PALSUN® Flat Solid Polycarbonate Sheets PALGARD™ Flat Solid Polycarbonate Abrasion Resistant Sheets Architectural, Safety & Security Glazing Guide for Designers, Engineers & Professional Consultants
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Contents: Part A. Technical Data & Principal Indications for Use Page 1. Introduction, abbreviated Definitions & Typical Glazing Applications: …………………….……3 2. PALSUN Family:…………………………………………………….…………………………………..4 3. Standard Dimensions, Weight & Colors:……………………………………………………….……5 4. General Characterizations & Physical Properties:………………………………………….….…...6 5. PALGARD Enhanced Attributes……………………………………………………………………….7 6. Optical Characterization & Properties:…………………………………………………….………..
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide PART A. DATA & PRINCIPAL INDICATIONS FOR USE 1. Introduction, abbreviated Definitions & Typical Glazing Applications: PALSUN®: Flat solid polycarbonate sheet, in transparent & translucent configuration, for use as safety & security glazing, in flat or curved configurations. PALSUN family Includes many types as could be observed further on.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 2. PALSUN Family: Table 1. PALSUN Family – Description & Indications for Use Ser. Type & Name of Description No. Product A B C 1 PALTOUGH 2 PALSUN 3 PALSUN plus 4 PALSUN Embossed 5 PALSUN Matte Finish 6 PALSUN FR 7 PALSUN Solar-Control 8 PALSUN Mirror 9 PALGARD Clear 10 PALGARD Translucent Comments & Indications for Use d For indoor applications only.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 3. Standard Dimensions, Weight & Colors: Table 2. PALSUN Standard Dimensions, Weight, Colors & Tints: Theoretical Thickness Standard Dimensions (mm x mm) Standard Colors & Hues Weight Transparent Translucent mm 1250 x 2050 1220 x 2440 2050 x 3050 gr/m2 1,200 1.0 NA 1,800 1.5 NA 2,400 2.0 Colorless 3,600 3.0 Bronze Matte Solar-Gray 4,800 4.0 (Diffuser) Solar-Control 6,000 5.0 Opal-White Solar-Ice 7,200 6.0 9,600 8.0 12,000 10.0 14,400 12.0 Table 3.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 4. Polycarbonate General Characteristics & Physical Properties: Table 4: Typical Properties of PALSUN, PALTOUGH & PALGARD Sheet (3 mm = 0.12 in.) Notes: 1. Conditions, units and values in the table, in U.S. Customary units, are presented within brackets. 2. Results depicted in this table were obtained by following indicated ASTM method, except where another method is indicated by a (b) symbol. 3.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 5. PALGARD Enhanced Attributes (Compared with regular PALSUN): a. Visible Light Transmission: Improved by PALGARD silica coat by approximately 1.5% (to 91%) b. Yellowing Index: Improved by PALGARD silica coat to < 0.75. c. Chemical Resistance: PALGARD coated side presents better resistance than the non-coated side, or parallel PALSUN or PALTOUGH.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 6. PALSUN® & PALGARD™ Optical Characterization & Properties: a. Blocking UV Radiation: All the siblings of the solid polycarbonate sheets family block practically all the destructive & harmful UV radiation range (250 to 400 nm), and a considerable part of the longwave far IR (Infra-Red) heat radiation range (see graph 1). b.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Table 4. PALSUN & PALGARD Optical & Thermal Properties - Solar Radiation Transmission Thickness (mm) PALSUN Type (Standard PALGARD Comes only in Clear) 3.0 3.0 Clear Clear Embossed 50% Bronze 35% 20% 50% Solar Gray 35% 20% Opal-White All All 1.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 7. PALSUN® Thermal-Insulation Properties: PALSUN is not an insulating material, but still offers lower thermal conductivity and better insulation than comparable glass. When considering thermal efficiency and energy lose in winter (heating) or summer (air-conditioning) PALSUN may contribute substantially in lowering total heating & cooling cost & energy cutback for single glazing systems. Table 5. PALSUN Vs.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 9. Durability under Environmental & Climatic Conditions: The UV segment of the Solar radiation is destructive and harmful to most plastics & polymers. The extent of crazing, deterioration of external surface & final disintegration depends on type of polymer and duration of exposure.