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Opalux Window Film Blog
How can you keep your workplace cool during the summer?
With recent news headlines having drawn attention to intensifying heat around the globe, now may be as good a time as any to consider whether your organisation is doing everything it can to protect its workers from the adverse effects of heat.
After all, an overly warm workplace can be problematic in a number of ways. If your staff are to be at their happiest and most productive, you should be looking to keep the temperature at your premises roughly between 13 degrees C (56 degrees F) and 30 degrees C (86 degrees F).
If your workers’ activities are more strenuous than average, it is advised that you target the lower end of this range, whereas for workers involved in activities of a more sedentary nature, a temperature at the higher end will probably be most suitable.
At this time of year in particular, your workplace may be at risk of becoming too hot, rendering your workers more tired and less energetic, as well as more likely to suffer from heat (muscle) cramps. Too much heat could also be responsible for lower concentration that may make your workers more susceptible to accidents.
5 quick tips for helping your workers to cope with the heat
- Provide desk, pedestal and/or ceiling-mounted fans
- Ensure windows can be opened
- Move workstations away from direct sunlight or other heat-radiating objects or situations
- Allow your workers to take breaks if necessary to get cold drinks or cool down
- Install heat reduction films like those that we supply here at Opalux
There can be no better source of industry-leading heat reduction films
Solar control is one of our key specialities here at Opalux, which means you can order dedicated films from us that are as effective at reducing glare as they are at lowering the amount of heat experienced by your workers.
Indeed, you don’t merely have a business or moral duty to ensure your workers can focus on their assignments in comfort during this especially hot summer and beyond. That’s because, by installing our heat reduction films, you could also be better fulfilling your legal obligations, in accordance with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.
Our acclaimed Reflective – Solar 20 (SO-20RS-iSR) film, for instance, is capable of rejecting as much as 99% of ultraviolet (UV) light, while also reducing glare by 82%. It is just one of the many trusted and high-performing heat reduction films we are delighted to offer to organisations and premises with a wide range of specialised requirements that may also include privacy and aesthetic concerns.
Why not, therefore, enquire to our technical department today about any of these highly rated solutions, by calling +44 (0)845 026 1125 or emailing solutions@opaluxwindowfilms.com?
5 lesser-noticed benefits of Opalux solar control window film
You may initially browse our selection of solar control films here at Opalux with an interest in purchasing the product that will best reduce the amount of heat that builds up in your buildings or those to which you are looking to fit such window film.
However, such films can also bring many other less-often-publicised advantages, such as the below.
Maximum control over glazing appearance
If you are interested in buying this type of window film for a practical purpose, you may be concerned about it having an undesirable effect on the way the given building’s glazing looks.
Thankfully, we can supply solar control films here at Opalux that also offer just the right appearance for the given application – whether you would prefer a reflective uniform appearance, a muted grey or bronze aesthetic, or no discernible cosmetic difference at all.
Applicability to plastic, not just glass
Users of buildings or conservatories that use polycarbonate instead of glass for their windows or skylights can suffer from many of the same problems that lead Opalux customers to order from our range of conventional solar control window film – in short, excessive heat gain and glare.
It is therefore fortunate that we are also able to provide solar reflective films that have been manufactured with a specific adhesive, meaning they can be fitted to plastic without bubbling up.
Greater privacy
Not only does glazing through which external observers can easily see potentially serve to make a bad impression – for example, if your offices are often cluttered – but it could also have security implications if there are many expensive items inside that could tempt a prospective thief.
This is why the utmost daytime privacy may be a benefit that you would like your chosen solar control window film to achieve. An acclaimed internally applied Opalux film such as Reflective – Silver 20 (SO-20RS-iSR) could be perfect for ensuring this.
Less expenditure on cooling
If the rooms of your buildings reject excessive heat gain as a result of Opalux solar control window film having been installed, this also has the advantage of lowering your cooling costs.
Not having to depend so much on the air conditioning equipment at your premises also helps to reduce Climate Change Levy liability, thereby further lessening any unnecessary spending by your organisation.
Keeping the building’s occupants safe
As recent headlines have sadly given us cause to reflect on, severe heat gains are not only responsible for discomfort – they can also imperil a person’s health and safety.
You may therefore request the installation of solar control window film as a means of better ensuring your firm’s compliance with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations. This will also give you the peace of mind of knowing that your building’s users are as well-protected as possible.
