LA's Earthquake Risk
Los Angeles sits atop the San Andreas, Newport-Inglewood, and dozens of other active faults. Seismologists estimate a high probability of a major earthquake striking Southern California within the coming decades. For most homes and businesses, large panes of glass are among the most vulnerable elements during a quake.
Flying and falling glass is one of the leading causes of non-structural earthquake injuries — and one of the easiest to prevent.
How Window Film Protects During Earthquakes
Safety film bonds to the glass and holds shattered fragments in place rather than letting them fall or fly across a room. This keeps broken glass out of walkways and away from people, dramatically reducing the most common type of earthquake injury.
Glass Injury in Earthquakes
A significant share of earthquake-related injuries come from broken glass — lacerations from windows, doors, and partitions that shatter during shaking. Holding that glass together is a simple, proven mitigation that protects occupants in the critical seconds of an event.
California Building Codes
California's building codes include safety-glazing requirements for hazardous locations such as doors, low windows, and areas near walking surfaces. Safety film is widely used to bring existing glazing closer to modern safety performance in renovations and retrofits.
Residential Earthquake Safety
In homes, the biggest risks are the largest panes:
- Large sliding glass doors — the biggest risk in most homes
- Floor-to-ceiling windows
- Skylights
- Glass railings and partitions
Commercial Earthquake Safety
For businesses and institutions, life-safety glazing is critical:
- Office building glazing and curtain walls
- Retail storefronts
- Schools and hospitals — life-safety applications
Film Recommendation
We recommend LLumar 8mil or 12mil safety film for earthquake protection — the same film we use for security applications. It delivers strong glass retention while remaining optically clear.
Dual Purpose
A single safety film can provide earthquake protection, security against forced entry, and UV blocking that protects your interiors from fading — three benefits in one product.