Palram SUNLIT User Manual

SUNLITE® Technical Guide

Multiwall Polycarbonate Sheet

Content

Introduction 1

Product Range 1

Standard dimensions 1

Colors 2

Typical physical properties 2

Flammability 2

Chemical resistance, compatible sealants and adhesives 3

Arching radius 3

Wind and snow load calculation 4

Spacing and load calculations 4

Positioning of clamping proﬁles and fastener location 13

Preparation for glazing 14

Preparations prior to installation 15

Glazing proﬁles and fastening screws 15

Handling and storage 16

Cutting 16

Drilling 17

Sealing and bonding 17

Accessories 17

General recommendations for working with SUNLITE® sheets 18

SUNLITE® Technical Guide

Introduction

This manual provides basic guidelines for selecting, handling and installing SUNLITE sheets. Due to their hollow core, preliminary preparation and additional care are required before the actual installation. Please note these guidelines before starting and follow them carefully.

Product Range

Product Description Application

SUNLITE®

SUNLITE® UV2

Flat multiwall polycarbonate sheet with UV protective layer on one side.

Flat multiwall polycarbonate sheet with UV protective layer on both sides.

Suitable for both exterior and indoor applications.

Recommended for applications that involve UV exposure on both sides (e.g. exterior light boxes)

SUNLITE® FR Sheet with higher ﬁre resistance rating. Recommended for applications in populated areas.

Flat multiwall polycarbonate sheet with integrated metallic

SUNLITE® Solar Control

reﬂective heat-blocking layer. The sheet that transmits less

Available with 25 or 30% light transmission.

Infrared radiation and reduces heat buildup.

SUNLITE® CL SUNLITE® Smart

Flat multiwall polycarbonate sheet with advanced SolarSmart™ tint that combines infrared heat blocking with a clear view due to its high clarity.

Can be tailored to achieve diﬀerent light and heat transmissions.

Recommended for commercial greenhouses and

SUNLITE® Plus Flat multiwall polycarbonate sheet with anti-condensation.

closed structures with an open water reservoir, such as swimming pools.

Notes:

1. Some features of the products above can be combined. Please contact your Palram distributor for more information.

2. All the above products are supplied with a protective masking on both sides, which clearly marks the UV protected side. Protective masking on one side only is available upon request. The masking should be removed immediately after installation.

3. For transportation, handling and storage instructions and recommendations, please refer to Handling and Storage Guidelines for Palram Sheets.

4. SUNLITE sheets are backed by a 10 years limited warranty, available upon request.

Standard Dimensions

Structure

Twin Wall

Triple Wall

X-Lite

V-Structure

7 Walls

*Other structures, dimensions and weights are available upon request. Please contact your Palram distributor for more details.

Thickness

(mm)

4 0.8 3.8

4.5 1.0 3.7 6 1.3 3.5 8 1.5 3.3

10 1.7 2.9

8 1.7 3.0

10 2.0 2.7 16 2.5 2.3 16 2.5 2.1 25 3.0 1.7 32 3.2 1.6 35 3.5 1.5 40 4.1 1.4 20 2.8 1.85 25 3.4 1.6 32 3.6 1.5 35 3.8 1.45 40 4.0 1.35 10 1.9 2.3 16 2.55 1.75 20 2.9 1.55 25 3.4 1.39

Area Weight

(Kg/m²)

U-Value

(W/m²•°K)

700 980 1050 1200 1220* 1250 1600 1800 1830 2085 2090 2095 2100

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Width (mm) (*USA Only)

✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔

Colors*

Standard Colors Multi-Layered

Structure

Twin wall 4mm 82% 35% 30% 35% 30% 30%

Twin wall 4.5mm 82% 35% 30% 35% 30% 30%

Twin wall 6mm 80% 35% 20% 35% 30% 30%

Twin wall 8mm 80% 35% 35% 35% 30% 25% 45%/34% 60%/55%

Twin wall 10mm 79% 35% 30% 35% 30% 25% 60%/55%

Triple wall 8mm 76% 35% 48% 35% 30% 25%

Triple wall 10mm 76% 35% 48% 35% 30% 25%

Triple wall 16mm 76% 35% 48% 35% 30%

X-Lite 16mm 60% 25% 38% 35% 30%/25%

V-Structure 20mm 63% 25% 20% 10%

V-Structure 25mm 62% 30%

V-Structure 32mm 61% 20% 20%

V-Structure 35mm 60%

V-Structure 40mm 58%

X-Lite 25mm 60% 25% 15% 10% 5% 20% 20%/16% 42%/35%

X-Lite 32mm 58% 20% 15% 10% 5% 20% 20%/16% 42%/35%

X-Lite 35mm 57% 20% 15% 10% 5% 20% 20%/16% 42%/35%

X-Lite 40mm 57% 20% 15%

7 Walls 10mm 64% 45% 29%

7 Walls 16mm 64% 45% 29%

7 Walls 20mm 62% 45% 29%

7 Walls 25mm 60% 40% 22%

*Light transmission values adhere to ASTM D-1003. **Blue, Green and Solar Control are made to order only.

