3M Scotchtint solar control films from Sunscreen

One of Australia's largest motoring groups had just moved premises to their brand new, purpose designed and built showroom. Only days after moving, they were instantly faced with a major problem that was overlooked in the design stage.

The offices on the entire North-West side of the building (110 panes) were subject to strong and direct sunlight most of the day which created impossible working conditions for many of the staff. Computer screens were impossible to read due to excess glare, and the severe heat constantly streaming in through the windows caused extreme temperature buildup forcing the staff to vacate the offices for most of the day. Another problem was that the staff did not have privacy from the outside.

A solution was required urgently and the architects quickly discovered that window film would solve all of these issues, plus it could be retrofit so it was an easy and inexpensive alternative to new, pre-tinted glass.

When choosing a film, a few specific factors needed to be considered;

• The Sunlight was direct and extreme. Any solution would need to have high performance to combat the issues exhibited by the sun.
• The film needed to have an appearance which was consistent with the second level windows (factory coated TS21 glass).
• If a film was applied, it could not be highly reflective due to the light being mirrored back onto a neighboring building.

Sunscreen worked within these guidelines to provide the perfect solution.

3M Scotchtint RE20NEARL was the chosen film. It cuts glare by 82%, has a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.34 and has a very low external reflectivity (only 9% more than standard clear glass) for such a high heat reducing film.

The Sunscreen team performed the installation of 110 panes (245m2) over 2 days with minimum disruption. The results were instantaneous. Office staff could work effectively even on the hottest days, as the heat and glare was dramatically reduced. The air conditioning no longer struggled to maintain a comfortable temperature, because the film was blocking the heat before it even entered the room.

At Sunscreen, we pride ourselves on being able to provide a quality solution with 100% customer satisfaction. The film solutions we provide are the result of over 30 years experience backed with technical support direct from 3M. We aim to make sure our client's investment is not only effective but more importantly, the right solution for their needs.