Heat-reflective film: description, efficiency

When we are hot, we dream of coolness, and in the cold we strive for warmth. Therefore, the appearance of a material such as a heat-reflecting film was due to a person's desire to create comfortable living conditions in hot and cold weather. Today we will consider what it is.

Applications

Heat-reflecting film is used in many stages of construction:

• Roofing. In this case, depending on the species, it can not only retain heat, but also serve as a waterproofing.
• For the insulation of walls. Can be used both for exterior wall finishing and for interior decoration.
• For the floor. In this case, the heat-reflecting film for the floor is used with both the conventional device and the installation of the "warm floor" system.
• For windows. There are two types of reflector. The first one is energy-saving, the second - the reflector of the thermal effect (keeping cool in the heat).
• Another function is the use in horticulture for greenhouses.
• Glasses of cars and public transport.

As can be seen, this protection can be used both for the preservation of heat, and for the reflection of thermal effects. Below we will consider why a heat-reflecting film for windows is used.

Indications for use

Almost any room has windows. They serve as a source of light and natural ventilation. As a rule, they occupy 25-30% of the wall area. And if it was made insulation of the floor, walls, ceiling, then what are the windows? And through them it takes up to 60% of the heat in the winter. Therefore, a number of technologies were developed:

• An ancient way of winter protection - all the joints between the window and the frame were caked with cotton wool and sealed with special paper. Everyone remembers that with such winter warming it was problematic to ventilate the premises.
• Instead of wooden windows, they came up with plastic ones with a tight fit that saved drafts.

But even this did not save us from heat loss. Because the main source of inconvenience is the glass itself. The first thing they came to is to cover the windows with curtains and blinds in the heat. Then they began to glue in all possible ways foil sheets, which acted as reflectors. This eliminated heat and natural light, which also caused a number of inconveniences. As the technology does not stand still, films began to appear on a self-adhesive basis, which have already begun to save heat in the winter, and in summer to prevent overheating of premises.

Characteristics

With the development of nanotechnology, metallized films began to be replaced with new, polymeric films . The main difference is improved performance, durability.

Due to what this type of heat reflector has gained popularity? First of all due to its external characteristics. Such films do not change the type of buildings, so another name for them is architectural. And the main thing is their property - they let visible light and delay up to 75% of the thermal radiation in the summer. And in the winter they work in the other direction - they reflect the internal heat back into the room, while allowing visible light to come from outside.

Advantages and disadvantages

Window film heat-reflecting has a number of indisputable advantages:

• Ease of installation and dismantling. Simplicity of gluing allows you to do the installation yourself.
• Durability. The density of the film allows it to be washed and operated as a normal double-glazed unit.
• In the summer, savings on air conditioning, and therefore, a lower consumption of electricity.
• Winter savings in heating, which will also reduce the cost of electricity.
• Aesthetic appearance. The film has a light grayish or blue tint. Can be used for buildings of historical value.
• Ease of care. It is cleaned in the same way as normal windows.
• Maximum protection from ultraviolet and infrared radiation, while allowing visible rays, which creates comfort for human eyes.
• Security. If the glass breaks, it remains a bonded film, i.e., does not scatter into small pieces.
• Noise reduction, reduce noise.
• Affordable price. The average cost per square meter is 550 rubles.
• The ability to use the window at any time of the year as a source of natural ventilation and light.

The disadvantages include a ban on washing with cleaning powders and using hard jaws. It is recommended to use soft cloths and rubber windshield wipers. As can be seen, the heat-reflective film, in addition to its basic function, is a means of saving energy consumption.

Installation and operation

As stated earlier, the installation of the film does not take much time and does not require the hand of a professional. First, you must carefully wash the windows and degrease their surface. The film sticker is made from the inside. The protective coating itself has an adhesive backing covered with a protective film. If the size of the glass and film does not match, it must be cut to size. Next, remove the protective layer and glue it on the glass, smoothing the surface with a soft cloth. For convenience, you can remove the protective film not all at once, but gradually, as far as gluing, to prevent the formation of bubbles. Film coating is easy to clean with conventional window cleaning. Do not use powdered products and sponges with abrasive, this can lead to scratches on the surface.

Reviews

By numerous responses, one of the favorites is the heat-reflective film IR Sky Blue (SRC HP7575). This is due to the aesthetic appearance of the building after gluing this protection and its effectiveness. The film itself has a faint gray or blue tint. Such protection is also used for car windows, public transport. According to the reviews, the reflective IR Sky Blue film really creates a comfortable indoor climate in the summer due to a unique layer capable of reflecting infrared radiation. And in winter it allows you to save on heating, which is very convenient for private houses.

Heat reflecting film has a number of advantages that make it as attractive as possible. Efficiency, the ability to carry out the installation yourself allow us to consider such material interesting for consumers.