A real break-in attempt on glass with security film: the glass breaks, but the film holds it in the opening and slows the intruder after repeated strikes.
Safety and Security Window Film for Commercial Buildings
Help Delay Forced Entry Without Replacing Your Glass
Security window film holds broken glass together and, when it is attached to the frame, helps delay forced entry through doors, sidelights and storefront glass, without replacing the glass. Comparing film options for other goals too? Our Window Film Performance Guide explains heat, glare, UV, Low-E and glass compatibility.
Real-World Forced Entry Attempt
Commercial Security Window Film That Strengthens Glass, Delays Forced Entry, and Reduces Injury Risk
Featured Security Resources
Commercial security window film case studies and facility protection resources for schools, government buildings, storefront systems, and institutional properties throughout Illinois.
Government Facilities
Government Security Film Case Study
Security film installations at occupied U.S. government facilities, coordinated around active operations: glass fragment retention and forced entry delay.
Educational Facilities
Illinois School Security Window Film Overview
A one-page overview for Illinois districts: what security film does at school entrances, where districts use it, what affects price, and how to schedule a free assessment.
Retail & Gaming Storefronts
Storefront Security Film Systems
Security film systems for public-facing storefront glass at retail and Illinois video gaming locations, attached to the frame when the goal is to delay smash-and-grab entry.
Security and Safety Resources
Security and Safety
What Is Anti-Graffiti Window Film, and When Is It Worth It?
What anti-graffiti window film protects against, how sacrificial film is replaced, how 3M and Solar Gard films and warranties compare, and why it is not security film.
Read Article: What Is Anti-Graffiti Window Film, and When Is It Worth It?
Security and Safety
ASTM F3561 and Security Window Film: What the Standard Tests
What ASTM F3561 tests, why it does not rate retrofit window film, the current edition, and what to ask when a specification or bid cites it.
Read Article: ASTM F3561 and Security Window Film: What the Standard Tests
Security and Safety
Smash-and-Grab Protection for Storefronts and Video Gaming Locations
What security window film can and cannot do against smash-and-grab break-ins at storefronts and Illinois video gaming locations, and how the attachment changes it.
Read Article: Smash-and-Grab Protection for Storefronts and Video Gaming Locations
How We Coordinate Your Commercial Installation
Commercial Project Process
How a Commercial Window Film Project Works
Every project starts with the existing glass, the frames, the exposure and how the building operates.
01
Glazing Inspection
We look at the glass type, frame condition, exposure, access and what you need the film to do.
02
Recommended Film Type
We recommend the right solar, security, privacy, bird strike or decorative film, with samples on your glass where appearance matters.
03
Installation Coordination
We schedule the work around occupied offices, schools, healthcare facilities and storefronts, and coordinate with building management.
04
Completed Retrofit
We walk the finished work with you and provide the manufacturer warranty information for the film installed.
How Security Window Film Works: Film, Attachment System, and Installation
The film. Security film is typically applied to the interior surface of the glass. It is thicker than standard solar control film, and its adhesive is designed to hold broken glass fragments to the film. When the glass breaks, the film helps retain those fragments and can reduce the hazard from flying glass. When intrusion delay is the goal, the filmed glass is then attached to the frame as part of the security system. Film thickness is selected for the glass, the opening and the level of protection required.
The attachment. When the goal is to delay forced entry, the edge of the film is attached to the frame, typically with a four sided wet glaze of DOWSIL 995 structural silicone. That connection keeps the filmed glass in the frame longer under attack. Attachment also changes how glass performs under blast loads: in a 2000 test series by Applied Research Associates with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, 8 mil two ply film on quarter inch annealed glass performed to GSA Performance Condition 3a with a four sided wet glaze attachment, compared with 3b as a daylight installation. Those results apply to the tested configuration, not automatically to every building. AAA Glass Tint does not treat film without an attachment as a security system. We explain the options in Security Film Attachment Systems Explained.
