There are a number of shatterproof window films available which are specifically designed to stop windows from breaking, or at least stop hold the broken glass from in place. The films are completely clear to the eye although can be combined with a solar tint which I will explain later. When glazing comes under impact it bends until a point where it can’t bend any further. The glass then smashes and can break into many shards. These shards are very sharp and can become very dangerous, causing injury and even death. When a shatterproof window film is installed it will increase the amount of stress that a piece of glass can take before it cracks. The main purpose of the film is to hold any shards of glass in place if the glass does break. If the glass comes under impact and smashes, the window will still crack but all these shards of glass will stay in place, held together by the shatterproof film.
There are a number of different thicknesses of anti shatter film available to cope with different varieties of impact. The thinnest version is 100 microns which is 4mil (or 4/1000th”). This is commonly referred to as a safety film as its main purpose is to hold glass together when under impact from someone falling into it or a stone or ball hitting the glass. It has been tested to BS6206 class B (BS EN12600 class 2) which is in line with Health and Safety in the Workplace 1992 Regulation 14; it effectively turns weak glass into the same standard as a safety glass without having to go through the disruption and cost of replacing the glass.
The most commonly used next thickness of film is either 175 micron which is 7 mil (7/1000th”) or 200 micron which is 8 mil (8/1000th”). These films are generally referred to as low level bomb blast protection films or security films. Their main design is to help to hold shards of glass in place when under impact from the effects of a bomb blast. The film isn’t deigned to take an immediate hit from a bomb blast but rather the shockwaves caused by it, these shockwaves can be felt some distance away from the actual blast and can cause the windows to smash. When fitting the film for this sort of purpose it’s important to look at the strength of the windows frames, it’s no good securing the glass but the frames are too weak to hold the glass in place, sometimes a product called Dow Corning 995 can be used, this is a structural sealant that can be used to secure the edge of the film to the frame to increase the strength. A survey should be under taken to ascertain the measures needed to fully protect the glazing; this can be carried out by a qualified health and safety advisor or window film company. Due to the strength of this shatterproof film it is also been used for security purposes. When fitted, it can help to secure the glazing against unwanted intruders. It can protect against a repeat attack with items such as a crow bar, brick or baseball bat and deter wannabe burglars, it’s not going to stop the most persistent intruder but it will help to slow and stop most.
The final type of shatterproof window film is the bomb blast window film which can be up as thick as 300 micron which is 12 mil (12/1000th”). As with the 175/200 micron version this offers protection against bomb blast devastation but due to the increased thickness it can take the impact of a bomb blast from much closer vicinity. A full survey should be under taken by a qualified company to check the glass and frames to make sure that the film will work as expected but under the correct conditions the film can take a direct impact from a bomb that is directly in front of the glazing. As the film is so thick as well it can be used for increased security, some people may see this type of film as over kill for this but it’s very efficient and, as it’s completely clear to the eye, it’s much less of an eye sore than security grilles.
Shatterproof window films are completely clear to the eye and have the added benefit of stopping 99% of the sun’s ultra violet rays (if using a good quality film). This means that the film can help to reduce the bleaching effect caused by the sun, so it’s ideal for shop window displays and home owners who require security and fade protection. The film can also be found combined with a solar tint such as reflective silver or smoked tint. These will also offer solar protection helping to reduce the suns heat, glare and UV rays.
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Is There a Type of Shatterproof Window Film That Can Be Applied to Stop Windows Breaking?
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