WAVETHRU
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- story by MaterialDistrict
WAVETHRU is a high-performance material innovation designed to mitigate the radio signal attenuation caused by thermally insulated glazing. As building envelopes increasingly rely on coated double-glazing to meet energy efficiency and insulation standards, these materials often act as barriers to mobile signal penetration. WAVETHRU addresses this issue with a retrofittable solution applied directly to the glass surface, restoring and enhancing mobile signal transmission without compromising the functional or aesthetic properties of the glazing.
The material itself is a transparent, conductive coating that is carefully engineered to allow radio frequencies to pass through treated glass areas. When applied to coated double glazing, it reduces signal loss dramatically—from approximately -30 dB to just -3 dB—while preserving essential optical and thermal performance. Light transmission remains at 72%, and the solar factor is maintained at 38%, ensuring that the building’s energy efficiency and visual clarity are unaffected.
WAVETHRU is non-invasive and applied in situ, eliminating the need for structural modifications, wiring, or powered components. The treatment is virtually invisible to occupants and does not alter the appearance, transparency, or insulation value of the original glass. It is also highly customisable, allowing flexibility in design depending on the needs of each project—this includes the ability to specify the percentage of windows treated, the surface area per pane, and the pattern used for the coating application.
Unlike traditional signal-enhancing infrastructure such as distributed antenna systems (DAS), the WAVETHRU material requires no maintenance, generates no CO₂ emissions, and has a long lifespan. It functions passively, with no energy input, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for improving indoor mobile connectivity through architectural glazing.
This material innovation represents a strategic advancement in building-integrated technology—preserving the benefits of energy-efficient architecture while ensuring modern communication demands are met. By embedding signal-enhancing functionality directly into the glazing system, WAVETHRU effectively transforms conventional glass into a high-performance, multi-functional material for the connected built environment.