Enquire to the seasoned technical staff at Opalux today to receive the advice that will help you to select the most suitable window film for your requirements. You can do so by completing and submitting our online contact form or calling 0845 026 1125.
Yes, glare can be a big problem in a conservatory, too
If you have only recently acquired your dream home conservatory, the last problem that you will want to have to experience is difficulty reading a book or a computer screen due to glare. However, this is an issue that arises with conservatories all too frequently, which is why you may wish to investigate the various forms of window film to reduce glare now on the market.
Polycarbonate roofs can be affordable, but problematic
It’s unsurprising that conservatory roofs are often made from polycarbonate, given that this material is – after all – about three to four times less expensive than a glass roof. Unfortunately, though, polycarbonate roofs are just as vulnerable to glare as glass ones are, potentially spoiling your attempts to read, work or watch TV in your conservatory due to the bright sun obscuring your vision.
Thankfully, there are solutions on hand here at Opalux to give you vital relief from glare as a conservatory user. These include a translucent metallised film that is designed to be applied from the inside – known as Opalux Suncool SO-10SC-iBF – and a metallised silver solar protective film that doesn’t merely reduce heat and glare, but also provides one-way privacy during the day.
The latter of these films has the code SO-20RS-eBFSR, and incorporates the polycarbonate-friendly adhesive that you would expect from a product conceived with this type of conservatory roof in mind. It is highly effective simply as window film to reduce glare, delivering 81% glare reduction, but also offers so many more benefits, including up to 99% ultraviolet light (UV) filtering and a uniform outside appearance. Indeed, the film sports a silver reflective look from the outside, and a much less noticeable light tint when viewed within the conservatory.
The ideal window films for a variety of requirements
While you may initially approach us with a need specifically for window film to reduce glare, we realise there may be various other things you would like your chosen product to do. This is why we are dedicated to supplying the most advanced and relevant selection of window films for a variety of requirements. Furthermore, we urge you to contact our technical team to benefit from the assistance that we can provide with the selection of the most appropriate solution.
Call us now on +44 (0)845 026 1125 or email solutions@opaluxwindowfilms.com, for all of the help that you could require to decide on and source suitable window film to reduce glare and heat – or for almost any other set of requirements.
Our solar reflective products have an excellent track record as glare reduction films
The decision to purchase solar reflective window film for your existing building or ongoing construction project may be made for any number of reasons. The reflective appearance of such films can be one key factor, not least in giving you exceptional daytime privacy. But the uniform look of these films can also be appealing simply from an aesthetic point of view, and then, there is their effectiveness in rejecting solar heat gain.
If, though, it is the reduction of glare that is the main result you wish to gain from any window film you purchase, you will also have much reason to be pleased with any solar reflective films you order from Opalux.
Whichever option you choose, exceptional glare reduction is guaranteed
Glare is a menace for many of those who own and use buildings for which window film may be purchased. It can be detrimental to comfort and productivity, making it a particular problem in commercial properties.
You may therefore be interested in buying relevant glare reduction films, such as Opalux’s Reflective – Silver 20 (SO-20RS-iSR) film that decreases glare by an astounding 82%, or the Reflective – Silver 35 (SO-35RS-iSR) film that can deliver 66% glare reduction. These are both internally applied solar reflective window films, with the range-topper – Reflective – Silver 50 (SO-50RS-iSR) – yielding an also-impressive 47% glare reduction.
These films do, of course, vary in other respects, with the Silver 50 film, for example, transmitting somewhat more solar energy through the glass than Silver 20. Nonetheless, they also have certain characteristics in common, such as their quick, retro-fit installation process and rejection of up to 99% of ultra-violet (UV) rays.
We have great external reflective films for lessening glare, too
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to apply film to the outside of your building’s glazing instead of the inside, such as if internal access is not possible. This is why it is fortunate that if you are seeking a combination of a solar reflective appearance and suitability for external application, we have several options – External Reflective – Silver 20 (SO-20RS-eSR) and External Reflective – Silver 35 (SO-35RS-eSR) – that bring exceptional results.
Such results include high levels of glare reduction that mirror the performance achieved by the interior-applied versions of these two films.
Don’t forget, too, that we can even give you External Reflective Silver 20 for Polycarbonate (SO-20RS-eBFSR) film, which is perfect for many polycarbonate substrates such as conservatory roofs, and delivers 81% less glare. For all kinds of solar reflective glare reduction films, then, Opalux is the only brand to which your organisation ever needs to turn.
