Project Description
- Category
- Bullet Proof Furniture
Facing the Reality of School Shootings
As every parent surely knows, the tragedy of school shootings is an all-too-common occurrence in today’s world. Even one such incident is too many but think about another number: 312. There have been 312 school shootings in the United States since 2013.
Clearly, finding a way to prevent gun violence in schools is a top national priority. However, until that solution presents itself, schools have a responsibility to find and implement ways to keeps students safe today.
Thankfully, there are products on the market that can make schools safer, products such as the bulletproof desk by Creative Industries.
Designed with Schools in Mind
As a matter of fact, the idea for the bulletproof desk came from a school teacher, the wife of company co-founder Mike Clark. Based on her concept, the safety experts at Creative Industries created a product designed to offer a high level of protection while looking right at home in a classroom setting.
How It’s Made
To maximize versatility and affordability, designers started with a standard school desk and added two pieces of bullet-resistant fiberglass to the front. According to laboratory tests, the fiberglass used on the desk is thick enough to stop a .44 bullet at close range.
After the fiberglass is installed, the front and top are laminated with a plastic coating to add another layer of protection. The final step is to cover these specialized surfaces with Formica so they appear just like another piece of school furniture.
By adding bullet-stopping protection to the front and top, the desk becomes an ideal place to seek cover and shelter in the event of a live shooter emergency in a school.
Dual Protection: Cover and Concealment
Due to its flexible design, the table can serve as both a protective shield as well as a place to hide. Students or teachers can easily turn the desk over and kneel behind it for protection both from the front and above.
Creative Industries has plans to develop a version of the desk that can be pushed on its end to block the door to prevent entry from an intruder during an emergency.
It’s About Saving Lives
“My wife had the idea, and our capable team brought it to life,” said Clark. “CI is known for our bullet resistant windows, so when this opportunity presented itself, we were happy to jump in and help. At the end of the day, it’s about saving lives.”