I have been researching a product for some of our shopping center tenants. Specifically, it is security widow films that slow down smash and grab break-ins as well as provide blast protection. It is standard on most government buildings. The product info is below http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...lms_portal&PC_7_0_317H_command=AbcPageHandler I am qetting a quote for my walk-out basement which gives me nightmares when I am gone. I will let you know what it costs.
I've been looking into the same stuff. You can get it at varying levels of protection. Watched a demo of a guy chucking a brick into the window, shattered, but didn't penetrate. Kinda like a car windshield. Trying to find out what it will cost to get the reflective stuff so that you can't see in or break through for my basement.
Since we are using this in a commercial environment, I am being sent detailed information directly from 3M. I will share the info and the estimated cost for my doorwalls/windows in the basement. On a side note, the 6mm thick stuff was used in the UN building in Lebanon. There is a video coming that shows how long it took the people to break into the builiding. The window films are a short term deterrent. If someone wants to get in, they will. Combining this with a window security alarm would add to my piece of mind. I did have the UV protective/semi-relfective films put on my entire house (except the basement). It cost about $2K, but has cut my heating and cooling costs by 1/3. So, it will pay for itself in about 3-4 years. An average window costs about $125 installed. Doorwalls are about $200. I have no idea how the UV system works as security. I plan to aske that question when I get my quote.
It looks like really good stuff. I have heard other people comment on how the reflectant saved them on their energy bill, but I didn't realize it would to that degree. Anything you can do to slow down the average crook can't hurt.
Just as long as you have some way to get out through it if that is your only escape from a fire. As far as keeping crooks out, sound good to me. Just wouldn't want to be stuck in an oven with no escape.
A 12 ga. pump will open most any window even with anything like that added or at the very least make sure its easy enouph to push through. I know a .32 went through the 4 sheets of glass that had similar type stuff between them in the door at work. So getting out shouldnt be a huge problem, just getting in while being in any way discrete, not to mention most likely could just open them from the inside. Bars are a problem for this though if they are mounted in a way that would provide any measurable security.
