Fall is a good time for San Francisco Bay Area homeowners and business owners to review their earthquake safety plan. Did you know that the Great ShakeOut takes place on October 15, 2026? This special event “promotes simple, lifesaving actions that strengthen earthquake preparedness in homes, schools, businesses, and communities.” FEMA sponsors it. How is your earthquake preparedness? It’s a good time to identify hazards inside your buildings.
Another autumn date worth remembering is October 17. That date marks 37 years since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a magnitude 6.9 event that caused widespread damage across the Bay Area. With the anniversary approaching, fall offers a natural reminder to address an often-overlooked earthquake hazard: broken glass.
Why Is Fall A Good Time To Add Safety Window Film?
As the weather changes, people spend more time indoors, making hazards around large windows and glass doors more relevant. Is there a solution that can minimize damage from broken glass during an earthquake? Yes, there is! Installing 3M Safety Window Film before an emergency can add protection without replacing your existing glass.
How Does 3M Safety Window Film Help During An Earthquake?
Earthquakes can break windows and glass doors, creating dangerous shards inside a building. 3M Safety Window Film is designed to hold broken glass together, helping reduce the amount of loose glass that can scatter when a window breaks. The film doesn’t prevent glass from breaking, but it can help manage the glass after breakage. You can see an example of the film in use at the San Jose courthouse.
ClimatePro installs 3M Safety Window Film in Bay Area homes and businesses, giving homeowners an added layer of protection that we wish more neighbors knew about. Beyond the film itself, another layer can really strengthen it during an earthquake: the 3M Impact Protection Attachment System.
What Does The 3M Impact Protection Attachment System Do?
The 3M Impact Protection Attachment System takes window protection a step further by securing filmed glass to the window frame. The attachment system connects the film to the frame, helping keep the filmed glass within the window opening if the glass breaks. The film holds the broken glass together, while the attachment system holds the filmed glass in place. Together, these components create a more complete glass-retention system for applications that require additional protection.
Is the attachment system right for every window? Not every window requires the same safety and security solution. The appropriate film and attachment method depend on factors such as glass type and thickness, window frames, building construction, and the specific hazards being addressed. A specialist from ClimatePro can help you to determine if the attachment system is right for your windows.
Can Safety Film Help Protect My Home?
For homeowners, safety film can add protection around large windows, glass doors, stairways, and other areas where people are close to exposed glass. The film remains relatively unobtrusive while helping hold broken glass together if the glass fails. Adding the 3M Impact Protection Attachment System can provide another level of protection by connecting the filmed glass to the frame, as mentioned above. ClimatePro has installed 3M Safety Window Film and attachment systems in homes from Napa to San Jose, like this home in Berkeley.
Can Safety Film Help Protect A Business?
Businesses face the same broken-glass hazards as homes, along with risks from forced entry and smash-and-grab crimes. 3M Safety and Security Window Film can hold broken glass together in the workspace, too. When installed, the film makes it harder to penetrate quickly. The Impact Protection Attachment System can add another layer of protection by securing the filmed glass to the frame. ClimatePro installs these systems for Bay Area businesses, offices, retail properties, government buildings, schools, and other commercial applications. Take a look at these projects for examples of 3M Safety Window Film in use:
- Security and Sun Control: 3M Window Film for a San Jose Courthouse
- Create A Safer Workplace with 3M Ultra Safety Film
- 3M Safety Window Film for Santa Rosa, CA Shops
- ClimatePro Installs 3M Safety Window Film in a Novato Office
Does 3M Safety Window Film Make Glass Earthquake-Proof?
Here’s the truth: 3M Window Film cannot prevent glass from breaking or make your windows earthquake-proof. Its purpose is to help manage what happens when glass breaks by holding fragments together, while the attachment system helps secure the filmed glass to the frame. These facts about security window film can help you to take other necessary precautions in your home or business for earthquake preparedness.
How Can You Make Window Safety Part Of Your Earthquake Plan?
The Great ShakeOut is a useful reminder to look beyond emergency supplies and consider the hazards inside your property. Windows and glass doors really deserve attention. With more than 4% years of experience installing 3M window film throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, ClimatePro can help you choose the right safety and security system for your property. Get a free estimate today at 707.755.7337 or get started online today.
