WINDOW FILM : THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VLT, IR, TSER AND UV

WINDOW FILM/TINT ACRONYMS AND TERMINOLOGY EXPLAINED – WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

When you’re exploring or buying window films, you’ll often come across terms like VLT, IR, TSER, and UV. But what exactly do they stand for? And how do they differ from one another? We understand how confusing all these acronyms can be, so let’s simplify it for you! Here’s a breakdown to help you make sense of these commonly used terms.

UV: Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet refers to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging between 10 nm and 400 nm, typically found in sunlight. This radiation is responsible for most of the damage to your skin, eyes, and even household furnishings.

UVR: Ultraviolet Rejection

This indicates the proportion of UV rays that the window film blocks. Modern window films can reject up to 99% of harmful UV rays, making it one of the most crucial factors to consider when selecting a window tint.

VLT: Visible Light Transmission

VLT refers to the percentage of visible light (380–750 nm) that passes through a window when a film is applied. It determines how much natural light is allowed into your space. A lower VLT percentage results in a darker tint, allowing less light to pass through.  For instance, a film with a 5% VLT allows just 5% of external light to pass through, resulting in a much darker interior compared to a 50% VLT film, which lets in half of the external light.

In the tinting industry, films are often referenced by their color and VLT percentage. For example, a charcoal tint with 5% VLT is referred to as “charcoal 5%,” while a green tint with 50% VLT is called “green 50%.” This naming convention helps you quickly understand the product’s appearance and light-blocking ability.

IR: Infrared

Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than visible light, making it invisible to the human eye, but it carries heat. While you can’t see IR, you can certainly feel it—especially in the form of heat from the sun.

IRR: Infrared Rejection

This term denotes the proportion of infrared radiation that the film does not absorb. High IRR values indicate better heat blocking, keeping your interiors cooler.

TSER: Total Solar Energy Rejected

TSER measures the overall percentage of solar energy blocked by the film, combining visible light, infrared, and ultraviolet energy. Unlike IRR, which only accounts for infrared heat, TSER gives a complete view of the film’s heat-blocking abilities. Globally, TSER is considered the most accurate gauge of a window film’s performance in reducing heat.

PLY

The term ‘Ply’ denotes the quantity of polyester layers present in a window film. For example, a 1-ply film has a single layer, while a 3-ply film contains three separate polyester layers, each contributing to the film’s durability and performance.

MIL THICKNESS

A ‘mil’ is a unit of measurement that is equivalent to one-thousandth of an inch (0.001 inches). It is used to specify the thickness of a window film. The thicker the film, the higher its mil count—common options range from 2 mil to 12 mil. As a quick conversion, 1 mil is equivalent to 25 microns.

We hope this guide makes window film terminology a lot clearer! Armed with this information, you will be more prepared to select the ideal window film that aligns with your requirements and tastes.