ASTM E1886

As both natural disasters and targeted violence become more common, it’s increasingly important to assess how well a building’s windows and doors can withstand real-world threats. Whether you’re designing for hurricanes or trying to delay forced entry amid civil unrest, one question matters most: Can this system take a hit?

ASTM E1886 provides a standardized method for answering that question. It measures how well windows, doors, and curtain walls perform under intense pressure and flying debris—conditions typical with hurricanes. The standard has become a reference point in evaluating security window films.

What Is ASTM E1886?

ASTM E1886, developed by ASTM International, is the Standard Test Method for Performance of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, Doors, and Impact Protective Systems Impacted by Missile(s) and Exposed to Cyclic Pressure Differentials.

In practical terms, it evaluates how well a glazing system holds up when hit by high-speed debris and subjected to intense air pressure cycling—simulating hurricane conditions or violent impact. The most common test involves launching a 9-pound 2x4 wood stud at 50 feet per second (about 34 mph) into the system using a missile propulsion device. While designed for hurricane debris impact, the large-missile test provides a useful indicator of how glazing behaves under substantial blunt-force impact.

After the impact, the system undergoes pressure cycling in a test chamber to replicate fluctuating wind forces experienced during a storm. ASTM E1886 is almost always used in combination with ASTM E1996, which defines the size, weight, and speed of test projectiles based on risk category or geographic location.

What the ASTM E1886 Standard Test Method Evaluates

To pass ASTM E1886, a glazing system must prevent penetration by the test missile and remain intact through multiple rounds of positive and negative pressure cycles. The system must also remain safe—meaning it cannot break into dangerous shards or collapse during testing.

While the standard evaluates both small and large missile impacts, the “large missile” test—often a 2x4—is most relevant for forced-entry scenarios in security applications.

How ASTM E1886 Applies to Security Window Film

ASTM E1886 has become one of several testing standards cited for security window films, particularly those marketed for forced-entry resistance or blast mitigation. However, it’s important to understand what this standard does—and doesn’t—validate when applied to film-based systems.

Security window film is not a regulated term. Any manufacturer can call their product “security film,” regardless of its performance. That’s why third-party testing to industry-accepted standards is essential. These standards provide a verifiable framework for evaluating how a product performs under specific conditions, allowing buyers to compare products more confidently.

Many reputable security films are tested to one or more of the following standards:

• ANSI Z97.1: Measures basic impact resistance using a pendulum to strike glass treated with film. The glass can crack, as long as the film holds it together well enough to prevent entry.
• GSA Blast Standards: Evaluates how well a window system resists pressure from explosive forces. Films rated to GSA levels may reduce glass fragmentation during an explosion.
• UL 972: Tests for resistance against hit-and-run style break-ins using repeated impacts from a steel ball. This measures general anti-intrusion performance—not ballistic resistance.
• ASTM E1886/E1996: Simulates windborne debris impact, such as a 9-pound 2x4 launched at 50 feet per second. When film is installed on glazing that passes E1886/E1996, the system may retain fragments under significant impact loads; however, this does not validate performance against deliberate tool-based forced-entry.

While these tests can demonstrate impressive performance in specific situations, they should not be confused with ballistic protection.

What About Bulletproof Window Film?

There’s no such thing as “bulletproof window film.” Despite what some marketing materials claim, no film product on the market today—regardless of thickness, layering, or brand—can be applied to existing windows and reliably stop bullets, even from a small-caliber handgun.

This is not a failure of the film itself, but a limitation of the materials it relies on. Security films work by enhancing the structural integrity of existing glass. But unless that glass is engineered to be part of a ballistic-resistant system—like those tested to UL 752—you cannot count on it to stop gunfire. And in retrofit scenarios, you typically can’t verify the structural or ballistic integrity of the existing glass.

That’s why you won’t find window films tested to ballistic standards like UL 752. These tests require stand-alone materials to resist bullets independently. No transparent plastic film currently available meets those requirements.

Where ASTM E1886 & Security Film Fit In

Security window film can be a valuable part of a larger security plan, but only when it’s used in the right way and in the right locations.

In non-critical areas like unoccupied lobbies, side elevations, or storage areas, film can help delay entry and contain glass fragments. But in any zone where protecting life is the priority, such as main entrances, reception areas, or anywhere people gather, film alone isn’t enough. Those areas require true ballistic glazing, tested to UL 752 standards.

The ASTM E1886 test method relates to understanding how a system will perform under impact and pressure, but the performance determined does not tell you how it will respond to a firearm threat. For that, you need a ballistic system—designed, engineered, and tested as one.

Not sure which standard applies where? Our experts can help you design a layered solution that balances budget, code requirements, and protection—without compromising aesthetics or safety.

Contact us to learn more.