• UV is a major contributor to fading
• Window film blocks nearly all UV and filters the sunlight

What causes fading?

While there is no dispute that sunlight causes fading, if you search the internet on this topic you will discover a variety of opinions (1) about the degree to which Ultraviolet light is responsible. UV radiation is generally considered to be responsible for 40%-60% of all fading. (2)

The truth is that your furniture's timbers, fabrics and dyes are each affected differently, and so it is hard to generalise.

Various parts of the sunlight contribute to the damage and this is illustrated below with a pie graph commonly used in the window tinting industry.

How can window film help?

Window film has built in UV blocking for its own longevity. New high quality films block more than 99% of the ultraviolet light.

(For more details on UV stabilization see 'Are all Window Films equal' on our Tell Me About / Window Film page.)

So the question is how dark do you want to go? The answer to that question will depend on what other needs have to be met. If heat or glare reduction is also needed, then by selecting a reflective or dark film that deals with that problem, the fading issues will be dealt with effectively.

If the only concern is fading, then a light or medium film can be used. Our most common film for this purpose is Sterling 60. It is almost impossible to detect the presence of this film from the inside. It blocks nearly all the ultraviolet light and cuts both the visible light and heat by about 1/3. A slightly darker alternative which will offer increased protection is Solar Gard NightSky 30

Can we use a clear film?

The answer to this is yes, a clear film such as Armorcoat Clear 50 micron can be used. As you can see from the pie chart, this will only stop the ultraviolet light.

3M can also provide a special clear UV film which is sometimes used in galleries or archival areas. It is nearly twice the price of these other products. Details of its performance in UV A, UV B and UV C attenuation is available on request.

Related Products:

All sun control products listed in the Top Menu are suitable. The following list are the light films used mostly for fading control from lightest to darkest.

• Armorcoat Clear 50/100/175
• ULR 80
• LX70
• Ecolux 70
• Sterling 60A
• Sterling 50A
• SS50
• Sterling 40A
• SS35
• NightSky 30
• TrueVue 30

Related Articles:

• Performance Comparison Table
• Overview - Selection
• (1) Details about Ultraviolet light at Wikipedia
• (2)SolarSolutionsNY.com/fading Note that we do not endorse statements on this web site.