3M Window Film Adds Comfort and Character to Sterile Environments
Forward-thinking hospitals and healthcare facilities, experiencing a wide range of glass-related problems, are constantly seeking creative and cost-effective answers. 3M Window Film adds value to medical industry environments, by enhancing the level of comfort in a given space, while adhering to the unique application and product specifications required in medical environments. If you are looking for a solution to glass-related issues present in your hospital, Window Film Canada has been, providing effective solutions that directly affect patients and staff for over 45 years.
Common Window Film Uses in Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
3M Sun Control & Energy Savings:
HEAT & TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Windows are notorious for letting excessive heat in during the summer, and letting desirable heat out during the winter. This makes it extremely difficult to maintain temperatures without spending large amounts of money on HVAC costs. 3M Window Film can block heat from coming through windows in the summer, and hold heat in during the winter. This makes it much easier to maintain comfortable and consistent temperatures in hospital environments. Rain or shine, sun or snow, medical facilities will enjoy improved temperature control and significant energy savings.
REDUCE ENERGY COSTS
As big consumers of energy, hospitals literally work around the clock and need to maintain a comfortable temperature all year round. Hospitals will benefit immediately through the application of 3M Sun Control and Energy Management Window Films. Installing window film is one of the best solutions for hospitals when it comes to saving money on energy costs and is a top-tier measure facilities managers should employ to reduce energy loads.
Energy efficient window film acts as a heat-blocker during the summer and insulates your windows keeping the heat in during the winter. That’s why window film is the perfect solution for hospital windows. Installing window film can have the energy saving effect of turning your hospitals single paned windows into double panes, and double paned windows into triple panes. In many cases you will receive all of the benefits of new windows without the cost of replacement.
ELIMINATE BLINDS – ‘DUST COLLECTORS’
Natural sunlight has so many positive benefits, but unfortunately, many hospitals are forced to close the blinds in patient rooms and lobbies to prevent overheating and glare from the sun. Using window film to control the sun’s heat allows patients and staff to leave blinds and curtains open and enjoy outdoor views and exposures with controlled daylight. This can improve the health and wellbeing of patients and increase staff productivity. In many cases, the use of blinds can be eliminated.
PROTECT PATIENTS, STAFF & EQUIPMENT FROM HARMFUL UV
Although natural daylighting is a desired quality in hospitals, medical professionals above all understand the dangers of UV radiation exposure. Allowing the sun to stream in through windows can expose patients, staff and equipment to UV rays – especially employees who are working near windows on a constant basis. 3M UV blocking Sun Control Window Film protects people by blocking 99% of the suns damaging UV rays, offering virtually total sun protection that can’t be achieved with other solutions.
GLARE & EYE STRAIN REDUCTION
With an abundance of natural daylight comes frustrating sun glare. It’s often intensified when reflected off computer and medical equipment screens found in today’s hospital settings. Window film can significantly reduce the glare on computer and electronic screens, as well as easing eyestrain for medical workers on a daily basis. Window film is an ideal solution for hospital facility managers looking for a way to keep work spaces comfortable and productive.
3M Safety & Security:
INCREASE PATIENT & STAFF SAFETY
Keeping patients, doctors, nurses, and hospital equipment safe and secure is of upmost importance. Unfortunately, accidental, and intentional shattered glass incidents can occur at any time without warning. 3M Safety and Security Window Film is always ready, and acts to prevent injuries from windows fracturing on impact. It’s easily extremely cost-effective and easily applied to existing windows, doors and other glass surfaces.
A COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO WIRED GLASS REPLACEMENT
The problem with traditional wired glass (GPW) is that it was designed to provide fire resistance. Often mistaken for ‘safety glass’, wired glass actually breaks twice as easily as annealed (float) glass. Unfortunately, impacting wired glass is extremely hazardous, often trapping limbs and causing horrific life-changing injuries – even death.
3M Safety and Security Window Film is a highly durable, optically clear polyester film which, when applied to glass, provides impact-safety protection by preventing glass penetration and containing shattered glass fragments. Window film is regularly used by fire-rated glass companies in many of their products to provide impact-safety resistance. GPW wired glass can be retrofitted with 3M Safety and Security Window Film at a fraction of the cost of glass replacement
CONTAINS GLASS SHARDS IN THE EVENT OF BREAKAGE
3M Safety and Security Window Film works by adding an incredibly strong, virtually invisible, security strengthening layer, to one or both sides of the glass. 3M Security Film also adds shatter resistance to existing glass assemblies. However, should the glass break, the film will hold the broken shards together preventing an often difficult clean-up.
