Unfortunately, burglars and other evil-doers love your windows as well. Rather than try and pound through a door or pick a lock, a burglar interested in a quick in-and-out will simply smash your window and quickly grab what they want. With statistics showing that up to 25% of residential break-ins occur through windows and glass openings, how do you protect yourself?

Don’t throw up some ugly Wrought Iron Grates or install expensive Roll-down Storm Shutters. There are actually several, completely un-obtrusive ways to protect your glass openings that still let the light shine through!

If your protection plan includes an Electronic Security Alarm System, you can simply attach a shock or vibration sensor to the glass or the window frame. Shock/Vibration sensors react to the vibration or bending of the glass that occurs when a window is smashed or broken. Depending on the sensitivity and the technology employed, a shock/vibration sensor can cover up to 10′ of glass. Since they can be seen from the outside, they provide an exceptional visible deterrent and they can offer 24-hour protection for hard to cover skylights, storefront or bathroom windows.

If you are trying to protect multiple panes of glass, each panel should have its own shock/vibration sensor. You should also know that shock/vibration sensors can cause false alarms from loud noises, close lightning strikes, or from the vibration caused by large trucks or machinery rolling past.

Acoustical glass break detectors offer another flexible alternative to protect your windows. Acoustical Glass break detectors “listen” for the sound of breaking glass. By breaking thousands of pieces of glass, security engineers have recorded the entire high frequency spectrum of the sound associated with breaking glass.

Whether it is solid plate, wired, laminated or tempered glass that shatters on impact, the sound associated with the glass breaking will fall within a known frequency across the audio band and cause an alarm. Acoustical Glass Break Detectors offer ranges up to a 30′ radius which means a single detector can sometimes protect an entire room, which can make them a cost effective alternative to the Shock/Vibration Sensors.

Since Acoustical Glass Break Detectors are listening devices, the effective range can be greatly reduced by blinds, drapes and other window coverings. Careful placement and full testing should be considered standard installation procedure.

Many manufacturers offer combination glass break, reed switch window contacts to help protect single windows from being opened or broken. If you require 100% perimeter protection, you should consider a combination glass break, window contact for each window that is accessible.

Remember that acoustical glass break alarms are prone to false alarms that can be triggered by sudden loud noises or certain high frequency sounds. Some manufacturers have answered the false alarm problem by creating “dual technology” detectors. These detectors require that a secondary event occurs simultaneously with the sound of breaking glass in order to cause an alarm.

The most common secondary technology is a shock wave sensor. When a pane of glass is broken in its frame, there is a low pressure shock wave that occurs. The low pressure shock wave and the high frequency sound of breaking glass will occur simultaneously. In order to cause and alarm, both events need to occur within milliseconds.

Now, these electronic means of protection can only be utilized if you have a security alarm system installed in your home or business. As they do not prevent the breaking of the window, the sole intention of the glass break detectors is to set off a loud audible alarm in the hopes of scaring off intruders after they have gained entry.

In theory, this works great and glass break detectors have proven to be an invaluable resource in reducing the losses due to theft. But how do I keep the Burglars Out?

According to the FBI, the average burglar will give up trying to forcibly enter your home after 4-minutes.

Modern Security Laminates can turn your ordinary windows into Burglary Resistant Barriers. These polyester laminates are a thin as a piece of paper and they roll onto existing windows like wallpaper, yet they can provide you with an impenetrable barrier to smash and grab burglaries.

In addition to burglary protection, security laminates offer excellent protection from flying glass during hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes, all while blocking up to 99% of the suns harmful ultraviolet rays.

You can have these security laminates professionally installed, or you can order pre-cut do-it yourself kits. It takes about 10-minutes to install the laminate on an average size window, and it will provide a lifetime of protection.

About the Author

Roy Stephenson is a Security Consultant with over 21 Years Experience Designing and Installing High End Integrated Security Systems. He is currently the VP of Marketing at Security Systems

A stained glass panel is constructed of 1) individually cut pieces of clear or colored glass, or bevels; 2) held together by a matrix of lead came or copper foil. Lead came dates to mediaeval times and is the traditional method of assembling leaded glass panels. Zinc came is associated with the prairie designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries. Copper foiling is the method introduced by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and is the preferred method for constructing intricately designed art glass panels and lampshades. An additional step in the construction of leaded glass panels is the application of cement to fill the space between the glass and the inside surface of the lead or zinc came. Cement is applied to the front and back of the panel to weatherproof and add strength to the panel. Large panels also should be braced with saddle bars or reinforcement bars.

Inspect your windows for age and buckling. To assess the condition of the lead or zinc cames, look for telltale signs of metal fatigue and corrosion. Old lead is still functional if the exposed face of the metal (the flanges) can be lifted and flattened without cracking. Lead covered in a fine white powder has oxidized and has reached the end of its useful life. Zinc covered with small white spots is worn out, too. Examine the metal for hairline cracks near the joints, particularly around the border of the panel. These indicate metal fatigue.

Large or especially elaborate glass panels are often reinforced with steel or brass bars. These saddle bars, about 1/8″ thick by ¼” wide, are attached to the cames and notched into the sash to stiffen the window and help support the panel’s weight. Some reinforcement bars are soldered to the cames, while others are fastened with twisted copper wires. If the bars have separated from the came, they should be reattached using the original method. Bars that have split the came will require releading by a professional restorer.

If the panel has developed a bulge, measure its depth. A panel that is 1″ or less out of line and does not rattle should be professionally examined, but may not need to be repaired. Panels more than 1½” out of true need to be removed from the window and professionally flattened and releaded.

Check the glass. Because of the difficulty in matching some old glass, it is preferable to repair cracked glass rather than replace it. And not every crack needs to be repaired. If the crack is small and in no danger of falling out, leave it alone. If glass is missing or badly cracked, call a professional. If repairs are minimal and the panel is large, an on-site repair may be possible.

If you have to transport the glass to a professional restorer, start by securing loose cames and glass panes with painter’s tape. (Do not use duct tape!) Remove the sash with panel still attached. For added security, lay the panel on a larger sheet of plywood and tape it down. Smaller panels can be wrapped and laid flat in a wooden box.

Clean a sound leaded or copper foiled glass panel with a soft rag and a neutral pH soap. Wring the rag out well. Avoid abrasive products which can scratch the glass or metal. Do not use spray products or those containing ammonia. The liquid can get under the foil or lead came and the ammonia can react with the lead or cement. Windows in bathroom or kitchen settings can be cleaned with a dampened #0000 steel wool pad to remove soap residue, grease, and mildew. Polish with a paste product such as Glass Wax or a stained glass polish available at any stained glass supply retailer. Use a soft rag to apply the paste, let dry, and buff. CAUTION: This process may release lead dust into the work area. Clean any surfaces surrounding the panel (sashes, sill, and floor) with soap and water to contain any lead residue. And wear a dust mask.

Protective glazing, while not necessary, can provide protection to your stained glass panel from vandalism or a wayward baseball. To maintain aesthetics, the storm window sash should be of similar material to the original sash. Depending on local building codes, the glazing can be double strength glass or Plexiglas(R). Note that plastic glazing will yellow and scratch over time. Lexan(R), which will not yellow, is nonetheless very easily scratched. Tempered double strength glass is expensive, but offers the best protection.

About the Author

Judy Soccio of SR Design designs and fabricates original stained glass panels, domes, and glass art. SR Design also offers complete residential art glass restoration and repair and specialized church window fabrication/restoration. Whether you need a treasured panel repaired or you want to commission a treasure for the future, allow SR Design to bid on your next glass project. Begin your design inspiration at http://www.wedowindowstoo.com