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polycarbonate products are available which greatly reduce the potential for thermal expansion, resolving this issue. Last, but not least, polycarbonate is one of just four materials that have been identified by the World Economic Forum as having the capacity to be 100 per cent remanufactured with no loss in material quality, no matter how many times it is recycled, making it a truly circular economy product.
Polycarbonate in action
One of the most instantly recognisable uses of polycarbonate is in rooflight products, where its excellent light transmission coupled with light weight and high levels of non-fragility make it an ideal material for roofing applications. Most often associated with warehousing and industrial type buildings, rooflights allow natural light to be introduced deep into the heart of large buildings where normal side glazing simply cannot reach. With the growing interest in the benefits of daylight on health and wellbeing, there is also an increasing use of rooflights to illuminate areas of buildings such as schools and hospitals that would normally rely on artificial lighting. The proportion of rooflights must always be balanced to achieve a thermally efficient building envelope, and polycarbonate products can also help here, achieving
U-values as low as 0.8 W/m2
.K. If you are
looking to achieve a high BREEAM rating, there are up to six credits available for visual comfort under Hea 01 of the latest scheme – BREEAM UK New Construction 2018. Areas for consideration include glare control, daylighting and internal lighting levels.
Polycarbonate products are not restricted to rooflights. Wall polycarbonate solutions can be used to great effect, not only to introduce clear light into buildings but also to bring visual life and colour to both the exterior and interior. The impact of light through tinted panels can be energising or restful, playful or cathedral like, creating new dimensions to the spaces where people live, learn or work.
Let the light in With so many beneficial characteristics, and so much versatility, it is time to recognise that polycarbonate does not just provide useful products for industrial buildings; it is an architectural material in its own right. It can be shaped and coloured, recycled and made anew, it can be subtle or striking. Most importantly of all, it can bring natural light flooding into all kind of buildings, without glare and without overheating.
James Patrick is technical services manager at Kingspan Insulated Panels
ABOVE The impact of light through tinted wall panels can be energising or restful, playful or even cathedral-like
ABOVE LEFT At a fraction the weight of glass or acrylic, polycarbonate is nevertheless extremely strong as well as being easily moulded
ADF MAY 2018
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
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