EXPRESS WINDOW FILMS Achieves Miami Dade Small Missle Certification

We are proud to announce that on June 30^th, 2009 we successfully completed our Dade County Small Missile Impact and Cyclic Wind Pressure Test (FBC TAS 201 & 203) on our Clear 8 Mil Security Film.




Some highlights of the testing:



#1: The testing was performed by Hurricane Engineering & Testing, Inc., (HETI) of Doral Florida. This is the same lab that performed the certification tests on our key competitor’s products, notably 3M, CP/LLumar and Bekaert Window Films.



#2: Our test specimen size was unusually large (51” x 87”). We believe that these windows were larger than those used by our competitors.



#3: Our testing was performed on stock window units (EFCO 3900s). The units were neither modified nor fortified for the test. We believe that this is worth mentioning as well.



We wish to sincerely thank Dr. Axel Rhode, PhD who served as our lead project engineer for the tests. A copy of the test results are available on the “downloads page” of our website www.buytint.com.



Any questions regarding the test or the test results should be directed to me personally at howard@buytint.com or via telephone at (800)345-6669.




Sincerely,

Howard Paritsky, President

Express Window Films

SPECIAL INDUSTRY MEMBER ALERT

RE: APPROVED HURRICANE PROTECTION-FLORIDA

On August 25, 2009, several representatives from the International Window Film Association and the AIMCAL-Window Film Committee met with members of the Economic Crimes Division of the Florida Attorney General’s Office to review increasing concerns over the accuracy and use of certain statements made by members of our industry about the level of protection afforded by the use of safety and security window films during hurricanes. The officials expressed their very serious concern that misleading or false statements were being made to Florida residents and stated that enforcement and communications actions regarding this matter were already under consideration. Such actions may include full investigations of certain companies or consumer alerts or a combination of both, either of which could have a depressing effect on an already challenged Florida marketplace.

This problem can occur when a company makes an unsubstantiated claim of performance of the products it is offering for sale. For example, if test reports or other data are submitted to the customer as "proof" of some level of performance, it is important that both the actual use and environment for which the product is being sold are the same as the use and environment in the test. It could be construed as misleading to use a test report of a product tested for performance on a commercial window as evidence of the level of performance the consumer should expect from his/her residential windows. It may be very true that this product will give some level of protection, but this report cannot be used to predict the actual performance a consumer should expect from the residential window.

The window film industry representatives agreed to take the following actions: (1) to send out a notice such as this one to our association membership making them aware of the seriousness of this issue and the concern that both our industry and Florida officials have; (2) to submit information to the Office of the Attorney General for consideration in any consumer alert they might prepare; (3) to notify them of unreasonable claims reported to our industry where voluntary requests for correction go unheeded; and (4) to meet again with officials in the near future to discuss progress in reducing this problem.

If you or others are unsure of the definition of approved hurricane protection products for your area, you can find information on the IWFA website at www.iwfa.com or contact a manufacturer member of the IWFA or AIMCAL-Window Film Committee. Questions about this issue or about claims being made by members of the window film industry can be directed to admin@iwfa.com.

boy i hope your not selling that film as hurricane protection. cause if you are your in T R O U B L E, unless you tell your custys they need really big windows like your test subject.
it passed the small missle test but does not have dade county approval for hurricane protection. thats like saying your film passed the florida builders code for the large missle (c missle, 24" 2x4 at 15 mph a total bitch test that crooked shops use as a sales tool.) and not the large missle ( D missle, 2x4x8' fired from an air cannon to simulate light tropical storm winds) which no film will pass.

Hmmm Maybe this shop hasn't got the notice yet http://www.advancedfilmfl.com/storm-safety.php

I travel to Florida alot,especially during the hurricane and winter seasons and see the 'HURRICANE PROOF FILMS' signs all over. Yes, films can pass the small missle test, but will not pass the Dade county test. That is why Florida is vigorously prosecuting those who advertise this way. It is good to see that Express had their films properly tested and passed those that other manufacturers have. As long as they advertise properly and do not claim hurricane film status, I say welcome to the family of tested films.

On another note, the website posted in the previous entry....did anyone catch the error in their statement as follows??

This is VERY IMPORTANT TO PREVENT because if your windows shatter during a windstorm, it can create a vacuum type environment where your roof could be blown off from the inside out.

I have never seen where a vacuum within a house can BLOW the roof off. Wind will pressurize the building, causing the roof and walls to flex outward. Too many morons in our industry using false and misleading information.

Yes. We fully understand and agree with the IWFA's guidelines on making false and/or misleading statements about window films as Hurricane Protection. We are only announcing our passage of the benchmark FBC TAS 201 & 203 tests by a duly certified lab, a very significant technical milestone. Anyone advertising these products as Hurricane Proof Films is misleading the public.

Customtinting >>> Thanks for recognizing this and for welcoming us into the family. Upon information and belief, we are the first private label film to achieve this.

Thanks,

Howard

as is obvious from the term, a vacuum will suck the roof IN, whereas a broken window will allow the extreme wind loads to pressurize the house, pushing the roof OUT. just a little misleading

Congrats On Passing Howard have a beer for being the first private label to pass this testing Big Joe

Joe,

Thanks for the congrats!!! We tipped a few Johnnie Walker's when we got word from the lab.

On the VACUUM points above - I am not sure if this is relevant, but did you consider:

Hurricanes are always low pressure systems that pass overhead. By comparison, the ambient pressure within a house would be considerably higher. Pressure flows from high to low. That could blow the roof off the building.

Just wanted to toss that in. If it's not relevant someone please smack me in the head.

-Howard

congratulations Howard

congratulations Howard. keep up the good work.

SMMMAAACCCKKKK