Exterior installation standards?

[Show me your tint's!]

Hello All,

 

      We had just completed a large exterior installation and the gentleman that we needed to sign off on our work had no or minimal experience with film.  On his first walk through he stopped looking at more windows and sent out an email saying the windows were awful and there was no need to check others.  I searched all over and could not find anything regarding exterior installation standards and only found one for interior.  We called a meeting, explained how tint works and cures and also used the interior standards information sheet that provides details on how far away someone needs to stand, what is acceptable deficiencies etc when inspecting an install.  We did end up getting sign off but I am thinking there has to be some set of guidelines for exterior as they are much more difficult to do.  If any one has anything, I'd love to hear from you.

Have a great weekend. 

[Roach]

I would be surprised if there are standards. Too many variables that you have no control over.

What was his issue with the windows? Dirt? Edge gap?

[Tint Eastwood]

IMO the guidelines for exterior installs is the same as interior but maybe a tad bit looser, considering access, conditions and most importantly customer/installer agreed upon standards. 

 

But  on roach, depends on what the gripes were about.

 

 

[Filmhandler]

 Are there any industry-accepted visual inspection standards for a flat glass window film installation?

Answer: The IWFA has accepted a document of describing such standards on May 15, 1999, but whether it is universally accepted, we cannot determine. The document is printed in the IWFA's Safety Film Education Guide. Contact the IWFA to obtain a copy. You'll need to check with the IWFA office, but the document may also be available in other languages as well, such as Spanish. Here is the link to the IWFA text on visual standards http://www.iwfa.com/MemberInfo/MemberResearch/VisualQualityStandard.aspx . Visual Quality Standard For Applied Window Film As Adopted By The IWFA May 15, 1999 1. Installed film on flat glass surfaces is not expected to have the same level of visual quality as glass. The following criteria apply to the installed film only and not to any defect inherent in the glass.

 

2. Installed film has a discrete time for full adhesion to be effected since installation utilizes a detergent solution in the water to float the film onto the glass: the excess water is squeegeed out, but inevitably residual water will remain between the film and glass. The time to achieve full adhesion is often referred to as "the adhesive cure time". Adhesion will be increasing from a lower value during this time. Visual and adhesive cure time is related to thickness of the film and various metallic coating on the film. Typical visual cure times may be extended or shortened according to climatic conditions.

 

3. Inspection for optical quality can be made before full visual cure is attained. Table 1 provides a guide for typical visual cure times. It should be noted that effects during cure, such as water bubbles, water distortion, and water haze are not to be regarded as defects.

 

4. The glass with applied film shall be viewed at right angles to the glass from the room side, at a distance of not less than 6 feet (2 meters). Viewing shall be carried out in natural daylight, not in direct sunlight, and shall assess the normal vision area with the exception of a 2 inch (50mm) wide band around the perimeter of the unit.

 

5. The installation shall be deemed acceptable if all of the following are unobtrusive (effects during visual cure should be disregarded): Dirt Particles, Hair and Fibers, Adhesive Gels, Fingerprints, Air Bubbles, Water Haze, Scores and Scratches, Film Distortion, Creases, Edge Lift, Nicks and Tears. Inspection may by made within 1 day of installation. Obtrusiveness of blemishes shall be judged by looking through the film installation under lighting conditions described in 4.

 

6. The 2 inch (50mm) wide band around the perimeter shall be assessed by a similar procedure to that in 3 and 4, but a small number of particles is considered acceptable where poor frame condition mitigates against the high quality standards normally achieved.

 

7. Edge gaps will normally be 1/32 - 1/16 inch (1-4mm). This allows for the water used in the installation to be squeegeed out. This ensures that film edges are not raised up by contact with the frame margin. Contact with the frame margin could lead to peeling of thefilm.

 

8. For thicker safety films the edge gaps will normally be 1/32 - 1/16 inch (1-4mm), with 1/32 - 1/8 inch (1-5mm) being acceptable for films of (7 mil (175)). Combination solar control safety films will also fall within this standard. An edge gap of up to 1/16 inch (2mm) is recommended, especially for darker (tinted, metallized, tinted/metallized, and sputtered) films, to minimize the light line around the edge of the installed film.

 

9. Splicing of films is necessary when larger panels of glass are treated, where both length and width of the glass exceed the maximum width of film. The splice line itself should not be viewed as a defect. This line should be straight and should be parallel to one edge of the frame margin. The two pieces of film may be butt jointed. The maximum gap at any point in the splice line should be 1/64 inch (1mm). 

 

You may call IWFA to get a copy of "visual inspection guide for the exterior film"

[drtint]

I would say you pick the right time for the install. Cloudy and no wind. As far as exterior application the warranty would be from as far away from Mother Nature would allow and still see through.

i found out years ago, to make a customer appreciative with an exterior install, the installer has to feel good about the install themselves as far as weather, heat cold, need to be comfortable. Up north there is usually a good day to do it, here in the south I generally have me and my people do it in the wee hours. No wind no sun and fairly clean and quick. Everyone is satisfied and not bitching about the heat and slip drying out the install

[Show me your tint's!]

Thanks all!  I found the IWFA document you were referring to and used it for our walk through.  I believe it is for interior install examinations.  Was thinking there would be one for exterior install's that was more lenient as exterior installations are much more difficult.  FYI.  The walk through went great and we got sign off!  Once again thank you all.  I love this site!