Solar control · TSER 85%

The headline performance figure. 85% of incident solar energy rejected at the glass plane — reflected, absorbed, and re-radiated outward. The highest rejection in the Solar Film range. Once applied, the control is permanent and passive: no setpoints, no user interface, no software.

Glare control · ~55%

Strong visible-glare reduction on bright days. The metallised layer cuts both solar heat AND visible-light glare aggressively — particularly noticeable for screen-based work near south-facing windows. The film does darken the room in the process; specify additional interior lighting if needed.

UV control · 99%

Equivalent to SPF 500+ at the glass plane. Eliminates the dominant cause of fabric, artwork, and floor-finish fade. The UV rejection is identical across the Solar Film range — all three films block 99% of UV.

Daylight reduction · 75%

Visible Light Transmission drops to 25% — the room receives a quarter of the daylight an untreated window would admit. Compare to Premium Ceramic at 70% VLT (the room stays bright) or a closed blackout blind at 0% VLT (room is dark). Reflective Silver sits in the middle — noticeably dimmer but not dark.

Exterior appearance · mirror effect

Exterior reflectivity ~60%. The film looks like a slightly mirrored surface from outside during daylight. Acceptable on rear elevations and commercial buildings; not acceptable on listed or conservation-area street-facing windows. Specified per pane — your visible front-facing glass can stay clear with Premium Ceramic while the rear gets Reflective Silver.

Per-pane application

Applied pane-by-pane, so different panes in the same property can receive different films. South-facing rear glazing can take Reflective Silver for maximum rejection; the street-facing front elevation can stay clear with Premium Ceramic; listed shopfront-style glass can take Clear Heat Rejection. The "control system" is the per-pane specification.

Winter U-value bonus

A small bonus during heating season: the metallised film acts as a low-emissivity coating, marginally improving the glazing U-value by around 8% (slightly more than Premium Ceramic's 5% bonus, because the metal is more reflective in the infrared as well as visible). Not the headline benefit but a worthwhile shoulder gain.

No degradation

Spectrophotometer measurements at 10 years show performance within ~2% of original spec. The metallised layer is hard-coated against scratch and oxidation. No degradation curve to monitor and no replacement cycle to schedule within the 12-year warranty period — the film holds its performance for 20+ years in normal use.

Combined with active controls

The film is the passive load-reduction layer. Active cooling, smart blinds, MVHR humidity control all sit downstream of the film's solar-rejection contribution. Active systems can be smaller and run less because the film has done its work first.

1 · Polyester carrier

Optically-clear polyester film, typically 50–75 micron thick, serves as the carrier for the metallised layer. Same carrier material as Premium Ceramic and Clear Heat Rejection — the visual and performance difference between the three films is in the coating, not the carrier.

2 · Sputtered-metal layer

Atom-thin layer of aluminium (most common), stainless steel, or hybrid alloy, vacuum-deposited onto the polyester via magnetron sputtering. The metal layer is what gives Reflective Silver both its high rejection performance and its mirror effect. Coating uniformity is verified at manufacture; performance is stable across the 20+ year design life.

3 · Hardcoat protective layer

Scratch-resistant hardcoat over the metallised layer, on the room-facing side of the film. Compatible with standard window-cleaning solutions and microfibre cloths. Won't degrade with normal cleaning.

4 · Pressure-sensitive adhesive

Acrylic adhesive on the window-facing side of the carrier. Adhesion to glass develops over the first 14 days post-install as the adhesive cross-links. Won't bubble, peel, or yellow within the 12-year warranty period.

5 · Edge sealant (premium installs)

For projects where edge integrity is critical (large panes, commercial scope, premium architectural fit-outs), a transparent edge sealant is applied around the perimeter of the film to prevent edge lift. Standard inclusion on installs over 4 m² per pane.

6 · Cleaning & care kit

Microfibre cloth and approved cleaning solution included with every install. Standard window-cleaning products work too — no special chemicals are needed for the hardcoat-protected film.

12-year warranty

Solar Film warrants the film against bubbling, peeling, yellowing, and significant performance degradation for twelve years from installation. Conditional on the film being installed on glass that's in good condition (no cracks, no edge damage, no failed double-glazed-unit seals on the treated pane).

20+ year design life

Solar Film publishes a 20+ year design life on the Reflective Silver film. The metallised layer is hard-coated against scratch and oxidation; the polyester carrier is UV-stable. The actual service life typically exceeds the warranty period by a significant margin — well-installed film commonly stays in service for 25+ years.

No maintenance required

The film needs no specific maintenance beyond normal window cleaning. The hardcoat protects against scratching from standard microfibre cloths. No annual service visit, no spectrophotometer recalibration, no replacement schedule within the warranty period.

Window cleaning

Treat the filmed surface as you would any glass — microfibre cloth, mild soap solution, no abrasive cleaners. The hardcoat handles this without degradation. Avoid scraping with razor blades or steel wool; both will damage the film surface.

Spectrophotometer check (optional)

For commercial installs where performance verification matters (architects' projects, BREEAM-credited refurbishments), a spectrophotometer measurement can be taken at year 5, 10, and 15 to verify the film is still delivering published rejection. CleverBloom can arrange this as an add-on service.

Replacement at end of life

At end of service life (typically 20+ years), the film is removed by hand-warming and peeling, and a replacement film applied to the same glass. No glass replacement needed. CleverBloom handles this for any film originally installed by us.