What affects the light transmittance of windows and how to increase it

Sunlight energizes you for great things or simply gives you a good mood. For free. Light enters our apartments through the windows. The mood and well-being for many years depends on which windows we choose. Therefore, if you want more positive things, add maximum light to your window requirements. Technical information: a double-glazed window is not the entire window, it is only its glass part, occupying 70-80% of the structure’s area. The basic principles of gaining light due to double-glazed windows are as follows:

  1. The higher the grade of glass, the more light
  2. The thinner the glass, the more light
  3. The less glass in a double-glazed window, the more light
  4. The fewer bells and whistles in the glass (energy-saving, tinted, triplex, etc.) - the more light

What determines the light transmittance of glass?

Glass is an amorphous material that is produced industrially by supercooling a molten mass, which includes silicate materials - limestone, quartz sand, soda and other substances. It is these components, together with production and processing technologies, that form the overall characteristics of glass, including their light transmittance. Moreover, the amount of light passing through a sheet of glass simultaneously depends on two properties of this material:

  • absorption - the components included in the glass partially absorb a certain amount of rays of the visible spectrum;
  • reflection – the surface of glass sheets “mirrors” a certain percentage of light.

All rays of the visible spectrum that are not absorbed or reflected pass through the glass. The better the surface is polished and the fewer impurities and cavities inside, the higher its light transmittance.

Also, the degree of light transmission is affected by the thickness of the sheets, since as it increases, the amount of absorbed light also increases.

Amount of fine for violation

The fine for such a violation will be exactly 500 rubles. Moreover, since 2022, the legislation regarding this kind of violations does not contain the concept of a repeated fine.

That is why you need to familiarize yourself with all the nuances and subtleties of the payment procedure in advance. There is also a way to somewhat reduce the financial burden on the budget resulting from violation of the law on tinting.

From 01/01/16, motorists received the right to pay a fine with a 50% discount. This rule does not apply to all violations. But specifically regarding tinting, such a benefit still applies.

It is important to note that there is a period of 20 days within which payment will need to be made. If it is not carried out within a given period of time, it will be impossible to take advantage of the benefit.

It is important to note that traffic police officers in various ways attempt to punish a motorist twice for tinting or to confiscate the car. For example, if the driver is stopped and during the inspection of the car a special protocol is drawn up indicating an order to eliminate malfunctions - and the correction is not carried out within the specified time - then a possible penalty is:

For example, if the driver is stopped and during the inspection of the car a special protocol is drawn up indicating an order to eliminate malfunctions - and the correction is not carried out within the specified time - then a possible penalty is:

It is important to note that such methods of influence are completely legal. Therefore, the best solution would be to simply not allow such events to happen.

It is also important to note that the presence of tint is not a serious violation, therefore it is possible to pay only 250 rubles. But tinting the front side windows, as well as the windshield, is still a matter of the driver’s responsibility to his loved ones

But tinting the front side windows, as well as the windshield, is still a matter of the driver’s responsibility to his loved ones.

Since if the amount of transmitted light does not meet the standards, visibility is significantly reduced. Which leads to serious trouble.

Including road accidents. The best solution is to simply not allow this to happen. In 2017-2018, tinting the rear side and rear windows of a car is completely legal.

Installing such tinting will protect your property and also reduce the heating of the interior. The process of checking the light transmittance of glass may involve the use of a special device.

Glass brand

Sheet glass in our country is marked according to GOST 111-90. The following short notations are used to classify it:

  • “M” – brand of glass;
  • “SVR” – sheets of free sizes that are produced without customer specifications;
  • “TR” is glass with rigid dimensions, in the production of which the dimensions provided by the client are strictly adhered to.

Glass marked “M” is used for the production of windows. Depending on the thickness, quality of polishing, amount of impurities and defects, they are assigned a number from 1 to 8. The highest light transmission capacity is for “M1” glass, and the lowest is for “M8”. Traditionally, the brands “M3” and “M4” are usually used for windows.

Other issues related to vehicle management

Will a citizen face punishment if he eliminates the violation on the spot and can it be avoided?

If driving with this violation was recorded, the amount of the penalty will not be affected by the fact that the cause was eliminated on the spot. Since the offense took place in any case. An authorized employee must draw up a protocol and issue a fine.

Can a traffic police officer remove the license plate and prohibit the operation of the vehicle?

Currently, numbers are not being removed, which has been amended accordingly. The employee is only authorized to stop the driver, check the car for violations and issue a fine.

Are headlights allowed to be tinted?

Forbidden. For this, a fine of 500 rubles is provided, and in some cases it can be measured in thousands of rubles.