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 10. Flammability: General Comment: As a thermoplastic, regular PALSUN eventually melts and burns under the intense heat of a blazing fire. However, PALSUN does not propagate flame. It solidifies and self-extinguishes as soon as the direct flame is taken away. Regular PALGARD behavior is the same, though when silica coated on both sides the coats help to retard the glazing from catching fire for a few more minutes, as silica is inert to fire.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 11. PALSUN® Chemical Resistance: a. PALSUN glazing of all types are compatible with many common materials and chemicals, show limited resistance to others, and are utterly incompatible with a third group, with which contact may be harmful and even devastating. Damage extent depends on type of material or chemical the glazing may be exposed to, and on the nature and duration of said exposure. b.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 13. Selection of the Appropriate PALSUN® Type for the Intended Application: Most PALSUN family sheets are manufactured in thickness of 1.0 to 12 mm. a. PALTUF: Sheets are intended exclusively for indoor use (transparent partitions, interior design applications, industrial safety shields, and thermo-formed parts for indoors use). May also be used in outdoors pavilions (exhibitions), or similar temporary structures.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide PART B. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, DIRECTIVES & RECOMMENDATIONS CLARIFICATION: Wherever PALSUN is mentioned - PALGARD is included, unless noted otherwise. 1. Flat PALSUN® & PALGARD™ Glazing Installation on Supporting Frames. Supporting Methods & Appropriate Load Tables: a.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Figure 4. Typical Glazing 2) “DRY” METHOD: Uses only “mechanical” means, such as with Simple RHS Steel various profiles & bars, of wood, PVC but mainly metal ones, including Profiles & Designated simple flat, bent, RHS profiles in regular steel or aluminum, or EPDM rubber Glazing Strips specifically designated regular & stainless steel or aluminum profiles, with specially made sealing strips & gaskets.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide c. Flat Glazing Requirements according to Size, Support System & Wind/Snow Loads: 1) General Glazing Comments: a) Shape & Dimensions Ratio: A glazing pane can come in many shapes but most common is four-sided, generally rectangular. Ratio between rectangle’s dimensions a (width) and b (length) is crucial in determining the load bearing ability of a glazing pane (or any flat, load bearing element).
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Table 9. Wind/Snow Load Chart. Flat, 4 Sides Clamped, Single Panel, Single Span. Max Recommended Span, on Center, amid Width Supports (Shorter glazing dimension), under Progressive (light to heavy) Wind/Snow Loads, at Various Glazing Ratios: Max. Support Span (Glazing Width) according to Ratio Thickness Wind/Snow a:b (Gauge) Uniform Loads Ratio 1:1 to 1:1.2 Ratio 1:1.2 to 1:1.5 Ratio 1:1.5 to 1:1.8 mm in.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Table 10. Wind/Snow Load Chart: Flat, 2 Sides Clamped, Single Panel, Single Span. Max Recommended Span, on Center, between Width Supports, under Progressive Wind/Snow Loads: Max. Support Distance (Glazing Width) (mm / in.) Uniform Load 4 kg/m2 50 80 100 120 150 200 250 300 psf 10 16 20 25 30 40 50 60 mm 780 680 620 580 420 NA NA NA 5 in. 31 27 25 23 17 NA NA NA mm 980 820 700 620 580 420 NA NA in. 39 33 28 25 23 17 NA NA PALSUN Type (mm) 6 8 mm in.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 2. Curved PALSUN® Installation on Supporting arches Supporting Methods & Appropriate Load Tables. Table 11. PALSUN® Wind/Snow Load Chart: Curved, 2 Sides Clamped(Metric version): Thickness mm 4 5 6 8 10 12 Sheet Curvature Radius mm 700 900 1100 1300 1500 1800 2000 2200 2800 4000 6000 900 1100 1300 1500 1800 2000 2200 2800 4000 6000 1100 1300 1500 1800 2000 2200 2800 4000 6000 1500 1800 2000 2200 2500 2800 4000 6000 1800 2200 2800 4000 6000 2200 2800 4000 6000 Max.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Table 11a. PALSUN® Wind/Snow Load Chart: Curved, 2 Sides Clamped, (US Customary Version): Thickness in. 5 /32 mm 4 13 /64 5 1 /4 6 /16 8 13 /32 10 1 /2 12 5 Sheet Curvature Radius in.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Notes for Tables 11 & 11a: 1. PALSUN glazing sheets should be installed with their curved edges sustained on the supporting arches, with 15 to 25mm (5/8”-1”) edge engagement, depends on span, plus 2-3mm (3/32”- 1/8”) thermal expansion gap. 2. Thin sheets (up to 6mm or ¼”) could be bent as relatively short glazing panels, 2.00 to 3.00m at 1000-1220mm width (6’7” to10’ length, at 40” to 48” width).
