Glass is the weakest link between any would be intruders. ACE Security Laminate is the solution for personal as well as property safety.

Glass laminate products are generally divided into two categories: safety films and laminates, which typically range in thickness from 5 to 8 mils; and security laminates being 8 mils in thickness or greater. ACE currently offers tested and certified safety and security products ranging from 5 to 20 mils through their "100", "200", and "400" series. ACE's product advantage lies in its proprietary adhesion process, a process that results in better blast absorption (by adhesive itself) while enabling the bonding of multiple layers of films (creating a stronger product).

Government and government agencies had been, historically, the dominant buyer of safety and security laminates and hence all laminate manufacturers aggressively compete in this space. In recent months, the impetus of government actors has shifted from relying on the multinational manufacturers to dictate national standards to setting standards that can protect against the realities of modern day security threats. The best way for a manufacturer to gain visibility in this marketplace is to provide the safest and strongest tested product on the market.

ACE "400" series laminate offers the highest tested level of protection-whereas competitors laminates are capable of withstand a 500 lb. Bomb from 184 feet, the "400" series laminate can withstand a 2500 lb. Bomb detonated from 184 feet. In addition to the successful test results, ACE has recently become an approved vendor by the US General Services Administration, enabling ACE to sell directly to US federal government agencies.

Security Films

Security films consist of multiple layers of polyester film laminate together with a pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive. Security laminate are typically made in nominal thickness of 09, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20 mil. Various national, US and international testing agencies, including the Security Industry Association, recommend 09 mil as the minimum thickness for security laminates.

The high-technology security laminates provide the following benefits and features: UV radiation control (transmittance reduction) of over 99% percent in the adhesive throughout the laminate (high performance laminate, since they consist of multiple layers of film), not just in the layer between the laminate and the glass; non-drying, non-hardening adhesives; solar control; and a limited electromagnetic interference radio frequency (EMI RF) protection and shielding. There are only a few quality laminates that offer composites of these features.

Security laminates are resistant to heat (900 degrees Celsius), exhibit no flame front advance (that is, flame does not expand across the laminate), are extremely hard to ignite and are self-extinguishing when removed from direct flame. When retrofitting existing glass, security laminates are the single most cost effective approach to preventing perforation and consequent injury and damage from force entry attacks, projectile entries and explosive blasts.

Underwriters Laboratories (ULC) S332-93 test has three major impact tests, which are conducted at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degree Celsius), and two major thermal conditioning impact tests, conducted at 14 to 120 degrees steel ball onto a ¼ inch thick, 24 inch by 24 inch glass pane treated with laminate on one side.

Government Standards

The US General Services Administration (GSA) has the oversight of design and construction of new facilities and manages the existing property for a large portion of the US government. After the Oklahoma bombing City bombing, the President issued a directive for government agencies to take action to protect government facilities. In response to this Presidential directive, the GSA developed criteria for evaluation if acceptable levels of protection from glass fragment hazards in a terrorist bombing. These criteria are part of the comprehensive security criteria (GSA Security Criteria, Final Working Version, January 1997) developed by the GSA, which includes physical security electronic security, and many other criteria for blasts consideration. The GSA has indicated that manufacturers must test their window products against the criteria to evaluate the performance of these products in blast situation if they want to be considered for use in GSA building.

Most government buildings have been assigned to threat level of security risk potential. The most vulnerable buildings are considered E buildings. These would typically be the US embassies in very dangerous areas. An E building is built accordingly with highly resistant blasts walls and thick bullet and bomb blast resistant glass.

Most government buildings however are already built and must each be brought up to their security risk level, or a level D building or the highest threat level for a retro-fit situation. The GSA established two different minimum blast level protection levels, often referred to as GSA level 1 and GSA level 2.

ACE Security Laminates has met both the GSA Level 1 and BMAG Level 1. More recently a new standard has been introduced. With the possibility of large blasts in close range of vulnerable buildings, a new group was formed to evaluate this possibility. The new group, The Blast Mitigation Action Group BMAG, (see www.whatisbmag.com) has established to new levels.

To qualify for high-end D buildings, the product must be able to withstand, through independent third-party testing, a GSA level 2 blasts of approximately 2,500 pounds of explosives at 200 feet. To date, no manufacturer has been able to meet these new standards.

On September 10, 2001, ACE products were tested with ABS Consulting and the Canadian Explosives Research Laboratories and came very close to reaching the GSA Level 2 standard – obtaining passing grades.