Facts About Safety & Security Window Film

Security Film

Security films are thicker and stronger than safety film.  Generally, the minimum thickness for a security film is 4 mils.  the most common security films in use today are in the 4 to 10 mil range, although security films are commonly available up to 15 mils thick.

Security films are capable of protecting against much more violent circumstances like burglaries and terrorist bombings that safety films cannot.

Security films are not bullet-proof nor are they a guarantee of absolute security. 
If someone is determined, they will get in.  If the bomb is large enough or close enough, it will do damage.  But the odds of keeping out a burglar or surviving an explosion are greatly enhanced by applying a thick, strong layer of security film on your glass.

Solar Adds Some Safety

Installing solar film on your windows will increase window glass safety.  Since you have just glued a piece of plastic to the glass, it will hold the glass in place and protect against injury from broken glass... to a point.  Most solar window films are not considered safety films, but they do add a measure of safety to the glass.

For any film to be considered a safety film, it must pass basic impact testing that all safety glazing materials must pass.

The most common of these tests is a simple "ball drop" test.  In the first stage, a 150 lb. weight is dropped against the film/glass sample several times.  If the sample passes the test criteria, it is then submitted to the 400 lb. test.  Any film must be able to pass at least the 150 lb. portion of the test to be labeled a safety film.

Some 2 mil films and all 4 mil films on the market will pass the basic 150 lb. test.  There is only one 4 mil film on the market that passes the 400 lb. test, 3M Scotchshield Ultra 400.  With all other manufacturers, the minimum thickness needed to pass the 400 lb. test is 7 mils.

Double-click on the videos below to see our film go through an explosion of 500 pounds of TNT. (Note: There may be a short delay when starting or restarting the video.)

Glass coated with 3M Ultra 600 and attached to the frame