Security Window Films Can Help Business Owners to Prevent Break-Ins

Windows fulfill a lot of different functions for a building. One of their most important is allowing people to see, live, and work indoors during the day, without needing to resort to using electrical lighting systems. Another is allowing the heat of the sun to warm up a room during the winter, taking some of the burden off of HVAC systems concerning environmental maintenance.

But for all the things that windows do for a building, it comes at a cost: windows can be a point of vulnerability. When a brick or a baseball is thrown at a wall, it won’t do much. But if something strikes a window, it can break that window. And if the window is broken, then it’s also created an improvised point of access from which a thief can gain entry into a building. Is there anything you can do to your windows to prevent unauthorized entry?

Aside from bars, which have their own concerns to deal with, another alternative are security window films. But what is a security window film, and what can it do for you?

Security Window Films Are Not Like Other Films

The idea of applying a film to a window is nothing new. Usually, when someone decides to use film on a window, they do so for comfort or energy efficiency reasons, such as reducing ultra-violet radiation exposure or the glare of the sun, to make it easier for screens to be seen without having to draw the blinds.

But security or safety window film serves a much more intensive purpose. As the name implies, this type of film is for window security, and it is designed to reinforce and protect the window, as well as the contents that may be just beyond it.

How Safety Window Films Work

Security film installation usually occurs on the inside of the window, though there are exceptions to this, such as security window film explicitly installed to prevent graffiti. The substance used for more protective security or safety window film is layers of polyester film laminated together through the use of special adhesives. These layers are more flexible and shock absorbent than the much more brittle glass they are applied to and lend those properties to the surface of the glass.

Security window films varies in thickness depending on the characteristics sought for the film. The thickness is usually measured in millimeters or microns, with the average depth being between 8-14 mm. This type of window protection film is hardly a new concept, though these days it is affordable enough that any business or homeowner willing to pay for installation can get window security film. In the past, anti-break glass film was used primarily on embassies abroad to help protect against attacks. If your building contains valuables or has been broken into in the past, this kind of film might be best for you.

Different Functions

While security films are designed for window protection, there are many different ways that this can be accomplished, depending on your needs. Concerning appearance, security window films can, if desired, change the way a window looks. As with other films, they can be tinted to reduce glare, or they can be glazed to display a different color. They can even be frosted if the desire is for light to come in but details on the inside to be obscured.

The safety window film can even be one-way in viewing, so only people within the structure can look out and see the environment while people on the outside see only a reflective surface. Of course, the traditional two-way viewing experience is also available for people who want clear views on either side of the window.
How They Help

Security window films can assist businesses in maintaining a safe environment in a number of ways.

Reinforcement

One primary function is to strengthen the structural integrity of the window itself. Security window films can blunt hard impacts or even explosions. This type of protection comes in various grades, depending on the needs of the building. If an attempt to damage a window occurs during the day, while people are present, this can be a valuable form of protection not just for the glass but to prevent bricks or other objects from actually penetrating the building itself and hitting someone.

Shrapnel Prevention

Even if a window cracks and splinters due to a substantial impact, safety film acts as a “net,” preventing those fragments of shrapnel and sharpened glass from falling into a building and creating more of a hazard. That is not just a great security feature but a vital safety feature overall, ensuring that people behind the glass don’t get injured by fragments.

Discouraging Break-Ins

When security film obscures the inside of a building, it denies thieves a big incentive for breaking in. They can no longer see what type of valuables, equipment, or hardware are available. Few thieves want to risk a break-in and subsequent arrest based on a guess, so not letting them see “the goods” inside is an excellent way to make thieves think twice. With the proper treatment, a security window film also acts a screen, preventing anyone from seeing inside to look at equipment or see what employees are doing if their activities are sensitive and shouldn’t be viewed by others.

Deterrence

The majority of thieves are looking for a safe, easy target. The more difficult a potential target seems, the less likely it is going to be victimized by theft. The visible presence of things like security cameras and security window films all make for a more intimidating, risky target. So often, they “encourage” thieves to look elsewhere entirely for something with less chance of failure.

Enjoy More Security Today

If you think that your building would benefit from the added protection of security window films, then make sure that you get the job done right. Contact us today and send us your questions, concerns, or requests about security window films or anti-break glass films. We can guide you through the selection and see what your building would benefit from most, depending on your needs. Then you can enjoy a fast, efficient, thoroughly professional window film installation process.