The standards behind the film

Window film is only as good as the way it's measured. These are the organisations that define how performance is tested, rated and described across our industry.

Every figure we publish — visible light transmission, UV rejection, infrared rejection, total solar energy rejection — only means something if it was measured the same way everyone else measures it. That's the work these organisations do: they set the test methods, maintain the terminology, and keep one manufacturer's numbers comparable with another's.

We report our performance data using the methodology the industry has settled on, so you can put a Spectrum spec sheet next to anyone else's and read it straight across. Below is who does what, and where each one touches automotive or architectural film.

Global bodies and standards

  • International Window Film Association IWFA Automotive & architectural

    The trade body that unifies the window film industry worldwide and publishes technical guidance on film performance, terminology and installation practice. Its material is the reference most installers and specifiers work from.

  • European Window Film Association EWFA Automotive & architectural

    Founded in 2000 by the major film manufacturers, the EWFA brings producers and distributors together to set common ground on how window film products are described and how their performance is measured.

  • National Fenestration Rating Council NFRC Automotive & architectural

    A non-profit that runs the one independent rating and labelling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights and the products applied to them. NFRC methodology is how solar performance figures become comparable between brands.

  • ENERGY STAR Architectural

    The US Environmental Protection Agency programme that sets and recognises standards for energy efficiency across products and buildings. Window film earns its place in that conversation by cutting the cooling load a building carries.

  • The Skin Cancer Foundation Automotive & architectural

    The only international organisation working solely on education, prevention, early detection and treatment of the world's most common cancer. It operates a Seal of Recommendation for products that provide meaningful UV protection.

  • Specialty Equipment Market Association SEMA Automotive

    The trade association for the specialty automotive aftermarket — the businesses and people who make, sell and fit the parts and accessories that change how a vehicle performs and looks. Window film sits squarely in that market.

  • International Facility Management Association IFMA Architectural

    The largest international association for facility management professionals, whose members are responsible for billions of square feet of property — and for the running costs that solar control film directly affects.

  • Building Owners and Managers Association BOMA Architectural

    A federation of associations that serves as a primary source of information on building operation — operating costs, energy consumption patterns and the retrofit measures that move them.

  • American Institute of Architects AIA Architectural

    The professional association and industry voice for licensed architects since 1857, and a route through which glazing and solar control products reach the people specifying them.

  • American Society of Interior Designers ASID Architectural

    The leading professional organisation for interior designers, whose members meet defined standards to join and who weigh daylight, glare and heat as part of how a space actually works.

  • Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators AIMCAL Automotive & architectural

    A global non-profit trade association and forum for converters of metallised, laminated and coated flexible substrates — the manufacturing discipline window film is built on.

  • Protective Glazing Council PGC Architectural

    An international body supporting the development of standards for protective glazing — how glass and applied film are measured for blast resistance, bullet resistance and forced entry.

  • CE marking Architectural

    The CE mark declares that a construction product meets European safety, health and environmental requirements. For architectural safety film it is backed by a technical file and a declaration of performance held by the manufacturer.

Southeast Asia

  • Standar Nasional Indonesia (BSN) SNI Automotive & architectural

    Indonesia's national standards body. Where an SNI standard applies to architectural or automotive film, certification is issued against it by an accredited body.

  • SIRIM QAS International Automotive & architectural

    Malaysia's testing and product certification house. SIRIM test reports are the usual way film performance is evidenced for the Malaysian market.

  • Green Building Council Indonesia GBCI Architectural

    Administers the Greenship rating system for Indonesian buildings. Solar control film contributes to the energy efficiency criteria buildings are assessed against.

What sets us apart

Explore our pages on manufacturing and sustainability to learn more about what goes into every roll of Spectrum film.