# Performance of Solar Control Films on Building Glazing: A Literature Review
## 4 Existing Studies on the Performance of Solar Control Films
### Thermal and Luminous Performance Assessment of Glazing Systems with Solar Control Films  
The number of research studies that address the thermal performance of building glazing systems with SCFs is higher than those that assess the luminous performance. Only a scarce number of studies contemplates both the thermal and luminous performance [43; 44; 46; 50; 51; 53]. The heat transmission of different types of glass (single and double-glazing: clear, dark tilted, reflective, and low-E), with and without SCFs, were analyzed in view of an analytical study by [PERSON] et al. [34], conducted under a tropical monsoon climate (Aw [58]). The results show that SCFs reduced the thermal gains due to solar radiation in the same proportion as the change in the optical properties of the film; therefore, a minimal effect on thermal gains by thermal conduction was obtained. The single and double reflective glazing presented the lowest relative heat gain value due to the high reflectance values of the glass with a film. [PERSON] [35] experimentally assessed the performance of a single glazed window with and without an SCF installed, in a south-oriented glazing system of two wood cells under the cold arid steppe climate of Iraq (Bsk [58]). A reduction in the peak indoor air temperature of 11.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C at 2.00 pm (from 68.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C to 57 \({}^{\circ}\)C) and a reduction of 10-90% of the solar irradiance transmitted through the glazing were obtained. The thermal performance of SCFs under the hot desert climate (Bwhh [58]) was analyzed by [PERSON] et al. [51] and [PERSON] et al. [36; 37; 38]. The performance of neutral SCFs installed in double glazed windows of office rooms, in actual working conditions, was experimentally assessed during summer by [PERSON] et al. [51]. The presence of SCFs made it possible to preserve indoor relative humidity levels and decrease the indoor air temperature by 2 \({}^{\circ}\)C to 5 \({}^{\circ}\)C. When analytically analyzing the performance of a double-glazing system with and without an SCF installed in hot and cold climates, [PERSON] et al. [36; 37; 38] concluded that the application of the SCF on double-glazing reduced solar gains through the glazing by 52% and 10% in hot and cold climates, respectively. Due to the results, the authors strongly recommend using an SCF in hot climates and using reversible windows with SCFs in temperate climates. Some of the existing studies [42; 43; 53] evaluated the thermal and luminous performance of SCFs under the temperate oceanic climate (Cfb [58]). A study by [PERSON] et al. [42] analyzed the installation of blinds against the application of a low-E SCF as rehabilitation solutions to reduce solar gains in a 18 th century building in Scotland. Even though the thermal transmission coefficient in the presence of blinds (1.1 W/m\({}^{2}\)\(\cdot\)K if fully closed) was lower than the value calculated for a window with an SCF, the luminous comfort and the outdoor view would be compromised due to the almost closed position of the blind. The authors concluded that the SCF had a slightly better performance than the blinds to maintain a balance between the thermal and luminous comfort and take advantage of the benefits inherent to solar gains. [PERSON] et al. [43; 53] analyzed, experimentally and numerically, the performance of a double-pane window in the southwest facade with and without a reflective SCF, using two similar offices in Italy as a case study. The mean and peak values of incoming solar radiation were reduced by 46% to 66% in the presence of the SCF, resulting in a reduction in the glass surface temperature by 10 \({}^{\circ}\)C and the indoor air temperature by 2 \({}^{\circ}\)C on sunny days without climate control. Indoor illuminance levels decreased by 50% to 60% during sunny and cloudy days, respectively, in the presence of the SCF. The performance of SCFs when installed in single- and double-glazing systems of office rooms in Portugal (hot summer, Mediterranean climate (Csa [58])) was assessed by [PERSON] et al. [44] and [PERSON] et al.