MENTOR, Ohio — Leveraging the newly implemented Ohio Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) funding, Huron City Schools Superintendent Dr. James Tatman sought out security window film solutions to improve campus security.
“School security is a top priority for all school leaders. Students need to come to school feeling safe and welcome. Having a physically safe environment is a key element for overall safety. Schools also want to maintain a welcome and inviting appearance for students, parents and the community in the building. Safety and security window film addresses these priorities,” Tatman said. “When considering various security enhancement options on the market, return on investment is maximized with safety and security window film. It has little to no ongoing maintenance and will function as designed for the life of the facility.”
The district ultimately partnered with Avery Dennison, a materials science and digital identification solutions company.
“The superintendent reached out to me knowing that Avery Dennison is a leading window film supplier,” said Dan Cvelbar, Avery Dennison senior sales manager. “We offer one of the industry’s widest ranges of security window film solutions.”
Cvelbar, who represents Avery Dennison on the board of directors of the International Window Film Association (IWFA), explained the different product options to the superintendent and the building resource officer and discussed what the installation process would involve, according to a company press release.
Avery Dennison Partners with Solar Solutions to Install Window Film
Rachel Schabroni, lead installer and manager of Solar Solutions, has partnered with Avery Dennison on several architectural window film projects, the company says. After reviewing the details with the superintendent and the building resource manager, the job ended up including every exterior entrance — mostly double doors — along with the majority of ground-floor windows in three school buildings.
“We started with the high school. When they saw how good the Avery Dennison R Silver 20i 12mil safety reflective film looked, they asked us to use it on all the buildings,” said Schabroni. “We get a lot of eyes every time we install. People are fascinated by the process. They don’t realize you have to take the glass out of the window frame and pull the rubber weather seal to install the film. Then you put the glass back in and caulk the film over the final rubber and onto the frame. This takes a little longer, but you have to have that sealed edge to hold the glass in place if it’s broken.”
“The reflective film has added benefits of privacy from intruders or others,” Tatman said. “With the film in place, the time needed for a successful forced entry is extended beyond the time needed to clear an area and for first responders to report to the scene as tested through drill scenarios. Our school resource officer regards the film as a game-changer for first responders.”
For more information on Avery Dennison Architectural Window Films for safety and security applications, visit graphics.averydennison.com/windowfilms.
