Big sliding doors
Floor-to-ceiling Cor Vision and GLIDE21 panels let in a lot of sun. SKN II keeps the room comfortable without dark, tinted glass.
Home / Glass & blinds / Solar control glass
Saint-Gobain COOL-LITE® SKN II · solar control glassKeep the light.
Lose the heat.
A double-silver coating that lets daylight pour in while reflecting much of the sun's heat, so big sliders, bifolds and roof lanterns stay comfortable in summer and warm in winter.
70%daylight in (SKN 176 II)
0.37g-value: only 37% of solar heat
1.0Ug with argon (W/m²K)
1.9selectivity, light vs heat
≤3%emissivity, higher-performance glass
Highly selective solar control
Big glass, without the greenhouse
Large glazing is wonderful until the sun comes round. COOL-LITE SKN II from Saint-Gobain is a highly selective, double-silver coated glass that controls solar heat and insulates at the same time, while keeping a neutral, clear look.
It's used on landmark buildings across the UK, and it's just as good in a rear extension full of Cor Vision.
South & west-facing glazingLarge sliding doors & bifoldsRoof lanterns & rooflightsNew builds (Approved Document O)
How it works
Light in. Heat out.
The coating sits on face 2 of the double-glazed unit (the inside of the outer pane), where it reflects solar heat back out and stops warmth escaping in winter. Pick a version below to see how much light and heat gets through.
The range
Six versions, from clearest to coolest
Figures for a 6/16/4 double-glazed unit, 90% argon, coating on face 2, inner pane PLANICLEAR®.
| Version | Light in | g-value | Ug (W/m²K) | Outside reflection | Selectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SKN 183 II | 75% | 0.40 | 1.0 | 12% | 1.88 |
| SKN 176 II | 70% | 0.37 | 1.0 | 13% | 1.89 |
| SKN 175 II | 70% | 0.35 | 1.0 | 14% | 2.00 |
| SKN 165 II | 61% | 0.34 | 1.0 | 16% | 1.79 |
| SKN 155 II | 50% | 0.27 | 1.0 | 15% | 1.85 |
| SKN 144 II | 42% | 0.23 | 1.1 | 20% | 1.83 |
Where it helps
Made for the glass we fit
Roof lanterns & rooflights
Overhead glass gets the most sun. A lower g-value stops kitchens and extensions turning into greenhouses.
South & west elevations
For new homes, Approved Document O (overheating) may need solar control on large south and west-facing glazing. We'll check it with your designer.
Bifolds & glazed extensions
Keeps glass-heavy extensions usable all summer, while still holding in heat in winter with a 1.0 Ug.
Combine
Build the perfect unit
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STADIP® laminated
Combine with laminated glass for safety, security (BS EN 356) and acoustic performance.
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DIAMANT® low-iron
SKN 076 II on DIAMANT® gives ultra-clear glass with 71% light and a 0.38 g-value.
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ORAÉ® low-carbon
The same performance on Saint-Gobain's lower-carbon ORAÉ® glass.
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Integral blinds
Pair SKN II with Uni-Blinds® in sliders and bifolds for heat control plus privacy on demand.
For specifiers: processing
COOL-LITE SKN 176 II (to-be-tempered) must be toughened (heat soak test compatible), edge-deleted before assembly, assembled into an IGU and positioned on face 2. Performance is CE marked for annealed and tempered states. Ug to EN 673, light and solar values to EN 410.
Inspiration
COOL-LITE in use
Landmark projects in COOL-LITE SKN, and the big glazing we fit. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Specification
Technical details
SKN II comes in several versions with different light and heat figures. We'll recommend the right one for your orientation and glazing area.
| Coating | Double-silver, highly selective, on face 2 · emissivity 0.01 (SKN 144 II: 0.03) |
|---|---|
| Range (light / g / Ug) | SKN 183 II 75% / 0.40 / 1.0 · 176 II 70% / 0.37 / 1.0 · 175 II 70% / 0.35 / 1.0 · 165 II 61% / 0.34 / 1.0 · 155 II 50% / 0.27 / 1.0 · 144 II 42% / 0.23 / 1.1 |
| Selectivity | 1.79–2.00 (SKN 176 II: 1.89) |
| External reflection | 12–20% (SKN 176 II: 13%) |
| Reference unit | 6/16/4 DGU, 90% argon, PLANICLEAR® inner pane |
| Substrates | PLANICLEAR® · ORAÉ® lower carbon · DIAMANT® low iron (SKN 076 II: 71% / 0.38) |
| Processing | Toughened (heat soak compatible), edge deleted, assembled into an IGU |
| Standards | Ug to EN 673 · light and solar to EN 410 · CE marked |
| Combine with | STADIP® laminated for safety, security and acoustics |
Saint-Gobain data. Values may differ for tempered and annealed coatings and other unit build-ups.
Questions
Solar control FAQs
What does solar control glass actually do?
A microscopically thin double-silver coating lets most of the visible daylight through but reflects much of the sun's heat. With SKN 176 II, around 70% of daylight comes in but only 37% of the solar heat.
Will it look tinted or mirrored?
No. COOL-LITE SKN II is designed to look neutral, with low reflection (13% outside for SKN 176 II), so it's hard to tell apart from ordinary clear glass.
Does it make the room darker?
A little compared with clear glass, but SKN 183 II still lets 75% of daylight through. We'll pick the version that balances light and heat for each elevation.
Is it warm in winter too?
Yes. It's also a low-emissivity glass with a centre-pane Ug of 1.0 W/m²K with argon, so it keeps heat in as well as keeping sun out.
Do I need it for a new build?
Approved Document O limits overheating in new homes, and large south or west-facing glazing often needs solar control to pass. We'll check with your designer or SAP assessor.
What is selectivity?
The ratio of light transmission to solar heat gain. The higher it is, the more daylight you get for the heat let in. SKN 176 II is about 1.9.
Goes great with
Pair it with
Morley Glass
Integral Blinds
Uni-Blinds® Venetian and pleated blinds sealed inside the glass: manual, solar-powered or motorised.
View detailsCortizo
Cor Vision (InfiniGLIDE 3)
Ultra-slim sliding doors with a 20mm interlock and panels up to 3 metres tall. Our speciality.
View details
Frameless roof lantern
InfiniLANTERN
A frameless roof lantern with no bulky bars inside: pyramid or lantern shape, fixed 40° pitch, U-values from 1.0.
View detailsWorried about a hot room?
Tell us which way your glazing faces and how big it is, and we'll recommend the right glass.