Clear Armed Bars: Securing Your Home without Sacrificing The View
Clear Armed Bars are transparent security bars manufactured from high-strength polycarbonate to help protect windows against forced entry while preserving natural light and outdoor views. They provide a modern alternative to traditional steel burglar bars by combining security with an unobtrusive appearance.
Key takeaways:
- Clear Armed Bars are made from UV-stabilised polycarbonate, the same category of impact-resistant material used in riot shields
- They preserve visibility and natural light in a way steel burglar bars can’t
- Custom manufactured to fit existing window and door frames, including timber, metal and wall mounting
- Can integrate with an existing alarm system via embedded wiring
- Suitable for both residential and commercial properties
- Low maintenance, requiring only occasional cleaning
- Professionally installed, with product options for various frame types
What Are Clear Armed Bars?
Clear Armed Bars are transparent security bars made from high-strength polycarbonate, a material also used in demanding applications like riot shields and aircraft components because of its impact resistance.
House of Supreme is an accredited installer of ViewProtect Armed Bars, and fits them directly to window frames, whether timber, metal or wall-mounted, either attached directly or via a specially designed extruded aluminium AluRail channel for a stronger, neater finish.
Unlike traditional steel bars, which are immediately visible from both inside and outside a property, Clear Armed Bars are designed to be discreet.
From a distance, most people won’t notice they’re there at all, which is the main reason homeowners choose them over conventional bars in the first place.
Benefits of Clear Armed Bars
The core benefit is straightforward: security without the visual trade-off. Traditional burglar bars block sightlines and can make a home feel enclosed; Clear Armed Bars maintain your outdoor view and let natural light in exactly as an open window would. This matters both for how a home feels day-to-day and for how it looks from the street.
Because they’re permanently installed, they also offer round-the-clock protection without requiring any daily action, unlike security shutters, which need to be closed to provide protection. You don’t need to remember to close anything before going to bed or heading out.
They also integrate with an existing home alarm system: embedded wiring in the bars connects to your alarm setup and can trigger an alert if a bar is cut or tampered with.
How Do Clear Armed Bars Work?
Each bar is fitted across the window opening, either directly onto the frame or via an AluRail fitment, which is an extruded aluminium channel that houses the polycarbonate bars for a stronger, cleaner installation.
Securing bars to AluRails rather than direct-fixing increases their strength by roughly 28%, since the channel adds rigidity along the full length of each bar. During installation, tension in the bars can be adjusted to suit the specific opening.
Where alarm integration is used, wires embedded within the bars connect to the existing system, so tampering with a bar triggers the same alert as any other breach point.
Where Can Clear Armed Bars Be Installed?
Clear Armed Bars work on most standard window openings and can be fitted to timber, metal or wall-mounted frames.
They suit homes, offices and retail spaces alike, particularly ground-floor windows and other vulnerable openings where you want strong protection without the fortress-like look of steel bars.
Because they’re custom manufactured, unusual window sizes and shapes can typically be accommodated.
Materials Used
Clear Armed Bars are manufactured from high-strength, UV-stabilised polycarbonate, the transparent equivalent of the impact-resistant plastics used in riot shields and aircraft windows.
UV stabilisation is what keeps the material clear over time rather than yellowing or clouding under South African sun exposure, though as with any plastic product, longevity depends on the specific formulation and environmental exposure.
The bars can be direct-fixed or mounted using an extruded aluminium AluRail system for added rigidity.
Clear Armed Bars vs Traditional Burglar Bars
| Feature | Clear Armed Bars | Steel Burglar Bars |
| Physical barrier | Strong, impact-resistant polycarbonate | Strong, solid steel |
| Visibility | Preserves outward view | Visibly obstructs view |
| Natural light | Unaffected | Reduced |
| Appearance | Discreet, modern | Traditional, visible |
| Corrosion resistance | Not applicable (non-metal) | Depends on coating and material |
| Alarm integration | Available via embedded wiring | Not standard |
Both options provide a genuine physical barrier against forced entry.
The real difference is how they change the feel of a space: steel bars send a visible, deliberate security signal, while Clear Armed Bars protect the same opening without the visual weight.
For homes where an open, unobstructed feel matters as much as security, Clear Armed Bars are usually the better fit. For businesses wanting security to be visibly obvious as a deterrent, traditional bars or security shutters may suit better.
Are Clear Armed Bars Strong?
Clear Armed Bars are manufactured from high-impact polycarbonate and engineered to provide a strong physical barrier against forced entry, with the AluRail mounting option adding roughly 28% more strength than direct-fixing alone.
As with any security product, no barrier is completely unbreakable, and there’s no independent, recognised certification specifically rating forced-entry resistance for bars of this kind in South Africa.
What can be said plainly is that impact-resistant polycarbonate, properly mounted and tensioned, presents a genuine obstacle that slows down and deters forced entry, which is the realistic goal of most residential security measures.
If a heavier level of protection is the priority for a specific opening, security shutters or security mesh screens are worth comparing, since both use different mechanisms (a sealed aluminium shutter versus tensioned steel mesh) to achieve forced-entry resistance.
House of Supreme is also a proud affiliate member of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA), a standard that speaks to the quality and design integrity behind our custom security installations.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Clear Armed Bars require minimal upkeep.
An occasional wipe-down with a soft cloth and mild soapy water keeps the polycarbonate clear and free of dust or grime build-up.
Avoid abrasive cleaners or scouring pads, which can scratch the surface and reduce transparency over time. Because the bars have no moving parts, there’s no hardware to lubricate or adjust the way there is with hinged or sliding security products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Clear Armed Bars made from?
Clear Armed Bars are manufactured from high-strength, UV-stabilised polycarbonate, combined with a secure mounting system either fixed directly to the frame or via an AluRail channel.
Are Clear Armed Bars as secure as steel burglar bars?
Both provide a genuine physical barrier against forced entry. Clear Armed Bars achieve this with impact-resistant polycarbonate rather than steel, and the right choice depends on your security priorities and whether visibility matters to you.
Do Clear Armed Bars turn yellow?
High-quality UV-stabilised polycarbonate is designed to resist yellowing and maintain clarity over time, though longevity depends on environmental exposure and product quality.
Can Clear Armed Bars be installed on existing windows?
Yes. They’re custom manufactured to suit the exact dimensions of existing window openings and can attach to timber, metal or wall-mounted frames.
Do Clear Armed Bars work with home alarm systems?
Yes. Embedded wiring within the bars can connect to your existing alarm system, triggering an alert if a bar is tampered with.
Are Clear Armed Bars suitable for businesses?
Yes. They’re used across residential, office and retail properties, particularly where a discreet security solution is preferred over visibly obvious bars.
Do you have more questions about our clear armed bars, or would you like to request a quote? Email info@houseofsupreme.co.za or call our head office on 011 462 7096 for help.
