Why Technical Data Matters for Marine Buyers
When a procurement manager, shipbuilder or vessel operator evaluates a marine solar screen, they will encounter a set of technical performance figures: percentage glare reduction, percentage heat rejection, percentage UV light filtered, visible light transmission. These figures appear on product pages, in quotations and in classification documents.
Understanding what these figures actually measure — and what they mean in practice on a working navigation bridge — is essential for making a correct specification decision. A figure that looks impressive in isolation may mean something different from what a buyer assumes. Two products with similar-sounding figures may perform very differently in the conditions that matter.
This guide explains each solar engineering parameter in plain language, defines what each figure measures, and describes what the SOLASOLV® performance data means for vessel operators, bridge crews and procurement teams. The data referenced throughout is drawn from Solar Solve’s own technical information and applies across the SOLASOLV® product range.
How Solar Energy Behaves at a Ship’s Window
Before examining individual performance parameters, it helps to understand what happens to solar energy when it reaches a glazed window on a vessel bridge.
Unprotected glass allows short-wave solar energy to pass through into the bridge interior. Once inside, this energy is absorbed by surfaces — walls, floors, instrument panels, crew members — and re-radiated as long-wave heat. Ordinary glass does not allow this long-wave radiation to pass back out, so heat is trapped inside the enclosed bridge area. This is the greenhouse effect that makes unscreened bridges uncomfortably hot in direct sunlight.
SOLASOLV® shade film changes this process. The film is positioned at the window and intercepts solar energy before it fully enters the bridge. The transmitted energy that does pass through is only converted to heat when it strikes an absorbing surface inside. The absorbed heat within the glass, surroundings and film polymer is partly re-radiated back to the outside air rather than being trapped inside. The result is a bridge interior that is significantly cooler than it would be without the screen.
The film itself is a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate polyester. It is heat-set during processing, has a melting point of approximately 260 degrees Celsius and does not shrink below 150 degrees Celsius. This makes it stable and durable in the high-temperature environments found on working vessel bridges, including tropical operations and high solar intensity conditions.
The dyed layers within the polyester film control the amount of visible light the film transmits. This is the mechanism that produces both the anti-glare effectiveness of the film and the colour shading observed when looking through it.
Parameter 1: Glare Reduction
Technical definition: Glare reduction, also described as the anti-glare effect, is the percentage reduction in visible light passing through the glazing system with the film in place.
What it measures: The degree to which the film reduces the intensity of visible light entering through the window. A glare reduction figure of 93% means that 93% of the visible light intensity is removed by the film before it reaches the interior. Seven percent of the original visible light intensity passes through.
What it means on the bridge: At 93% glare reduction, the intensity of sunlight entering the bridge through a SOLASOLV® screened window is reduced to a level that the human eye can manage without strain. Instruments, chart displays, radar screens and control panels that would otherwise be washed out or obscured by direct sunlight remain clearly readable. The forward view through the window is maintained at full clarity and undistorted.
It is important to understand that glare reduction is not the same as blocking visibility. The 93% figure refers to the reduction in light intensity, not the obstruction of the view. SOLASOLV® screens achieve 93% glare reduction while maintaining 100% clear outward visibility with true colour rendition, meaning navigation markers and sea conditions appear in their correct colours and without distortion.
SOLASOLV® performance: Up to 93% glare reduction across the product range.
Parameter 2: Total Solar Energy Rejected
Technical definition: Total solar energy rejected, also described as the cooling effect, is the amount of all the sun’s energy that is rejected by a glazing system. It encompasses the full solar spectrum, not only the visible light component.
What it measures: The proportion of the total solar energy — including visible light, infrared radiation and ultraviolet light — that is prevented from entering the interior by the film. A figure of 87% means that 87 out of every 100 units of total solar energy striking the window are rejected before entering the bridge.
What it means on the bridge: This is the figure that directly determines how much the bridge heats up in direct sunlight. A screen that rejects 87% of total solar energy means the bridge interior receives only 13% of the solar energy load it would receive through an unscreened window. The practical effect is a substantially cooler working environment, reduced reliance on air conditioning, and lower fuel costs for operators running air conditioning systems to manage bridge temperature.