Clarified and float glass

Sheets obtained using thermal polishing technology are called float glass.
The essence of this technique is that the silicate mass from the smelting furnace is poured into baths filled with tin. When poured over a perfectly flat and smooth metal surface, glass acquires similar characteristics. An absolute minimum of defects and optical distortions ensures virtually unhindered passage of light through such sheets. Thanks to this technology, it became possible not to resort to grinding and polishing glass. Currently, three types of float technology are known - Soviet, English and American. Float glass can be tinted and transparent, and untinted sheets have a light transmission percentage of over 88%, which is an excellent indicator. Lightened glass (Optiwhite) not only provides the highest possible light transmittance, but also natural color rendition. This effect was achieved through “enlightenment”. This technology allows us to minimize the percentage of iron impurities that give ordinary glass a greenish-turquoise tint and are involved in the reflection and absorption of light. Optiwhite sheets are actively used for glazing shop windows and facades of luxury buildings. Triplex made using Optiwhite glass transmits visible rays significantly better.

How to correctly measure the light transmission of glass

24.01.2012

Cars with tinted windows have long ceased to be an exception to the rule, it is so convenient for the driver and passengers. Indeed, tinting protects the interior from the glare of the sun and prying eyes, not to mention other advantages regarding the appearance of the car. However, tinted windows continue to cause complaints from traffic police, who are guided by the regulations for the admission of vehicles to operation. And there is a clause that says that applying a coating that limits the driver’s visibility is an unacceptable action. Therefore, every owner of a car with tinted windows who wants to drive safely on the roads without violating the rules or neglecting safety must know the basic laws and regulations regarding the light transmission of glass.

Basic principles for measuring the light transmittance of glass

The owner of a car with tinted windows should know the contents of the following regulatory documents:

  1. GOST 5727-88, which regulates the light transmission of tinted glass, except mirror glass;
  2. GOST R 51709-2001, which describes methods for checking the technical condition of vehicles.

The first document states that car windows can be covered with transparent colored films, observing the following conditions:

  • – the light transmission of the windshield must remain at least 75%;
  • – light transmission of the remaining glasses is at least 70%.

The technical regulations on the safety of wheeled vehicles, which came into force on September 23, 2010, established a new requirement for glass: the transparency of the windshield and front side windows must be at least 70 percent. Those. The requirements for light transmission of the windshield have become slightly softer.

How to correctly measure the light transmittance of glass is described in GOST R 51709-2001. The test is carried out using special instruments with an absolute error of no more than 2%. In addition, they must provide compensation for external illumination that is not related to the thickness of the glass. Light transmittance is measured at three different points on each test sample and the average value is determined and considered the resulting value. The test must be carried out under the following external conditions:

  • – air temperature: from +15 to +25 degrees;
  • – atmospheric pressure: from 86 to 106 kPa;
  • – relative air humidity: 40 - 80%.

Working with instruments for measuring the light transmittance of glass

Instruments used to check the light transmission of glass must be included in the state register of measuring instruments. These include, for example, the “Tonic” meter, the principle of operation of which is common to other similar devices (“Blik”, “Light”, “Raster”). The built-in photodetector has a sensitivity close to that of the eye, capturing light with a wavelength of 400 - 750 nm. The microcontroller processes the received signal; as a result, the display shows the value of the luminous flux in relative units.

To carry out the test, it is necessary to align the housings of the illuminator and the photodetector according to the applied marks and turn on the device. After a 10-second warm-up, a short beep sounds and calibration is performed (the value is set to 100+/-0.2%). Now you can measure the light transmittance of the glass by pressing the illuminator and photodetector against it from opposite sides. To obtain a more accurate result, alignment should be performed: the illuminator moves slightly relative to the photodetector until the device displays the largest value, which is considered the measurement result. In order for the device to work as accurately as possible, it is necessary to regularly clean its optical elements, and in case of failures, send it to a specialized workshop for inspection.

To main

Double-glazed windows

Regardless of the materials used to make sashes and frames, almost all modern window designs are made using double-glazed windows. It is these elements that are largely responsible for the light transmittance, which, in turn, depends on what kind of glass was chosen for the double-glazed window:

  • triplex;
  • lightened;
  • regular brands “M(3-4)” and float;
  • stained glass;
  • energy efficient with ionic layer;
  • self-cleaning;
  • electrochromic;
  • reinforced

All glass, with the exception of the “M(1-4)” grades, thermopolished (float) and lightened sheets, have a reduced light transmittance. This is due to the fact that for their manufacture additional materials were used (polymer films, dyes, metals) that reflect or absorb rays of the visible spectrum.

Single-chamber double-glazed windows transmit more light than double-chambered ones, since their production requires one less sheet of glass.

Is it possible to avoid fines?

The presence of tint is grounds for imposing a fine.
If there is such a violation and the traffic police officer carried out all the measurements accordingly, then it will simply be impossible to avoid punishment. For a driver who does not want to pay a fine, it is best to simply refuse to tint the front windows. Or use various alternatives:

the use of a special film that allows you to automatically adjust the transmittance level; use of curtains on the road.

The best and most invisible solution is to use a special thermal film. With its help, it will be possible to easily carry out the process of changing the level of transmission of windshield or other glass.

It is important to note that the installation process of such equipment has a high cost. It is also important to note that there are quite a lot of different nuances associated with the operation

A less expensive option is to install special curtains. With their help, you can avoid exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the car interior.

But such devices can also be classified as obstructing the view. Which again implies the possibility of a fine being imposed by the traffic police.

