Heat Mirror longterm durability

[rfree]

Is there any data on Heat Mirror windows and how they are standing up against time? One salesman told me that the designers did not intend for the plastic middle film to be standing alone without contact support or sandwiched between panes. He said that over time it becomes brittle and warps. Is there any truth to this claim and have any of you witnessed such problems?

[Windows on Washington]

Do either a Google or board search on it and you should find all you need to know. There was enough blame to go around for everybody when the collective Kimchi hit the fan. The company that sold it blamed the companies that glazed it and so on.

[sdunham]

If you are referring to HURD Heat Mirror windows/doors, I have them in a 9 year old Log Home in Colorado. We have both TC-88 and SC-75 in casement, double hung, fixed sash, bay, french door and 2 sliding glass doors on the deck... We had 4 or 5 with failed seals in the first year, and they were all replaced under warranty. 1 sliding glass door had a failed seal and we replaced it only to have the replacement show wrinkling film between the glass panes when hit byh direct sunlight. Now at 9 years, almost ALL the windows have failed seals and have dirt, dust or haze between the glass panes and can't be cleaned and are out of warranty... I'm looking at replacing them with something more durable and better insulated...
SMD
Colorado

[wilm5]

made a decision to go with Polaris Windows but now are thinking about going with polaris with heat mirror rather than super spacer. cant find alot of info on heat mirror except a few old posts. seems like there were problems years ago due to window companies not using proper sealants and so forth. we liked the demonstration and it looks like an interesting technology. any opinions, or should we just stay with super spacer?

[masterext]

Heat Mirror is a very good technolgy and renders excellent performance numbers. years ago there were some problems but that was due to window companies cutting corners during manufacturing ,not using the specified sealants and not following proper procedure. If a window manufacturer uses Heat Mirror and follows proper procedure, the window will not have seal failure. South Wall Technologies, the maker of heat mirror who license their technology to window companies, are now very strict as to which companies can now offer heat mirror. there are also reports of seal failures with super spacer and intercept but not due to the spacers ,rather improper sealing at the manufacturing level. thats why you need to choose a window company that emphasizes quality control. many low end companies do not and hence the problems. as far as Polaris and heat mirror, Polaris is a solid company with very good quality control.
Today, South Wall Technology (the maker of Heat Mirror) did a great job refining the product.
i know of two people that had heat mirror installed in 2007 and have had great success with it.
it is a more expensive technology and manufactures process. i think its only a matter of time before other companies decide to spend some extra money and embrace this technology.
one final note, years ago there were some reports of "yellowing" on the film itself. that has also been corrected. originally heat mirror film contained no UV Protectors, the new version now has UV inhibitors applied to the film when the film is made. this will prevent any yellowing or discoloration from ever happening. the same thing used to happen with laminated glass.