Solar control glass

Excess heat and glare caused by the solar energy from the sun can be a major source of discomfort in some indoor environments, especially those with glass roofs, glazed facades, conservatories or with large areas of glazing. Solar control glass is ideal for helping to maximize natural daylight while reflecting a high proportion of solar radiation away from the glass, contributing to keeping the indoor space bright but cool.

What are the benefits of solar control glass?

Let natural daylight in, while reflecting a high proportion of the sun's heat

Solar reflecting coating

Solar control performance is achieved through the use of a very thin, transparent, and permanent coating that helps limit the solar energy entering inside. It helps control solar gain to various levels depending on the coating while allowing natural daylight in and views on the outside. See more about how glass is coated.

How is solar control measured? Solar Heat Gain or ‘g’ value

The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which is a measure of a window’s ability to transmit solar energy into a room, is measured in values from 0 to 1. The SHGC is commonly referred to as the g-value, or solar factor. The lower a window’s g-value, the greater its ability to insulate against solar heat build up.

Light to Solar Heat Gain (LSHG) or selectivity

The term “Light to Solar Heat Gain”, or “spectral selectivity” is used to address the amount of light transmission relative to solar energy blockage. Greater spectral selectivity is achieved when more visible light, and less overall solar energy, is transmitted.

Insulated glass unit (IGU)

Solar control is typically used in a double insulating glass unit (IGU), which allows the energy efficiency of the windows to be further improved and helping to make building occupants feel more comfortable. The number 2 surface placement of a solar control coating often facilitates the best solar control performance because it partially reflects away incoming solar energy before it can enter the glazing. Some of our products can also be used for monolithic applications due to the durability of their coating.

Aesthetics: a variety of colors and levels of reflectivity

Our solar control glass is applied on clear float glass and has a neutral aspect, allowing more natural, truer views through the glass. However, if you wish, solar control glass can also be colored. Our solar control coatings can be applied on tinted glass to further help mitigate glare and solar heat gain. Tinted glass colors can range from blue to grey with different contrasts. Solar control glass can also have different levels of reflectivity to provide transparency or a more reflective, almost mirrored glass effect, as well as a changing appearance during the day, to meet your aesthetic needs.

Specifying solar control glass to help meet project needs

There are many products available to choose from. As well as a wide range of aesthetic options, solar control glass can have various levels of energy performance and light transmission. Depending on the climate and the orientation of the building and its surroundings, carefully selecting the glass in the early stages of the project can help optimize the impact of the glazing on the overall energy performance of the building. Guardian™ Glass for BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an Autodesk Revit application for selecting and specifying Guardian Glass products. The software provides key performance metrics (passive solar heat gain, natural daylight, thermal) for all glass types. 

Applications and uses of solar control glass

The applications for solar control glass are wide-ranging. From windows, facades and curtain walls to roofs and skylights, in fact, any application where glazing is a physical barrier between the inside and outside of a building, solar control glazing can be considered.

Some of our eye-catching projects made possible thanks to Guardian solar control glass

Combining solar control glass with other glass types in an insulated glass unit?

Solar control glass can be combined in an IGU with thermal insulating glass to further improve the thermal insulation performance and help keep temperatures comfortable for the building’s occupants all year round. It can also be combined with laminated glass to provide safety and security features, as well as sound reduction.