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Maximizing fade protection by installing window film on this  Ontario home

Designer Gray 55 window film… can you tell the difference?

This Ontario couple was looking for window film to protect their artwork, but maximize light transmission. The Designer Gray 55 optimizes light transmission, but still cuts out all the harmful factors that contribute to fading: heat, glare and ultraviolet rays. It also is priced competitively compared to UV rejection-only films.

• 45% heat rejection
• 43% glare reduction
• 99% UV ray rejection

Facts about Fading

 Winter sun is more damaging to homes in northern regions than home interiors in the sunny south.

“People in northern states may not know that because of the low angle of the winter sun, more ultraviolet rays may come through a window into the living space than in the summer in Florida,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of IWFA (International Window Film Association).[1]

New windows that advertise UV protection only block 70% UV rays, while window film blocks up to 99% UV rays.

It is estimated that 40-60% of fade damage is caused by ultraviolet energy. [2]

Environmentally-friendly products are more susceptible to fading.

With the focus today on protecting the environment, many building product manufacturers (fabric dyes, wood stains, paints, fabrics, etc) have switched from solvent-based products to water-based products. Even though these newer products have an obvious environmental benefit, they are less stable than their predecessors and more likely to fade sooner. [3]

Most authoritative research on fade damage was done by the United States National Bureau of Standards in the early 1950s.  

They were looking to find a way to protect the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The United States Library of Congress wanted to design a glass filter to keep out ultraviolet rays. Scientists found that if they blocked all the ultraviolet rays, they could slow down the rate of fading by a factor of about three. [3]

References

[1] Winter Sun is More Damaging to a Northern Home’s Interior Than the Summer Sun in Florida, but Help is Available With Window Film –  www.prnewswire.com
[2] Retrofit Magazine – Does window film prevent fading of fabrics?
[3] Florida Solar Energy Center – Windows and Fading

Related Articles with Facts about Fading

The Facts About Ultraviolet Radiation and Fading – National Fenestration Rating Council (.pdf)
Northeast Document Conseration Center 2.4 Protection from Light Damage
Research Paper – UV-Blocking Window Films for Use in Museums—Revisited (.pdf)