Safety and Security Window Film

Safety and Security

window films hold glass in place during catastrophic events, such as terrorist attacks, inadvertent bomb blasts and foul weather. Increasingly, government and commercial building owners are protecting their glass with the installation of these films.

For more than 30 years, Commercial Window Shield has been the country’s leader in glass protection. Our installation work can be found on a number of the country’s most significant buildings.
Watch the short video to your left to see how security film works.

Security window films

are designed to increase the shatter resistance of glass. They are similar to solar control window films as they are polyester laminates, but they are usually thicker ranging from 4 to 21 mils. A heavier, more substantial adhesive system also is used to affix the film to the glass.
Safety and security films can be clear or tinted to include a solar control component. These dual purpose films increase glass strength, help reduce utility costs and make the building more comfortable.

 

Oklahoma City Bombing Spurs Security Film Development

On April 15, 1995 a bomb planted by Timothy McVeigh in a rental truck detonated in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The bomb blast killed 168 people and injured 680.

A number of those killed and many of the injured were the result of flying glass shards from the federal building and buildings located blocks away. [See diagram to the right for federal building location and impact of flying glass shards in multiple nearby buildings.]

As a result of this horrific incident, film companies began developing security films that, when properly installed, keep glass in place during catastrophic terrorist and weather events.  Commercial Window Shield has become one of the country’s leading experts in the installation of safety and security window films, beginning shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing.

Security Film FAQ

Safety and security window films offer considerable protection against terrorist and catastrophic weather events by holding window glass in place at all times.

They are applied to the interior of building windows using an adhesive. Sometimes a special attachment system is used, which guarantees a more secure window.

Considering the cost ramifications from a catastrophic event in which a building’s glass is blown out, injuring and possibly killing building tenants, the cost of security window film in minimal. Additionally, you can add a solar control component to any security window film which saves energy costs and offers a payback alternative that can negate the cost of the film over a number of years.

On April 15, 1995 a bomb planted by Timothy McVeigh in a rental truck detonated in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The bomb blast killed 168 people and injured 680. A number of those killed and many of the injured were the result of flying glass shards from the federal building and buildings located blocks away. Security window films were developed soon after and have proved to be a tremendous success due to their shatter resistant capabilities.

Fragment retention window film is another term for security window film. Most often it’s used by the federal government in project specs involving the installation of security window film. Another commonly used term for security window film is shatter resistant window film.

The intention of the security window film is to hold the glass in place in the event of a bombing, gas explosion or foul weather event. But the security window film by itself won’t keep the window frame in place. By affixing the film to the frame with a wet glaze attachment system, you are protecting both the glass and the window frame.

After an increase in school invasions by armed intruders, the installation of security window film on all first-floor windows, doorways and other entry points became a critical part of the school system’s overall security plan.