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Solar Gard® Armorcoat® safety window films pass some of the most stringent testing in the industry

Solar Gard Armorcoat safety window films have passed some of the toughest government and consumer testing to provide effective hurricane window protection, blast mitigation and overall window safety, making it one of the best investments for homeowners in high risk areas, commercial buildings, and government facilities. The resilient layers of high-tensile polyester, aggressive adhesives, ultraviolet inhibitors and scratch-resistant coatings provide exceptional blast mitigation and impact resistant capabilities – with thicker films offering greater protection.

Hurricane resistance

The destruction Hurricane Andrew caused Florida in 1992 is largely responsible for the new construction code changes at county and state levels for most coastal states. These new construction codes require that glazing and glazed structures pass small and large missile impact, and cyclic pressure testing. We put Armorcoat safety films 8 Mil or thicker, with a 1/2" wide wet glaze attachment system (Dow Corning® 995 Structural Silicone Sealant) to the test and it passed with flying colors.

• Miami-Dade County Protocol PA 201 & PA 203 represents the Miami-Dade County Florida area and is the most recognized and stringent of all storm simulation tests – its missile speed is the fastest and cyclic pressure is the toughest. Armorcoat 8 Mil (anchored) passed the small impact and cyclic pressure tests (no retrofit film currently on the market is able to pass the large missile impact test).
• Southern Building Code Congress, International (SBCCI) SSTD 12-99, 90-100 MPH Wind Zone represents various inland hurricane prone areas with some test criteria meeting the same standards as the Miami-Dade County Protocol. Armorcoat 8 Mil (anchored) passed all three tests!

Human impact standards

To increase public safety, lawmakers developed human impact standards mandating specific strength levels for glass. To reach the required levels, glass had to be tempered or heat strengthened, however annealed glass needs window film or other enhancements to achieve compliance when necessary. The two most commonly accepted human impact standards are:

• American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z 97.1 – testing involves glass impact of 100 and 150 foot pounds, the standard most commonly used for residential applications. Armorcoat films 4 Mil or thicker passed!
• Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Code Federal Regulations (CFR) 1201, category II – testing involves glass impact of 400 foot pounds, the standard more commonly used for commercial applications. Armorcoat films 7 Mil or thicker passed!

Test results

This section gives you the opportunity to review our official test results for different scenarios.

• Armorcoat Testing "At a Glance"
• ARA Testing Report Summary (Bomb Blast)
• Small Missile Impact Testing Report
• Large Missile Impact Testing Report

Bomb Blast Testing

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), an independent research and product-testing firm, conducted high-explosive tests to evaluate the capability of Solar Gard safety and security film to reduce the hazards of flying glass shards during an explosion. ARA detonated the equivalent of 500 pounds of TNT just 60 yards from framed glass samples with and without Solar Gard film. The unprotected glass shattered and projected upon impact, while the Solar Gard-protected glass remained safely within the frame. See this dramatic testing footage for yourself!