If you are building in an area with building code regulations, it is suggested you determine if your panel choice has an approval or certification number(s) to meet your local building code guidelines prior to purchasing. Other governing bodies, such as the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), also have guidelines and an approval system for translucent panels. Photo courtesy of PalramĮxamples of code requirements and recommendations include the 2014, 2017, and upcoming 2020 code version of the Florida Building Code, which requires wind load testing for structural translucent roofing panels. Panel Thickness ChoicesĬlear panels provide up to 90% light transmission, providing a direct, concentrated beam of light. This reflective technology and 2.0mm rigidity make them suitable for warehouse applications in southern and coastal areas subject to a lot of sunlight and windstorms. These panels reflect up to 200 times more heat than a clear panel, leading to cooler building interiors. While many of the specialty colors are only available in 0.8mm thick panels, the newest technology in profiled polycarbonate panel colors is reflective silver panels, which are currently only available in 2.0mm thick R-panel or ridge cap profiles. Most of these specialty colors have light transmission numbers of 20% to 40% and are found in extremely limited profile offerings. Specialty Colors: The available varieties of colored panels include cream, misty green, bright green, bronze, solar control silver, and reflective silver. The white panels provide even lighting and avoid the “hot spots” that can be associated with clear panels. This is the reason white and soft white panels are ideal for “drop-in” skylight applications such as warehouse skylights, where the customer wants the best lighting and not the absolute highest light transmission number. These white panels work to diffuse light, sending it in many different directions. These panels are semitransparent, letting light through, but they are not clear. Opal White and Soft White Panels: In the case of a soft white panel, there will be between 45% and 85% light transmission.
CLEAR PANELS FOR METAL ROOFING FULL
You should choose a clear panel if your project requires the panels to be see-through, making them best suited for full roof or sidewall applications such as a greenhouse, porch, or gazebo roof. If you choose clear, you will have a direct, concentrated beam of light.īe aware that choosing a clear panel to be dropped in between metal panels (such as a warehouse skylight) can have a “window frame” effect directly on the floor below-the skylight can create a hot spot where the majority of the light from the opening is concentrated in one area.
Color ChoicesĬhoosing a color will determine how the new panels will transmit light:Ĭlear Panels: These colorless panels provide up to 90% light transmission. Once you have selected the preferred profile, you can move forward with color and thickness options. In this case, we would suggest an R-panel profile that would afford you the most standard choices of thickness and color. If your application calls for an entire roof or sidewall system to be translucent, then the profile may not be important. The corrugated profile you choose should closely match the accompanying metal building panel that the translucent panel will pair with. There are over 300 profiles of translucent and metal panels available.
Start with identifying the panel profile that you will need. As important as selecting the correct product for your application is, the correct installation and maintenance to ensure an extended life cycle of the product is paramount. Corrugated polycarbonate is no longer limited to just a 0.8mm-thick clear panel designed to span 2′ centers there are now thicknesses up to 2.0mm, designed to span 5′ centers, making polycarbonate panels a viable commercial building daylighting solution.
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