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How Security Window Film Protects People, Property and Possessions
Security window film protects people, property and possessions by holding broken glass together, slowing down anyone trying to get through it and keeping flying glass out of the room. It’s a tough polyester film that goes on the glass you already have. It isn’t bulletproof, and no window film is. What it buys is time, and in a break-in or an attack, time is what gets people to safety. Here’s how it works, who it’s for and the myths worth clearing up before you buy it.
On the Bexar County Elections Office, in 10 days
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From San Antonio businesses, homeowners and drivers
Family owned, on Grissom Road
What San Antonio customers say about working with us
“Installed safety window film, very well done, Good job!”
Ray G., December 2022
“The installation was seamless and the installer was professional, prompt and knowledgeable of the process. … I would highly recommend Fletch Window Tint to anyone looking for a trustworthy company that stands behind their work, principles and product.”
Russell B., September 2023
“Great experience from start to finish. During the consultation, they did a great job explaining and showing us the different types of film they have and how it can benefit us. The installation was quick and we can already see & feel the difference.”
Christina M., July 2025
“The team at Fletch Window Tint did a fantastic job professionally tinting windows for wellness room privacy and exterior heat rejection at my company’s corporate office in San Antonio. … They worked quickly, cleanly, and maintained very high professionalism in our office during working hours.”
Katelynn M., August 2026
Why schools started asking for security film after Sandy Hook
On December 14, 2012, a gunman shot and killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. After that attack, both the Federal Commission on School Safety and the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission recommended security window film for schools.
Texas acted after the shooting in Uvalde. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) now requires safety and security window film on school glass. Our school security window film page explains what the rule covers.
What the Nashville school shooting showed about glass doors
In March 2023, an armed attacker broke into the Covenant School, a private school in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, and killed three students and three staff members. Police killed the attacker minutes after they arrived.
The school’s security camera footage shows how weak unprotected glass is. The attacker shot the glass doors and was inside within seconds, the same way the gunman at Sandy Hook got in.
Glass hardened with security film, or another security glazing product, would still have broken. Film doesn’t stop bullets. What it does is keep the broken glass in the frame, so getting through takes longer, and every extra minute is time for first responders to arrive.
Why security film is a precaution worth taking
Security film does three jobs, and each one buys time or saves someone from getting hurt.
It delays entry and buys response time
Security window film is one or more layers of polyester film laminated together with special adhesives. It ranges from 4 mils to 15 mils thick, or more. Thicker film is harder to break, tear or puncture.
That toughness stops someone from getting straight through the glass. 3M says its safety and security film can delay an intruder by up to two minutes. That’s time to start an emergency plan and for first responders to arrive.
You can't target what you can't see
Privacy can save lives. 3M security film can strengthen glass and add privacy at the same time, so someone outside can’t see who’s inside. An attacker who can’t pick out a target has a much harder job, and that alone can be a real deterrent.
It contains spall
Glass shatters if it’s hit hard enough, whether by a bomb blast, a windstorm, a gunshot or a person. The flying pieces are called spall, and they can badly hurt anyone nearby. Security film works as a containment system: the pieces stick to the film instead of flying across the room.
How 3M security film works
Thieves go after easy smash-and-grab targets in big cities and small towns alike, and glass doors and ground-floor windows are the easy part. 3M Safety and Security Window Films and the 3M Impact Protection Attachment System make that glass much harder to get through, which helps cut your losses when someone tries.
- Helps protect people and property
- Keeps the welcoming look of your building, with no bars or other barriers
- A thicker adhesive holds broken glass together, which slows a break-in
- Tears far less easily than standard window film
- Helps protect against broken glass and unlawful entry
Bars on the windows work too, but they make a shop look like it’s expecting trouble by lunchtime. Film does the job and nobody walking past can tell it’s there.
3M Ultra Series safety and security film
3M Scotchshield Safety and Security Window Film, Ultra Prestige Series, pairs tear-resistant protection with strong solar control. It combines the strength of the 3M Ultra Series with the heat control of the 3M Prestige Series.
- Tear-resistant film that holds glass fragments together, to protect people, property and possessions
- Can be combined with the 3M Impact Protection Attachment System for even more safety and security
- Lets plenty of visible light through, so the windows still look good
- Up to 97% infrared rejection, according to 3M, for energy savings and a more comfortable room
- Low reflectivity inside and out, so the view stays clear and the building looks the same from the street
- Cuts harmful UV rays, the biggest cause of fading, so furniture and floors last longer
- A full warranty from 3M
St. Peter’s Catholic School in Boerne got 3M Ultra 800, from the same Ultra Series, on more than 100 windows. We had it done in 4 days.
Who benefits from security film
Any building with glass a person can reach can benefit from security film. Here’s who uses it and why. You’ll find all our security window film services on one page.
Office buildings
It protects assets and data. It goes on over the glass you already have, and it costs far less than replacing every window and door.
Hotels
It strengthens all-glass doors and adds security to glass entryways and lobbies.
Retail
It helps deter smash-and-grab burglaries and protects against vandalism. For glass that gets scratched or tagged, there’s also anti-graffiti film.
Healthcare
It helps slow down an armed attacker at the doors and windows. It goes on over the glass you already have, and it costs far less than replacing the windows and doors.
