A large infrared percentage is not a total-heat figure. Before comparing tint, identify the exact product and shade, the metric being quoted and the sample used to measure it. A useful comparison keeps those details beside the number.
Start with the label
The definitions below separate three kinds of information. 3M’s Crystalline CR BLK brochure provides a concrete glossary; another supplier’s figures still need their own definitions and test conditions.
| Label | What it describes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLT | The share of visible light transmitted through the sample. | Film alone or a film-and-glass combination? |
| TSER | The share of total solar energy rejected by filmed glass. | Which glass and test conditions? |
| Infrared metric | Rejection within the infrared range defined by the publisher. | Full label, wavelength range and sample construction. |
Start a separate comparison entry for every shade you are considering. A family-level maximum should not become the specification for every version of that family. Keep the source document and its date with the entry so the installer can identify which published product you mean.
A worked example: 98% IRR and 70% IRER
For CR BLK 30, Table C of 3M’s Crystalline technical data sheet, Revision F, August 2025, lists the following:
| Metric | Published value | Footnote conditions |
|---|---|---|
| IRER | 70% | 780–2,500 nm; film applied to glass. |
| IRR | 98% | 900–1,000 nm; film with liner, without glass. |
3M presents typical/reference data. Table C names 6 mm clear glass with 89% VLT and ANSI/NFRC 200 testing; IRR uses the separate no-glass sample.
Keep each number with its definition. The 98% IRR figure cannot be presented as 98% total solar-energy rejection.
Build a comparison you can take to an installer
Use the following fields for each candidate. Copy the published figures with their labels; leave a missing condition as a question rather than filling it with an assumption.
| Field | Record for each option |
|---|---|
| Product | Brand, exact series, shade and intended window. |
| Visible light | Published VLT and the sample it describes. |
| Solar and infrared figures | TSER, infrared metric names, wavelength ranges, glass and test conditions. |
| Document | Source link, revision/date and product market. |
| Unanswered questions | Missing conditions or differences to clarify before comparing. |
Begin with candidates at similar published VLT, then check whether their sample and measurement conditions match. A similar shade label does not establish that match. If the documents use different glass or definitions, keep the difference visible instead of declaring a winner from the percentages.
Material descriptions answer another question. Our guide to PET base film explains why a raw-material name does not establish a finished tint’s performance. Take the exact product choices and remaining questions into your installation quotation, with a choice recorded for each window and any roof glass included in the job.