Security Window Film also prevents injuries by making access to glass shards difficult, and maintains a barrier from the outside preventing further interior damage from the elements such as rain and snow. In a hospital setting, safety and security window film is frequently applied to pharmacy and nursing stations and exterior windows in mental health wards.
NON-DISRUPTIVE INSTALLATION
Installation is quick and non-disruptive making the choice for 3M Safety and Security Window Film an easy one. Our team of 3M Certified Installation Professionals are available to assist you through Window Film Canada – our 3M National Dealer Network.
Murals for Glass & Walls:
ADD WARMTH TO SPACES MAKING PATIENTS, EMPLOYEES & VISITORS FEEL WELCOME & SAFE
Custom designed high-resolution graphic window film can be applied to windows and walls to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Window film can also be used in children’s wards for creating a fun and comfortable space for young patients. Looking for something fun and functional? 3M ‘whiteboard’ film can turn any glass surface or wall into a writable, erasable canvas.
VIBRANT WALL GRAPHICS & INFORMATION BOARDS
In a hospital’s main lobby, a variety of solid, bright, colourful window film graphics can be applied to walls and information boards. Both translucent and transparent films that allow light to pass through can also have a design printed on them and be applied to windows and glass surfaces, giving them an open and bright feeling.
CREATE HEALING ENVIRONMENTS FOR PATIENTS
Natural daylight in hospital environments is consistently identified as a factor that has been positively linked to improved patient recovery times. Windows add a therapeutic element to the indoor healthcare environment, and allow patients access to daylight and exposure to the outdoors. With their unique palette of coloured patterns and textures, 3M Glass Finishes give hospitals an easy way to create healing and rejuvenating environments.
PROMOTE HOSPITAL BRAND, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS & CLINICS ETC.
In today’s environment, medicine is often treated as a business, which makes marketing your hospital’s brand more important than ever. Your brand is your promise to deliver a health care experience for your patients that is specific and unique. We can help you with vibrant printed graphic treatments that prominently and effectively present your facilities logo, brand message and promise – to communicate and maintain your position meaningfully in the in the eyes of the public you serve. Internal signage is also an excellent option to advertise and promote hospital clinics and professional medical services to the tens of thousands of patients entering the front door and passing through your facility every year.
COLOURED FILM ON GLASS ADDS COMFORT & CHARACTER TO STERILE ENVIRONMENTS
In a bid to ‘brighten up’ hallways or specific areas, coloured window film can be applied to windows or glass partitions. A full spectrum of colours is available to achieve simple solid colour designs or intricate stained glass effects. Coloured window films allow light to pass through, making them an efficient and cost effective way of totally transform the atmosphere and the feel of hospital spaces.
Glass Privacy & Wayfinding Signage:
CREATE A PLEASING VISUAL GUIDE FOR VISITORS
Visually pleasing info-graphics are beneficial wayfinding tools for hospitals. By providing creative visual guides, visitors and patients are able to better navigate through complex campuses and facilities. Colourful and highly-durable directional markers, applied to walls windows and floors, serve as a helpful visual indicator for patients and visitors to reach their destination.
ENHANCES & PROTECTS PATIENT PRIVACY
Protecting the privacy of individual patients is crucial in hospitals, as any doctor or nurse is well aware. From maternity wards to emergency rooms, creating a comfortable, personal environment for each patient is of the upmost importance. A tinted or reflective window film on lower street level windows can provide patients with privacy, while still allowing them to maintain a visual connection to the outside world. As medical professionals are aware, being able to see outside and observe the natural progression from light to darkness is an important consideration for patients with neurological conditions.
DRAMATICALLY TRANSFORM SPACES & ENTRANCEWAYS
Hospitals are renowned for their long impersonal corridors. Window film printed with relaxing nature themes can be applied to walls and surfaces in strategic locations such as the entrance ways and reception seating areas. Thermoformed vinyl graphics films offer ultimate flexibility, and can be applied indoors or outdoors to textured surfaces such as brick, concrete block, and floors. This type of film is extremely durable and can be used to create crisp, photographic quality images as large as you require.
INEXPENSIVE UPGRADE FOR DIVIDERS AND HALLWAY WINDOWS
Frosted film is an inexpensive upgrade for dividers and hallway windows while providing patients the privacy they need. Consider using them for communicating messages in unexpected ways, making small areas feel larger and adding privacy without sacrificing light. Choose from a standard pattern, or work with our 3M Window Film experts to create a custom designed film that is unique to your hospital or brand.