The heat rejection benefit is not uniform across all film colours. The shading coefficient and percentage total solar energy rejected vary depending on conditions at the installation location. All Solar Solve test data is produced for a free-hanging system with solar film positioned 15 millimetres from 6 millimetre thick glass. Silver film delivers the highest total solar energy rejection across the film colour range and is recommended for vessels operating on high-intensity solar routes including tropical and equatorial passages.
SOLASOLV® performance: Up to 87% total solar energy rejected.
AC power saving implication: For larger vessels, the reduction in solar heat gain through screened bridge windows can deliver air conditioning power savings of up to 81% per year. This is a measurable operational cost benefit that procurement teams and fleet operators should factor into any specification decision alongside the upfront cost of the screens.
Parameter 3: Ultraviolet Light Rejected
Technical definition: Ultraviolet light rejected is the amount of all ultraviolet light that is absorbed by a glazing system with film applied.
What it measures: The proportion of UV radiation from the sun that is absorbed by the SOLASOLV® film rather than being transmitted into the bridge interior. UV radiation occupies a different part of the solar spectrum from visible light and from infrared heat radiation. It is invisible to the human eye but causes damage to skin, eyes and materials over time.
What it means on the bridge: Bridge crews on working vessels spend extended periods at bridge windows during daylight hours. UV exposure during long watches — particularly on high-sun routes — contributes to long-term skin and eye damage. It also affects sensitive bridge equipment: ECDIS displays, radar screens, navigation computers and chart equipment exposed to UV radiation experience accelerated degradation of screens, seals and casings over time.
At 98% UV rejection, SOLASOLV® screens filter out virtually all UV radiation entering through the screened window. Crew members working behind screened windows receive a small fraction of the UV exposure they would receive through unscreened glass. Bridge electronics are protected from UV-driven degradation that shortens equipment working life.
SOLASOLV® performance: At least 98% ultraviolet light rejected across all film colours.
Parameter 4: Visible Light Transmission
Technical definition: Visible light transmission is the amount of visible light that goes directly through a glazing system.
What it measures: The percentage of visible light that passes through the film and reaches the interior. This is the inverse of glare reduction. A screen with 93% glare reduction has a visible light transmission of approximately 7% of the incoming visible light intensity.
What it means on the bridge: Visible light transmission is the parameter that tells a buyer how much natural light remains inside the bridge after the screen is in place. A lower visible light transmission figure means less light inside — and a darker interior. For navigation bridge applications, visible light transmission must be maintained at a level that allows crew members to read instruments, monitor displays and operate controls without difficulty.
SOLASOLV® screens are engineered for navigation bridge use. The visible light transmission level through the film, combined with the true colour rendition property of the shade film, ensures that instruments, screens and displays remain clearly readable and that the outward view is not darkened to the point where visibility is impaired. This balance between glare reduction and maintained visible light transmission is the core engineering challenge that SOLASOLV® film is designed to solve.
Parameter 5: Shading Coefficient
Technical definition: The shading coefficient is a measure of the amount of solar energy allowed through a glazing system. The lower the shading coefficient, the less total energy passes through and the better the shading performance.
What it measures: A comparative index of total solar energy transmission. A shading coefficient of 1.0 represents clear unprotected glass with no film. A shading coefficient below 1.0 indicates that the glazing system rejects a proportion of incoming solar energy. The lower the figure, the better the shading performance.
What it means on the bridge: The shading coefficient provides a single combined measure of overall solar control performance. Where buyers are comparing different products or different film specifications, the shading coefficient is a useful comparative figure alongside the individual glare reduction and heat rejection percentages.
