Polycarbonate Buyers Guide

This guide looks firstly at multiwall polycarbonate sheets and then at solid polycarbonate sheets.

Multiwall Polycarbonate sheets

Structured or multiwall polycarbonate sheets are made from layered polycarbonate walls, and cavities (known as flutes.) These structures give additional strength whilst keeping the weight of the sheets more manageable. They also increase thermal insulation and the thicker the sheet, and more walls and cavities it has, the more thermally insulating it is.

Polycarbonate sheets are used for a wide variety of applications. There is a broad range of thicknesses and a variety of colours which offer different benefits depending on your project/application. With this in mind there are a number of things to take into consideration when looking for the right polycarbonate sheeting.
 

1. Sheet Thickness

Multiwall polycarbonate starts with 4mm thickness which has a twinwall structure. This means it has two walls with cavities between them. The flutes run down the length of the sheets and give them a striped appearance. 6mm twinwall polycarbonate has the same structure and both sheets are most commonly used for greenhouse glazing.

10mm twinwall polycarbonate also has this same structure but because there is a wider gap between the top and bottom walls it is more rigid than the thinner sheets and becomes a good choice for roofing applications.

16mm polycarbonate sheets are triple wall, with three walls and two layers of cavities. 25mm to 35mm polycarbonate has seven walls with many cavities making them very strong and thermally efficient. These can also be in an X structure rather than rows.

Sheets from 10mm upwards are ideal for polycarbonate roofing. Basically, the thicker the sheet the stronger and more rigid it is and it can therefore achieve greater spans between supports.

The maximum recommended unsupported spans for structured roofing polycarbonate are:

10mm twin wall polycarbonate          600mm

16mm triple wall polycarbonate        900mm

25mm multi wall polycarbonate        1050mm

35mm multi wall polycarbonate        1200mm

NB: Please bear in mind that you also need to consider any limitations of the supports and glazing bars when constructing your roof. These may require centres to be smaller.

2. Sheet Structures

 As already mentioned, the different thicknesses have various physical structures i.e. the number of polycarbonate walls and their design or structure changes.

The structure of each of our polycarbonate sheets are as follows:

As the sheets get thicker you also have the added benefits of lower U-values. The U-value is the amount of heat transferred or conducted through a material. The lower the U-value the better the insulation performance will be.

The light transmission is also reduced as the sheet thickness increases. If you take clear polycarbonate as an example this reduces from 82% on 4mm to 50% transmission with 35mm.

For more technical information please see the specification sheets in our brochures section.

3. Applications

Certain sheet thicknesses naturally suit certain applications. You wouldn’t overspend on 25mm polycarbonate sheets to glaze a greenhouse when 4mm or 6mm would do the job. Equally you couldn’t use 4mm on a conservatory roof as you would not get the spans or insulation benefits.

Popular applications for each thickness are as follows:

4mm & 6mm Polycarbonate

These twinwall polycarbonate sheets are generally used for Greenhouse glazing. 4mm sheets and 6mm sheets are much safer and easier to handle than glass. They are also lighter weight, stronger and have better thermal insulation. They are also sometimes used internally for point of sale boards. We will cut these to the sizes you need but they can also be easily trimmed down on site.

 

4. Colour

When choosing the colour of your polycarbonate your first thought will probably be aesthetics. How do I want it to look? There are however, other things you will want to take into consideration.

You may want want to consider the level of light you want to allow in. You may also want to consider the level of heat you want to retain or block. The different polycarbonate sheeting colours offer varying degrees of light transmission and insulation. This range allows you, in conjunction with the sheet thickness, to really tailor the effect you are trying to achieve.

For more technical information please see the specification sheets in our brochures section.

For your peace of mind, all of our multiwall polycarbonate is of the highest quality and carries a Ten Year Limited Manufacturers Warranty. This guards against discolouration, loss of light transmission and/or loss of strength due to weathering. For full warranty information please choose from the relevant links below.

Marlon st Polycarbonate Sheet Warranty

Sunlite Polycarbonate Sheet Warranty

 

Solid Polycarbonate sheets

What is Solid Polycarbonate? Solid polycarbonate sheets are exactly that, solid as opposed to made up of layers and cavities. You have sheets that look just like glass but are much stronger, indeed up to 200 times stronger. They are also around half the weight of glass making them much easier to transport and install. This is particularly beneficial when working at height installing a roof.

 

Solid polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable. It has high impact resistance unlike many other plastics and can withstand impacts without cracking. In fact it is so impenetrable that it is used in bullet proof scenarios and for riot shields. It is also very easy to cut and drill and can be bent or formed. A great choice for curved roofs, for example on cycle shelters or bus stops. The thinner the sheet the easier it bends.

 

Solid polycarbonate also has in built UV protection. All our sheets from 2mm to 12mm thicknesses are UV2 for total peace of mind, meaning that the sheet is protected on both surfaces against harmful UV rays. This not only offers protection to what is under the sheet but also protects the sheet itself against discolouration. 1.5mm sheets are generally used internally and are UV1 with UV protection on one sheet surface.

Solid polycarbonate is also fire resistant. Classified as Class 1y Spread of Flame (BS476/7) and is self-extinguishing.

 

Our solid polycarbonate sheets come with a Palsun UV2 ten year manufacturer’s warranty but can be expected to last for up to 20 years if well maintained.

 

 1. Solid Sheet Thicknesses and Applications

 

Solid polycarbonate comes in a wide range of sheet thickness, and we will now look at each and their relative benefits and applications.