Clear Bronze

White

Opal

White

Diﬀuser

Green** Blue** Bronze/Opal

Solar Guard

(Solar Control/Opal)

Solar

Ice

Solar

Control**

CL SLT

LT = Light Transmission

ST = Solar Transmission

Smart Green

Typical Physical Properties

Property Method* Conditions Units Value

Density D-792 g/cm³ 1.2 Heat deﬂection temperature (HDT) D-648 Load: 1.82 MP °C 135 Service Temperature - Short term °C -50 to +120 Service Temperature - Long term °C -50 to +100 Coeﬃcient of linear thermal expansion D-696 mm/mm °C 6.5x10 Tensile strength at yield D-638 10 mm/min MPa 62 Elongation at break D-638 10 mm/min % >90 Impact falling dart ISO 6603/1 J 40-400 Practical thermal expansion/contraction mm/m 3

* ASTM except where noted otherwise.

Flammability

Method Classiﬁcation* Method Classiﬁcation*

BS 476/7 Class 1

EN 13501 B, s1, d0 ASTM E-84 Class A

* Depends on sheet type. For more information please contact your Palram distributor.

ASTM D-635 CC-1 (SUNLITE® FR)

SUNLITE® Technical Guide

Chemical Resistance & Compatible Sealants

SUNLITE has good resistance to many chemicals. Some chemicals may harm the SUNLITE sheets. Detailed information about these materials can be found at the Chemical Resistance of Palram Polycarbonate Products brochure. Please contact your Palram dealer when in doubt about any material or chemical. When choosing adhesives or sealants to be used during installation of SUNLITE sheets, please refer to Recommended Adhesives and

Sealants for Polycarbonate Products from the Palram websites.

For use of any adhesive or sealant not listed in the above brochure, consult with your Palram dealer to get his approval. Failure to do so will void any and all warranties.

Positioning the Sheets

1. SUNLITE sheets should be installed with the rib channels sloping downwards (Figs. 1a, 1c, 2). That orientation will reduce accumulation of dirt inside the sheet and ease gravity drainage of any condensation moisture.

Figure 1a Figure 1b Figure 1c

2. Sheets should be installed with the adjoining edges connected by a glazing proﬁle suited to the glazing system.

3. For sheets installed in the ﬂat, horizontal position, (roofs, overhead skylights), a minimum slope of 5 percent is imperative, with 10 percent and above preferable. Steeper slopes oﬀer better rainwater drainage and self-

Length

cleaning, and reduce the risk of water and dirt inﬁltration through the connectors and fastening screws. Steeper slopes also help to diminish the visual eﬀect of sheet deﬂection caused by loading.

Slope > 5%

4. Length dimension is deﬁned as parallel to the ribs, while width will always be perpendicular to the ribs.

Width

Arching Radius

SUNLITE sheets may be cold bent or curved up to their minimum permitted radius, using polycarbonate’s natural tolerance for cold

Figure 2

Flat, two-sided clamped glazing

Width

forming with no need for thermal processing. Curving SUNLITE sheet beyond this minimum permitted radius induces undue stresses and strains in the glazing sheet, causing premature failure and will void the warranty.

Structure

Twin Wall

Triple Wall

X-Lite

V-Structure

mm Inch mm Feet Inch

Thickness Minimal Cold Bending Radius

4 5/32 700 2.30 28 6 1/4 1,050 3.40 41 8 5/16 1,400 4.60 55

10 3/8 1,750 5.70 69

8 5/16 1,760 5.80 69 10 3/8 2,200 7.20 87 16 5/8 2,800 9.20 110 16 5/8 3,000 9.80 118 25 1 5,000 16.40 197 32 1 1/4 6,400 21.00 252 35 1 3/8 7,000 23.00 276

Wind and Snow Load Calculation

Local building codes and standards in most countries provide details for required design loads, which should be consulted before installation. The information below is provided for general reference.