The installer. AAA Glass Tint is an Armorcoat Certified Partner, with formal training and certification in Armorcoat safety and security film systems. When the goal is forced entry delay, the attachment is part of the system from the start, not an add-on.
Commercial Safety and Security Solutions You Can See
SAFE Episode 1
SAFE Episode 2
Solar Gard
Glass Is Your Weakest Link
Tested Glass
Burglary Attempt: Thwarted by the All Mighty Window Film: Armorcoat
Security Film Applications Across Commercial Property Types
Corporate offices and financial services. Entry glass, storefront glass and interior partitions. With an attachment, security film helps delay forced entry and buys time for alarms and response.
Ground-floor retail. Film helps hold broken glass together on impact and, when attached to the frame as part of a security system, helps delay smash-and-grab entry.
Healthcare facilities. Security film can reduce the hazard from broken glass and help delay forced entry through vulnerable exterior and interior glazing.
Schools and educational institutions. Security film on entrance door glass and sidelights can help keep broken glass in place without replacing it, with installation scheduled when students are not in the building. We compare film with laminated glass and polycarbonate in Security Film, Laminated Glass or Polycarbonate for School Entrances.
Video gaming establishments. Security film systems for licensed Illinois video gaming locations, where smash-and-grab and forced entry are the main concerns. AAA Glass Tint has installed security film at more than 30 Illinois gaming locations.
Municipal and public facilities. Public-facing glass, entries and access control areas. AAA Glass Tint has completed security film installations at multiple U.S. government facilities.
Commercial Security Window Film Installation Throughout Illinois
Professional Commercial Security Window Film Installation in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana — By a Certified, Commercial-Only Contractor
Security film installation in commercial buildings means working around occupied offices, retail floors, clinical areas and school calendars. AAA Glass Tint is a commercial window film contractor serving commercial buildings throughout Northern Illinois since 1984, with select projects in Northwest Indiana, Southern Wisconsin and Southeast Michigan. Our window film installations are performed by our own trained crews, and our Armorcoat Certified Partner status reflects formal training and certification in Armorcoat safety and security film systems.
Security projects can also include anti-graffiti, solar control, privacy, decorative or Low-E film on the same building, and we can plan those applications together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does security window film prevent forced entry for schools and retail buildings?
No film makes glass impossible to break through, but the right system delays forced entry. Security film holds broken glass together. When the goal is to delay an intruder, the film is attached to the frame, typically with a wet glaze structural silicone, so the glass and film stay in the opening longer under attack. Security film systems are used on school entrances, government facilities and retail storefronts. We explain the difference in What Security Window Film Can and Cannot Do.
Can window film prevent interior fading of merchandise and office furniture?
Window film can greatly reduce fading, but no film stops it completely. Architectural films from Solar Gard block more than 99 percent of ultraviolet light, a major contributor to fading. Visible light and heat also contribute, so darker or more heat-rejecting films reduce fading further. We can show you the fade reduction figure for the specific film and glass we recommend.
How do I choose a commercial window film contractor?
Look at what each contractor is actually proposing, not just the price. A good bid names the exact film, confirms it is approved for your glass, says who will install it, explains the warranty and, for security film, how the film is attached to the frame. Film-to-glass compatibility matters because the wrong film on the wrong glass can risk thermal stress breakage; we explain that in Will Window Film Crack Your Glass? AAA Glass Tint installs with our own crews, provides the manufacturer warranty for the film installed, and is an Armorcoat Certified Partner for security film. For a full checklist, see How to Compare Commercial Window Film Bids.
How do you secure glass at Illinois video gaming locations?
Video gaming operators often want stronger glass protection for their equipment and patrons. AAA Glass Tint has installed security film at more than 30 Illinois video gaming locations, typically 8 mil or 14 mil Armorcoat attached to the frame with a four sided DOWSIL 995 wet glaze when the goal is to delay forced entry. We size the system to the glass, the opening and the level of protection required.