In 1971- 72 I worked for a company who had a new product added to their business – window tinting. I was asked to be a tinter and was given a book to read on how to install window tint for flat glass – this was the only training I got.

In those days, we used a spray-on glue on the glass, and the only colour available was Silver Reflective Film.

3M were the first company to import film and three months later we started selling film. Over the years I worked for company using 3M, Madico, Bekaert /DTI and Sungard.

Eventually I learnt how to install auto tint. This was a challenge as you had to do overlap splicing on a rear screen. I remember once having to do 15 splices on a Porche. Eventually George Marriotto developed training lessons on how to install auto tint to a rear screen in one piece, this was the best thing since sliced bread.

I joined MEP in 1986 to train Sol-Ace on how to sell and install flat glass film.

I remember my office was a large cutting table and my desk was the top of a bar fridge – so I really started from the bottom. At MEP Films I decided to start teaching how to sell different products to all business via seminars in Sydney and country areas. MEP was very supportive of this successful program as companies were educated on all films.

I have many proud moments.

Back in 1992 we almost lost our industry. The NSW government banned auto tint and tried to close all tinting businesses, and the suppliers united to save the auto tint industry. WFAANZ was created after this, when we saw how much better it was to represent the industry as a unified body.

I thank the following people for this 3M Peter Wotten, Bekaert/DTI Jim Neeves, MEP George Mariotto, Madico Gary Lane and Sungard Richard Hall.

My involvement with WFAANZ was initially as Treasurer. I personally would like to thank all committee past and present on supporting this great industry. I would also like to thank WFAANZ for introducing WERS For Film training, which I completed and which I presented for a time. I encourage all flat lass tinters to do this professional training course and boost the professionalism of our industry.

In retirement I’ll miss the friendships I made over years from 1986 to 2025. To my colleagues, I will miss greatly thank you. I also thank John Sofarnos from MEP Films for taking us all to see how film is produced – it was an experience.

A funny experience was when a new product called ‘flow on liquid tint’ came on the market. Our boss came out dressed in a suit to show us how to install it. At one point, the hose came off and green die sprayed everywhere, over the white lush carpet and the walls. In a panic, the boss stuck the hose into his belly button. Let’s just say he was also green everywhere.

Now retirement! It is strange at first after spending 50 odd years working. I’ve got this year planned with trips to FIJI, Margret River, plenty of fishing, golf and looking at joining Marine Rescue. Just trying to be active and enjoy life. I’d like to thank Warren Koopmans for making my retirement memorable.

I wish all tinting businesses great success. I’m truly fortunate to be involved in this industry and watching it blossom over the years.

Window film provides an excellent option for building owners needing to increase the safety of their glass without the expense of glass replacement and AS 1288:2021 Glass in Buildings – selection and installation offers a great opportunity for window film installers.

Remember, we’re talking about safety and in many cases the safety of children, so AS 1288 must not be taken lightly… get a copy!

Window film installers cannot conduct glass safety audits for their clients. Only certified building inspector or engineers are qualified for this. It is important you advise the client you are offering your opinion on which glass you believe should be window filmed in accordance with AS 1288, but you are not qualified to provide a formal audit. It must remain the client’s responsibility to ensure compliance via a building inspector or engineer.

AS 1288:2021 Glass in Buildings – selection and installation nominates the types of glass that must be used in different areas of buildings and types of buildings. It is referenced in the National Construction Code (NCC).

AS 1288 covers many requirements such as the strength of balustrade glass, overhead glass, glass subject to wind loads, glass subject to human impact and much more, but the main area of concern to window film installers is human impact.

AS 1288, Section 5, Criteria for Human Impact ensures safety glass is used in locations at risk of human impact. These locations include doors, low level windows, shopfronts etc. AS 1288 also has specific sections dealing with glass in bathrooms, schools, aged care facilities, and childcare facilities. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when safety glass is required in any building.

Safety glass can be:

• Laminated glass
• Toughened/tempered glass
• Safety organic coated glass (annealed glass with safety film)

Annealed glass can be achieve Grade A safety glazing with safety window film.

There are maximum permissible pane sizes for different glass thicknesses. For example, a 3mm thickness pane may be safety filmed to attain Grade A status only if the pane is less than 2m², if the pane is 6mm thickness then the pane can be up to 3m², and so on.

When installing safety film for AS 1288 compliance consider the following:

• Each pane must be labelled as being a safety glass. Window film distributors must provide you with AS 2208 compliance stickers. These must be adhered to a corner of every pane, prior to the window film. Installing window film over the sticker ensures its permanency. These stickers must show the year of film installation.
• Some client’s may also ask you for a paper certificate of compliance. This is not an AS 1288 or AS 2208 requirement but WFAANZ distributor members will be able to provide you with this if required
• AS 1288 requires most glass within 1m of the floor to be Grade A safety glass. This means that if the bottom of the glass pane is within 1m of the floor then the whole pane must be filmed. Do not install a strip of film along the bottom of the pane to cover just the glass area that is within 1m of the floor
• AS 1288 has a section entitled ‘Making Glass Visible (Manifestation)’. The purpose of this requirement is to help avoid people walking into the glass because they can’t see it. This is common on glass doors, walls, etc. An opaque window film may be installed as a strip across the glass and this can also be computer cut with logos or decorations.  Clause 5.19 covers what is permissible in detail. A word of caution, buildings where the BCA requires access for people with disabilities have different requirements for manifestation and these are detailed in AS 1428.1.

In general terms, auto glass blocks most of the UVB anyway so the figures from manufacturers/distributors relating to UV rejection cover both UVA and UVB.

As an independent association, WFAANZ can’t comment on film specifics – we don’t discuss/endorse/promote products. We also cannot speak to the calculation methods of different suppliers. On that front, WFAANZ recommends working with a WFAANZ distributor member (here) all of which have made a commitment to upholding industry standards and a code of ethics.

Some good points there about the positive benefits of sunlight to our health. For instance, a lack of sunlight leads to a vitamin D deficiency plus as you say there would be other benefits and certainly more being discovered.

Film has no impact in this sense as glass itself blocks the UVB, film does UVA. According to the Cancer Council, of the UV that reaches the Earth’s surface, 95% is UVA and 5% UVB.

Without having further detail about the wavelengths needed for the other health benefits that Justine and Scott refer to, it’s hard to speak to their views directly. Having the wavelengths in question identified is important because – like in the vitamin D example – those wavelengths may be outside of what window film acts on, making it a moot point. 

The detrimental effects of passive and excessive exposure to UV must be considered when addressing this question. 

Using the vitamin D example, the Cancer Council states: “For most people, adequate vitamin D levels are reached through regular incidental exposure to the sun. When the UV Index is 3 or above (such as during summer), most people maintain adequate vitamin D levels just by spending a few minutes outdoors on most days of the week.”

The health benefits we may miss by restricting UV and IR light must be weighed against the health risks of all day UVA exposure from unfilmed glass.

Problems arise when, through work or activity, you are exposed to sunlight behind a window. While someone may feel protected because they’re ‘inside’, driving a truck or sitting by an office window for example, they’re getting hours of direct exposure per day. Unfilmed glass transmits a lot of UVA (which can be a health concern), so that driver or worker is at risk without them realising.

Thanks to campaigns like slip, slop, slap, when people venture outside they are aware that a risk exists under the sun, and more likely to take steps to prevent burn and limit the duration of exposure. It is our estimation that most people aren’t as conscious of the UVA risks of sitting behind vehicle or building glass.