The natural light and views of the outdoors that windows provide are highly desirable in many types of commercial spaces, including office buildings and retail stores, for example.
However, having lots of windows also presents some big issues, such as glare, solar heat gain, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. There’s also the issue of privacy — you don’t always want people outside to be able to see into a commercial space, especially into spaces like offices where confidentiality and privacy are significant concerns.
Sure, these issues can be mitigated with traditional solutions like blinds and curtains, but then you’re also negating all the benefits of natural light and visibility.
This is where dual-reflective window film comes to the rescue.
Dual-reflective window film can reduce glare, block out solar heat and UV rays, and add daytime privacy, all without completely blocking out natural light or inhibiting outward visibility. In fact, dual-reflective window films can even enhance nighttime visibility.
How Dual-Reflective Window Film Works
Dual-reflective window film is a specialized type of reflective window film that has a dual effect.
The outward surface of the film is mirrored, so it reflects heat and glare from the sun, blocks out harmful UV rays, and creates a one-way mirror effect for increased daytime privacy.
The inward surface of the film has a clear finish to allow for undistorted views from the indoors out.
How Much Does Dual-Reflective Window Film Change the Appearance of Windows?
Because the exterior-facing surface of this type of window film is reflective, it does change the aesthetics of windows it is applied to quite a bit.
If you don’t want to change the aesthetics of your commercial building at all, this could be an issue preventing you from installing dual-reflective window film.
However, for many commercial building owners, reflective window film actually offers a very affordable way to update the appearance of a property’s glass surfaces.
For instance, adding mirrored window film to an older office building’s glass doors and windows can give it a contemporary facelift, bringing it more into line with more modern buildings surrounding it.
In fact, using dual-reflective window film is an option for buildings undergoing a facade re-imaging renovations, and can provide many benefits beyond just an aesthetic boost.
Benefits of Dual-Reflective Window Film
- Adds Daytime Privacy
- Maintains Natural Light and Visibility
- Mitigates Solar Heat Gain
- Blocks Out Harmful UV Rays
- Reduces Glare
Adds Daytime Privacy
A primary benefit of dual-reflective window film is the extra daytime privacy it creates. In other words, when the light outside is brighter than that inside, anyone trying to look into a building from the exterior will just see themselves and their surroundings reflected back at them.
It’s important to note that this added privacy disappears at night when it’s dark outside and there are artificial lights on inside the building. If privacy is needed at night, building occupants may still need to rely on traditional solutions like window shades, curtains, and blinds.
However, this is less of a concern at night, since there’s no natural light coming in through a building’s windows and views of the outdoors tend to be obscured anyways.
Maintains Natural Light and Visibility
Since dual-reflective window film is still translucent and has a non-reflective interior coating, building occupants can still enjoy high levels of natural light transmission and outward visibility at any time of the day.
Natural light and views of the outdoors have been shown to improve productivity in workspaces and improve moods, so these benefits are not to be underestimated.
Not only that, but having any level of natural light transmission can also reduce the need for artificial lights, leading to a more energy-efficient commercial space.
Mitigates Solar Heat Gain
Solar heat gain is the technical term for the heat that is transmitted through a building’s windows.
In hot weather, solar heat gain can drastically increase indoor temperatures, resulting in heavy air conditioning usage in order to keep indoor spaces comfortable for working, shopping, or performing other activities.
Comfort isn’t the only issue, either — running AC systems constantly adds significantly to monthly utility bills, not to mention is harder on the systems themselves, which can result in more frequent and more expensive maintenance costs.
Dual-reflective window films can help reduce these costs in commercial spaces, resulting in higher net operating incomes for commercial building owners.
Blocks Out Harmful UV Rays
In addition to solar heat gain, which primarily comes from infrared light that the sun produces, there are also harmful ultraviolet rays to worry about. These UV rays are what cause furnishings to fade and can lead to health issues in humans.
Dual-reflective window film can block out up to 99.9% of these potentially damaging UV rays, prolonging the lives of furniture and other objects as well as creating a safer indoor environment for building occupants.
Reduces Glare
Last, but certainly not least, dual-reflective window film can significantly reduce glare, making it easier to see computer screens, read, and perform other activities inside offices, retail stores, and other commercial spaces. This contributes to an overall more comfortable experience for building occupants and visitors.
Closing Thoughts
Dual-reflective window film is a multifaceted solution to the challenges posed by the presence of abundant windows in commercial spaces.
Recognizing the indispensable upsides of natural light and outdoor views, this specialized film adeptly addresses issues like glare, solar heat gain, and UV radiation.
By featuring a mirrored exterior surface, the film creates a one-way mirror effect during the day, offering enhanced daytime privacy. Meanwhile, the interior surface remains clear, preserving undistorted views and sustaining many of the benefits of natural light transmission.
Beyond its functional attributes, the film alters the aesthetics of outdated windows, providing a contemporary facelift for commercial buildings. This proves particularly valuable in facade re-imaging renovations, aligning older structures with modern architectural trends.
Altogether, dual-reflective window film is a powerful tool when it comes to enhancing the comfort, efficiency, and aesthetics of commercial spaces.
Contact us today for a consultation or a quote.