Read how tax audits are carried out here.

There are many subtleties associated with installing all kinds of additional devices. It will be necessary to familiarize yourself in advance with all the subtleties and nuances of legislative issues.

The influence of window frames on the light transmittance of structures

The number of component elements in the frames, which you can learn more about in the article on OknaTrade, and their dimensions have a direct impact on how much light transmittance the windows will have.
For narrow profile products with fewer horizontal and vertical imposts, this figure is always higher. Additionally, the decorative layout prevents the passage of visible rays. That is, if we compare these parameters for a fixed, double-leaf and three-leaf model with a window and decorative elements, then the highest light transmittance will be for a blind window, and the lowest for a three-leaf window with a window and a layout.

Tint measuring devices


In the vast majority of cases, measurements of the light transmittance of glass are made with a “Blik” taumeter device. This is a small portable device that requires 12V power, which explains the frequent request from traffic police inspectors to provide the ability to connect to a car’s cigarette lighter. Note that any motorist can refuse this request to the inspector, citing the fact that the car has a “weak battery”, which means that the readings from the device will be initially incorrect.

The “Blik” device and other similar devices can only be operated under the following temperature conditions: -10°C - +40°C. In this case, the device can be used both during the day and at night. To obtain correct data, measurements must be taken at least at three points on the rear, side or windshield (then the average value is calculated for each of them separately). The display of the device shows the light transmittance indicator: for example, 80%, which is an acceptable value for any vehicle glass.

Another popular device for measuring the degree of glass tinting is “Tonic”. This universal device is capable of working with regular and colored glass, has a built-in battery (up to 10 hours of battery life), has a built-in memory chip and a data transfer module to a computer. This device is often used at inspection stations; it is more accurate and more convenient to use than the Blik. Among other devices that are at the disposal of the traffic police service are “Light” and “Raster”.

All these devices demonstrate high accuracy of readings under optimal measurement conditions. Remember that high humidity will lower the numbers, meaning your car's windows will show less performance in rain or fog conditions. At the same time, do not forget that excessive tinting is not so much a reason to attract a fine as a dangerous factor that, under certain conditions, can prevent you from really assessing the road situation. Follow the laws and remember to be safe!

AGC Clearvision

Glass of increased transparency for the implementation of modern architectural and design solutions. AGC Planibel Clearvision sheet glass stock. Glass-Store.ru

Characteristics

Characteristics of Planibel Clearvision

GLASS MANUFACTURERGLASS BRANDCOLOR
A.G.C.Planibel ClearvisionTransparent

Light characteristics of Planibel Clearvision

LT,%LRE,%LRI,%RD65,%DET,%
918810090

Energy characteristics of Planibel Clearvision

ER,%EA,%SF,%U
82905.7
  • LT Light transmission
  • LRe Reflection of light from outside
  • LRi Reflection of light from within
  • RD65 Color rendering index
  • U Heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K)
  • DET Direct Energy Transmission
  • ER Reflection of energy from outside
  • EA Energy Absorption
  • SF Solar factor

The growing popularity of Planibel Clearvision glass from the manufacturing company AGC is due to its amazing characteristics and, above all, its ultra-transparency. The crystal clarity of the glass sheet ensures maximum light transmission and ideal color reproduction.

No distortions or extraneous shades - high-transparency glass provides an impeccably clear view and becomes the No. 1 choice for realizing the most daring architectural and design ideas. With it, it has become possible to implement projects of any complexity, especially those where accurate color rendition or complete transparency, eliminating the possibility of interference during viewing, are of great importance.

Application of ultra clear glass

Neutral polished Planibel Clearvision glass has high quality and excellent performance characteristics, which ensures its wide use. It is used for glazing buildings in which it is necessary to create high-quality natural lighting and ensure heat transfer from sunlight.

Glass sheets of increased transparency will be an excellent solution for arranging shop windows and supermarkets, refrigerators and vending machines, where the correct reproduction of the color of products is very important. Regardless of thickness, glass does not lose its qualities, which is why it is used in the manufacture of furniture and decorative items, and in interior designs of any premises.

Ultra-transparent glass from the AGS company lends itself well to various processing methods to increase its decorative and performance properties. You can order professional processing from the glass company Glass-Store, which has the best modern equipment at its disposal.

Pros of Triplex:

  • It does not crumble into small fragments, so it does not pose a risk of injury to others.
  • It has high strength and is not afraid of heavy loads.
  • UV resistant. Thanks to this, triplex can be used on the facades of buildings. For example, for the manufacture of canopies, fences, etc.
  • Easily processed, elements of any shape and size can be made.
  • Products made from Triplex glass look beautiful, elegant, monolithic. Fits harmoniously into various interiors.
  • Not only film, but also other materials can be used as a “layer”. For example, leather, rattan, textiles, matting and natural decor. A decorative film with a mother-of-pearl coating is also inserted, imitating the texture of stone, fabric, and wood. Due to this, various and very interesting effects are created.

If necessary, you can order glass with the desired performance characteristics and decor. And this is also one of the advantages of this material.

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