Solar control glass

Solar control glass helps keep out solar heat and bright light. Thanks to a special coating, solar rays are partially reflected or filtered so that the interior stays nice and cool - even on hot days. So you need less air conditioning or heating, save energy and enjoy greater comfort.

And with BENG glass with solar control coating, you get something extra: an insulation value of U = 0.35 - the best insulation available. And that with more sunlight, while fitting into your existing window frames.

Solar control glass - also known as heat control glass - is a smart solution for homes and buildings with many windows or large areas of glass. The glass has a special coating that filters and reflects solar heat. This keeps the inside cooler on hot days, while maintaining its insulating properties in winter.

But what exactly are the benefits of solar control glass?

1. Less warming in summer

An important advantage of solar control glass is its low G-value. The lower this value, the less solar heat the glass lets through. That means:

• Less overheating in the home
• Less need for air conditioning
• More comfort with large windows or a south-facing facade

Especially in well-insulated homes, heat can accumulate quickly. Solar control glass helps reduce this.

2. Lower energy costs

Because solar control glass reduces the cooling load in summer and keeps heat in in winter (low U-value), energy consumption for both heating and cooling is reduced. You'll see that reflected on your energy bill.

When you combine solar shading with high-quality insulation, as with vacuum glass, you benefit from even lower heat loss.

3. Comfort in every season

Solar control glass contributes to a more stable indoor climate. Less heat in summer and less heat loss in winter ensure a pleasant living or working environment all year round.

4. Less UV radiation

The coating on solar control glass also reduces the amount of UV radiation coming in. That helps reduce discoloration of furniture, floors and curtains.

5. Suitable for renovation and new construction

Sunproof glass can be used in both existing homes and new construction projects. Especially when a slim solution such as solar-control vacuum glass is chosen, it often fits into existing window frames and does not require major modifications.

Why choose solar control glass?

Solar control glass is particularly interesting when:

• Your home has a lot of glass area
• The facade faces south or west
• You suffer from overheating in the summer
• You want to improve the energy label of your home
• You want to save energy without compromising on comfort

By choosing solar control glass, you combine solar control, insulation and living comfort in one solution. Especially in combination with a low U-value and a low G-value, this delivers noticeable benefits - both in temperature and energy costs.

With solar control glass from BENG glass, you combine the best of four worlds: extremely good insulation values, more daylight, preservation of the existing window frames while benefiting from a pleasant indoor climate, 4-seasons long.

• Up to three times better insulation than solar control glass HR++
  Thanks to vacuum technology, BENG glass achieves an insulation value of (U=0.35 to 0.50). This is up to three times better than solar control HR++ glass (1.10) and even twice better than triple glazing (0.70).
  
  A low U-value means less heat loss through the glass, lower heating costs and a more stable indoor temperature. Especially on cold days, you notice the difference immediately.
  

• Strong sun protection with low G-value
  The G-value determines how much solar heat is transmitted. With values between (0.29) for BENG glass Solar Control and (0.39) for BENG glass Double Coated, much of the solar heat is blocked.

  In comparison, solar control glass HR++ sits around 0.50 and triple glass around 0.45. So those let in more heat. Especially with large windows or a south-facing facade, a lower G-value provides noticeably more comfort.

  You keep it cooler inside in the summer, while the insulation helps to retain heat in the winter. That lowers energy costs for both heating and cooling.
  

• More daylight (LTA value)
  The LTA value indicates how much daylight the glass lets through. The higher this value, the brighter the pane.

  Sunproof vacuum glass consists of only two panes of glass and, with a minimum thickness starting at 8.3 mm, is considerably slimmer than regular solar control glass HR++ or triple glazing. Fewer glass layers mean less light loss. As a result, light transmission remains higher, even with solar control coatings.

  So you benefit from strong solar control without your home feeling dark.
  

• Fits into existing window frames
  Whereas traditional solar control glass HR++ often starts at 21 mm thickness, BENG glass is applicable from as little as 8.3 mm. As a result, it often fits into existing window frames.

  This is also an advantage in new construction: you can choose slimmer and lighter window frames without compromising on insulation or solar control. This saves on material costs and increases the energy performance of the home.

Solar control glass is a strong choice if you want to save energy, reduce UV radiation and keep it comfortable inside. Still, it's important to also consider the potential points of concern in your decision.

1. Reduced daylight and visibility

Solar control glass contains a coating that filters solar rays. This can cause the window to have a darker tint, which affects the amount of daylight and the clarity of the view outside.

With BENG glass's solar control vacuum glass, this effect is more limited than with many traditional solutions. Thanks to the minimum glass thickness of only 8.3 mm (instead of about 21 mm with solar control glass HR++), there are fewer layers of glass and light transmission remains higher.

2. Less passive solar heat in winter.

A low G-value means that solar heat is blocked. This is pleasant in the summer, but on cold days you therefore benefit less from natural solar heat.

Therefore, the right balance between G-value (solar control) and U-value (insulation) is important. BENG glass offers different variants, each with its own combination of solar control, insulation and light transmission. So you choose the solution that best suits your home and location.

With solar control glass, the color of the coating plays an important role. Solar control is achieved with a special metal coating, which can give the glass a subtle tint. Depending on the manufacturer and the type of coating, that tint can range from gray to green or slightly greenish.

Color differences occur especially when glass from different series or from different manufacturers is combined. Therefore, it is important to always choose solar control glass within the same product line and from the same manufacturer. This way you avoid visible differences in appearance, especially with large glass panes or side-by-side windows.

With BENG glass, you can choose from three solar control variants, each with its own balance of solar control, insulation and light transmission - as well as its own tint:

Maximum solar control - BENGglas Solar Control (gray)
G=0.29 || U=0.50 || LTA=47%.

Highly solar control - BENGglas Triple Coated (green)
G=0.33 || U=0.50 || LTA=68%.

Solar control - BENG glass Double Coated (light greenish)
G=0.39 || U=0.40 || LTA=70%

The stronger the solar protection (the lower the G-value), the more apparent the tint may be. Therefore, always view a product sample before making a final choice. Every BENGglas® dealer has samples available so you can evaluate the glass and color in real life.

Sunproof vacuum glass is the solution for buildings with a lot of glass and a lot of sun. Think of south-facing living rooms, large windows, offices with lots of light, conservatories or skylights. Anywhere where it gets too hot quickly, but where you don't want drawn curtains or humming air conditioners.

Solar control coating keeps out the sun's heat without having to compromise on insulation.
And because the vacuum glass is so thin, it often just fits into existing window frames - even when renovating or in listed buildings.

So you get more comfort at home or at work, lower energy costs in the summer and a solution that is truly future-proof.

The G value shows how much solar heat enters the building through the glass. The lower the value, the less heat gets into your home. The U-value shows how well the glass retains heat in winter.

With solar control BENG glass, you get the best of both:

• a low U-value for top insulation (0.35-0.40)
• and a low G-value that keeps out solar heat (0.29-0.39).

BENG glass Double Coated
- U-value: 0.40
- G-value: 0 .39
- Light transmission: 70%
- Application: perfect for residential construction, good balance between light and solar control

BENG glass Triple Coated
- U-value: 0.35
- G-value: 0 .33
- Light transmission: 68
- Application: ideal for commercial buildings or facades with a lot of sunlight

BENGglas Solar Control
- U-value: 0.50
- G-value: 0 .29
- Light transmission: 45-47%.
- Application: dark in color with little natural light, only suitable for commercial buildings

Solar control glass HR++
- U-value: 1.10
- G-value: 0.46-0.50
- Light transmission: 60-75%
- Frequently used, but less insulating than vacuum glass

Solar control glass HR++ / Solar control glass triple
- U-value: 0.7
- G-value: 0.40-0.45
- Light transmission: 65-75%
- Good insulation, but very heavy and shorter lifespan than vacuum glass

Unlike solar control glass HR++ or HR+++ glass, with BENG glass you don't have to choose between insulation or solar control. Thanks to vacuum technology, it keeps heat in better and solar heat out better. Ideal for those looking for comfort, energy savings and a solution that is ready for the future - without compromising on light or appearance.

In addition to extra living comfort, solar control glass also offers benefits for the energy performance of your home. By reducing heat demand in winter and lowering air conditioning costs in summer, solar control vacuum glass contributes to a more energy-efficient home.

Grant opportunities are available for certain types of insulation glass, including solar control vacuum glass. Wondering what schemes apply to you and how to apply for them? Check out our page on vacuum glass subsidies at www.bengglas.nl/subsidie.

By choosing BENG glass, you benefit from an expected lifetime of up to 50 years. We believe that such a long lifespan should also be reflected in the warranty conditions. Whereas standard insulation glass often comes with a 10-year warranty, BENG glass therefore goes a step further.

On the solar control variants - BENGglas Double Coated, BENGglas Triple Coated and BENGglas Solar Control - we offer up to 20 years warranty.

Do you choose a hybrid or laminated version? Then a 10-year warranty applies. Always consult the warranty terms and conditions for exact details and conditions.