Security

A building's most vulnerable part is its glazing. Windows, while architecturally necessary, expose building occupants to certain dangers. Burglars gain access to homes and offices through windows and glass doors. A detonated terrorist bomb will cause nearby glass to implode at high velocities in tiny shards. Flying debris from hurricanes can smash through a window and cause harm. 3M Safety & Security Window Film reduces these dangers.

3M security films are clear, invisible, and are applied to the inside of a glass door or window. If the glass were to break, it would most likely break in place without being spread all over the floor or ground.

Deterring Smash and Grab Crime
A homeowner's or retailer's worst fear is unwanted entry. Needing only a few seconds, burglars most often gain entry through a window or glass door. However, because 3M safety films hold glass in place, more time would be required for a robber to gain access into your home or office. Given that delay, the would-be thief is most likely to move to another target.

Click to see man smashing window.

Terrorism
Safety and Security Window Film, otherwise known as Fragment Retention Film, was credited for saving many lives during the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Glass nearby to an explosion may implode at high velocities in tiny shards, acting as daggers, and prove fatal to building occupants. In fact, this is the second highest cause of death in a terrorist attack next to the trampling effect whereby the floor above collapses.

In the event of a bomb blast, the possibility of the entire glass pane being blown inward is greater after the installation of 3M window film. This is still safer than glass imploding in tiny shards. However, the use of an attachment system decreases this likelihood.

An attachment system's main purpose is to anchor the film and glass to the window's frame. There are two 3M attachment systems – Impact Protection Adhesive (IPA) and Impact Protection Profile (IPP).

The IPA requires a bead of 3M Structural Silicone Adhesive to be applied to the entire perimeter of the glass. In most cases, the window gasket is trimmed or eliminated and the caulk bead takes its place and provides the necessary insulation. This attachment system often goes unnoticed by observers.

The IPP is a structural rubber gasket whereby one side is anchored to the window’s frame and the other side is anchored to the glass. 3M Very High Bond (VHB) tape is used for the anchoring.

3M Fragment Retention Films have been tested to Federal Government and GSA Security Criteria Standards. This testing showed that the threat of injury due to flying glass is greatly lowered after the installation of 3M window film.

Blast Protection Standards and Independent Testing
Several years ago, the General Services Administration (GSA) mandated a universal standard for measuring the level of blast protection. The GSA developed criteria for evaluation of acceptable levels of protection for the glass fragment hazard. This criteria is part of the comprehensive security criteria (GSA Security Criteria, Final Working Version, January 1997) developed by the GSA which includes physical security, electronic security, and many other criteria for blast considerations. The GSA has indicated a preference, but not a requirement, for open-air high explosive testing rather than shock tube testing. This is because current shock tube testing methods cannot adequately emulate air blast waveforms from real explosions and tend to be over-energetic at the same peak blast pressure level versus real explosions.*

*Some text taken from independent testing firm, Applied Research Associates, Inc., 1/98

GSA Protection Standards

Major Findings
This test series showed that the 3M’s Ultra series of security window films provides significant benefit in mitigating window glass fragment environments in blast. Per the GSA criteria, the 4 mil ULTRA S400 (.004 inches) and the 6 mil ULTRA S600 (.006 inches) 3M films performed to the required levels for many of the configurations tested. Both products performed well up to blast pressures as high as 9 psi. Many configurations tested performed to the required level of protection for GSA Level D buildings at the maximum design load - up to 15 psi and an impulse

In its strongest configuration, 3M’s ULTRA S600 (with the IPA and IPP on Annealed IG units) achieved a Very High protection level and a Condition 3B on the GSA rating scale when tested at theequivalent of 200 kg of TNT with a standoff distance of 97 feet, an impulse of 89 psi-msec, and a peak pressure of 17 psi.

Click to see how glass behaves during a bomb blast.

Hurricanes
Coastal areas are subject to natural windstorms such as hurricanes and tornadoes. These high winds propel miscellaneous debris at high speeds. Many times this debris can come through a home's or office's window and threaten the safety of those inside.

Because 3M Safety & Security Window Films help to hold glass in place, building occupants are now safer. These films have been tested to Miami-Dade standards and have passed the small missile impact test.

Click to see hurricane testing.