North-West firm ARC Window Films called in to resolve an unusual problem at Wigan’s Grand Arcade shopping centre.
The Grand Arcade, Wigan’s top shopping centre, has received a revolutionary window film treatment to reduce solar heat and glare entering the glazed-roofed building following comments from customers that temperatures, particularly in the first-floor food court, were too high. Staff members were also working in warm conditions, making for an uncomfortable environment within which to prepare and serve food.
Management at the Arcade called in ARC, a specialist window film installer based in Wigan. ARC installed a high-grade film to the exterior of the glass roof, a product that rejects over 80% of heat and glare passing into the Grand Arcade without affecting the flow of natural light into the building. The film is long-lasting and will withstand weathers of all seasons; indeed, during cooler periods the film will work in the reverse to retain heat, providing a year-round heat management solution.
ARC Sales Director Neil Brabbs says of the installation:
“We were delighted to be asked to work with the Grand Arcade in order to create a more comfortable environment for customers at the town’s premier shopping destination. The installation took place in June and the results have been excellent; solar heat and glare has been significantly reduced and staff are now able to work in more suitable temperatures. ARC’s expertise in retrofit glazing treatments meant that we were the perfect fit for this unique job.”
Centre manager Howard King adds:
“Our customers’ shopping experience at the Grand Arcade is extremely important to us and it was clear that we needed to take steps to reduce temperatures during warm periods; the installation of window film was the ideal solution, causing no disruption to the operation of the Arcade and allowing our customers to shop and dine in comfort. We chose to work with ARC as we wanted to use a local company with an excellent reputation. We are very pleased with the results.”
•About Window Film
Window film is an effective, low-cost treatment for automotive, residential and commercial glazing. As well as reducing heat and glare, window film can be used as an energy-saving solution, to prevent vandalism or intrusion, for UV protection and to increase safety and security. Printed window films are also available to increase a business’ visual presence across a shop or office frontage.
The film applied to the Grand Arcade was the ARC Silver 20 Exterior Window Film, a reflective solar control film with protective scratch-resistant coating which is designed to shed dirt particles, making windows easier to clean.
Exterior film performs to a much higher standard than interior equivalents, rejecting solar energy before it enters the glazing and avoiding thermal stress compatibility issues associated with interior films.
•About ARC
Wigan Business Awards Winner ARC is one of the UK’s premier suppliers and installers of window film, serving both private and commercial customers throughout Europe, including schools, hospitals and businesses – even the Royal Albert Hall.
Neil comments:
“From minimising a property’s heat loss to preventing graffiti, the applications for window films are endless. As demonstrated by our work at the Grand Arcade, film can be applied to all sizes of glazing across any part of a building. The product is widely used in other parts of the world but is less common in the UK. Its far-reaching commercial potential makes it ideal as a climate-management tool post-construction.”
For more details, see www.arcwindowfilms.com or contact Neil at ARC on 0333 800 2400.
