Ultra-Violet Light

ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
Ultra Violet light fades materials such as wall paper and flooring and breaks down fabrics. Ideally, a window would block the damaging UV rays that cause fading, while letting light pass through. Ordinary clear window glass lets in about 70% of the sun’s UV radiation. New varieties of high-performance clear window glass, commonly called “low-e” glazings, provide some protection from UV radiation. Even the best of these, however, still transmit 26% of the damaging UV rays. 

TYPE % UV REDUCTION DISADVANTAGES
Clear Single-Pane 29% Lets in about 90% of visible light; blocks out about 14% NIR
Clear Dual-Pane 44% Lets in about 80% visible light; blocks out about 24% NIR
262/LOWE 84% Reduces light 20% over clear
TINTED 45% Blocks out more visible light than LowE; lets in more heat than LowE
LAMINATED 99.9% Doesn’t block out heat; relatively expensive
270 (272) 84-86% Lets in 70-72% visible light; blocks out 59%-63% NIR
366/LOWE 95% Lets in 66% visible light; blocks out 90% of NIR light (Near InfraRed Light)

NIR = Near Infrared Rays – responsible for solar heat gain