According to The International Window Film Association (IWFA) five key trends for window films in 2020 have emerged.

As we know, window films or window tints offer multiple benefits and are proven to be cost-effective products to upgrade older existing windows in good condition to achieve:

• Improved energy savings
• Safety
• UV protection from the sun’s harmful rays

Window Films: Five Key Trends for 2020

Schools may increasingly use security window films to help protect people and save more energy

Windows do wonders for a class environment, as the brightness and openness they create is conducive for learning and overall morale.

But in times of a crisis, they can also become a liability.

According to BeSafe Technologies, to ensure they do not become one, utilizing school security window films can serve as a stellar line of defense. Having these security measures on the classroom windows and exterior entrances of a school can help prevent the entry of an armed and dangerous intruder. And, when utilized within a school’s interior, they can be key in preventing an attacker from gaining access to areas of a school where they can continue to do more harm.

School Security Window Film

Window film is, in essence, a stellar option for windows that are not bulletproofed but need an additional layer of protection. Literally a near-invisible film that is applied to windows and makes them much harder to break through, due to an increase in thickness and the adhesiveness of the film.

The most well-known and common kind is 3M Ballistic film. There are two variations that work well together and are commonly utilized, the S140 and Ultra S600. The S140 helps hold broken glass together, and the Ultra S600 excels at tear-resistance.

About 3m Ballistic Film

While 3M will be the first to tell you that their Ballistic Film is not bulletproof, it is vital in helping slow-down intruders thanks to its retention of broken-up window fragments that makes breaking through glass harder. Thus, it provides valuable extra-time for law enforcement to arrive and helps put a stop to any would-be violent intruders.
This especially holds true when the S140 and Ultra S600 are used in conjunction, although they can utilized separately.

Is ballistic film for windows a smart choice?

Should someone desire to have more protection than a simple window but are unable to afford an option such as bulletproof glass, then ballistic film is worth considering. For the reasons above, S140 or Ultra S600 are among the best, whether used in conjunction with each other or independently. Plus, 3M is well-known for their quality products.

They are by no means able to offer a level of protection found with bulletproof glass but provide a degree of protection thanks to their ability to resist damage and slow down a potential intruder.

Other 3m Security Films

Even if ballistic film of the S140 or S600-level are not being used, there are general security films that can be beneficial to schools to install and use. At levels such as S40, S70, and S80, these films are great for reducing the damage of broken-glass from natural (or human) causes and still can be of assistance in an emergency situation.

They are much-less resistant to bullets, of course, hence not featuring any mention of ballistics in the product itself.

3m Security Film for Commercial Usage

As this is an extensive overview it should be mentioned even if it does not directly apply to school safety, that 3m has security film designed for commercial usage. These commercial-use films are explicitly designed to help prevent possible damage from wildlife, such as bird strikes, as well as make “smash and grab” burglaries more difficult.

This kind of film of course is not as useful for a school-setting but helps to illustrate just how many options exist for window film.

3m Security Film Installation

Generally, professional installation is highly recommended. It can cost only $50-$80 per window and be done perfectly, easily saving money that could be lost through shoddy self-installation. On top of that, incorrect installation could result in reduced effectiveness of the film, and become a major risk to the safety of those inside. Again, if you are already spending the money on window film, it makes a great deal of sense to pay a bit extra and have professional installation done.

Of course, none of these options are a cure-all for the dangers a school may face. But as windows and doors are often the first thing an intruder, or possible school-shooter will encounter, having them reinforced via whatever means are both possible and affordable is clearly a wise choice.

Read the entire article here.

Communities adopting carbon reduction programs for buildings may view window films as a cost-effective means to help reduce carbon emissions

Savings You Can See.

Get a fast payback with significant savings:

The Department of Energy considers window film a top-tier technology for energy conservation with one of the fastest paybacks — approximately three years. Upgrading your windows with 3M™ Window Film can help you achieve significant savings. You could save $1 to $2 per square foot of film installed, or as much as 19 kWh per square foot of glass. Building owners around the world are already taking advantage of these savings — isn’t it time you did too?

• Reduce heat gain in summer months by up to 79%
  • Save as much as 19 kWh per square foot of glass
  • Fast payback — as little as 3 years
  • Many utility companies offer incentives
  • 3M™ Window Films are proven to save energy in all climate zones
  • 3M can complete an Energy Plus energy audit on your building to calculate your projected savings

Sustainability.

Reduce your energy use and your carbon emissions.

Taking control of your environment with 3M™ Window Films is better for our environment. By rejecting the heat of the sun, you use less energy. By keeping your window treatments open, you use less electric lighting and save on energy costs. By upgrading your existing windows, you’re keeping them out of the landfill.

• Keep your existing windows
  • Reduce light pollution
  • Let in natural light while rejecting heat
  • Lower your energy consumption
  • Help qualify for LEED credits
  • 3M™ Window Films can become carbon negative in as short as 6 months from install

Get additional information from 3M here.

