Commercial · Safety & security
Commercial Safety & Security Window Film
Retrofit security film for storefronts, entry doors, offices and schools — helping existing glass hold together when it's broken, with Sunscape® Designer Grey 8-mil by Madico® when solar control matters too.
Text or call (727) 804-3611 · photos of your windows welcome
Every recommendation starts with the glass, the frame and what you need the film to do.
Applications
Where commercial security film is used
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Retail storefronts
Display windows and street-level glass facing parking lots and sidewalks.
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Glass entry doors
All-glass doors, transoms and sidelights at the main entrance.
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Offices and suites
Ground-floor offices, reception areas and interior glass partitions.
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Schools
Entry glazing, glass doors, administrative areas and interior partitions.
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Municipal and institutional
Lobbies and public-facing glass in government and institutional buildings.
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Vandalism-prone glass
Panes that are repeatedly targeted or expensive to replace.
Storefronts & entry doors
Storefront security window film
Street-level glass is the easiest way into most retail and office spaces — and the most expensive to have shattered overnight.
Security film is installed on the inside of your existing storefront and door glass. If the glass is struck, the film helps keep the fragments together, so the opening isn't cleared in one hit. For storefront framing, we look at whether anchoring the film to the frame is practical and worthwhile.
- Display windows, entry doors, transoms and sidelights
- Clear or tinted — tinted film adds heat and glare control for sunny fronts
- Installed without replacing the storefront
Schools & education
School security window film
Schools use security film to help keep vulnerable glass together and slow entry through treated glazing.
Film is one layer in a school's broader safety approach — alongside access control, door hardware, procedures and the guidance of the school's own security professionals. We install film; we don't perform threat assessments or certify school security.
Common glazing we review
- Main entry glazing and vestibules
- Glass doors and sidelights
- Administrative and front-office glass
- Interior glass partitions and classroom door lites
- Ground-level windows that are easy to reach
Solar control + safety in one film
Sunscape® Designer Grey 8-mil safety & security film
For storefronts, entries and offices that need both: a multi-ply 8-mil security construction that helps hold broken glass together, with the heat and glare control of a grey solar film.
Standard Designer Grey is a solar film. Only the 8-mil versions below are safety and security films.
| Published by Madico | Designer Grey 358 mil | Designer Grey 458 mil |
|---|---|---|
| Visible light transmitted | 36% | 43% |
| Total solar energy rejected | 55% | 51% |
| Glare reduction | 60% | 51% |
| UV rejection | 99% or more | 99% or more |
| Exterior reflectance | 15% | 14% |
- Construction
- Multi-ply laminate
- Tensile strength
- 25,000 psi average (machine and transverse direction)
- Break strength
- 200 lb per inch of width
Values as published by Madico for the film; installed performance depends on the glass, frame and installation. Madico product data (opens in a new tab)
Technical detail
What determines how security film performs
Plain answers to the questions facility managers and contractors ask.
- Film thickness
- Usually 6, 8 or 10 mil. Thicker film is used where more retention is wanted, but construction and attachment matter as much as the number.
- Tensile and break strength
- Published per product. For Sunscape Designer Grey 8-mil, Madico lists 25,000 psi average tensile and 200 lb per inch of width break strength.
- Attachment
- Film can be installed edge-to-edge alone, or anchored to the frame with a wet-glaze (structural sealant) or mechanical attachment so the broken pane stays in the opening. Suitability depends on the glazing system.
- Curing
- The adhesive needs time to cure before the film reaches full bond strength. Timing depends on the film, glass and weather; we schedule around it.
- Specifications and testing
- We work from the manufacturer's published data for the specific film. Test results apply to the product and assembly that was tested — we don't extend a rating to a product or installation it wasn't tested on.
- Glass assessment
- Glass type, size, thickness, coatings and existing damage are checked first. Not every film is suitable for every pane.
Madico also manufactures clear safety and security films and engineered attachment systems. When a project calls for one of these, we confirm the specific product, its published data and its installation requirements before including it in a quote.
Film thickness
6, 8 and 10 mil for commercial glass
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6 mil
Glass safety and retention
A common starting point where the main goal is holding broken glass together — glass doors, sidelights and panes at risk of accidental impact.
Product confirmed per project
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8 mil
Added security with solar control
A heavier construction for doors, ground-floor windows and storefront glass. Our featured option, Sunscape® Designer Grey 8-mil, adds heat and glare control at the same time.
Sunscape Designer Grey 35 / 45
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10 mil
Heavier-duty applications
Considered for higher-exposure glazing, often together with an attachment system. A thicker film is not automatically stronger in every test or every assembly.
Product confirmed per project
A mil is one-thousandth of an inch. Thickness is only one factor: film construction, adhesive, the glass itself, the frame and any attachment system all affect how a window performs when it breaks. Two films of the same thickness can perform differently, so we compare published data for the specific product — not just the number.
Project planning
How a commercial security film project runs
- 01
Walk the site
We review the glass, frames, exposure and which openings matter most.
- 02
Recommend in writing
Film, thickness, shade and any attachment — with the published data behind it.
- 03
Schedule around you
Phased or after-hours installation to keep the business or campus running.
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Install, cure, hand over
Clean installation, curing guidance and care instructions for your team.
Owner & manager questions
Commercial security film FAQ
Will security film stop a smash-and-grab?
It's designed to make one harder and slower. Film helps hold broken glass together, so a single strike is less likely to open the window. Determined attempts can still get through, especially without an attachment system — film is a deterrent and a delay, not a guarantee.
Can you install security film on our existing storefront glass?
In most cases, yes. Retrofitting existing glass is the main reason businesses choose film over replacing glazing. We confirm the glass type and condition first, and whether an attachment system suits your frames.
Is security film enough to make a school secure?
No single product does that. Security film can help hold glass together and slow entry through treated glazing, which is why it's often part of a school's approach. It should sit alongside access control, door hardware, procedures and the guidance of the school's own security professionals.
What's the difference between 6-, 8- and 10-mil security film?
Thickness is measured in mils (thousandths of an inch). Thicker constructions are generally chosen where more glass retention is wanted, but two films of the same thickness can perform differently. We compare the published data for specific products and the glazing system before recommending one.
Does security film also reduce heat and glare?
Tinted security films can. Sunscape Designer Grey 8-mil combines security construction with solar control — Madico publishes 55% total solar energy rejection for Designer Grey 35 and 51% for Designer Grey 45, with 99% or more UV rejection. Clear security films are chosen when appearance must not change.
Does security film make our windows hurricane-rated?
No. Window film doesn't make glazing impact-rated or code-compliant for wind-borne debris, and it doesn't replace approved shutters, panels or impact glass.
Can installation happen outside business hours?
Yes. Commercial work is often scheduled early, late or in phases so the space stays open. We'll plan the sequence with you.
Next step
Request a commercial security film estimate
Storefront, office, school or institutional glass — tell us what you need to protect and we'll recommend a film and installation approach in writing.
Free estimates by phone · on-site assessments when the glass needs to be seen.