Glass Protection Film
At PFG Glass, we understand that the journey from our manufacturing facility to final installation presents numerous opportunities for glass surfaces to sustain damage. Our protective film solutions shield glass throughout this entire lifecycle, ensuring that the quality we build into every panel arrives intact at your project site. We offer protective film application on one side or both sides of our insulated glass units for residential and commercial applications, providing a critical advantage for maintaining pristine surfaces until installation is complete.
Understanding Protective Film Technology
Glass protection film is a specialized adhesive-backed material designed to serve as a sacrificial barrier that absorbs damage that would otherwise compromise the glass itself. This approach provides a cost-effective alternative to replacing or reworking damaged panels, protecting your investment from the moment glass leaves our production lines until the final reveal on your project.
The films we apply use advanced polymer technology with specialized low-tack adhesives that ensure easy removal without leaving residue. This careful formulation balance means the film adheres securely enough to withstand handling, transportation, and job site conditions while peeling away cleanly when protection is no longer needed.
ProtectFilm: Our Primary Protection Solution
ProtectFilm represents our standard protective film offering, engineered specifically for the demanding conditions glass faces during construction projects.
Technical Specifications
ProtectFilm is a 1.9mm-thick, UV-resistant clear film that provides up to 12 months of indoor and outdoor protection. This extended protection period accommodates realistic construction timelines where glass may be installed months before final building completion. The UV resistance ensures the film maintains its protective properties and removal characteristics even under prolonged sun exposure.
The film shields glass against multiple threats including weather exposure, cement spotting, silicone contamination, grinding sparks, paint overspray and drips, and other contact debris that impedes cleaning or could permanently damage glass surfaces. This comprehensive protection addresses the reality of modern construction sites where multiple trades work simultaneously, each presenting potential hazards to installed glazing.
ProtectFilm is backed with a water-based acrylic adhesive that balances secure adhesion during the protection period with clean, easy removal when the project reaches completion. The water-based formulation supports our commitment to reducing solvent use in our manufacturing processes.
Automated Application Process
We apply ProtectFilm on our automated insulated glass lines, eliminating the labour intensity and inconsistency of manual application. This hands-free application process ensures uniform coverage, consistent adhesion, and proper tension across the entire glass surface. Automated application also reduces the risk of contamination or damage during the film application process itself.
By integrating protective film application directly into our insulated glass production sequence, we eliminate an additional handling step that could introduce damage. Glass receives protection immediately after quality inspection, maintaining the pristine condition we verify before units leave our facility.
Protection Throughout the Project Lifecycle
Protective film addresses distinct challenges at each stage of the glass journey from manufacturing through installation.
Manufacturing Protection
Even within our controlled facility environment, glass surfaces require protection during assembly, quality inspection, and preparation for shipment. Film application prevents fingerprints, dust accumulation, and incidental contact that could mar surfaces before glass even leaves our building.
Transportation Protection
The journey from our Langley facility to project sites across Western Canada exposes glass to mechanical shock, vibration, and environmental conditions. Protective film serves as a buffer against abrasion from tie-downs, contact with truck surfaces, and the inevitable minor impacts that occur during loading and unloading operations.
Job Site Protection
Construction sites present the most challenging environment for glass protection. Multiple trades working simultaneously create hazards from every direction. Concrete cutting generates abrasive dust, welders produce sparks, painters create overspray, and the general movement of materials and equipment presents constant contact risks.
ProtectFilm specifically addresses these job site realities. The film prevents cement and mortar from bonding to glass surfaces, a common challenge when masonry work continues after glazing installation. It shields against silicone contamination from adjacent sealing operations. The UV-resistant formulation ensures the film maintains its protective qualities and removal characteristics throughout extended construction timelines.
Installation and Reveal Protection
Film protection extends through final installation procedures, allowing glaziers to work without constant concern about surface damage. The film remains in place during frame adjustments, seal application, and final positioning. Only when installation is complete and the building approaches occupancy is the film removed, revealing pristine glass surfaces that require minimal to zero post-construction cleanup.
Benefits for Contractors and Building Owners
Shop and Site Glazed Protection
Whether glass is glazed in our facility before it is shipped our or installed directly onsite, protective film maintains surface integrity through both approaches. Shop-glazed units receive protection before transport, while site-glazed panels benefit from protection during handling and positioning.
Protection from Other Trades
Construction schedules often require glazing installation before interior finishing work is complete. Protective film allows glass installation on your optimal schedule without waiting for all subsequent trades to finish their work. Drywall finishing, painting, floor installation, and other activities can proceed with glass already in place, protected from the inevitable dust, overspray, and contact these operations generate.
