Security film on standard 1/8 plate glass. . .Does it actually work?

Go2Guy · January 4, 2018

Before i started tinting I used to work in the glass industry , and am pretty well versed on the types of glass out there. [standard plate glass, tempered, laminated, dual pane insulated , laminate with tempered or plate , Or insulated with tempered or plate] . This may sound Like i rambling but my point is most vids seem to apply it to the specialty windows that I just listed. There are Zero video results for testing on 1/8 plate. My question is how well does security film work on just standard 1/8 plate. This is the regular glass that is found on most homes and is thin glass and is relatively weak when comparing to tempered or laminate.. . .

It seem that most vids and advertising in regards to security films completely avoids this topic . However it is extremely relevant because tempered is extremely hard and unbreakable from a hammer or batt unless you hit the edge or hit it with a sharp point . So when you see these vids claiming how good security film is, for all we know its been applied to tempered, or laminate. Further more I personally looked up the test sheets for both 3m llumar and express which reference miami hurricane missile codes and both of them pretty much compared apples to oranges because they applied it to to insulated dual pane 1/4 tempered glass which is extemely strong all by its self. . . WHO THE HELL HAS THIS. . . . I can tell you from first hand installer experience very very few homes have 1/4 glass, especially 1/4 tempered. most homes are 1/8 plate all the around and then 3/16 tempered for sliding glass doors. Im not trying to knock any of the companies here, but my question for my fellow Tinters is :
Is it even worth installing security film to 1/8 glass, Does anybody have first hand experience with it being tested on 1/8 glass?

I ask because I'm interested in installing on my own home, but my home like most homes have the standard 1/8 glass and 3/16 tempered sliders. also if I installed I would likely urethane /silicone the edges, and possibly install on inside and out. This is my end Goal if at all possible with standard glass?

From Llumar
1/4" Annealed 6 mm LLumar 15 mil** • • • • Dual Pane* (1/4" Annealed) 6 mm LLumar 15 mil** • • • ➀ ➀ ➀ • **** for security purposes

http://thewindowfilmspecialists.com/works/pdf/L1810-LLumarProtectiveFilm.pdf

From 3m
The film, when applied to either side of the window glass, shall pass a 15 0 ft-lb impact when tested according to 16 C F R C P SC P art 12 0 1 (C ategory 1) and AN SI Z 9 7 .1 (C lass B ). j

https://www.sunrayfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/S40-Safety-Spec.pdf

Tested on 1/4 inch glass

From Express
Glazing Material
Thermopane Insulated Glass.:

• 8 mil Clear Security film by Concord ®.
• ¼” nominal (0.22”) inboard Tempered Glass

• 0.48” Air space

• ¼” nominal (0.22”) outboard Tempered Glass 1” nominal (0.928”) total thickness.

http://expresswindowfilms.com/pdf_downloads/8 Mil Certification.pdf

Edited January 5, 2018 by Go2Guy

CnCCustoms · January 5, 2018

It's gonna hold fragmented glass for the most part in a sheet.... and fall out from my experience. Did the front of a guys home workshop with 8mil. He ended up slinging a rock with the lawn mower and hit a panel. I used to have a pic of it but can't find it... looked like a poorly designed puzzle laying on the floor lol. Sealing it may or may not keep it attached to the window frame.... not too sure about that one

Tintguy1980 · January 7, 2018

Being a glass guy with years under the belt, you understand there are many variables in any glass standing up to forces brought to their surface. Whether it a thrown rock, a person falling against it or a madman with a forked garbage truck driving into it, they all have their weaknesses. So do safety film products. Both film and glass are tested to certain standards before said claims can be made and like anything done in a laboratory setting, you will not see the exact same behavior in real life events. Best approach is to CYA and not make claims beyond what the maker makes.

I was a party to in-house testing of LLumar's safety films in the early 2000's before sending filmed glass to independent test labs. We witnessed all kinds of breakage with filmed glass using different thicknesses of product. The bag swung at the glass/film test panel was 100lb of buckshot-like beads. This was to mimic a human head crashing into the glass that has film applied to its surface opposite the impact side. Some would resist break through, others not so much. Some panels stayed in the frame, others did not. The thickest films literally popped free of the glass, showing there is a threshold passed by which the film can be too rigid. These tests were performed with both tempered and annealed.

In LLumar's chart you will see the best use of their films listed and the lab test they have passed. This does not mean it will be as found in the test in every case because of variables. For blast mitigation, it is a whole new set of rules and variables to gauge a successful passing.

And in some cases, there are embedded in a report an additional mitigation product used to obtain a pass score. One of which is LLumar passing a Dade County protocol by using a certain thickness of plywood in front of the glass (thought to be a real life scenario of boarding up before the hurricane hits).

Edited April 12, 2019 by Tintguy1980

Go2Guy · January 8, 2018

Thank you so much for your response. I am a technical person by Nature and always have technical questions and you always give great technical answers I really appreciate it.

I don't live in the best area hence my interest and putting security film on my own house but before I drop 300-400 plus dollars on the roll to do it I was wondering if it's actually worth it we've all seen some great vids on testing out these films but like all things most people leave out the fine print. . I must admit though llumar was the most Fair in showing the different ratings of their film on different types of glass and the others did not do this they only use single and dual-plane quarter inch tempered which is crazy Strong by itself . . .I love to chat with you in person one day smarty to shoes , I have other technical questions that I've posted on this forum before that have not really been answered to the technical degree that my mind loves . One of those questions is actually lays out a principal for an invention that has yet to be made, and would revolutionize The Tint industry. of all people you would probably have the answer to it and or know the way to accomplish it