SheerWeave Infinity2, manufactured solely by Phifer Incorporated for the purpose of solar protection as an interior window treatment, is produced from a combination of TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) core yarn and TPO coating. This unique composition eliminates the need to separate the core yarn from the coating for a short recycle stream ensuring sustainability. Infinity may be entered back into the raw material supply chain through existing methods and practices. Due to the products design and chemical integrity, Infinity2’s TPO is not compromised during the recycle process and is therefore capable of full restoration for the production of TPO components suitable for shade cloth andother high-quality materials.

Infinity originates from a design of safe and non-toxic ingredients that are produced from 100% post-industrial waste by-product. Lead and heavy metal free, every component of this TPO compound is heat and chemically stable. All efforts to collect production waste within our manufacturing processes, as well as the collection of fabrication scrap and fabric ready for disposal from the market place, are processed and audited to ensure compliance with Phifer’s ISO 9001 certification. The environmental safety of Infinity’s chemical emissions is certified by the GREENGUARD Institute for Indoor Air Quality.

Specifying PVC-free and recyclable products is well intended, but often does not provide the building owners with the best solution. The PVC-coating on many solar screen fabrics contributes to the durability. Most of the new PVC-coated shade fabrics are Greenguard certified for indoor air quality standards and will last 2-3 times as long as some of their PVC-free counterparts. PVC-free is great, but only if the product meets durability and performance standards required for the commercial project.

The reason that most commercial buildings need window treatments to begin with is glare control. Ideally, window treatments should allow for less than 10% of the visual light to transmit into the space to achieve reasonable glare control. Depending upon the size and exposure window treatments that have a visual light transmittance of 4-6% is ideal for most applications. Many of the commonly specified window treatments have visual transmittance in the 11-30% range, leading to too much glare and unhappy end-users. Light colored PVC-coated solar screen fabrics allow 7-15% light transmittance. Some of the light colored PVC-Free and recyclable solar screen fabrics allow 15-35% light transmission. To achieve acceptable glare control with these fabrics, architects should specify dark colors which reduce the light transmission into the 4-6% range.

Green also means energy efficient. White and highly reflective window treatments can substantially reduce the lighting and air conditioning loads in commercial buildings. Specifying the right window treatment solution also allows building engineers to reduce the size of cooling systems and lead to lower front-end building costs. The problem is that most white or light colored window treatments do not provide adequate glare protection. The solution is to specify metalized fabrics that have higher shading performance and low visible light transmission regardless of the color specified.

Two fabrics that meet and exceed the criteria outlined above are SilverScreen and EnviroScreen. SilverScreen is a 5% openness metalized PVC-coated screen fabric that offers the total solution, energy-efficient glare protection with excellent view through characteristics. EnviroScreen is a 2% openness metalized PVC-Free alternative with similar energy efficiency and glare control characteristics as SilverScreen. Both offer architects a Green solution that may qualify for Leeds points, solve glare control issues, and lower long-term energy costs.

The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WMCA) working hand in hand with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has revised the standards for corded (bead cord chain) window coverings.  Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) has been mandated to implement the new ANSI/WCMA 2nd Provisional American National Standard For Safety of Corded Window Covering Products by March 3, 2011 (Dec. 3, 2010 for Roman Shades).

WCMA has been working through the ANSI process to developing standards for corded window covering standards since 1996. These standards have been developed in conjunction with the requests of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Incident reports suggested that corded (and chain) loop shades needed to be addressed. The most recent revision of the ANSI standards (ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2010 (PS2) Revision of Provisional ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2009), were aimed at Roman Shades and Roll-up Blinds standard. The new standard also included provisions that affect all corded window treatments and for Insolroll, this affects chain tensioning devices.

Click on this link for a read only copy of the new standard: http://windowcoveringsassociationofamerica.org/

See page 1, section 6.5 for specific items that impact Insolroll. Here is the exact language regarding cord tensioning devices that impacts Insolroll Shades.

6.5 Tension Devices Tension Devices for cord or bead loops shall adhere to the following;

6.5.1 The tension device shall be attached to the cord or bead loop by the manufacturer. It shall be designed, placed and shipped such that, unless properly installed or altered from the shipped condition with sequential process or tools, it prevents the window covering from operating.

6.5.2 The tension device shall be designed so when not properly installed will, at least partially, prevent the lift system from moving the window covering through lowering and raising.

Click here to visit our Child Safety page and see how Insolroll is meeting the new standard

Additional Child Safety Resources:

Click here to link Window covering Manufacturers Association http://www.wcmanet.org/wcmastandard.html

Click here to link to Consumer Product Safety Council & warnings http://www.cpsc.gov/

Click here to link to Window Coverings Safety Council http://www.windowcoverings.org/

Many of the home automation and lighting control manufacturers have embraced Apple iPad, iPod, and iPhones as devices to switch their controls.   The home automation integrator will program these smart devices to switch window treatments, lighting, security, audio, and other devices throughout your home.  Insolroll provides several platforms for connecting motorized shades to all brands of home automation and lighting controls.

Recently software writers have come up with Apps for switching Insolroll Radio Motor interface modules.  Motorization of window treatments has also become easier and less expensive with the development of  low voltage (24 volt DC), battery (12 volt DC)  and line voltage (110 volt AC) radio controlled motors.

Controlling window treatments just became a little easier.

Printed shades were used on the Erie, Colorado recreation center to communicate the purpose of the building without traditional signage.  Huge shade murals were created to cover several window walls with images of a swimmer, climber, and weight lifter.

Click here to see images of the Erie Rec Center