Fabric or furniture fade is caused by multiple factors, according to the International Window Film Association. 10% of fading is caused by miscellaneous factors (i.e., fabric color, material, etc.). 25% is caused by heat. 25% is caused by visible light. And the remaining 40% is caused by UV rays. 3M window films can mitigate, but not eliminate, 90% of the factors that cause fabric or furniture fade.

A common misconception is that only UV light causes fading. Most of our window films, including clear security films, block out 99% of UV light. Therefore, clients believe that a clear film will prevent fading. That’s not true.

In addition to blocking out UV light, you need to decrease visible light (aka daylight or sunlight) and infrared heat from the sun to reduce the likelihood or rate of fading. The darker a film, the more visible light you will block. And typically, the darker and more reflective the film, the more of the sun’s infrared heat you will block. (However, 3M’s clear and colorless Prestige Window Films block up to 97% of the sun’s infrared heat when measured from 900-1,000nm.)

Even if you remove your windows and fill the resulting openings with brick, thereby eliminating all UV, daylight, and infrared heat from the sun, you will still not prevent fading. That is because of the other 10% mentioned above. For example, some materials fade, no matter what. Some homes and buildings have artificial light provided by fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs emit UV light, which causes fading.

The bottom line is that window film can reduce fading but not prevent it.