John Lewis, London

Client: John Lewis plc
Value: £140,000
Type of works: installation of a bomb-blast film.

Solar Shield recently completed the application of combined, solar-security film to John Lewis head office in London. Trials of film were installed so that the film’s aesthetic appearance and performance could be monitored by John Lewis staff.

Solar Shield had the film especially manufactured for this project as there was no standard window-film product available. The film provides bomb-blast protection; reduces the sun’s heat and glare and also reduces energy costs by lowering the duty on air-conditioning, thus reducing fuel bills. It also reduces ultra-violet light by at least 99%, reducing fading of items in front of the glazing. The installation was carried out with minimal disruption by two teams of fitters, over a 14-week period.

The benefits of having such a film are that it provides bomb-blast protection, and it improves productivity in the workplace by reducing summertime solar heat-gain by up to 68%. The film cuts excess summer solar heat through glass, which helps to maintain lower room temperatures, easing the load on air-conditioning plants, and therefore reducing energy costs.

The film is protected by a patented scratch-resistant coating, which has long-term durability and easy cleaning. The film itself has a ten-year warranty and is tested to BS EN 12600:2002, ‘Glass in building. Pendulum test. Impact test method and classification for flat glass’ (formerly BS 6206:1981, ‘Specification for impact performance requirements for flat safety glass and safety plastics for use in buildings’).