Increase in Demand for Insulating and Security Window Films
by Peter Davey
Front entry security / courtesy American Window Film, Inc.
September has arrived brilliantly! Autumn leaves, orange school buses, and chill winds whisper winter’s approach. Northeast school administrators hunker down with security and energy-efficiency plans for their facilities — remaining mindful of safety first, yet tempered with fiscal responsibility. Undoubtedly an indicator of our collective mindset for mitigation and conservation, security and insulating window films have steadily increased in demand and have proven their worth in the field. They are effective, efficient, and far less costly than window replacement. A quick, clean, professional installation creates little disruption to business-as-usual.
Mitigation: Safety And Security Window Films. Whether catastrophic events including violent weather, bomb blasts, vandalism, and break-ins or the simple misdirected football — glass breakage can cause damage, injury, and disruption. Safety and security films hold glass in place, mitigating the destruction left in the aftermath of such events. By holding glass in place, they minimize damage and injuries caused by flying glass shards and exposure to wind, rain, and vandalism.
No longer does the thickness of a security film necessarily relate to its strength. Currently on the market are highly engineered, very thin safety and security films that utilize nano-technology — giving them a wider margin of safety and increased strength. These micro-thin, alternating layers of polyester films that enhance tensile strength and elongation are consistently outperforming lesser engineered films of similar thickness. Where some films might tear, these high-tech films stretch — keeping the film in the frame even when glass breaks.
Security window films are designed to deter break-and-entry. The time it takes to penetrate a security film installation depends upon multiple factors including glass type, film type, film strength, and its impact protection attachment system — such as a wet glaze or flexible mechanical systems.
Although an intruder may eventually break through safety filmed glass, the intruder is dramatically slowed down and often moves on in frustration. Meanwhile, alarms may have sounded and emergency responders are likely on their way.1
Conservation: Insulating Window Films. Certainly, the need to conserve energy has become common knowledge. However, new technologies to improve conservation and government incentives to implement them require some research to discover. Among other incentives, on July 15, 2016, the Department of Energy announced that it is investing $19 million “to improve the efficiency of our nation’s homes, offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants and stores,” and also noted that buildings account for “more than 40% of our country’s energy demand and greenhouse emissions.” Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz suggested that specific technologically innovative projects — including the reduction of energy losses through the building envelope — would help bring us toward the goal to reduce energy consumption in U.S. buildings by 30% by 2030. 2
A professional installation of quality insulating window film is a cost-effective measure that will immediately reduce heat gain in warm months and heat loss in cold months — paying for itself in short order. The return-on-investment can be appreciated in three years conservatively and often in less. Some highly engineered climate control films manage multiple types of heat. These insulating window films include both sun control (solar spectrum) and low e (radiant heat) control benefits. They effectively reduce the solar energy entering a building and are additionally engineered to help prevent the transfer of radiant heat from one side of window glass to the other. Doubling down on benefits, these films are particularly beneficial for our Northeast climate —making them a New England touchdown . . . Go Pats!
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1 “Security Film Attempted Break In,” video of break-in thwarted by security film (http://americanwindowfilm.com/videos).
2 Blog & News, July 16, 2016, “Energy Department Invests $19 Million to Improve Efficiency of Nation’s Buildings,” energy.gov (http://energy.gov/articles/energy-department-invests-19-million-improve-efficiency-nation-s-buildings).
Peter J. Davey is president of American Window Film, Inc.
Peter Davey
