Fading Factors

Reducing the damaging rays

UV is the dominant influence in furniture fading, while infra red and visible light is absorbed by furniture fabrics, raising the fabric temperature, thereby significantly accelerating the fading process.

Glass can be used to diminish solar energy and therefore diminish furniture fading. The objective being, to select a glass product that has high absorption or reflection of UV radiation, visible light and infra red radiation.

Ultra violet radiation is efficiently reduced by the PolyVinyl Butyral interlayer of PVB laminates, the interlayer absorbing up to 99% of the incident UV radiation. The use of reflective or tinted solar control glass reduces both the amount of visible light and heat that passes through the glass, thus reducing the rate of fading.

Traditionally, fading reduction has been significantly achieved by selecting a tinted PVB laminate.

In order to compare the relative fading reduction, over the whole solar spectrum, offered by different glass types and configurations, a measurement called the Damage Weighted Transmission (TDW) is used to calculate the fading reduction. It is “weighted” to include the fact that fading damage decreases with increased energy wavelength. Clean clear 3mm float is designated as a reference so that all other glass types have a fading reduction relative to 3mm clear. Complete exposure is stated as 1.0. TDW for 3mm float is .74.