Is PDLC film safe? Certificates, standards, and technical requirements

In commercial and public projects, safety is not an add-on to the product. It is a requirement that must be met before a solution can be included in a project. Architects, investors, and institutions are responsible for ensuring that the materials used are compliant with standards, safe for users, and approved for use in specific conditions.

That is why, in the case of intelligent PDLC film, the question of safety always comes down to documentation. Not marketing claims, but certificates, test reports, and standards that confirm the solution can be used in office, medical, and public spaces.

Can PDLC film be used in public and medical facilities?

In public facilities, the choice of materials is not based only on the designer’s preference. It must also comply with the regulations applicable in a given country and project. Requirements may vary depending on the market, building type, and intended use of the space.

In Poland, one of the key documents defining such requirements is the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure on the technical conditions to be met by buildings and their location. It specifies which materials may be used in buildings intended for permanent human occupancy, such as offices, medical facilities, schools, and administrative buildings.

For SONTE film, its suitability for use in public facilities in Poland, including office spaces, medical facilities, and service premises, is confirmed by the Hygienic Certificate issued by the National Institute of Public Health. This means that the material meets health safety requirements for users and can be safely included in projects subject to Polish regulations.

For projects outside Poland, the applicable local requirements should always be verified at the design stage.

Can PDLC film be used on fire-rated glass partitions?

In commercial and public projects, the question of using smart film on fire-rated partitions comes up very often. This is one of the most sensitive areas of design, as any change to the structure of a partition may affect its fire resistance rating.

For this reason, tests were carried out for SONTE film to assess the impact of applying liquid crystal film to fire-rated glazing. These tests were conducted in relation to systems used in real construction projects, including in cooperation with glass and fire-rated system manufacturers such as ALUFIRE, POLFLAM, and AGC.

The tests confirmed that the fire resistance of fire-rated glazing was maintained in the following classes:

EI30, EI60, EI90, EI120

The key takeaway for designers and fire safety consultants is simple:

Applying SONTE film does not reduce the fire resistance rating of fire-rated glass. This means the solution can be used on fire-rated glass partitions without losing the required safety class specified in the project documentation.

Does the material meet fire reaction requirements?

In addition to the fire resistance of the partition itself, another very important parameter is the material’s reaction to fire. This parameter determines how the material behaves when exposed to flame.

SONTE film has undergone ignitability testing in accordance with the following standard:

PN-EN ISO 11925-2:2020-09

The test involves direct flame exposure and evaluates the material’s behavior under fire conditions. The results confirmed compliance with fire reaction requirements, which means the material can be used in projects that require specific fire safety parameters.

What fire reaction classification does SONTE film have?

For architects and fire safety consultants, one of the key documents is the material’s reaction to fire classification. This document makes it possible to clearly determine whether a material can be used in a given project.

The reaction to fire classification for PDLC film has been determined in accordance with the following standard:

EN 13501-1:2018

This is the European classification standard for the reaction to fire of construction products, used in projects across the European Union. For designers, this means the material can be clearly specified in the technical documentation and can meet formal requirements during building acceptance procedures.

Does PDLC film meet European Union requirements?

Every product used in construction must meet the requirements set by European Union regulations. In the case of smart film, two basic markings are particularly important.

The first is:

CE

This indicates that the product complies with European Union directives relating to user safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and manufacturing quality.

The second is compliance with the:

RoHS Directive

This directive restricts the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Its purpose is to protect human health and the environment.

For investors and institutions, this means that the product meets the formal requirements applicable within the European Union and can be used in commercial and public projects.

What this means in practice for architects and investors

The safety of smart film is not based on manufacturer declarations, but on technical documentation. Certificates, test reports, and standards are what help determine whether a solution can be used in a given project.

SONTE film is supported by documentation based on Polish requirements and recognized European standards, including:

• a Hygienic Certificate issued by the National Institute of Public Health
• fire reaction testing carried out in accordance with PN-EN ISO 11925-2
• reaction to fire classification in accordance with EN 13501-1
• confirmation that fire resistance is maintained in EI30, EI60, EI90, and EI120 classes
• compliance with CE and RoHS requirements

This documentation provides a solid basis for using SONTE film in office, medical, and public projects. For international projects, it can also be a useful reference point, although local requirements should always be checked at the design stage.

Safety is one of the key factors in the decision-making process, but in practice, investors quickly move on to the next question:

👉 Smart film pricing: what affects the final cost?