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 3. General Indications for Curved PALSUN Installation: a. Clamping: Curved PALSUN glazing should be installed almost identically to flat installation, similarly to glass, in or on an arched supporting framework, on which the glazing would be supported, adapted & clamped on two or four of its edges, with or without a glazing groove.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 4. Directives, Instructions & recommendations for Flat & Curved PALSUN® Glazing: a. Rabbet Depth: Depth prepared for glazing engagement (e) plus half of the expansion gap (1/2f). It is the whole depth prepared in the frame for glazing installation. Rabbet depth grows as glazing width grows. Table 12 below depicts edge engagement (e) dimensions respectively to glazing width.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide c. PALSUN® Installation in a Partial Frame: PALSUN could be installed clamped on three sides and frameless on the fourth (generally top), and even clamped on two sides only. This situation requires a thicker, more rigid glazing pane than that installed in a full frame. Rate of thickness increase is to be determined along 2 parameters: glazing size (particularly width) and maximal anticipated wind-loads.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide e. Indications for Design & Execution of PALSUN Glazing Supporting Frames: 1) PALSUN safety Glazing as Glass Replacement in Existing Window Frames: PALSUN glazing could be installed in conventional residential housing wood, steel or aluminum doors & windows, or subdivided ones used in schools and educational facilities, replacing fragile and unsafe glass panes.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 2) PALSUN Safety Glazing in See-Through Sound Barriers: Supporting frames in such barriers, erected along noisy main roads & highways, around and inside sports arenas & stadiums, or near similar boisterous facilities, are mostly heavy duty structures, designed to withstand possible brushing with road vehicles or unruly crowds. Such framework is mostly made of heavy weather protected steel elements, with suitable detailing as mentioned above. A C B Figure 21B.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 3) PALSUN Glazing in curtain walls, skylights & sidelights: Supporting Framework Options: a) Wood: Heavy Duty Rectangular section beams, girders, joists & rafters of all sizes & wood types, with appropriate EPDM glazing strips and durable, weather resistant finish. Typical glazing bar and support beam section width about 60 mm. Section height as required by design. a b Figure 22a,b. Heavy-Duty Wood Frame & PALSUN Glazing. a. Side-Support with Side Spacer. b.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide d) Existing Glass Oriented Curtain-Wall Profile Systems in PALSUN Glazing: Existing high-end glass oriented designated systems for public or office buildings, for PALSUN glazing of up to 1200mm, due to limited (up to 20mm) rabbet depth. Suitable profile series, mostly in aluminum but some in stainless steel, are available from many suppliers all over the world. Only systems of 55mm profile width and more, with at least 20mm rabbet depth, should be considered.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide e) Specialized Systems for Polycarbonate Glazing: Particularly designated profile systems for use with solid polycarbonate glazing are produced by (or for) contractors specializing in polycarbonate glazed structures. These series offer deeper rabbet depth and are produced in heavy gauge suitable for the thickest PALSUN sheet and relatively heavy loads, intended for specially shaped, high-end public & office buildings.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 5. Principles of Planning & Engineering Design with PALSUN® Glazing: a. Color, Tint, Light & Heat Transmission: Almost any color & tint, in any rate of light transmission and thickness (up to 12mm) could be obtained , subject to minimal quantity order. In relatively small quantities only standard colors & light-transmission rates could be supplied, subject to production runs availability & date. b.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide b) Linear cold bending could be used for forming a frameless ridge in a two-way sloped skylight, or similar project getting clean one piece glazing running both ways. (Fig. 9, Fig.31a,b.) c) It should be noted that linear cold bending requires knowledge & expertise in processing plastics, while cold curving is relatively simple and easier to perform with less experienced workers.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide e) Other PALSUN thermoforming procedure use various methods, sometimes integrated with each other, based on heating and forming in molds under mechanical pressure, compressed air or suction (vacuum-forming). They enable creating 3 dimensional glazing panels, much tougher and rigid than their basic thickness may suggest. It enables preparation of skylighting domes, canopies, roof or wall glazing panels of thinner material at lower cost Figure 33.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide c) Control of Light & Heat Transmission: Colorless transparent PALSUN (Clear) or tinted transparent sheets of all variations are handsome and aesthetic, transmit a lot of light and it is possible to enjoy the scenery and clouds in the sky by day and the moon and stars by night. lovely.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide d) Design & Engineering: Basic design, prepared along the main creative design ideas, should take the guidelines, directives and recommendations in this manual as a part of said design. Further ideas and particular design impressions could derive from our PALSUN projects album, available from our professional CD or from our Website: www.palram.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide 2) Reasons & Arguments for the Use of Curved PALSUN Glazing: (Cold curved or thermoformed) • Applied mainly in horizontal installation, (the curve axis is level. fig. 37a.) but possible also in vertical position (curve axis vertical. fig. 37b.) a • Applicable in vaulted roof covers, overhead skylights, canopies & shades, covered walkways, integration with curtain-walls, street & landscape architecture and more. (Fig.
PALSUN® PALGARD™ Glazing Guide Inasmuch as Palram Industries has no control over the use to which others may put the material, it does not guarantee that the same results as those described herein will be obtained. Each user of the material should make his own tests to determine the material's suitability for his own particular use.
