The NOAA satellite image on the right above shows Hurricane Floyd just off the Florida coast on September 14, 1999. With hurricane-force winds extending outward 125 miles from the storm’s eye and sustained winds up to 140 miles per hour, Floyd threatened coastal areas in Florida and other South Atlantic coastal states. (Source: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES))
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Hurricane Protection
Hurricane winds can rip apart large structures and send the pieces hurtling through the air at speeds up to 180 miles per hour. Try to imagine a piece of 2x4 lumber striking a sliding glass door at “just” 100 miles per hour. Naturally, even the strongest tempered glass may not withstand this impact.
Occupants on the other side of a glass surface sustaining such an impact could be seriously injured and possibly killed. But potential injury is just one consequence of a shattered window or glass door during a hurricane. Driving wind and rain can destroy interior furnishings and fixtures and, in extreme cases, high winds entering through an opening can pressurize the interior to such a degree that the roof can be lifted and blown off the structure. Once the roof is gone, the walls often follow.
3M Safety and Security Window Films can dramatically improve your chances of survival. These window films are specially engineered, high-strength plastic laminate sheets that adhere to the inside of your windows and glass doors. How strong? Well, consider the photo of three technicians below.
Tear-resistance is also important: An object striking a glass surface protected with 3M Safety and Security Window film may still break the glass, but the film is designed to keep the glass in place and prevent popping out of the frame. So torrential rains and destructive winds are kept outside.
3M Safety and Security Window Films also offer other cost-savings benefits. They block ultraviolet radiation—the major cause of fading—and keep air conditioning costs down by rejecting much of the solar radiation that would otherwise pass through your windows.
Storm shutters are no match for 3M Safety and Security Window Films.
when compared with 3M Safety and Security Window Films, storm shutters and awnings have several drawbacks. for starters, permanent shutters and awnings can be unattractive and detract from your home’s beautiful appearance.
Plywood and other emergency window covering materials require time and effort to install before a storm makes landfall. For any number of reasons, you may not have time to prepare shutters, awnings or protective window covers as a storm approaches. Additional problems include:
- You may be out of town and unable to return home in time.
- You may need another person’s help, and there may not be anyone available.
- You may live above the ground floor in a high-rise condominium or apartment building, or have a multi-story single family home.
- You may not have storage space for protective window cover materials.
Shutters and solid window covering materials also throw your home interior into a state of complete darkness. This can add to your inconvenience if you happen to lose power before, during or after the storm strikes.
Once 3M Safety and Security Window Films have been applied, you never have to lift another finger to protect your windows before a hurricane arrives.
3M Safety & Security Window Films vs. Storm Shutters
3M Film: Protects windows at all times.
Storm Shutters: May break window glass if air pressure forces shutters inward.
3M Film: Forms a watertight barrier if glass does crack.
Storm Shutters: Do not prevent water from entering if breakage occurs.
3M Film: Prevents injury by containing glass shards after an impact.
Storm Shutters: Do not stop flying glass shards if an impact breaks glass.
3M Film: 24/7 protection, even when you are out of town.
Storm Shutters: Shutters must be manually installed or repositioned as a storm approaches.
3M Film: Not affected by power outages.
Storm Shutters: Motorized shutters can be difficult or impossible to operate during a power outage.
3M Film: Natural light is still available during the daylight hours before and after a storm.
Storm Shutters: Power outages caused by a storm can plunge a shuttered house into total darkness.
3M Film: Outside appearance never changes, even when you are out of town.
Storm Shutters: Shutters in closed position can alert burglars that home or building is vacant.
3M Film: Easy to clean and maintenance-free.
Storm Shutters: Metal shutters can rust. Wood shutters require periodic cleaning and painting.
3M Film: Does not alter your home’s natural beauty.
Storm Shutters: Can significantly change a home’s exterior appearance.
3M Film: No structural changes required.
Storm Shutters: Window frame and exterior wall modifications often required.
3M Film: Cost is a fraction of exterior shutter and awning systems.
Storm Shutters: Far more expensive than window film.
3M Film: Can save up to one ton of cooling load per hundred square feet of window area.
Storm Shutters: No energy savings.
3M Film: Cuts glare and virtually eliminates harmful UV radiation that is the major cause of fading.
Storm Shutters: No UV radiation protection or glare reduction.
3M Film: 3M Window Film installations in Hurricane Andrew’s path remained intact.
Storm Shutters: Hurricane Andrew ripped and tore away many storm shutter installations.