Review Film Performance Comparison - VLT over 30% up to 60%

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These nine films are all made in the USA and are WERS Energy Rated. The films allow 29% to 48% of the visible light to pass through the films (will NOT provide daytime privacy), block 99% UV to protect against sun damage and fading, and will block between 42% and 61% of the heat. All the films, except for the 3M Night Vision, are neutral shaded films designed to preserve a natural view out of a window and are constructed using the latest sputter coating or electron beam coating technologies. The Night Vision film is a dual reflective film designed to reduce internal reflection, particularly at night.

WHAT TO BUY?

  • Best for heat:The ASWF Nature 30 achieves the highest heat protection (61% heat blocked) – BUT, with a VLR of 25%, it is fairly reflective.
  • Heat and Light Balanced:The Smart Films Sunblock 30 is less reflective than clear glass (7%) and blocks 55% of the heat - a good choice where low reflectivity is a priority.
  • Good heat reduction and low reflection:The 3M Ceramic 30 blocks 59% of the heat and has an external reflectivity of 17%.

COMPANY

Smart Films

ASWF

ASWF

Smart Films

SunTek

Johnson Window Films

MEP Llumar Films

3M

3M

 3M 3M

FILM

Sunblock 30

Nature 30

Nature 40

Ambiance 40

InfinityDS

IDS 35

Daylight Natural

DN 35

N1040

Neutral 35

RE35NEAR

Night Vision 35

 Ceramic 30 Ceramic 50
 

WERS rated

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes 

Yes

Yes

 Yes Yes

VLT %

32%

30%

43%

42%

40%

37%

40%

37%

35%

 36% 53%

VLR %

7%

25%

17%

18%

17%

18%

18%

20%

18%

 17% 12%

% TSER (Heat)

55%

61%

50%

50%

53%

47%

53%

56%

57%

 59% 47%

SHGC

0.50

0.41

0.49

0.46

0.55

n/a

0.46

0.42

0.46

 0.38 0.45

% UV blocked

99%

99%

99%

99%

99%

99%

98%

99%

99%

 99% 99%
U value 7.5 7.3 7.4 7.3 7.5 na  7.4 7.3  7.3 7.3 7.3

Film Price $M2

$45

$46

$46

$54

$55

$56

$58

$59

$66

 $83 $83
 

You pay

$38.34

You pay

$39.27

You pay

$39.27

You pay

$45.82

You pay

$46.75

You pay

$47.69

You pay

$49.30

You pay

$50.15

You pay

$56.10

You pay

$70.91

You pay

$70.91

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NOTES: The performance data shown above is taken from data published on each company website and published company literature. The data is presented to assist consumers for comparison purposes only. The data and trademarks remain the property of their owners.

  1. WERS – Window Energy Rating Scheme – Film performance data has been independently tested and verified as true (no point in comparing performance if the data for a film has not been confirmed to be true)
  2. VLT – Visible Light Transmitted (less than 20% VLT will make a room “feel” darker)
  3. VLR - Visible Light Reflectance (a measure of how “shiny” or “mirrored” the window appears – clear glass has a VLR of about 8%. As VLR increased above 8% the window appears more reflective
  4. TSER – Total Solar Energy Rejected (indicates the films heat rejecting ability – more is better to reduce heat)
  5. SHGC – Sikar Heat Gain Coefficient (a value ranging from 1.00 to 0.00 showing the solar heat that is transmitted through the glass – lower is better)
  6. UV – Ultra Violet light (the major cause of sun damage and fading – more blocked is better to reduce fading)
  7. U value - a measure of how effective a material is as an insulator. The lower the U-value, the better.