Jim Richards | |
Impact windows have been around for a while, but have grown in popularity in recent years, often due to local building code safety requirements. This is because impact windows provide great protection for severe weather hazards, like tornadoes or hurricanes. However, extreme wind and blunt-force impacts are very different forces compared to the high-velocity, aerodynamic mass of a bullet.
Regardless of the marketing, an impact window is not bulletproof. No window should be considered bulletproof unless it is independently tested or rated to a known standard of bullet resistance.
What Are Impact Windows?
Impact windows, also called hurricane windows, can withstand the typical forces of an extreme weather event like a hurricane or tornado. They are designed to flex during air pressure changes and sustained high winds. Impact windows are made from multiple panes of glass laminated together with specialized interlayer adhesives; some windows may include a layer of polycarbonate or other type of panel to increase performance. This makes the window shatterproof if they’re ever struck by flying debris like branches, stones, or other projectiles.
These features may also provide benefits that protect against the blunt-force efforts of a potential intruder. If you are specifically looking for blunt force security features in your hurricane windows, make sure to look for products that are rated for forced-entry protection. Forced entry testing standards include the UL 972 Standard for Burglary-Resisting Glazing Material and ASTM F3038-14 Standard Test Method for Timed Evaluation of Forced-Entry-Resistant Systems, among others.
As with any window security project, it’s critical to make sure the window framing is also designed and rated to the same security standards. If a piece of lumber can’t shatter a window but can pull the window right out of its framing, then the net result is the same—the window is not secure.
How Impact Window Security Films Can Enhance Your Security
There are times when you may want to add impact-resistance features to existing windows or find an extremely cost-effective way to increase your security. This is when many people consider security window film.
Security window film products work great for some security applications, but it’s important to understand their limitations. Some are misleadingly labeled as “ballistic” window film, but there is no window film that can turn a normal window into bulletproof glass.
Standard security window films can provide similar security to impact windows—the window film will hold the glass together and keep it from shattering. If you are applying an aftermarket window film to existing windows in your building, you may not be able to make your windows resistant to hurricane-force winds because that has more to do with allowing the glass to safely flex without breaking.
If you’d like to understand how and where to use security window film, you can read our article, the Cost and Uses Comparison of Bulletproof Glass and “Ballistic” Window Film. There are some very inexpensive window films out there, which is why we encourage you to ensure you are buying tested materials from reputable vendors—whether you’re buying security window film, impact glass, or bulletproof glass.
Bulletproof Windows with Impact Resistance
If your threat model calls for bullet-resistant glass, then you need a specialized product that is designed to stop a bullet. Bulletproof windows are “glazed” materials, which means they have several hard and soft layers fused together. These layers work in tandem to deform a bullet, disperse the energy, and stop the projectile without letting it breach the glass.
Want to learn more? Download our Ballistic Glazing Solutions Guide
Bulletproof windows are often very thick and heavy, and extremely strong. Many bulletproof windows will provide protection from heavy weather and blunt forces, but they are not guaranteed to do so unless they are specifically tested or rated for impact resistance.
Bullet-resistant, impact-resistant windows are engineered products designed to stop multiple types of forces. At TSS, we make sure all our products are tested by an independent third party. At the end of the day, our primary goal is the safety of our clients, and that means confidence that our ballistic windows will perform as expected when you need them the most.
What’s the Best Security Product for Your Needs?
Impact windows and bullet-resistant windows can all fit within the same security profile. We often encourage our clients to protect people with bulletproof glass and protect property with impact products.
This might look like using ballistic glass for customer-facing roles and ground floor windows, with impact windows for upper level exterior windows, areas that need minimal reinforcement, or unstaffed areas.
No two buildings are the same, and everyone has different security needs. For help understanding which products are best suited to which locations, don’t hesitate to reach out to the security experts at TSS.
You can request a consultation to learn more about the advantages and uses of different security products like impact windows and bullet-resistant glass and how they can work together in a comprehensive security plan that fits your facility.
