If you work in the city, look around you. What do you see? Tons of buildings and glass, of course. But that likely isn’t normal glass. The windows of most city buildings are layered with a type film that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays (UV) rays.
You may not have noticed, —literally—but these invisible films are part of a booming market expected to reach close to $8 billion in 2019. It’s thriving thanks to the need for better solar and security protection and the desire to advertise and decorate in new ways.
Window films were first introduced in the early 1960s as a way to combat UV rays and control heating. These films reflected solar radiation, but allowed visible light to enter the building. This prevented the building from becoming too hot and helped managers better control inside temperatures. The pay off for a company was lower costs on their monthly energy bills.
Through time, window films evolved. Because of the energy crisis in the early 1970s, many consumers became interested in reducing heat loss within a building. With that, polyethylene terephthalate films (PET) were manufactured. These films absorbed and redirected long wave infrared inside heat instead of just letting it pass through.
In short, PET films start off as pellets that are melted down and stretched into polyester sheets through a sophisticated process.
Today people can purchase a wide variety of window films to meet their needs. Before installing window films, it’s best to understand what each one accomplishes.
If a manager wants to better protect their employees, they should consider installing 3m Sun Control Window Films. These block up to 99 percent of UV rays but allow 70 percent of visible light through windows. It also rejects up to 60 percent of heat streaming through.
For high-security companies, such as banks, 3M Safety & Security Window Films are perfect. These films range from 4 mil single layer and 6 mil multi-layer clear film to 42 micro-layers of strong, tear-resistant technology. These also do a great job of rejecting up to 60 percent of heat coming through windows and up to 87 percent of infrared rays.
Finally, 3M Fasara Decorative films can provide managers with new, innovative ways to express their company’s message or give the office some new flare. These also block up to 99 percent of UV light which ensures that office furniture and furnishings don’t fade.
If you would like to know more about the composition or uses of 3M window films call Michigan Glass Coatings today.