Short answer? Yes.
Long answer? It depends on what you expect it to do.
If you’re looking at security window film, you’re probably trying to solve one problem: glass is your weakest point. The question isn’t whether film works. The question is whether it works for your risk.
Let’s get specific.
The Purpose of Security Window Film
Security window film is not built to make glass invincible. It’s built to keep broken glass from giving up immediately.
When standard glass is hit hard enough, it fails fast. One solid strike and you’ve got an opening. Film changes that moment. The glass still cracks. It just doesn’t fall out right away.
That extra resistance is the point. It forces effort. It creates noise. It buys time.
How Security Window Film Is Tested
When evaluating security window film, performance should be tied to recognized testing standards.
Two commonly referenced standards include:
ASTM E1886 and ASTM E1996
These standards evaluate impact resistance and glass retention. In testing, a heavy piece of lumber is launched at the glass to simulate a severe blunt-force impact. The system is then subjected to repeated pressure cycles to determine whether it remains in place or forms an opening.
The purpose is to see whether the glazing fails immediately or continues to hold together after impact.
UL 972 – Burglary Resistant Glazing
This standard evaluates how glazing performs under repeated impact during forced-entry simulations. It focuses on whether the glass resists break-in attempts long enough to prevent quick access.
What these standards measure:
- Resistance to heavy impact
- Retention of broken glass
- Formation of pass-through openings
They do not guarantee a fixed delay time. They confirm whether the glazing system maintains integrity under controlled testing conditions.
For decision-makers, that distinction matters more than broad time estimates.
Where Film Makes a Measurable Difference
If your concern is opportunistic crime, security window film can make a real difference.
Smash-and-grab attempts rely on speed. Break, reach, grab, gone. When the glass holds together, that rhythm gets disrupted. The attacker now has to keep striking and physically tear the glass apart.
That hesitation alone stops some incidents.
It also performs well in:
- Retail storefronts
- Schools concerned about forced entry
- Office buildings with large glass facades
- Facilities upgrading security in phases
It’s not flashy. But it changes behavior under stress.
When Security Window Film Is Not Enough
Security window film is not ballistic glazing. It does not stop high-powered rifle rounds. It does not convert standard glass into bullet-resistant glass.
If your threat assessment includes ballistic risk or elevated security exposure, properly engineered ballistic glass systems should be evaluated instead.
Matching the protection level to the threat level is part of responsible risk management.
What Decision-Makers Should Evaluate Before Installing
Before moving forward, consider:
- Has the system been tested to recognize ASTM or UL standards?
- Is the film structurally anchored to the frame?
- Can the existing frame withstand the added stress?
- Is this aligned with your facility’s threat assessment?
- Are there areas that require ballistic-rated glazing instead?
Security window film can be a cost-effective upgrade. It should not be selected in isolation from overall security planning.
Contact Kontek Industries
If you are evaluating ways to strengthen vulnerable glass areas, we can help you determine whether security window film is the right solution.
Our team can assess your threat environment, discuss performance expectations, and recommend the appropriate level of protection for your facility.
Contact the office at Kontek Industries today to discuss your security needs.
