Solar Privacy Glass: UV Transmission, Comfort & Your Van

Your van. Your view. A clearer understanding of your glass.

Clear specs. Confident choices. Thank you for making VWD part of your build.

Interior view of the VWD TR201-SE sliding window installed in a Ford Transit — TR201-SE · Interior view · Van Windows Direct

VWD single-pane glass	UV transmission	UV not transmitted*
5 mm solar privacy glass	12%	88%
4 mm solar privacy glass	17%	83%

*Based on VWD's stated UV transmission. These are not heat-rejection or visible-light figures.

UV rays meeting dark grey glass: 5 mm transmits 12%, while 4 mm transmits 17%. Remaining UV is not transmitted. — Illustration based on VWD-stated UV transmission. Colored rays are schematic; UV is invisible.

Read the number with confidence

UV transmission describes how much measured ultraviolet radiation passes through the glass. A lower percentage means less UV is transmitted. Based on VWD's stated figures, 12% transmission means 88% is not transmitted; 17% transmission means 83% is not transmitted. The difference is 5 percentage points. These are UV figures, not visible light transmission (VLT), tint darkness or heat-rejection percentages.

What you gain

Both VWD glass groups reduce transmitted UV relative to the incident UV used for the rating. The 12% group transmits less than the 17% group when compared on the same measurement basis. Reducing UV can help limit one contributor to interior fading, but visible light and heat also contribute. Upholstery, flooring and cabinetry can still fade over time. [4]

How solar privacy glass works

In body-tinted solar-control glass, the glass absorbs part of the incoming solar energy and transmits part of it. Its color and performance depend on its composition and thickness. Tinted glass can reduce glare and improve privacy compared with clear glass. This is a general explanation of tinted glass, not a specification of VWD's tint chemistry or coatings. [1]

Privacy for real van life

Privacy glass still transmits light: it is not an opaque wall or a guaranteed one-way mirror. Plan to use window covers or shades when privacy matters, particularly with interior lights on after dark. The 12% and 17% UV values do not tell you how dark the glass looks or how much visible light enters.

Heat: look beyond the UV percentage

A UV rating alone cannot establish cabin temperature, air-conditioning savings or total solar heat rejection. Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) measures solar heat admitted through glazing, including directly transmitted energy and absorbed energy released inward. U-factor describes heat flow caused by an indoor-outdoor temperature difference; lower values mean less heat transfer. These are different measurements from UV transmission. [2]

4 mm, 5 mm and dual pane

Thickness is useful construction information, but 5 mm single-pane glass should not be treated as insulated glazing merely because it is thicker than 4 mm. Multiple panes and the space between them can improve insulation; the complete assembly, frame and seals matter. We do not have verified VWD SHGC or U-factor values to quantify that benefit here. [2]

Sound: a whole-window result

Glass thickness can influence sound transmission, but the effect varies with sound frequency. Pane construction, window size, frame and seals all matter. Dual-pane construction is not automatically quieter than single pane; pane thickness combinations and acoustic laminates can change results. UV transmission says nothing about acoustic performance. No tested VWD STC, OITC or decibel reduction is provided here, so we do not promise a sound-reduction percentage. [3]

Choose for your build

Start with vehicle fitment and window location, then choose fixed glass or the ventilation style that suits your travels. Use the thickness and UV figures as clear product specifications, and consider covers, ventilation and your van's insulation as part of the comfort plan. The following model index takes you straight to each product. Thank you for choosing VWD to be part of your build.

Specification notes

VWD supplied the 5 mm/12% mapping for TL and TR models and all SR119 and SL119 models, and the 4 mm/17% mapping for its other single-pane windows. The UV wavelength range, test method and laboratory report were not supplied, so no UVA/UVB-specific or cross-brand performance claim is made. These figures are not inferred from visible tint. The index covers active VWD window listings as of November 2, 2026; AM Auto and CRL products are not assigned VWD specifications.

Dual-pane exception: VERT1518DP

VERT1518DP is a dual-pane window. Individual pane thickness and whole-unit UV transmission have not been confirmed; the single-pane 4 mm/17% and 5 mm/12% figures should not be applied to it.

Explore VERT1518DP

5 mm solar privacy glass - 12% UV transmission

4 mm solar privacy glass - 17% UV transmission

Sources & further reading

These sources explain general glazing science, not VWD product certifications.

Explore the VWD Knowledge Center | Download this guide