SUMMARY

Indoor building materials and inventory, e.g. wood panelling, furnitures, books and paintings, are subject to degradation from solar radiation through window panes and other glass structures. Especially ultraviolet light and short-wave visible light are liable for this material degradation. Hence, it is important to select window panes and glass structures which give adequate protection towards the incoming sun rays. In order to measure and calculate the capability of glass to protect indoor materials from degradation caused by the solar radiation, the quantity Solar Material Protection Factor (SMPF) is introduced. Comparison of the SMPF values for different glass fabrications, e.g. with various applied coatings, enables one to select the most appropriate glass materials for the specific buildings. Numerical examples are shown with measurements and calculations carried out on various glass materials, including an electrochromic window (ECW) device, and several two-layer and three-layer window pane combinations. In addition, as to be transparent is the primary function of windows, visibility levels at various protection degrees are also given