Security Window Film Will Protect Your Building During Violent Civil Unrest
The protests in late May over the death of George Floyd in
Minneapolis, brought between 15 and 26 million people into the streets of
hundreds of American cities and towns. It’s considered to be the largest mass
demonstration in U.S. history. While the overwhelming majority of the
protestors were peaceful, there were violent elements among them who caused
significant damage to thousands of buildings along with looting millions of dollars
of merchandise.
Some of the figures are staggering:
$500 million – Estimated damage in Minneapolis-St. Paul to more
than 500 buildings
$10-$15 million – Estimated damage to buildings in Atlanta’s
Buckhead neighborhood
135 – Number of buildings damaged in Chicago’s central business
district
14,000 – Number of looters arrested nationwide
While the protests have subsided, building owners are now faced
with the task of repairing their damaged buildings and replacing all their
damaged property and stolen inventory. The cost would be staggering in normal
times but even more so now with the economic impact of COVID-19.
Once the damage is repaired building owners will be asking
themselves: What can I do to protect my building in the future should similar
civil unrest resume?
One answer is to install fragment retention film on your windows.
Also known as shatter resistant window films or security window films, these
films are designed to increase the shatter resistance of glass during
catastrophic events – such as riots, terrorist attacks, explosions and foul
weather.
Safety and security windows films range in thickness from 4 to 21
mils, which is
thicker than typical window films. The films are almost always
installed on the interiorof the windows and doors. They require a heavier, more
aggressive adhesive system.
They can be anchored to the window frame with either a wet glaze
or mechanical system. The type of installation system that is used can depend
on the type of glass and windowframe that’s being protected. Generally, more
sophisticated attachment systems arerequired for the thicker security window
films.
The combination of security film and proper installation means
that if the glass breaks it will hold in place. The significance of this during
violent protests is it will keep looters out of your building because it’s very
difficult and time-consuming to penetrate windows secured with shatter
resistant window film. If you factor the cost of security film installation
versus the cost of replacing your building inventory and repairing the damage,
security window film is a smart investment.
If you are considering having security window film installed on
your building windows, you’ll want to hire an experienced installation company.
The installation process can be complex and does require specific expertise. Commercial Window Shield
is one of the country’s most experienced installers of fragment retention window films and is a
pioneer in the field dating back more than 30 years.
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