Government
It helps protect offices, public buildings, training facilities and embassies against bomb blasts. We put more than 10,000 square feet of 3M security film on the Bexar County Elections Office in 10 days.
Schools
It helps slow down an armed attacker at the doors and windows, goes on over the glass you already have and costs far less than replacing it. Texas schools are required to have it on certain glass.
Churches
It goes on the entries and glass doors first, in a clear film that keeps the building looking like itself. See church security window film.
Homes
It goes on ground-floor windows, glass doors and sidelights, so a window stops being the easy way in. See all our home and business window film services.
The myths and facts about safety and security film
We want you to know exactly what you’re getting before you buy security film. A lot of people come to us with the wrong idea about what it does, so here are the four myths we hear most, and the facts.
Myth: security film keeps intruders out
Fact: it won’t stop someone who’s determined to get in. It’s built to slow them down and make the glass much harder to get through, which gives you more time to call the police. Someone who keeps at it will still get in, film or no film.
Myth: security film is bulletproof
Fact: it isn’t. Bullets go through the film and the glass. What the film does is hold the pieces of glass together after a bullet hits. No window film maker can honestly claim its film stops bullets.
Myth: security film is your main defense
Fact: it’s one layer, not the whole plan. It makes the glass harder to break and the building harder to get into, but it isn’t a substitute for an alarm system. Use it alongside locked doors, a security system and good outside lights. Film doesn’t beep or call anyone, and it can’t tell you the back door’s unlocked.
Myth: security film should go on every window
Fact: we recommend it for the main ways into a building, which are the glass doors and the sidelights around the entries. You don’t need to spend money putting it on every window unless there’s a real reason to, like the Texas rule for schools.
We could make more money putting it on every window, and people have asked us to. I’d rather sell you film that does what you think it does, on the glass that needs it, and earn your trust for the next job.
Security film jobs we've done lately
Three recent projects
Bexar County Elections Office. More than 10,000 square feet of 3M security film, installed in 10 days, so the glass holds together instead of turning into a hazard.
Gym storefront. Security film on the front glass, so a smash-and-grab has to work a lot harder for a lot longer.
Storefront install. The film goes on from the inside, where nobody on the street can pick at the edges.
The Bexar County Elections Office got more than 10,000 square feet of 3M security film in 10 days. St. Peter’s Catholic School in Boerne got 3M Ultra 800 on more than 100 windows in 4 days. MVISD Creek High School got more than 2,000 square feet over a two-month job.
We’ve installed more than 5 million square feet of film since 1989, on homes, businesses and cars.
More of our commercial work
Security Window Film Frequently Asked Questions
Questions people ask about how security film works
Is security window film bulletproof?
No. Security film holds glass together after a bullet hits, but the bullet still goes through the film and the glass. No window film maker can honestly claim its film stops bullets.
How long does security film delay an intruder?
3M says its safety and security film can delay an intruder by up to two minutes. How long it holds on your building depends on the film thickness, the glass and whether the film is anchored to the frame with an attachment system.
How thick is security window film?
It ranges from 4 mils to 15 mils or more. A mil is a thousandth of an inch. Thicker film is harder to break, tear or puncture.
What is spall?
Spall is the flying pieces of glass that come off a window when it shatters. Security film holds those pieces in place, so they don’t fly across the room.
Does security film replace an alarm system?
No. It makes glass harder to get through, but it’s one layer of protection. Use it alongside locked doors, an alarm system and good outside lighting.
Which windows need security film?
Start with the main ways in: glass doors and the sidelights around the entries. Schools in Texas have a rule that covers more glass, including ground-floor windows and windows near doors.
Can security film go on my existing windows?
Yes. It goes on the glass you already have, and it costs far less than replacing the windows and doors.
Can security film block heat too?
Yes. 3M’s Ultra Prestige Series combines security film with solar control, and 3M rates it at up to 97% infrared rejection. It also cuts the UV rays that cause fading.
What warranty comes with security film?
Home film carries a lifetime film warranty. Commercial security film warranties depend on the film, and most run 12 to 15 years. We’ll show you the terms for your film before you sign.
Security Window Film Service Area
Security film for homes and businesses in San Antonio and across Texas
Our crews work out of our shop at 7607 Grissom Road on the northwest side of San Antonio. We cover the whole city and Bexar County, plus New Braunfels, Boerne, Seguin, San Marcos, Kerrville and Fredericksburg. For security film on businesses, schools and public buildings, we’ll travel anywhere in Texas.
- San Antonio
- Alamo Heights
- Stone Oak
- Castle Hills
- New Braunfels
- Boerne
- Seguin
- San Marcos
- Kerrville
- Fredericksburg
- Laredo
- Anywhere in Texas for large jobs
Visit us from San Antonio
Fletch Window Tint is at 7607 Grissom Road, Suite 114, San Antonio, TX 78251, on the northwest side off Loop 1604 and Culebra Road. Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30am to 5:30pm.
Get your free security film quote
Tell us what you want to protect and which doors and windows worry you most. Pick Home Window Tint or Commercial Window Tint in the form, and we’ll call you back to set up a free site survey.
Or call (210) 669-2940. Monday to Saturday, 9:30am to 5:30pm. A person answers.
