Don't Be Fooled

Consideration in Making The Right Choice of Window Film

Be Clear On What You Are Getting On Your Windows

Remember to check on the performance of the film that will be installed on your windows.

Numbers lifted from a brochure can be deceiving as some film companies tend to state the actual performance specs of the lower performing films to figures that are higher than they actually are. In order to ensure that you are getting for what you are paying for, do ask for Test Reports that indicate these performance specifications on.

Some Important Terms to Understand

Visible Light Transmission (VLT)	Refers to the percent of total visible light that passes through
Visible Light Reflectance (VLR)	Refers to the percent of total visible light that is reflected
Ultraviolet (UV) Rejection	Refers to the percent of ultraviolet light that is rejected from passing through. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun may result in serious consequences such as cataracts, which lead to blindness, skin cancer and pre-mature aging. It is largely responsible for fading of car upholstery. It gives the vehicle interior an aged look and reduces its lifespan.
Infra-Red Transmission (IRT)	This is the major part of solar radiation that contributes to heat. Infra-red is absorbed by the interior materials and skin, making them warmer. The lower the IRT, the less heat is transmitted through the window. You may also find the term spectrally selective being referred to as a film with high VLT and low IRT.
Total Solar Energy Rejected (Tser)	Refers to the combination energy rejection of the visible light, infra-red and ultra violet. A high Tser reading need not necessarily mean a high heat rejection as it could also mean a high visible light rejection. Therefore a darker film gives a better Tser rejection than that of a lighter film. To ensure that a film has a good heat rejection performance, it is best to look at the infra-red rejection specification.
Shading Coefficient	Refers to the ratio of solar heat gain through any given window system to the solar heat gain that would occur under the same conditions if the windows were made with clear window glass. The lower the shading coefficient, the greater the capacity of the window to control solar energy.