KUWAIT: While Kuwait is one of the most exposed countries to sunlight with temperatures rising above 50 degrees Celsius in summer, many people resort to insulating or shading their vehicles or buildings. Almost a decade ago, the so-called “shading or thermal insulation” was not known in Kuwait, but currently, many vehicles have been shaded thermally to avoid strong sunlight that causes immense heat inside the car.

The presence of thermal shading prevents a high percentage of the rays from entering the cars. It is also used in buildings. Thermal shading is a transparent adhesive. It is glued to the windows and works to reflect the sunlight stream, thus preventing the rays from entering inside the car, a house, or any building, in addition to trapping cold air inside the place for as long as possible.

In this regard, one of the owners of thermal shading companies, Mahmoud Al-Abdullah, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday that thermal shading is important and vital for cars, as it wades off harmful sunlight and ultraviolet rays and can reduce the ingress of rays by up to 99 percent. This has been scientifically proven through international experiments, which made many people install shading immediately after buying a new car. Abdullah added that users of thermal shading should purchase the products from the right dealers to avoid counterfeit products.

In addition, thermal shading is needed for medical reasons, as many people suffer from allergies due to sunlight. Consultant dermatologist and Skin Surgery and head of the Skin Surgery Unit at Asaad Al-Hamad Center, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Aradi, told KUNA that the sun rays are divided into two types: the first is infrared, which is difficult to reach the human body; the second is ultraviolet radiation, which is harmful to the skin and is divided into three types A, B, and C.

A and B are more harmful on human skin, while C does not pose direct harm. Al-Aradi added that ultraviolet rays can cause sunburn, which is a common thing, especially for those with sensitive skin, and they are the most vulnerable category, as the amount of light that reaches the skin is very large and more than it can withstand, thus resulting in skin burns.

He explained that the best way to avoid harmful sunlight is to apply sun protection like ointment to the parts that may be exposed to the sun directly, but it is better to wear long sleeves so as to cover the body thoroughly. He pointed out that thermal shading on cars is very effective to protect them from sunlight, and its effectiveness in curbing rays has been proven through experiments by specialists in the field of shading.

In terms of traffic and security, the Ministry of Interior does not allow the installation of all types of thermal shading, so the Ministerial Decision No. 864 of 2020 was issued on the amendment of Article No. 46 BIS on shading glass, which included allowing the installation of tinted glass for all types of vehicles, provided that the degree of transparency is not less than 30 percent. — KUNA