FAQ

• The greater the difference between the level of lighting outside a building and inside the building the greater is the difficulty in seeing into the building.

• On overcast days or at dawn and dusk when the difference between inside and outside light levels is less, privacy is reduced.

Short Answer: Window tinting films reduce the rate of fading by blocking 99% of the ultra violet (UV) spectrum and by reducing heat and light. A film like Ambiance 75 which blocks 99% of the UV spectrum, 75% of the Infra-red spectrum (heat) and 77% of the visible light spectrum will reduce the rate of fading of carpets, curtains and furnishings by about 78%. This means your things will last a lot longer – the amount of fading that would normally be expected after 3 years will take 10 years with the film installed.

Detailed answer here

• Window tinting film reduces the heat that enters a room through windows. A film’s heat reducing performance is measured as a percentage of the Total Solar Energy that the film Rejects (TSER).

Standard window tinting films either reflect the solar energy away from the window (eg Mirror Tint) or block the solar energy by shading the window (much like shade cloth).

• Standard window tinting films block (or reflect) all three forms of solar energy in equal part. They do not distinguish between the visible light that we want in our home and the UV and infrared that we want to keep out. This means a standard window tinting film that achieves high heat reduction will also block most of the visible light, and make a home “feel” dark. This is the basis for the myth that only a dark film will block the heat.

Standard window films are a popular choice in commercial buildings because they achieve high heat reduction at relatively low cost, and any loss of natural light is compensated by the use of artificial lighting. However, most homeowners do not want a home that “feels” dark nor do they want to turn on lights during the day and new “smart” films were developed to meet the priorities of homeowners. Rather than blocking the infrared, UV and the visible light equally, Smart Films are designed to block as much of the invisible spectrum as possible (infrared and UV) while blocking only as much visible light as required for comfort.

• Clearly, the more visible light that is blocked, the more heat is also blocked, however, if too much light is blocked it will make the home “feel” dark and uninviting, which most people wish to avoid.
• By blocking more of the invisible spectrum than standard window tinting films, Smart Films can let in more visible light and still achieve a similar Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) as a standard film.

Where a building is air-conditioned, the installation of window tinting will reduce the heat load on the air conditioner and save energy. This will reduce your electricity bill and because you consume less energy you help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power stations which contributes to global warming. The typical pay back in commercial building is 2 - 3 years.

• Visible light stops our home feeling dark, but too much light (glare) is uncomfortable.
• Ultraviolet light causes furniture, carpets and curtains to fade and can damage our skin and eyes so it is best to keep this out.
• Infrared radiation keeps us warm, but too much can make our home feel hot.
• Many products have been developed to control the effects of the sun.
• Window tinting is the most popular and cost effective option.

It has long been recognised that solar energy can be reflected away from a window and the earliest window films were highly reflective (eg. Mirror Tint). These films were very effective at blocking heat but they also blocked the light and many people didn’t like their shiny appearance.

Film manufacturers then made films that were non-reflective. These films absorbed the heat into the glazing system and re-radiated much of the heat outside. These films worked by shading the windows from the sun (much like shade cloth) which meant that films that achieved the highest heat reduction also blocked the most light, and many people complained that it made their home feel dark.

As a result, concern about window tinting films making a home feel dark is now very common. And it is true, standard window tinting films achieve heat reduction by shading the window. This means the level of natural light entering the room falls as the heat reduction of the film increases. Typically, a standard window tinting film that achieves 70% heat reduction will block 80% to 90% of the natural light from entering the room and make it "feel" dark. On overcast days artificial lighting will be necessary.

The latest technology Smart Films are made from exotic materials with unique spectral properties (ie. materials that will block or transmit solar energy depending on the wavelength). This means Smart Films can block the heat (wavelengths 700 – 2100 nanometres) and the ultraviolet (wavelengths 280 – 400 nanometres) but let through visible light (wavelengths 400 – 700 nanometres) so your home won’t feel dark.

Spectrally selective Smart Films achieve high heat reduction by selectively blocking parts of the light spectrum. The wavelengths associated with infrared and ultraviolet light are blocked while visible light is allowed to pass through. This means a clear spectrally selective film can achieve quite high heat reduction. However, a clear window tinting film will not provide the glare reduction or the privacy some people may seek. Smart Films Ambiance 25 film blocks 75% of the infrared and 99% of the ultraviolet spectrum and blocks only as much natural light necessary to eliminate harsh glare and provide privacy. This window tinting film does reduce the level of natural light entering a room but the reduction is not discernable to most people. The film creates what most people describe as a softer, more pleasant, lighting environment – hence the film name Ambiance.

Smart Films offer a no compromise solution to heat, glare and fading. There is a Smart Film to fulfil the specific requirements of most people. What are your priorities?