliminate the threat of unwanted, forced entry. "We often work with the community, and the response we received from the school was very positive," said Thomas Niziolek, architectural segment manager – semi-finished sheet products, North America, Bayer MaterialScience LLC. "They were pleased to gain added security and peace of mind from the new material without affecting the aesthetics of the building or impacting the entry door operability or security cameras that are also integrated into the entryway."

About Bayer MaterialScience:
With 2014 sales of EUR 11.7 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world's largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and sports and leisure industries. Bayer MaterialScience has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 14,200 people at the end of 2014. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company. Sustainability is central to the company's business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

Contact:
Cindy Race, Phone: 413-528-7812
Email: [email protected]
General media inquiries can be directed to 412-777-5200.

For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC Makrolon® polycarbonate sheet products, call 1-800-628-5084 or visit www.sheffieldplastics.com. 

For more information about School Guard Glass, call 1-844-SGGLASS, or visit http://schoolguardglass.com/.

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This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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SOURCE Bayer MaterialScience LLC