Window tinting has become a darn practical investment for Aussies looking to boost privacy, security and lower their long-term maintenance costs. While it may just look pretty, modern window films are actually engineered to cut visibility, make glass stronger and reduce the risks associated with break ins, vandalism & UV damage.
Research from the international glazing and energy bods shows some pretty impressive improvements when it comes to occupant safety and property protection. It all starts with a proper install.
The Growing Privacy Woes in Australian Homes & Offices
People are getting more and more concerned about privacy in Australian suburbs as the suburbs get denser and the designs of the houses get more glass. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 67% of new homes are built with heaps of glass, which is way more than the ones built before 2000. On the one hand, this lets in lots of natural light. On the other hand, it also lets people see in from the street.
Window tinting is the answer to this problem. It cuts down how much light comes in from outside, making it harder for people to see inside the house. Depending on the type of film you get, privacy films can block out up to 90% of the light coming in, but still let the people inside see out. Reflective and film that reflects twice have been super useful in places like cities where there’s lots of new development and people are living right on top of each other.
There’s been a real surge in demand for residential window tinting Melbourne because the city is getting denser and denser with new developments and less separation between houses. Experts reckon that a proper install of a privacy film can block out around 80% of the visibility from the street, especially during the day.
Commercial places like offices are seeing the benefits too. Studies by the International Window Film Association showed that places with privacy films get fewer cases of people snooping in and fewer employees getting distracted by people walking by outside. If you handle confidential stuff, tinted windows are like an extra layer of security against people snooping in from the street.
Window Tinting Adds an Extra Barrier to Burglars
Security window films are designed to make glass a whole lot harder to break, which makes breaking in a whole lot harder. Standard glass is pretty brittle and will shatter into sharp bits the moment you whack it. This makes it super easy for a burglar to get in. Security films work by making the glass stick together even after a whack.
Figures from the US Department of Justice show that up to 34% of burglars get in through the windows. Police in Australia say that glazing is a real weak spot in residential burglaries too. Delaying the break in is key because most burglars will bail if it gets too noisy or takes too long.
Tests show that high end security films can make glass up to 7 times stronger than regular glazing. These multi layered polyester films are usually installed in places where you really need that extra security. That can be anywhere from a home to a high-rise office building.
Protecting Against Broken Glass in Storms and Accidents
Australia’s tough weather conditions are really putting residential and commercial glazing systems to the test. These places get battered by hail storms, cyclones and wild winds which regularly knock the glass around, especially in areas that are pretty exposed. Window films that are designed to keep lives safe help out a lot by stopping the glass from shattering into a million pieces when it gets hit.
Research that’s been done by organisations that are really into building safety shows that when glass breaks, it can send fragments flying at speeds of over 50kmh, which is just crazy. Safety films stop this happening by sticking the broken pieces together so they can’t go flying off everywhere and cause injuries.
Because places in Queensland and northern Australia are so prone to cyclones, they’re really starting to use laminated and filmed glazing systems to meet those strict building standards for being a lot more resilient. Now, you might think that window films are the answer to making your windows cyclone proof but unfortunately, they aren’t. They do make a big difference in how much the glass holds together after getting hit.
In fact, studies have shown that safety films can reduce injuries from broken glass by more than 40% in real world storm situations.
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