Window film has become a pretty widely accepted solution across Aussie homes, offices and industrial buildings especially now we’re getting more worried about energy efficiency, people’s safety and taking care of our property assets. However, window security film and traditional window tint are all too often lumped in together and seen as being interchangeable products even though they are used for entirely different things. Traditional tint is basically designed to block out some of that hot sun and reduce glare and UV rays. Security film on the other hand is all about keeping the glass from shattering in the first place and if it does, holding bits of glass together so no one gets hurt.
Getting the right product is pretty important because choosing the wrong one is just going to waste your money & won’t give you the protection you need. Doing some research shows up some pretty big differences between security window film & traditional window tint when it comes to construction, how well they perform, how long they last, and what kind of value they give you in the long run.
Different Engineering Objectives
The main difference between security window film & traditional window tint is what they were made to do in the first place. Traditional tint is all about making your home or office a bit cooler by blocking out the sun’s heat and glare. Studies have shown that the right kind of sun control film can make a real difference to how warm your place is in the summer and cut back on your cooling costs. On the other hand, security films are all about stopping the glass from breaking and keeping the bits from flying everywhere.
Most security films are a bit thicker than your standard window tint. Usually between 4 & 15 mil, whereas your average standard tint would be just 1 to 2 mil. The extra layers & stronger glue mean security films can absorb a lot more impact & are less likely to tear. This is especially important for Aussie businesses with big glass frontages like shopping malls or office buildings where security is getting to be a bigger & bigger problem. Places looking at solutions like commercial window tinting Melbourne might stumble across both products. It’s easy to overlook the main difference in what they’re meant to do.
Impact Resistance and Break-In Protection
Standard window tint doesn’t do any good at all when it comes to stopping glass from breaking. Once the glass shatters the tint’s pretty useless. Security film on the other hand is designed to keep the broken glass stuck together and slow the guy trying to get through.
Testing has shown that a good security film installed correctly can slow down burglars getting through a window by a fair bit. Some of these systems use films between 8 & 14 mil thick & are attached to the frame to make it a bit harder for the baddies to break in. Security experts say that slowing these guys down is one of the best ways to stop them because a lot of break-ins get abandoned when people can’t get in easily.
Energy Efficiency Performance
When it comes to saving energy, standard window tint beats security film hands down. These solar control films are designed to block heat from the sun while still letting you see out. Some of the better ones can block 99% of the bad UV radiation and really cut back on how hot your place gets in the first place.
Safety During Accidents & Severe Weather
Glass injuries are a major worry in shopping centres and public buildings. The truth is that basic tint doesn’t do much to protect anyone once the glass breaks. Security film on the other hand is specifically designed to keep the shattered bits from flying everywhere.
It’s worth noting that in the event of a storm, an unexpected hammer to the window or a case of vandalism this is particularly important. Our suppliers in Australia say that these extra-strength films do a pretty good job of keeping the glass intact even after it’s shattered, which reduces the risk of being hurt. In most cases, the broken pane will still be held together by the film long enough for people to get out safely, or for the pane to be replaced. All of this makes security film a pretty valuable thing in places like schools, hospitals, shopping malls and government offices where getting people out safely is the top priority.
Cost, Longevity, and Making the Most of Your Money
Installing security film does cost a bit more upfront mainly because you need to use thicker, more complicated materials and the installers need a bit more training. If you’re also getting a frame anchoring system in then that adds to the bill to start with. But don’t just look at how much it costs to put in. Think about all the other things you might be spending money on.
Professional security films have a good 10-20 year lifespan if they’re put in properly. Basic tint might cut your energy bills and save you money on aircon costs but security film can help you save money too by stopping the damage that happens when someone smashes a window, or steals something from your shop. If a business is burgled even just once it can lose a lot more money than it saved by not getting the security film in the first place.
