Solar - Reflect or Reject
Depending on the level of window shade there may always be some form of solar heat gain entering your home through your windows, this will be in the form of Infrared, Visible Light and UV radiation.
Window film is designed to reduce the amount of solar heat entering your home, it also reduces sun glare and can add some additional privacy.
The heat transmitted through your windows to be absorbed by furniture within your home can be translated into power or Watts, which your cooling system must reject to keep your home relatively cool.
Properties of Solar Radiation
Below are the components of solar radiation that window film assist with limiting entry of through your windows.
IRR – Infrared Rejection – This is more commonly known as thermal radiation, the heat that can transmit through your windows and impact your level of comfort. Our films are capable of reflecting up to x% of Infrared Radiation.
VLT – Visible Light Transmission - This is the level of visible light the window film allows into your home. A low VLT value will typically reflect a darker film and a higher TSER value detailed below, resulting in power savings. Our films are capable of reflecting up to x% of Visible Light.
UVR – Ultraviolet Radiation – The UVR wavelength spectrum is dangerous to the human body, it causes sunburn and increases the risk of skin cancer. UV is also responsible for fading furniture, floor materials and wall paint, especially when no UV additives are in the raw materials. All of our window film products reject a minimum of 99% UVR.
TSER – Total Solar Energy Rejected – This the amount of energy our film is capable of rejecting in consideration of IRR, VLT and UVR above. Our films are capable of rejecting up to 75% of heat attempting to enter your home.
Single V Double Glazed Windows
Single glaze windows are becoming a thing of the past for Victorians with star rating requirements for new homes in place, double glazed windows are now the most common type of window installed.
During summer single and double glazed windows will allow equivalent levels of solar heat to enter your home. Double glazed windows perform at their best during the winter months in Victoria by preventing heat loss. These types of windows aren’t commonly used in Queensland, better results are achieved with laminated glass containing the desired window film between the glass panels. With cold winters in Victoria and warm summers, best thermal results are achieved with window film installed on double glazed windows.
Double glazed windows typically contain two sheets of glass separated by a cavity that is filled with Argon gas. Argon is the third most abundant element in our atmosphere and is very good at resisting the transfer of sensible heat, temperature that you can feel, either warm or cold.
During winter the Argon layer slows down or resists the transfer of heat within your home to outside, reducing the demand on your heating system.
Argon gas along with Nitrogen and Oxygen are not good resistors to infrared radiation and visible light generated by our sun, these two components are the largest contributors to heat energy transferring through your windows into your home.
Our Range & Options
We understand the importance of reducing the amount heat entering your home during the summer period.
We also understand the importance of having enough light transmitted through your windows and for some room locations the need for additional privacy is also important.
Our range of film varies in the amount of transmitted light, heat rejection, UV rejection and deflected power.
All of our films are dark enough to assist with an improved level of privacy however some of our products have mirror like properties to assist with a higher level of privacy.
Installing film on the windows of your home is an effective addition to reflect heat that may enter your home during the summer months. Our window film products will reflect up to 75% of the sun’s energy to keep your home cooler, reducing the demand on you cooling system. The percentage of the sun’s energy that a film may deflect is highly correlated to how dark the film is, darker films tend have a higher heat reflection capability however darker film also reduce the amount of light able to enter your home.