Enhanced solar protection window film is available to ward off harmful UV
The havoc that ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun can cause in all manner of buildings should never be underestimated. Even premises where there may not seem to be much in need of protection can suffer from excessive UV, which is responsible for warping and cracking wood, fading the colours of fabrics and even damaging artworks over time.
Then, there are the rather more sensitive and specialised settings in which solar protection window film may be needed, such as museums and retail stores.
This is why it is so fortunate that we are able to supply the highest standard of enhanced UV protection film here at Opalux – but here are some of the things that you should know before ordering.
Going beyond standard UV protection
One of the great advantages of choosing Opalux for your own premises’ polyester window film is the fact that all such products we manufacture contain UV absorbers rendering them capable of blocking up to 99% of UV rays in the 300 to 380-nanometer range of the solar spectrum.
However, there may also be circumstances in which you require enhanced UV protection covering up to 400 nanometers and beyond. This is precisely what is provided by our Specialist UV Control – Clear film (SO-CLUV-iSR), which surpasses the requirements of leading conservation experts who have researched ultraviolet filters.
This film is not only able to be installed quickly, but is also scratch-resistant and depended on for the protection of exhibits, displays and furnishings from UV radiation.
But it is our UV Control – Amber 81 solar protection window film (SO-AMUV-iSR) that is even more impressive, its amber colour signalling its exceptional blocking capability. Like the SO-CLUV-iSR film, it exceeds the standard museum test requirements for low UV transmission and colour distortion. But it goes even further than this, providing excellent blocking up to 400 nanometers and keeping transmissions below 10% right through to 500 nanometers.
Ask us for help with choosing the right specialist film for you
Whatever the set of circumstances that might lead you to consider our enhanced UV solar protection window film, you should always consult the Opalux technical department before making your choice, so that you can be guided to the product that suits your every need.
It may be that you require not just a quote for such window film, but also a deeper discussion and site visit from an Opalux approved dealer. So for the utmost peace of mind, don’t hesitate to call us on 0845 026 1125, or fill in and submit our straightforward online contact form.
We are leading providers of externally applied heat reflective material for windows
Where there is a building within which you need to figure out a way of reducing heat gain that would stand to make users of the site uncomfortable and push up air conditioning bills, you may be tempted to investigate the many heat-reducing window films on the market. It’s therefore no surprise that you would consider such a highly rated and trusted name as Opalux – but what if you only have the option of applying such film externally, rather than internally?
You may presume in such a circumstance that there is no window film available that could provide the necessary level of resistance to the elements while also being genuinely effective at reducing heat – but you would be mistaken.
We are, in fact, highly acclaimed specialists in external heat reflective material for windows, with various well-regarded and proven options able to be purchased right now.
Several great solar reflective options are on sale
Many specifiers and end-users who wish to achieve a uniform appearance with the heat reduction films that they install ultimately choose one of our two External Reflective films – Silver 20 (SO-20RS-eSR) or Silver 35 (SO-35RS-eSR).
The Silver 20 film is especially formidable at lowering the amount of heat that reaches the occupants of a building, transmitting just 13% of solar energy through the glass, with 52% being reflected and 35% absorbed. However, the Silver 35 film may be the better choice for premises where a medium level of solar control is desired, and can be instrumental in slashing a firm’s cooling costs and, in the process, Climate Change Levy liability.
But we also give you many other fine options
We are proud to have in our stock a broad variety of high-performing and long-lasting heat reflective material for windows, so that whatever circumstances and requirements might apply at a particular site, we can help you to specify the ideal solution.
You may not be aware of our low-mirror films, for instance, that are available in exterior weatherable versions resulting in a neutral, grey or bronze appearance instead of the highly mirrored look typical of other solar reflective films.
If, meanwhile, you don’t want to noticeably change the appearance of the given building’s glazing at all but still wish to achieve a good level of solar heat rejection, it’s well worth taking a look at our SO-70IR-eSR Specialist Heat Control Clear External film. True to its name, this product is exterior grade – with a scratch-resistant coating – but also achieves as much as 99% UV rejection and absorbs 52% of solar energy, reflecting an additional 9%.
