Securing Your Glass

Security film or shatter resistant film has gained more notoriety over the past few years due to it’s various uses.  Shatter resistant film, sometimes called glass fragment retention film is an optically clear, multilayer, polyester film that bonds to the inside of the window to reinforce the glass and help hold it in place upon impact. Stores, home and even schools are seeing an increase in break-ins and violent acts making security film another precaution to consider. To read more about our security film in schools, CLICK HERE.  Another use of security film, one that is often overlooked, is it’s application to annealed glass. 

Safety/security film applied to annealed glass can meet safety glazing standards that are in place. In the early 1970’s, the U.S. Government initiated legislative action to establish commercial building codes, requiring the installation of tempered glass in glazing systems exposed to high injury risk; such as doors of all types, glass partitions, etc. Not too long after, similar codes would be extended to residential buildings and glazing systems.  The reason for the change in legislation was due to the way the glass broke.  Annealed glass is cooled slowly, producing a strong glass but not as strong as tempered glass.  When annealed glass breaks, it breaks into various sizes that can be harmful to a person.  Tempered glass is cooled quickly during the manufacturing process and when broken, it shatters into small pieces, making it safer should impact occur.

If an annealed glass pane needs to be changed to a tempered pane, the cost to replace it would be over $600 dollars.  Applying security film to annealed glass would cost half the amount of complete replacement. When safety/security film is applied to annealed glass, it will meet the safety glazing standards that are in place.  Saving money by not replacing the glass is not the only benefit of applying security film to your windows.  Security and safety film offers solar and UV protection as well as glare reduction. The advantages to this film outweigh the stress of a complete glass replacement and is a great substitute to meet safety glazing standards.

With All American Window Tinting, Inc., (AAWT) we will be sure to meet or exceed all expectations without breaking your bank! Call us today at 303-936-1362 to schedule your free onsite, in home or in office estimate! We look forward to servicing all your window film needs.