Smart Film for Offices
Transform open-plan spaces into private meeting rooms on demand — switchable partitions that preserve daylight and collaboration.
> 200M
Switching cycles
3.7 W/m²
Steady-state power
BMS
Integration ready
≤ 20 ms
PRO switch speed
Why Offices Need Switchable Glass Partitions
Open-plan offices need privacy for meetings, calls, and sensitive discussions — but permanent walls block daylight and eliminate the visual connectivity that drives collaboration. Traditional solutions fail: blinds gather dust and need manual operation per partition, solid partitions destroy the open-plan feel, frosted film is permanent and cannot adapt.
The mechanism: office glass needs to be both transparent (collaboration mode) and private (meeting mode) at different times throughout the day — a physical barrier cannot serve both states simultaneously. PDLC smart film resolves this at the molecular level. When 48/65V AC is applied, liquid crystal molecules align and the film becomes transparent — daylight and visual connectivity are preserved. When power is removed for a meeting, molecules scatter and the glass turns frosted — instant privacy. The transition completes in ≤ 20 ms (PRO), effectively instantaneous.
Recommended Models for Office Use
Each model is matched to a specific office scenario based on clarity, haze, and viewing angle.
Conference rooms
EL-L2-PRO
Boardroom-grade clarity and viewing angle
- 165° viewing angle
- 92% total VLT
- ≤ 20 ms switch
- 2.36% ON-haze
Meeting pods
EL-X1
High clarity for collaboration spaces
- 94% total VLT
- 1.81% ON-haze
- ≤ 60 ms switch
- 3.7 W/m²
Executive offices
EL-X2-PRO
Maximum clarity — premium tier
- 97% total VLT
- 1.13% ON-haze
- ≤ 60 ms switch
- 3.7 W/m²
Installation for Office Partitions
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Film application | Dry install self-adhesive film onto existing glass after isopropyl alcohol cleaning. |
| Edge clearance | Size film 2–3 mm shorter than visible glass edge on all sides. |
| Busbar position | Busbar on top edge. For multi-panel partitions, plan electrode routing before frame installation to avoid crossing conductors. |
| Edge seal | Neutral-cure silicone mandatory — DOWSIL 895/795 or Tosseal 381. Seals against humidity and cleaning agents. |
| Transformer sizing | One transformer can serve multiple panels — size by total film area across all connected panels on the same zone. |
Control Methods for Offices
Wall panel switch
Standard — toggle privacy at the partition. Simple and reliable.
RF remote
Meeting room convenience — one remote controls all partitions in the room.
BMS integration
Building-wide scheduling — RS485 and dry-contact interfaces for centralized control.
Occupancy sensor
Automatic — room occupied → privacy, vacant → clear. No manual interaction.
Key Parameters
1,200–1,800 mm
Glass size
3.7 W/m²
Power
> 100k hrs
Lifespan
> 200M
Cycles
10–30×/day
Switching
Procurement Guide — Office
Understanding office cost drivers before requesting a quote ensures the BOM covers all zones, controls, and integration requirements for your floor plan.
- 01
Model tier
PRO models (EL-L2-PRO, EL-X2-PRO) are recommended for boardrooms and executive offices where the lowest haze and widest viewing angle matter. EL-X1 suits general meeting pods. EL-L2 is cost-effective for open-plan collaboration zones.
- 02
Format — sheets vs roll
Finished self-adhesive sheets for standard partition openings (fastest install). Roll film for custom-width partitions where non-standard glass sizes require buyer-side cutting. Roll film lowers unit cost but adds processing labor.
- 03
Width surcharge
Standard office partition glass (1,200–1,800 mm) falls within grey film capacity up to 1,800 mm. Partitions exceeding 1,500 mm width on grey film carry a capacity surcharge.
- 04
Control add-ons
BMS integration and zone controllers add 20–30% to the total system cost beyond the film itself. Budget for RS485 interfaces, occupancy sensors, and zone controllers if building-wide scheduling is required.
- 05
Volume — floor-wide projects
Floor-wide installations covering dozens of partitions qualify for significant tiered discounts. Unit cost decreases as total area increases — combine all zones in a single order for the best per-square-meter rate.
- 06
Shipping and lead time
Large office orders require 7–15 business days lead time. Plan transformer and controller procurement in parallel. FOB and EXW terms supported. OEM/ODM available for project-specific BOMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Office-specific questions about smart film for workplaces. See the full FAQ for cross-product questions.
RS485 and dry-contact interfaces connect directly to BMS. Schedule zone-level switching (e.g., all meeting rooms → privacy at 9 AM, clear at 6 PM). Occupancy sensors trigger automatic state changes — room occupied → privacy, vacant → clear. Each zone operates independently or in coordinated groups. The 48/65V AC transformer channels map to BMS control points without additional protocol conversion in most installations.
Yes. Self-adhesive film applies to the inner face of the inner glass pane. The air gap between panes is unaffected by the PDLC layer. For laminated double-glazed units, the PDLC layer can be integrated during glass lamination at the factory — this is a project-specific option available through our engineering team. The 48/65V AC drive voltage and 3.7 W/m² power consumption remain the same regardless of glazing configuration.
At 3.7 W/m² in the transparent (ON) state, a 10 m² partition bank consumes 37W — less than a single fluorescent tube. In the opaque (OFF) state, power consumption is near zero. Annual energy cost is negligible compared to the HVAC savings from the 73–77% IR rejection that smart film provides. For a typical 500 m² office installation, total steady-state power is under 2 kW.
Over 200 million complete cycles. At 30 switches per day (typical busy meeting room), this exceeds 18,000 years of operation. The > 200M cycle rating is tested to GB18910.5-2008. Cycle fatigue is not a practical concern in any office scenario — the electro-optical transition has no moving parts, so cycle life is not limited by mechanical wear.
Yes. Each transformer channel powers an independent zone. Wi-Fi controllers support zone grouping — e.g., "All Meeting Rooms" as one group, "Executive Offices" as another. Zones can be named, scheduled, and controlled independently via app or BMS. A single transformer bank can serve multiple channels, so zoning does not require proportionally more transformer hardware.
Ready for Switchable Office Partitions?
Get a floor-wide specification with zone planning and BMS integration.
Model recommendation per zone, transformer sizing, wiring topology, BMS interface specs, and installation documentation — all included with every office order.