Even a polycarbonate window – such as a conservatory roof or rooflight – can benefit from Opalux’s considerable know-how in exterior-fitted heat reflective material for windows. Ask us today about our External Reflective Silver 20 for Polycarbonate (SO-20RS-eBFSR) film, which is a metallised polyester-based solar control film that has been designed specifically for polycarbonate substrates.
Allow us to allay your concerns about finding suitable heat-rejecting window film for whatever application or project you have in mind. Get in touch with Opalux at the specification stage to discuss your requirements in more detail, before requesting a free survey and quote.
Your options for low mirror glass film to reduce heat
No one ever wishes to be stuck in a building that is made almost inhospitable by excessive heat from the sun, yet this occurs all too often, despite the ease with which it can be resolved. However, you may also have certain other requirements for any window film that you purchase to lessen the amount of heat that passes through your glazing.
It may be that you are seeking the ideal glass film to reduce heat on your premises, but aren’t satisfied with the various solar reflective films available that provide an overly mirrored look from the outside.
You may, instead, desire a more neutral appearance from any such film, which is precisely what our acclaimed low mirror solar control films here at Opalux can give you.
Both internal and external films can be purchased from us
When you are on the lookout for the perfect low mirror glass film to reduce heat in your own building, one of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether the film will be fitted from the inside or outside. This is important because we offer both internal and external versions of these in-demand window films.
Then, there is the matter of whether you prefer a bronze or grey low mirror film for your premises, and you will naturally need to consider which of these options will best suit the building’s aesthetics.
If, for example, it is a grey low mirror film for internal application that you decide represents the best match for your requirements, you will be able to choose between our SO-20NG-iSR, SO-35NG-iSR and SO-50NG-iSR films. These films all lend themselves brilliantly to quick, retro-fit installation, while also being scratch-resistant and rejecting heat gain so that the users of your buildings feel more comfortable and you don’t have to spend as much money on cooling.
At the other end of the scale, we also stock externally applied low mirror films with a bronze appearance, namely External Sputtered Bronze 20 (SO-20SB-eSR) and External Sputtered Bronze 35 (SO-35SB-eSR). Again, the performance of these films is impressive, with both of them filtering as much as 99% of the UV rays that come into contact with them, while also providing a high level of glare reduction – 76% in the case of the Bronze 20 film.
The formidable solar protection films that will give you peace of mind
When you want to be sure of selecting the window film that meets the full range of requirements you have for your given application, there’s no better option than getting in touch directly with the technical team here at Opalux.
Send an email now to solutions@opaluxwindowfilms.com or call +44 (0)845 026 1125 to receive the benefit of our tailored advice, as well as to arrange a free survey and quotation. You will soon realise that we are the only company to which you should turn for industry-leading glass film to reduce heat.
Clear heat reduction films can be invaluable if glare control is not a priority
The Opalux name has come to be associated with a broad range of highly rated solutions for the rejection of solar glare and heat gain, with just one category of such products being our clear heat control films.
However, our clear heat control films are not ‘just any’ heat reduction films; they are highly sophisticated and spectrally selective, filtering out infrared (IR) radiation at the same time as transmitting high levels of visible light. This means that they are, first and foremost, heat reduction films, albeit also delivering a very limited amount of glare control.
Nonetheless, these are not films that you would select if glare reduction is a great priority, or if the space in question already benefits from adequate measures to minimise glare, such as the use of curtains, blinds or awnings. You are therefore especially likely to choose these films if the space in question is one where the preservation of a natural appearance is important, but you also wish to reject solar heat gain.
Several acclaimed options are available for such film
There are two solutions in our current range of internally applied clear heat reduction films, as well as a film that is to be installed externally.
The former two are the SO-70IR-iSR and SO-70XLIR-iSR films that both provide 99% UV rejection. They are also known as Opalux Specialist Heat Control Clear Film and Opalux Supreme XL IR Heat Control Film respectively, and are invaluable for such settings as retail shop windows and motor showrooms. Both of these films are also quick to apply, scratch-resistant and allow very high light transmissions.
These same advantages are also present in our External Specialist Heat Control Clear Film, which is also known as SO-70IR-eSR. It is another state-of-the-art heat reduction film that rejects a high level of solar heat, while not noticeably reducing daylight levels or changing the appearance of windows. This makes it the perfect clear solar control film in the event of internal application being deemed unfeasible or undesirable.
Allow us to assist you in your search for heat reduction films
Heat control is one of the most important functions that you may wish your window films to perform. This helps to explain why it is such a priority of ours here at Opalux to ensure only the highest-quality, up-to-the-minute heat reduction films are represented in our range.
