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Field applied window films are a relative newcomer to the wind resistant building industry and are being marketed heavily throughout Florida. Unfortunately, in my opinion there are some very deceptive tactics being used to convince people that an application of this product is going to make their homes hurricane proof. Although most of the manufacturers of the product are not participating in these claims, a large number of sales people seem to be out there grossly overstating the capabilities of the product.
Adds have been placed in virtually every hurricane preparedness brochure distributed in Florida with all kinds of claims about impact protection, wind resistance, burglar resistance, hurricane protection, UV protection and some even claim to have Dade County Approval.
THE FACTS!
At this time there are no field applied films that have been approved for use in Dade County in place of Shutters.
**See THE TEST**
I recently participated in a test of these products which took place at Fenestration Testing Laboratories in Hialeah, Florida. Which is a Dade County Approved testing facility.
Several windows were sent to an independent contractor to have films applied by several methods including the latest method of applying to the glass and the frame.
A heavy duty aluminum frame single hung window glazed with 1/8" glass approved for Dade County Florida was the test subject.
We attempted the test as prescribed by the South Florida Building Code.
A 9 lb. 2 x 4 was shot at the window at 49.9 ft. per second. Note: each window requires 2 of these impacts prior to cycling wind loads. Unfortunately in every case the first shot passed completely through the window without any noticeable reduction in speed leaving a 6-8" hole in the glass. Since no product survived the initial impact, the second shot as well as cyclic wind loading had to be aborted. The only benefit of the films observed was that what glass remained stayed adhered to the film and had no sharp edges on the inside surface.
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