Minimal Post-Construction Cleanup
Standard construction cleanup of unprotected glass can require extensive labour, specialized cleaning compounds, and repeated efforts to remove construction residue. Some contamination, particularly certain cement compounds or etching from acidic materials, can permanently damage glass if not addressed immediately.
Protective film eliminates most of this cleanup burden. When the film is removed, it takes accumulated construction debris with it, revealing clean glass that requires only routine cleaning. This dramatically reduces the time and cost associated with final building preparation.
Professional Presentation
Buildings under construction benefit from the professional appearance protective film provides. Rather than showing accumulated construction debris, protected glass maintains a clean, finished appearance throughout the construction process. This presentation quality matters for buildings that will be occupied before all adjacent construction is complete, maintaining the professional image building owners expect.
Trade-Proof Cleanliness
The reality of construction sites is that damage prevention relies on every trade exercising constant caution around installed glass. Despite best intentions, accidents happen. Protective film provides insurance against these inevitable incidents, ensuring that a momentary lapse does not result in costly glass replacement or time-consuming remediation efforts.
Quality Assurance and Consistency
The overall effectiveness of protective film depends on consistent application quality. Our automated systems ensure uniform coverage, appropriate adhesive contact, and proper tension across the glass surface. This consistency eliminates common application problems including bubbles, wrinkles, and inadequate edge coverage that can allow contamination to reach glass surfaces.
We verify film application quality before each unit leaves our facility. Visual inspection confirms complete coverage, secure adhesion, and absence of application defects. This verification ensures every protected panel meets our standards before entering the transportation and installation phases where protection becomes critical.
Frequently Asked Questions About Protective Film
What is Glass Protective Film?
Glass protective film is a specialized adhesive-backed material applied to glass surfaces to shield them from damage during manufacturing, transportation, and installation. The film acts as a sacrificial barrier that absorbs scratches, contamination, and contact damage that would otherwise compromise the glass itself. Our ProtectFilm uses a water-based acrylic adhesive that allows secure attachment during the protection period while ensuring clean, easy removal without leaving residue when the project reaches completion.
How Long Can Protective Film Remain on Glass?
ProtectFilm provides up to 12 months of indoor and outdoor protection. This extended protection period accommodates realistic construction timelines where glass may be installed months before the building is finished. The UV-resistant formulation ensures the film maintains its protective properties and removal characteristics even under prolonged sun exposure; however, we recommend removing the film as soon as construction activities that could damage glass are complete, as earlier removal typically results in the easiest cleanup.
What Does Protective Film Protect Against?
Protective film shields glass against multiple construction site hazards including weather exposure, cement and mortar spotting, silicone contamination from adjacent sealing operations, grinding sparks from metalwork, paint overspray and drips, and general contact debris from construction activities. The film prevents these contaminants from bonding to the glass surface, making cleanup significantly easier and preventing permanent damage that could require glass replacement.
Can Protective Film Be Applied to Both Sides of Glass?
Yes, we can apply protective film to one side or both sides of insulated glass units depending on your project requirements. Units that are shop-glazed in frames before site delivery typically require exterior surface protection only, while units installed on site often benefit from protection on both surfaces. We work with contractors to determine the appropriate protection approach based on installation methods and job site conditions.
Is Protective Film Compatible with Low-E Coatings?
Our protective film solutions are fully compatible with Low-E coatings, solar control coatings, and other advanced glazing technologies. The adhesive formulation ensures secure bonding without affecting coating performance or leaving residue that could compromise optical properties. This compatibility allows projects to specify both high-performance coatings and comprehensive surface protection without requiring compromise on either front.
How is Protective Film Removed?
Protective film removal is straightforward. The film peels away from the glass surface, taking accumulated construction debris with it. For best results, remove the film by pulling at a steady, consistent angle. The water-based acrylic adhesive is designed for clean removal without leaving residue when the film is removed within the recommended timeframe. If any adhesive residue remains, standard glass cleaning solutions will remove it easily.
Does Protective Film Add Significant Cost to Glass Orders?
The cost is minimal compared to the potential expense of glass replacement, extensive post-construction cleanup, or project delays caused by damaged glass. By preventing damage rather than addressing it after the fact, protective film typically provides substantial net savings on projects where construction activities create risk to installed glazing. We integrate film application into our automated production process, keeping costs efficient while ensuring consistent quality.
When Should Protective Film Be Removed?
Film should be removed when construction activities that could damage glass are complete but before final building occupancy. Removing the film earlier in the construction process, as soon as protection is no longer needed, typically results in easier removal and less cleanup; however, the UV-resistant formulation allows the film to remain in place for the full 12-month protection period if construction timelines require extended coverage.
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