Low-E Coatings Explained — Choosing the Right Specification for Your Climate

Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings are microscopic metallic layers applied to glass that reflect infrared radiation — keeping heat out in summer and inside in winter — without significantly reducing visible light transmission.

Hard-Coat vs Soft-Coat

Hard-coat (online) coatings are applied during the float process at high temperature. They are durable, can be handled and tempered, and have a slightly higher emissivity (around 0.15–0.20). Good for single-glazing upgrades and projects where the coating will be exposed.

Soft-coat (offline / sputtered) coatings are applied after float and achieve much lower emissivity values (down to 0.02). They must be protected inside an IGU. Soft-coat is standard for modern double and triple glazed commercial facades.

Choosing for Your Climate

Climate	Recommended	Priority
Hot (Middle East, SE Asia)	Solar-control Low-E	Low SHGC, moderate U-value
Cold (N. Europe, Canada)	High-performance thermal Low-E	Low U-value, higher SHGC
Mixed (Mediterranean, E. China)	Balanced Low-E	Medium SHGC, low U-value

Common Specifications We Produce

• Guardian SunGuard SNX 62/27 — popular solar-control for Middle East
• AGC Planibel A — hard-coat for single-glazing upgrades
• NSG Pilkington Optitherm — high-clarity thermal for N. Europe

Our technical team can model your facade’s energy performance. Contact us with your climate zone, facade orientation and target U-value.