The trend toward natural daylighting in buildings is likely to continue

According to a new study conducted by Alan Hedge, a professor in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell, workers in daylit office environments reported an 84 percent drop in symptoms of eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision symptoms, which can detract from productivity.

“The study found that optimizing the amount of natural light in an office significantly improves health and wellness among workers, leading to gains in productivity,” said Hedge. “As companies increasingly look to empower their employees to work better and be healthier, it is clear that placing them in office spaces with optimal natural light should be one of their first considerations.”

With Americans, on average, spending more than 90 percent of their time indoors, providing the optimal amount of natural light is vital. Unfortunately, office environments introduce a number of challenges. Most notably, uncontrolled natural light can cause unwanted heat that can lead to intra-office “thermostat wars” and excessive glare on occupants’ eyes and computer screens. Consequently, windows are often covered with blinds or shades, contributing to poorly day-lit spaces.

To conduct the study, Hedge compared the experiences of workers in offices with traditional windows to workers in offices with auto-tinting “smart” windows that adapt to and control the sun’s energy to optimize natural light and reduce glare. The smart windows were manufactured by View Dynamic Glass.

Key findings of the study include:

• Controlled daylight unlocks significant health and wellness benefits for office workers. Workers in office environments with optimized natural light reported an 84 percent drop in symptoms of eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision symptoms, which often result from prolonged computer and device use at work and can detract from productivity.
• More natural light translates to more alert employees. Workers in offices with smart glass reported a 10 percent decrease in drowsiness.
• Enhanced individual performance is tied to access to natural light. Workers sitting close to a window that optimized daylight exposure reported a 2 percent increase in productivity – the equivalent of an additional $100,000/year of value for every 100 workers or around $2m over the window’s lifetime.
• Natural light creates a better indoor experience. Workers in offices with smart glass reported a 40 percent increase in daylight quality. Lack of daylight and access to views decreases the ability for the eye to relax and recover from fatigue. Additionally, workers in proximity to windows report 80 percent higher daylight satisfaction.

“Despite their best intentions, companies are unwittingly detracting from their employees’ health and performance by limiting their access to natural light,” said Dr. Brandon Tinianov, chair of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Advisory Council and vice president of industry strategy at View. “These findings are a wake-up call to every executive who wants to maximize the wellness and productivity of their workforce.”

Read the Cision PR Newswire article: Natural Light is the Best Medicine for the Office

To read the Cornell study report, visit http://go.viewglass.com/daylight-workplace-study.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) may be seen as a key rating to assess the energy saving qualities of window films

According to the Convenience Group Inc, in a recent reporting on Myths about Window Film, the Dundas Edward Center in Toronto had a problem with solar heat gain prompting a number of tenants to complain about comfort.

“Our standard response was to say, “Keep your blinds closed,” says The Sorbara Group’s Emil Vertes, the property’s general manager. But solar heat gain continued to plague tendants of the 26-story 270,000 square-foot building, so an emergency conservation program was devised. Amon the initiaves was the idea of replacing the windows with double-pane, tinted glass – an option that would have involved a major capital investment. A more viable option, building managagement discovered, was to install window film.

“Of all the things we did, the window film gave us the biggest feedback. It was the thing tenants noticed the most,” recalls Vertes. He also noticed tenants were keeping their blinds open more often. “What’s the point of having a window if the blinds are always closed.”

Read the entire article here.

General consumer knowledge about window films is likely to advance as information about window films is widely available

“Window films are a very cost-effective retrofit solution for any building that has windows that could be upgraded to meet today’s building codes and energy standards,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of the International Window Film Association (IWFA). “While no one can truly predict trends, based on past experience we would expect window film to be a smart choice over replacement windows for reasons such as costs, energy savings, safety and security, UV protection and curb appeal,” he added. “From a budget standpoint, the winter months are the best time to have window film installed,” said Smith.

The benefits of window film include:

1. Reducing heat gain through windows by as much as 80%
2. Curb appeal, as window films are available in wide range of colors from crystal clear through very dark, reflective or non-reflective
3. Payback as commercial window film applications may see a return on investment (ROI) in less than 3 years depending on film selection, weather location, and glass types
4. UV radiation is cut by up to 99.9% to help reduce fading of furnishing and offer skin and eye protection from the sun’s UVA and UVB radiation
5. More safety as security films may discourage burglars from breaking through a window and thick security films may reduce injury from flying glass in bomb blasts and other impacts

Tintmaster is proud to provide their clients access and installation of 3M window film.

As a family owned and operated business, Tintmaster prides themselves on professional installation, high-quality materials, and unparalleled customer service. They have been serving the Sacramento area since 1989 and have built a reputation for excellence. If you need automotive, residential, or commercial window tinting, give the specialists at Tintmaster a call at 916-852-8468.