Sourcing solar-control glass from China

Zero duty on solar-control insulating units

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7008 covers multiple-walled insulating units of glass. Solar-control units made with body-tinted glass or an absorbent or reflecting layer fall within 7008 00 20 00. The table shows product variants sharing this code. See our double-glazed units guide for the wider heading.

All commodity lines in the supplied heading snapshot carry 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or import controls are listed. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the commodity code using the complete unit's glass make-up and coating description. Distinguish sealed insulating units from individual glass sheets and complete framed windows.

Specify solar performance and coating position

Specify solar heat gain, visible light transmission, external reflected colour and centre-pane thermal performance separately. Agree an appearance sample viewed from inside and outside. Name the coating and its intended face, then record each pane's thickness, toughened or laminated construction, cavity, gas fill, spacer and edge seal system.

For insulating glass units intended for construction, confirm with the relevant authority whether BS EN 1279-5 applies and whether a declaration of performance and marking are required. Request the declaration, where applicable, and supporting test reports for the actual unit system. CE marking continues to be available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. Match safety glazing to the installation location.

Send a cutting list with dimensions, orientation and unit identification. Agree how the supplier will show the exterior face on packaging and how replacements will match the approved colour sample.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,200 solar-control double-glazed units for a window fabricator; illustrative only under 7008 00 20 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £42,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,000, so it is £8,400. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Coating and appearance: compare samples with the approved colour reference from both sides; check coating position, scratches, pinholes and visible variation between units.

Dimensions and make-up: measure sizes and overall thickness against the cutting list; check pane construction, spacer colour and exterior-face identification.

Edge seals: inspect corners, sealant continuity and spacer alignment; check moisture penetration and gas leakage reports against the supplied seal system.

Packing and arrival: check units stand on edge in braced crates or racks with separators and corner protection; record cracked panes, chipped edges and damaged crates before moving them.

What goes wrong

A substituted coating can change reflected colour or solar performance while looking similar in a small sample. Reversed coating positions and mixed batches can leave a façade visibly inconsistent. A thermal performance figure alone does not describe solar heat gain, so agree both before production.

Weak edge seals allow moisture between panes, inaccurate sizes prevent fitting, and poorly braced packing causes breakage. Approve the complete glass make-up, compare production samples with the agreed appearance sample and check packing before loading. Use a product-specific inspection brief.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.