Conversion of Wind Velocity Values into Wind (or Static) Pressure

Wind Strength Level

Property Units

Moderate Strong Storm Hurricane

Wind velocity

Static pressure

Km/h 20 40 - 60 80 - 100 120 - 140(+)

m/sec 6 11 - 17 22 - 28 33 - 40

Kg/m² 2 8 - 17 30 - 50 70 - 100(+)

psf 0.4 2 - 4 6 - 10 14 - 20(+)

Snow Load: Snow load from accumulated snow cannot be disregarded. Both structure and glazing should be suitable for this extra weight. When choosing greenhouse rooﬁng material for snow-bound areas, a single wall corrugated polycarbonate rooﬁng (e.g. SUNTUF or SUNSKY) may become preferable. Please consult with your Palram distributor.

Indicative snow load Per 1.0 cm (0.4 inch) of height or thickness

Fresh, ﬁne, ﬂuﬀy snow From 0.8 to 1.9 kg/m² (0.16-0.39 psf)

Wet, watery, compacted snow From 2.0 to 8.0 kg/m² (0.41-1.64 psf)

Spacing and Load Calculations for Different Methods of Installation

1. Four Sides Clamp or Frame

This method utilizes comparatively small, separate glazing elements, cut from larger sheets. SUNLITE is put inside a four-sided frame or supporting structures, and clamped on all sides. Clamping is done by plastic, wood or metal clamping proﬁles, with or without rubber sealing strips, and fastened by nails, screws or bolts to the supporting frame. The frame itself can be made of wood or metal, according to the design.

Clamping proﬁle

Silicone sealant

Rubber packing strips on both sides

SUNLITE glazing

Supporting frame

Figure 3a

Typical four sided clamp installation:

“wet” method, steel frame.

Figure 3a

Typical four sided clamp installation:

“wet” method, steel frame.

The table on top the next page presents the recommended center-to-center spans, for each type of SUNLITE sheet at various wind or snow loads.

Maximum Recommended Distances Between Centers- Shorter Spans (width)

Under diﬀerent ratios and loads for four sides clamped / framed ﬂat glazing.

SUNLITE® Technical Guide

Structure

Twin Wall

Triple Wall

X-Lite

Thickness

mm Kg/m² psf mm Inch mm Inch mm Inch

Wind/snow

uniform loads

50 10 900 36 700 28 500 20 80 16 700 28 500 20 350 14

100 20 500 20 400 16 - 120 25 400 16 300 12 - -

50 10 1150 45 900 36 600 24 80 16 1000 40 800 28 480 19

100 20 900 36 650 22 450 18 120 25 750 30 600 20 - -

50 10 1250 50 1000 40 750 30 80 16 1200 47 900 30 550 22

100 20 110 43 800 24 500 20 120 25 950 37 700 21 450 18

50 10 1200 47 950 38 650 26 80 16 1050 42 750 29 510 20

100 20 950 37 650 22 470 18 120 25 900 38 650 22 480 19

50 10 1275 51 1050 41 800 32 80 16 1225 49 900 32 600 24

100 20 1125 44 750 26 550 22 120 25 900 38 650 22 480 19

50 10 1500 59 1200 47 1100 43 80 16 1300 52 1100 43 1000 41

100 20 1200 47 1050 41 900 36 120 25 1100 43 950 37 850 33

50 10 1550 61 1250 49 1150 45 80 16 1350 53 1150 45 1050 41

100 20 1240 49 1080 42 950 37 120 25 1130 44 980 38 900 35

50 10 2100 83 1700 67 1400 55 80 16 1950 76 1600 63 1650 53

100 20 1800 70 1500 59 1300 51 120 25 1650 65 1400 55 1250 49

50 10 2100 83 1850 73 1500 59 80 16 2100 83 1700 67 1400 55

100 20 2000 78 1600 63 1350 53 120 25 1850 73 1500 59 1300 51

50 10 2100 83 1875 74 1525 60 80 16 2100 83 1725 68 1425 56

100 20 2025 79 1652 64 1375 54 120 25 1875 74 1525 60 1325 52

Distance between centers (shorter span) according to ratio a:b

Ratio 1:1 Ratio 1.5:1 Ratio > 1.5:1

Notes:

1. SUNLITE 4mm twin-wall is not recommended for constructive applications and is therefor excluded.

2. Data in table according to load tests on typical multi-wall sheets and additional extrapolations.

3. Recommended spans are calculated on the basis of 1/20 maximum deﬂection (5%) of sheet’s width (In this case crosswise, perpendicular to the rib channels).

4. A SUNLITE glazing sheet may withstand even higher loads without buckling, however, excessive lateral shortening, created by higher deﬂection, may cause the edges to slip out of their supports (pop-out).

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Palram SUNLIT User Manual

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Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual