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Window tinting: Go dark to stay cool
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Land Transport Authority rules require vehicle windscreens and front windows to allow at least 70 per cent of light through. Rear windows must let through a minimum of 25 per cent light.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Are darker windows better at keeping the cabin cool?
Window tinting is a common upgrade for many cars. To stay on the right side of the law, the front windscreen and front windows must allow at least 70 per cent of light to pass through. At the rear, the minimum visible light transmission level is 25 per cent.
Some opt for dark windows purely for looks or to keep prying eyes away from the cabin’s contents. However, a darker tint is not necessarily better at keeping heat out.
Rather than the shade, it is the composition of the film that plays a bigger role in blocking heat.
Crucially, the material needs to keep infrared radiation out. This is the major source of solar heat energy and it passes right through glass, regardless of how dark the tint is.
Typically, ceramic window films are better at blocking infrared radiation than dyed or metallised films. They are non-reflective and do not affect light transmission.
Other than helping the cabin stay cooler, having a quality window film improves energy efficiency by easing the load on the air-conditioning system.
As an added benefit, the film also helps hold shattered glass during an impact.
