- Scope
This standard establishes environmental requirements for residential retrofittable window films.
- Definitions
- Retrofittable Window Films:
A flexible film which may be applied to the surface of the glazing of existing windows.
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC):
The ration of solar energy transmitted through a product, from the products outdoor side to the indoor side, to the solar energy striking the outdoor side of the product, for a given angle of incidence and for a given set of environmental conditions (indoor/outdoor temperatures, outdoor wind speeed, insolation). Included are directly transmitted solar radiation as well as solar energy absorbed and then re-radiated/conducted toward the indoor side.
- Standard Double Glazing:
A double glazing comprising two overlapping parallel 1/8-inch thermally rated untreated clear glass panes separated by 0.5 inches. The standard double glazing is to be used as the reference glazing for evaluation of the optical properties of the retrofittable window films.
- Visible Light Transmission Coefficient (VLTC):
The ration of intensity of visible light (wavelength range of 0.38 to 0.78 µm) transmitted through a product glazing from the product's outdoor side to the indoor side, to the intensity of the visible light striking the outdoor side of the product, for a given angle of incidence, a given set of environmental conditions (indoor temperature and outdoor temperature), and a given visible light source.
- Product Characterization
The center-of-glass SHGC and VLTC of a retrofittable window film shall be determined using the standard double glazing to which the film has been applied as recommended by the film's manufacturer.
The center-of-glass SHGC shall be determined according to the provisions determined according to the provisions of National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Standard No. 200-93: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Solar Heat Gain Coefficients at Normal Incidence.
The center-of-glass VLTC shall be determined according to the provisions of NFRC Standard No. 300-93: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Optical Properties.
- Product Specific Performance and Environmental Requirements
The ratio of the visible light transmission coefficient (VLTC) over its solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of the product applied to standard double glazing shall be greater than 1.
- Packaging Requirements
The corrugated box used to package the product must contain at least 25% post-consumer material. The percentage of post-consumer material is to be based on fiber weight and calculated according to the following formula:
% post-consumer material =
[PCFil(FWil)+PCFol(FWol)+PCFm(FWm)] / [FWil+FWol+FWm]
where
PCFil = % post-consumer fiber in the inner liner
PCFol = % post-consumer fiber in the outer liner
PCFm = % post-consumer fiber in the medium
FWil = fiber weight of inner liner
FWol = fiber weight of outer liner
FWm = fiber weight of medium
The sum of the concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium present in the corrugated shipping box or other packaging directly in contact with the product shall not exceed 100 parts per million by weight.
- Consumer Education Requirements
Pre-sales education materials meeting the following requirements must be made available to the consumer:
Materials must recommend to the consumer the manufacturer's most appropriate film for a variety of U.S. climate zones and all cardinal orientations within each climate zone. This recommendation shall be based upon annual energy performance and/or annual energy cost optimization as predicted by window simulation software like RESFEN - A Prototype PC Program for Calculating Residential Fenestration Heating and Cooling Energy Use and Cost, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.
Materials must clearly state the SHGC of all recommended products.
Materials must recommend that, when installing the film on multiple-glazed windows, the consumer check the window manufacturer's warranty before applying the window film because application of the film may void the warranty.
Proper installation instructions must be provided with the product.
- Labeling Requirements
The Green Seal Certification Mark shall appear on the product packaging.
The Green Seal Mark shall not be used in conjunction with any modifying terms, phrases, or graphic images that might mislead consumers as to the extent or nature of the certification.
Whenever the Certification Mark appears on a package or product, the product or package must contain a description of the basis for certification. The description shall be in a location, style, and typeface that are easily readable by the consumer. Unless otherwise approved in writing by Green Seal, the description shall read as follows:
"This product meets Green Seal's environmental standards governing visible light and heat transmission, packaging, and consumer education materials."