How 3M Security Window Film can help protect both people and property
The Sandy Hook School Shooting That Sparked Outrage
On December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, United States, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As a result of that horrific event The Federal Commission on School Safety and the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission report both recommend security window film for schools. Following the Uvalde tragedy, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) mandated safety and security window film in schools. https://www.nctsn.org/resources/final-report-of-the-sandy-hook-advisory-commission
The Nashville School Shooting Revealed Glass Door and Window Vulnerabilities
In March, an armed assailant breached the campus of the Covenant School, a private academy in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, and killed three students and three staff members.
The shooter was identified as Audrey E. Hale, a 28-year-old former student of the school who lived in the area and was being treated for an emotional disorder. The assailant was killed by the police minutes after they arrived at the scene.
Security camera footage from the Nashville school shooting tragedy clearly shows the weakness of unprotected glass windows and doors. The perpetrator shot the glass and entered the building within seconds (the same way the Sandy Hook shooter gained access). Had the glass been hardened with security window film or another glazing security product, the perpetrator would have been delayed by several minutes, allowing precious time for first responders to arrive – potentially saving lives.
Why security film is a necessary precaution
DELAY ENTRY AND INCREASE RESPONSE TIME
Window security film is made up of one or more layers of polyester film that has been laminated together with unique adhesives. They can range in thickness from 4 mils to 15 mils or higher. Generally, the thicker the film, the more durable and less likely it is to be broken, torn, or punctured. Due to its construction Security window film has been shown to delay entry by up to six minutes. This prevents perpetrators from gaining immediate access building and this provides additional time to initiate emergency response plans and first responders to arrive at the scene.
YOU CAN NOT TARGET WHAT YOU CAN NOT SEE
Privacy can be life saving, and 3M security film can offer both glass strengthening and privacy at the same time. By limiting the visibility of potential targets, shooters cannot identify targets. This benefit can serve as a major deterrent to a single-minded individual who means to do harm with a firearm.
CONTAIN SPALL
Whether from a bomb blast, windstorm, gunshot, or human impact, glass will shatter with the right amount of force. This shattering creates “spall”: flying pieces of glass that can cause great harm to anyone nearby. Serving as a containment system, security window film prevents spall from becoming harmful projectiles flying through the air.
HOW DOES 3M SECURITY FILM WORK?
Take crime prevention to a new level.
Whether you’re in a big city or a small town, thieves can victimize your business and go after easy smash-and-grab targets — making your glass doors and ground floor windows vulnerable. 3M™ Safety & Security Window Films and 3M™ Impact Protection Attachment Systems make it more difficult to get through your windows, helping to reduce your losses during smash-and-grab crimes.
- Help protect people and property
- Keep the welcoming appearance of your property without adding bars or other physical barriers
- Thicker adhesive helps hold broken glass together, hindering break-and-enter crimes
- Tear-resistance offers excellent performance over standard films
- Help protect against broken glass shards and unlawful entry
3M ULTRA SERIES SAFETY AND SECURITY FILM
Excellent tear-resistant protection and superior solar control with 3M™ Scotchshield™ Safety & Security Window Film Ultra Prestige Series.
- Combines the benefits of 3M™ Ultra Series with the benefits of 3M™ Prestige Series Window Film
- Tear resistant glass fragment retention film for increased protection of people, property and possessions
- Can be combined with 3M™ Impact Protection Attachment System for additional safety and security
- High visual light transmission providing excellent aesthetics
- Up to 97% infrared rejection providing energy savings and enhanced comfort*
- Low interior and exterior reflectivity enhances views while maintaining exterior appearance
- Helps extend the life of furnishings by significantly reducing harmful UV rays, the largest cause of fading
- Comprehensive warranty from 3M
who benefits from security film?
Office Buildings
- Protect assets and data
- Benefit from easy application — even over existing glazing
- Save money over replacing all windows and doors with glass
Hotels
- Fortify all-glass doors
- Added security for glass entryways and lobby areas
Retail
- Help deter smash-and-grab burglaries
- Help protect against vandalism
Healthcare
- Help guard against active shooter events
- Benefit from easy application — even over existing glazing
- Save money over replacing all windows and doors with glass
Government
- Help protect against bomb blasts
- Help protect offices, buildings, training facilities and embassies
Schools
- Help guard against active shooter events
- Benefit from easy application — even over existing glazing
- Save money over replacing all windows and doors with glass
The Myths and Facts About
Safety and Security Film
We want you to have clear expectations when installing this type of window film for your commercial business. Since we often find there is a misunderstanding about the characteristics and uses of safety and security window film, we feel it’s important to educate our clients about the facts, so let’s explore some common myths regarding safety and security window film.
MYTH: It is installed to prevent theft and intruders from entering a business.
FACT: Safety and security window film will not prevent someone that wants to enter a property from entering. It is, however, designed to slow an intruder down and make it more difficult to get through the glass. This hopefully allows more time for you to react by calling the police, etc. If someone is perseverant enough, they will still enter a property regardless of safety and security window film.
MYTH: It is bulletproof.
FACT: Safety and security film is not bulletproof. It does, however, help hold glass pieces and fragments after the impact from a bullet. Bullets will still penetrate through the film and glass, and no window film manufacturer can make a certifiable claim that this product will stop bullets.
MYTH: It is a primary defense.
FACT: You might be thinking that security film is a good substitute for an alarm system or other security devices, but that’s not true. While it does make it harder for the glass to be broken and your property to be breached, it’s not completely secure. Safety and security film is not a primary defense and should be used in conjunction with other business safety systems/deterrents. For instance, you should also make sure that your doors are locked when you’re away or asleep, and you have a security system and lights installed to ward off intruders.
MYTH: It should be installed on every window.
FACT: We recommend only adding safety and security window film at main points of access to your property including glass doors and sidelights around your doors/entry. While we could profit by installing it on every window of your property (and people have asked us) we feel it’s important to be open and honest with our customers and only sell them what we believe to be beneficial. There is no need to spend the money to put it on every window unless you have evidence to the contrary. We want you to be an informed customer and to earn your trust that we will not sell you something that won’t do what you think it does or something that you do not need.
