Why Protecting Glass is of Utmost Importance in Building Perimeter Security
Building perimeter security is multifaceted and complex. From landscaping to locks and everything in-between, there are myriads of strategies and solutions that must be carefully evaluated and expertly implemented to protect people and property. However, despite the security industry’s best practices and tried-and-true solutions, there remains a glaring weakness: Glass.
Glass is the Weakest Link in Building Perimeter Security
Glass is the Achilles’ heel of building perimeter security. Whether it’s a bomb blast, firearm, blunt object, or natural disaster, glass is easily broken and presents a significant building security vulnerability, as evidenced by:
- The Sandy Hook and Covenant School perpetrators gaining access to the schools by breaking through the glass.
- Rioters and looters shattering storefronts to pillage retailers during the civil unrest of 2020.
- Assailants breaking windows on January 6.
- Innocent victims injured or worse by flying shards of glass in the Oklahoma City and Boston Marathon bombings and 911 terrorist attacks.
- Flying shards of glass caused by natural disasters shattering countless glass doors and windows in buildings – and the lives of the occupants within them.
Figure 1: The perpetrator at the Covenant School in Nashville Tennessee shot through the glass doors and gained entry to the building in seconds.
Thankfully, there is a simple solution to protect the vulnerability of glass: Security window films.
Security Window Films Can Help Mitigate the Vulnerabilities of Glass
A simple and affordable solution, security window films can drastically improve the security performance of glass. Traditional security films are made of polyester and retrofitted to existing glass. An attachment system anchors the film to the frame to hold it in place when in distress.
Figure 2: Security window film being cut and installed on a glass window.
Figure 3: An attachment system, such as 3M Impact Protection Adhesive, anchors the security film to the frame.
Security films can:
- Prevent glass from becoming airborne during a bomb blast or natural disaster
- Delay a forced entry attempt in a school or retail store, buying time for first responders to arrive
- Create a visual barrier if tinted, ensuring perpetrators cannot see from the outside-in
What’s more, dual-function solar-security films can improve building energy efficiency by rejecting infrared light – the primary cause of solar heat gain.
In school safety, security films are recommended by the Final Report of the Sandy Hooky Advisory Commission, the Federal Commission on School Safety, and the Partnership Alliance for School Safety (PASS). They’ve even been mandated for schools in the state of Texas and Tennessee, and are under regulatory consideration in other states.
The Latest Security Film Innovation – 3M S2400 - Absorbs Energy Upon Impact
In 2024, 3M released the latest innovation in security window film: 3M S2400. Unlike traditional security film, 3M S2400 is made of polyurethane, which enables it to absorb energy upon impact. It boasts an impressive 560% elongation at break-strength, is visibly clear, and cures within days.
Protect Your Glass During an Age of Natural Disasters, Civil Unrest, and Political Turmoil
In recent years, we’ve seen retail storefronts shattered, active shooters break through glass doors in schools, and houses of worship turn into targets of terror. Furthermore, our climate has become ruthless with natural disasters of all kinds and our political environment is more polarized than ever.
Security film was designed to add a barrier of time between rioters and merchandise, perpetrators and students, bombs and sacred places, and airborne glass and humans.
And thanks to the latest innovation in glazing security, 3M S2400, security film now offers more time than ever.
About NGS
NGS is the leading dealer-installer of retrofit glazing security solutions in the United States. Specializing in advanced glazing technology, NGS offers a range of products designed to meet the specific needs of campuses, educational facilities, commercial properties, government buildings, and houses of worship. Visit www.ngs.inc to learn more.
About the Author
Jesse Chase
VP of Marketing, NGS
Jesse is dedicated to helping organizations identify and achieve their fullest potential. He has over ten years of marketing leadership experience, eight years of glazing industry experience, and an MBA from Seattle University. In his role at NGS, he works tirelessly to help protect people and property by educating security professionals about the vulnerabilities of glass and the importance of glazing security.
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