Facts that should be considered when selecting a 3M Scotchshield Safety and Security Film for Protection from Explosions, Crime or Weather:

PEEL STRENGTH: This measures the force required to separate the glass from the film. The higher the peel strength the more force required to separate the film from the glass. Measured by doing an adhesion pull test (ANSI 297.1) in grams per inch (gr/in) or grams per centimeter (gr/cm), the 3M Scotchshield Ultra Safety and Security Window Film product will develop > 2500 gr/in (>984 gr/cm) adhesion before weathering and >3500 gr/in (>1,375 gr/cm) adhesion after weathering. A quality film product will have "Xenon Weathering" or "Carbon Arc Weathering" test results indicating what happens to peel strength over time. Such tests are performed in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations 16, Chapter 11, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Part 1201.4, Safety Standard for Architectural Glazing Materials and ANSI Z97.1 Specifications for safety Glazing Material used in Buildings.

TEAR STRENGTH: Indicates the force required to initiate tearing. It should be noted that there is no correlation between film thickness and tear strength. This fact is substantiated by ASTM, D 1004-94a "Standard Test Method for Initial Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting." Section 3.1: "Tear resistance of plastic film or sheeting is a complex function of its ultimate resistance to rupture." Section 3.3: "The resistance to tear of plastic film and sheeting while partly dependent upon thickness, has no simple correlation with specimen thickness." The unique patented method of manufacturing 3M’s 2-mil (13 layer), 4-mil (26-layer) or 6-mil (39-layer) film results in a product with extremely high resistance to tearing that is far greater than thicker polyester security films.

GRAVES AREA TEAR: The "Graves Area Tear Test" performed in accordance with ASTM, D1004-94a also take into consideration the elongation of the material being tested. This combination of elongation and resistance to tear gives Ultra films superior overall performance when compared with much thicker polyester films.

IMPACT TESTING: Indicates how many foot-pounds of impact a given material applied on glass can withstand. These standards know as ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16CFR have a maximum impact force of 400-ft. lbs. These impact tests also relate to tear strength and peel strength, because they both measure the force required for adhesive separation and tearing to occur. 3M obtains this rating by using micro thin layers of polyester in the film’s construction. 3M micro-layered films are capable of achieving 400-ft.lb. impact ratings even though they are up to half the thickness of comparably performing polyester safety films.

PUNCTURE PROPAGATION TEAR: The distance that a material will tear after the film is penetrated is a key factor in the overall durability of a product that must hold or capture energy and remain intact. 3M Scotchshield Ultra Safety and Security Films will outperform polyester films more than twice as thick. Puncture Propagation Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting are tested in accordance with ASTM D-2582-93.

TOTAL PERFORMANCE: It is important that all of the above tests are considered when specifying a safety and security film: peel strength, tear strength, Graves Area and puncture propagation all play a roll in the overall impact performance of the safety film product. "Pound for pound, mil per mil, there is no stronger security film than 3M Scotchshield Ultra Safety and Security Films".

WARRANTIES: Just as a security film specifier compares performance characteristics, a comparison of warranty coverage from prospective manufacturers should also be made. For example, 3M’s warranty provides the end-user with the following protection:

The product will "maintain strength, tear and penetration resistant properties". Also the product will "maintain adhesion properties" without blistering, bubbling or delaminating from the glass. This indicates the confidence of 3M backed by our testing.

That coverage should a warranty claim arise, includes labor to remove existing film and labor and material to reinstall new film at no cost to the end-user. The specifier should read all warranties carefully since there is a variance to end-user coverage in the case of premature failure from one manufacturer to another. 3M, a 15 billion-dollar company, covers all warranties.

Finally, we would advise that since issues involved with the potential performance of a given safety and security film are complex, that manufacturers’ claims be verified by credible third party testing, utilizing accredited standards and test methods.