Both improve safety — but in completely different ways. Here's what to consider before you spec one or the other for your Columbus, Ohio property.
What tempered glass actually does
Tempered glass is heat-treated to be 4x stronger than annealed glass and shatters into small, dull pebbles instead of dangerous shards.
But once shattered, the entire pane fails — providing zero forced-entry resistance after the first impact.
What security film does
Security window film is a thick polyester layer (4–15 mil) bonded to your existing glass with an aggressive adhesive.
When the glass breaks, the film holds the fragments together — keeping the opening intact and dramatically delaying forced entry.
Which should you choose?
For new construction or a window replacement, tempered glass plus security film is the gold standard.
For existing buildings in Columbus, security film is the cost-effective retrofit — no glass replacement, no construction, and you can add it to almost any window.