Glass in bank offices, public buildings, commercial areas or administrative buildings is often vulnerable – when broken, it becomes a danger to human safety and property. Using quality protective film is one of the most effective ways to prevent cases of vandalism, burglary, even injuries in accidents. Two of 3M’s products in this area are Ultra S800 and Safety S140.
Ultra S800 – high level of protection and exceptional durability
Ultra S800 stands out as one of the strongest and most durable protective films in the 3M portfolio. It is colorless, multi-layered and designed to withstand much more serious mechanical impacts than standard film.
- Thickness and structure: approximately 200 µm, with multiple layers for improved tear resistance.
- Mechanical properties: high tear strength and puncture resistance. For example, ASTM D882 tests measure tensile strength, puncture resistance and tear resistance values that exceed those of standard polyester film.
- Visual and optical properties: Ultra S800 is almost invisible after installation – it transmits a high proportion of visible light (≈ 87-88%) and blocks over 99% of ultraviolet radiation, which helps protect furniture and interiors from fading.
- Scratch and abrasion resistance: the film has a protective coating that reduces haze and maintains transparency even with long-term use.
- Application in specific cases: Ultra S800 is suitable for rooms and situations where explosion, strong impacts, earthquake, accidental or intentional breakage of the glass is possible. It is often combined with 3M Impact Protection Attachment System (IPA Sealant), which helps the stability of the film during installation and increases the overall resistance of the system.
Safety S140 – durability and protection with a slimmer yet powerful profile
If Ultra S800 is aimed at maximum strength in harsh conditions, 3M Safety S140 – impact protection film offers excellent protection with a lighter and more versatile profile, which is often sufficient for bank offices, storefronts and premises where the risk is moderate, but still real.
- Construction: Safety S140 is made of transparent polyester film with a thickness of ≈ 0.36 mm, with a scratch-resistant protective coating and a strong acrylic adhesive. Optical properties: transmits a high percentage of visible light (≈ 85-89 %) and blocks up to 99 % of UV rays, which is very important for protecting the interior, preventing fading of textiles, furniture, paintings, etc.
- Impact resistance and glass shattering: Safety S140 improves the resistance of glass to breakage and reduces the amount of dangerous glass shards that can scatter upon impact.
- Versatility: Since it is installed internally on flat glass surfaces, it is suitable for many situations – windows, glass doors, display cases, offices. Installation is easier than with thicker, heavier film, but with a lower level of protection under extremely high loads.
How does this film fit into the P2A, P3A and 1PA standards?
The EN 356 standard classifies glass protection systems according to their resistance to manual impact, penetration and other malicious actions. The P3A standard is only achieved if Ultra S800 is used on both sides of 5 mm tempered glass.
- Under such conditions, Ultra S800 film provides a level of protection that can withstand strong impacts (a heavy object dropped from a height) and slow or prevent penetration.
- Safety S140, although very robust and suitable for P2A or 1PA, does not achieve the characteristics required for P3A under these test conditions unless combined in a specific way.
Why choosing the right film is important
The most important role of the protective film is not just to look good, but to provide real security in various situations. When the glass breaks, it keeps the fragments in place, thus reducing the risk of injuries. In the event of a break-in, the film slows down penetration and gives time to react. Additionally, it blocks harmful UV rays that cause fading and damage to furniture, textiles, paints and other elements in the interior. At the same time, it maintains high transparency and permeability of natural light, without darkening the rooms or creating visual distortions.
