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COMMENT The final curtain?


Alex Cooke of Kingspan Light + Air looks at why polycarbonate curtain walling solutions are being specified as an alternative to glass across various building types


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littering glazed buildings are a popular sight in many of our towns and cities. Whether they house offices, homes, shops, healthcare, education facilities or public spaces, curtain wall facades are a popular design choice for projects looking to increase internal daylight levels, offer external or even internal views, and present a clean, contemporary overall aesthetic. However, glass- based systems can present challenges both onsite and during operation and therefore may not be suitable for every building. Polycarbonate may offer a viable alternative that resolves these dilemmas.


Why polycarbonate?


Used in everything from car parts and bicycle helmets to riot shields and bullet-proof glass, polycarbonate is one of the most widely used engineered materials in the world. However, it is when it is applied to glazing that its architectural design potential is really illustrated to the full.


Polycarbonate is celebrated for its extreme impact resistance and long-lasting durability. As a glazing product, these properties


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are not only beneficial during transportation and installation but also when it is in use, safeguarding against extreme weather, falling branches and vandalism. It is also often formulated to retain its translucency for the lifetime of the product, ensuring it does not degrade, discolour, or lose its excellent light transmission properties. Typically a fraction of the weight of glass, it offers clear structural benefits whilst being easy to handle and install, improving onsite safety and speed of build. Of course, without consideration, high levels of light transmission can lead to issues with solar heat gain or visual glare. To resolve this, polycarbonate products can be manufactured using prismatic layers to diffuse incoming light, creating a uniform illumination that avoids hot spots and enhances visual acuity. Formulations are also available with additives that reflect infrared (IR) radiation and coloured tints can also be added to give architects more design options.


Polycarbonate is also one of the few materials that can be completely recycled at end of life and remanufactured to create a range of new products with no loss of material quality.


ADF MARCH 2022


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