Pattern. Bird strike film works by placing a repeating pattern of dots or lines on the glass at a density birds read as a barrier rather than an open flight path. We select the product, pattern and coverage for each building based on the glass, the facade orientation, the surrounding landscape and the project’s specification.
Which standard applies? It depends on the project:
- American Bird Conservancy criteria. Many bird-friendly specifications reference the American Bird Conservancy’s ratings for bird-friendly materials and its criteria for pattern spacing. Architects often name these directly.
- Illinois state buildings. Illinois law (Public Act 102-0119) requires bird-safe design on new and substantially renovated buildings managed by the state’s Department of Central Management Services. It applies to state buildings only. Qualifying methods include patterns with horizontal gaps under 2 inches high and vertical gaps under 4 inches wide.
- Chicago’s proposed ordinance. Chicago is considering an ordinance that would require bird-friendly glazing on new construction and on many renovations, and that names exterior-applied films meeting American Bird Conservancy criteria as one qualifying method. It has not been adopted. We cover what it would require, and where it stands, in Chicago’s Proposed Bird-Friendly Building Ordinance: What It Would Require.
On projects with a written specification, we confirm the exact product and pattern against it and provide product data, warranty information and samples or mockups for approval.
Visibility. Patterns range from subtle dot designs to more visible lines, frosted stripes or etched looks, which can add privacy or decorative value. Where appearance matters, we show samples on the actual glass before anything is approved.
Exterior application. The bird collision products we install, including Solar Gard WingSafe, Feather Friendly markers and SOLYX bird film, are applied to the exterior surface of the glass, where birds see the pattern before they choose a flight path. We use commercial lifts and other access equipment as the building requires. Manufacturer warranties vary by product, so we provide the current warranty document for the specific product proposed.
No glass replacement. Bird strike film can be applied to many existing commercial glazing systems without replacing the glass or making structural changes.
Combined programs. Bird strike film can be part of a broader window film program that may include solar control, privacy, security and decorative film on the same building. Multi-application projects are common in healthcare, educational and institutional buildings where different glazing areas have different performance requirements.
Visit our commercial window film FAQ for answers to common questions.