Whatever your own requirements may be for such films as a specifier or end-user, we are likely to be able to bring you a highly suitable solution. So why not contact us today to ask a question or arrange a free survey, by calling the Opalux team today on +44 (0)845 026 1125?
When you require window film to reduce glare, turn to Opalux
Opalux is no less than the UK’s premier window film brand, with our installing dealers catering to homes, businesses and organisations in every region of the UK. It should therefore be of no great surprise that so many of our products focus to such a great degree on the reduction of glare, often by as much as 80% or more.
Glare is, after all, one of the biggest problems plaguing many premises today, not least offices in tall buildings that see daily use. The issue may be even greater in the winter, in fact, than in the summer, due to the sun being lower in the sky during the colder and darker times of year.
The users of your buildings may find it difficult to see their computer screens and focus on their work due to excessive glare through the windows, which – when exposed to high levels of direct sunlight – can also overheat quickly. This is why so much window film to reduce glare is also very effective at minimising heat gain.
Which glare reduction films can we offer you?
By browsing the section of the Opalux website that is dedicated to heat and glare control, you can discover our vast range of suitable window film options for reducing glare.
Of our internally and externally applied solar reflective films, for instance, it is our Reflective – Silver 20 solar control film that delivers especially impressive glare reduction of 82%, alongside 99% UV rejection. However, the Reflective – Silver 35 and Reflective – Silver 50 options are also effective at minimising glare to some degree, by 66% and 47% respectively.
The mirrored look of traditional solar control films is not to everyone’s taste, however, and nor might they be the right fit for certain architecturally sensitive settings. This is why you might take an interest in our low mirror films that, in the case of such a product as the Lower Mirror – Neutral Grey 20 film, provide glare reduction of as much as 80%.
Finally, if it is a very different kind of window to the typical office glazing for which you need glare reduction film, we can offer you External Reflective Silver 20 for Polycarbonate film, which gives 81% glare reduction for polycarbonate substrates such as conservatory roofs.
We can help you to specify the perfectly-suited window film
You have a lot of options when you are seeking out window film to reduce glare on your premises. That’s why it’s so important to get in touch with us at the earliest specification stage, so that we can assist you in selecting the window film that best matches your most specialised requirements.
To do that, simply call the Opalux team now on +44 (0)845 026 1125, or send us an email.
Vital safety window film for your school, hospital or other public building
When you have responsibility for managing a public building, one of the biggest factors likely to keep you awake at night is doubtless the matter of ensuring that everyone using the building is kept safe at all times. Broken glass can be a particular hazard, which is precisely why you may take an interest in our highly rated safety window film here at Opalux.
Why does our safety window film play such an important role?
It isn’t merely a moral responsibility that you have to ensure your buildings do not pose any unnecessary risks to their users or the wider public. That’s because there is also a very significant legal one, with schools, hospitals, workplaces and public buildings alike required to comply with Regulation 14 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
This level of legal compliance can be attained by upgrading your buildings’ glazing to ensure that in the event of it breaking, it does so safely. Any failure to comply could leave the responsible organisation liable to prosecution in the event of an accident.
In any case, such an accident can also cause great emotional trauma to everyone involved or affected, which is why you may even opt to treat all of your glazing to guard against the dangers that broken glass can cause. Thankfully, our safety window films in this category at Opalux are very much up to the task of complying with the necessary safety standards and in the process, giving you the utmost peace of mind.
Contact our technical department to ensure you choose the right window film
Whether you select our 100-micron clear SA-100CL-iSR film or instead the 175-micron clear SA-175CL-iSR option, both work according to the same principle of not only strengthening the glass against breakage, but also helping to hold dangerous shards of shattered glass in place if breakage does occur.
Such window films can be used in both commercial and domestic settings, and also offer various other advantages such as quick retro-fit installation, high optical clarity, scratch resistance and even the screening of harmful UV rays.
In this sense, these films are far from merely safety films, as they can also help to slow down the fading process of interior furnishings, serve as an effective deterrent to ‘smash-and-grab’ crime, and even protect against the glass being etched or scratched by vandals.
Remember that you don’t need to make the decision on your own as to which of these window film options may best suit your desired application. Instead, consult the Opalux technical department today, so that you can be sure of making the most informed choice as an end user or specifier.