As with multiwall sheets the thicker the solid polycarbonate sheets get, the stronger and more rigid they are giving larger spans between supports. This is a primary factor when choosing the right sheet thickness for the project. The spanning information can be found in this Palsun solid polycarbonate sheet glazing guide.

 

1.5mm solid polycarbonate and 2mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

The thinnest of our solid polycarbonate, the 1.5mm & 2mm thicknesses have a 90% Light transmission. 1.5mm is UV1 with UV protection on one sheet surface. 2mm is UV2 with protection on two sides. Both are most commonly used for indoor applications.

 

• Protective shields and guards
• Signage
• Point of sale

 

3mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

With an 89% light transmission 3mm solid polycarbonate sheets can also be used in external settings. They are very popular for shelters and for secondary glazing.

 

• Secondary glazing
• Shed window glazing
• Greenhouse glazing
• Cycle shelters and bus shelters

 

 4mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

4mm solid polycarbonate sheets have 88% light transmission and are extremely popular. They are ideal for glazing shelters and are very popular for greenhouses and internally for secondary glazing solutions.

 

• Greenhouse glazing
• Secondary glazing
• Cycle shelters and bus shelters
• Architectural glazing
• Skylights
• Partitions and barriers

 

5mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

5mm solid polycarbonate sheets have 87% light transmission and are among our most popular sheets. With superior insulation properties they are suitable for residential and commercial solutions.

• Architectural glazing
• Skylights
• Canopies
• Partitions and barriers
• Balconies and balustrades

 

 6mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

6mm solid polycarbonate sheets have 86% light transmission and are more rigid making them perfect for more structural residential and industrial applications. Very popular for high end canopy roofs and gazebos.

• Residential, commercial and Industrial glazing
• Roofing & windows
• Outdoor Canopies and gazebos
• Architectural glazing & Skylights
• Partitions and barriers
• Balconies and balustrades

 

8mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

8mm solid polycarbonate sheets have 85% light transmission. Again, suitable for a wide range of structural and industrial applications. these high-performance sheets are particularly suited to more heavy-duty projects.

• Residential, commercial and Industrial glazing
• Roofing & windows
• Outdoor Canopies and gazebos
• Architectural glazing & Skylights
• Partitions and barriers
• Balconies and balustrades

 

10mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

10mm solid polycarbonate sheets have 84% light transmission. These thicker sheets are suitable for a wide range of structural and industrial applications and are very popular for safety glazing. These high-performance sheets are particularly suited to heavy-duty projects that require superior strength.

• Residential, commercial and Industrial glazing
• Outdoor Canopy roofing
• Architectural glazing & Skylights
• Partitions and barriers
• Vandal proof solutions
• Industrial shields, machine guards & enclosures
• Bullet proof screens

 

12mm solid polycarbonate sheets

 

12mm solid polycarbonate sheets have 82% light transmission. The thickest of our solid polycarbonate sheets, they are suitable for a wide range of structural and industrial applications. These sheets are particularly suited to heavy-duty projects that require superior strength and rigidity.

• Residential, commercial and Industrial glazing
• Clear Roofing - Lean tos and Verandas
• Architectural glazing & Skylights
• Partitions and barriers
• Vandal proof solutions
• Safety Glazing
• Bullet proof screens

 

2. When to choose Solid Sheets and when multiwall sheets

 

 

Both multiwall and solid polycarbonate sheets provide a wide range of benefits for roofing projects. However solid polycarbonate is more expensive than multiwall polycarbonate and would be chosen for the following reasons.

 

Clarity

Solid polycarbonate sheets are glass-like in clarity so if you are looking for a product that looks just like glass then this is a better choice than multiwall. As multiwall is made up of flutes and layers it is not fully see through and is therefore less aesthetically pleasing if you are looking for an unobstructed view.

High end appearance

Solid polycarbonate is more expensive than multiwall and has a more high-end appearance for more premium projects. With this comes a slightly higher price tag so you will need to weight this up if you have a more restricted budget. For exterior applications however, solid polycarbonate offers you a first-class finish that will elevate your home.

Insulation

As solid polycarbonate is a single layer it does not have the same insulating benefits of multi-wall sheets. For applications where this is important like a conservatory where you would like to keep the heat out in the winter and in in the winter, multiwall is a much better choice. In fact, sheets like 35mm multi-wall polycarbonate were designed just for this purpose. They have seven walls which result in many cavities to trap air and prevent heat transfer. On the opposite end of the scale twin wall 4mm and 6mm sheets also have better insulating qualities than solid sheets for greenhouse glazing.

Cost effectiveness

Multiwall polycarbonate is less expensive than solid and offers excellent value for money for most roofing applications.

Weight

Both options are much less heavy and easy to handle than glass which is very beneficial and safer when working at height. Structured polycarbonate with its fluted composition is the lightest and can still achieve good spans while remaining practical to fit.

Durability

Both are strong and tough and each has a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty. Both multiwall and solid polycarbonate sheets provide a wide range of benefits for roofing projects. However solid polycarbonate is more expensive than multiwall polycarbonate and would be chosen for the following reasons.

 

 

 

As you have now seen polycarbonate whether multi-wall or solid is incredibly strong and versatile. There are many benefits to be gained from using either depending on the project you have in hand.

Should you require any further help or information please give us a call on 01536 446395 or drop us an email to sales@theglazingshop.co.uk