Sun Management™ System

Low-E Glass and Thermal Control

Tinted or coated glass provides solar control by absorbing or reflecting a portion of the sun’s energy.

In the 1980s, however, a new kind of glass was introduced that provided exceptional thermal control properties as well. It was called Low-E glass, and its insulating ability was measured by its U-Value.

The most common form of Low-E glass is produced by simply applying a special coating to sheets of finished glass in a process called sputter coating.

These “soft coat” products, however, have some limitations. The coating can be easily scratched or damaged, and can deteriorate with exposure to air, giving the product a limited shelf life. And much of the fabrication process, including bending and tempering, must be done before the glass is coated.