Performance Data by Film Colour
SOLASOLV® screens are available in four film colours: Gold, Silver, Grey and Bronze. The glare reduction, UV filtration and visible light transmission performance is consistent across all four colours. The primary variation between colours is in total solar energy rejected, which determines the heat rejection cooling effect.
| Film Colour | Glare Reduction | Heat Rejection | UV Rejected | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Up to 93% | High | At least 98% | Vessels requiring gold external appearance; strong glare performance |
| Silver | Up to 93% | Highest | At least 98% | Maximum heat rejection; recommended for tropical and high-sun routes |
| Grey | Up to 93% | High | At least 98% | Neutral appearance; balanced performance across all metrics |
| Bronze | Up to 93% | High | At least 98% | Vessels requiring bronze external appearance |
Silver film is recommended for vessels where heat rejection is the priority — typically vessels operating on equatorial, tropical or consistently high-sun-intensity routes. For all other applications, the choice of film colour is primarily driven by the preferred external appearance of the vessel, as performance across glare reduction and UV filtration is identical across all four colours.
For a full data table including visible light transmission and shading coefficient figures by film colour, visit the Solar Solve technical information.
What Type Approval Confirms About This Technical Data
The performance figures described in this guide are independently verified, not self-declared. SOLASOLV® products hold Type Approval from four of the world’s leading marine classification societies: Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and RINA.
Type Approval in this context means that the classification societies have reviewed the product design, construction and performance data and confirmed that the product meets the standards required for use at navigation bridge windows on classified vessels. The performance figures are not marketing claims. They are the basis on which Type Approval is granted and maintained.
For procurement managers and shipbuilders specifying marine solar screens, Type Approval from these four classification societies provides independent confirmation that the performance data is accurate and that the product meets marine industry standards. It is the most reliable indicator available that a solar screen product will perform as specified in service.
To view SOLASOLV® Type Approval documentation and for guidance on choosing the right product for your vessel type, visit the SOLASAFE.
Summary: What the Numbers Mean for Your Vessel
| Performance Parameter | SOLASOLV® Figure | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Glare reduction | Up to 93% | Almost all glare removed; instruments readable; forward view clear |
| Total solar energy rejected | Up to 87% | Bridge stays cool; AC load reduced; fuel savings possible |
| UV light rejected | At least 98% | Crew skin and eye protection; bridge electronics protected |
| Outward visibility | 100% clear | No obstruction to forward view; true colour rendition maintained |
| AC power savings (larger vessels) | Up to 81% per year | Measurable fuel cost reduction in direct operation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between glare reduction and visible light transmission?
A: Glare reduction is the percentage of visible light intensity removed by the film. Visible light transmission is the percentage that passes through. They are inverses of each other. A screen with 93% glare reduction transmits approximately 7% of incoming visible light intensity. The remaining light is sufficient to maintain a bright, clear working environment on the bridge while removing the high-intensity glare that causes eye strain.
Q: Does heat rejection vary between SOLASOLV® film colours?
A: Yes. While glare reduction and UV filtration are consistent across all four film colours (Gold, Silver, Grey and Bronze), total solar energy rejected varies. Silver film delivers the highest heat rejection and is recommended for vessels on tropical or high-sun routes. For detailed figures by film colour, visit the Solar Solve technical information page.
Q: What does Type Approval confirm about SOLASOLV® performance data?
A: Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS and RINA confirms that the performance figures are independently verified and that the product meets the standards required for use at navigation bridge windows on classified vessels. The figures are not self-declared; they are the basis on which classification societies grant approval.
Q: Why does UV rejection matter on a navigation bridge?
A: Bridge crews on working vessels are exposed to UV radiation through bridge windows during long watches, particularly on high-sun routes. At least 98% UV rejection means crew members receive a fraction of the UV exposure they would receive through unscreened glass. UV protection also reduces degradation of sensitive bridge electronics including ECDIS displays and navigation computers.
Q: What does the shading coefficient measure?
A: The shading coefficient is a comparative index of overall solar energy transmission. Clear glass has a coefficient of 1.0. The lower the shading coefficient, the better the shading performance. It is useful for comparing different film specifications when the individual performance percentages are similar.
Q: Are test conditions standardised for SOLASOLV® performance data?
A: Yes. All Solar Solve performance data is produced for a free-hanging system with solar film positioned 15 millimetres from 6 millimetre thick glass. The shading coefficient and total solar energy rejected may vary depending on conditions at the fitted location.
