When polycarbonate double glazing and microcell technology first came together, what resulted was an innovation in building manufacturing that has led to a dynamic new architectural direction. Nowadays, architects are charged with designing structures that are energy efficient and environmentally responsible; physically capable of withstanding the fierce extremes we’ve seen in weather as a result of climate change; and capable of creating an ambience that supports the mental wellbeing of the occupants inside. Oh, yes, and these miracles of modern construction are also expected to be esthetically pleasing. It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Well, at Danpal, striving for the impossible is just the sort of quest that our research and development engineers and designers relish. But before we can explain how all of this has come about, we first need to answer the question, “What is polycarbonate glazing?”
Polycarbonate Double Glazing: Better Than Glass
The answer to that question doesn’t do justice to the intricate nature of polycarbonate glazing’s properties. The microcell technology in polycarbonate Danpalon consists of a high concentration of cells that improves rigidity and mechanical properties.
You’ve seen double glazed polycarbonate in commercial areas where there’s a lot of foot traffic, and also where security is needed. You’ve probably seen it and thought you were looking at glass. But what you were looking at was polycarbonate glazing panels. They look like glass and have the attractive appearance of glass, but they don’t have the drawbacks. Polycarbonate is much easier to handle and install and shape, and much more impact resistant than glass. It’s also half as heavy as the weight of glass. But polycarbonate glazing offers even more in terms of its qualities.
The Advanced Technology Of Double Polycarbonate Panels
When double glazed polycarbonate is added to the design, the inside and outside layers are separated by extruded polycarbonate technology, with tight spacing between the panel ribs. This is what makes them resistant to the impact of hail. Double polycarbonate panels that partner with the daylighting architecture pioneered by Danpal incorporate brings natural light into a building’s interior; this makes that daylight as much a feature of the workspace and living space as structural features like ceilings and walls. It’s as if the workplace had gone outdoors—open to the beauty and improved visibility that natural light offers—without allowing any of nature’s less pleasant features (think bugs, bad weather, and noise) to intrude. If it sounds too good to be true, well, turning what’s too good to be true into reality is a Danpal trademark.
The Strength Of Polycarbonate Double Glazing
Double glazed plastic sheets look delicate, even fragile, but don’t be fooled. Unlike glass, which is easily damaged, but Danpalon polycarbonate is so strong that it stands up to the flying debris that results when a hurricane is on the rampage over land. Now, that’s strong! But even when there isn’t a hurricane, you can count on polycarbonate glazing panels to withstand other aspects of nature. The technology has advanced to the point where UV coatings, applied when polycarbonate is extruded, provide even higher levels of both esthetic appeal and performance. There’s an extra feature that enhances the esthetics quite a lot, and that’s maintenance. Pressure washing is sufficient, making double glazed polycarbonate easy to care for.
Still unconvinced that a building material so attractive can possibly be strong? Here are some test results. In order to confirm the ability of polycarbonate to withstand high winds, a barrel-vault skylight made of polycarbonate was tested by the equivalent of 355 mile an hour winds in hurricane-prone Miami-Dade County in Florida. Polycarbonate passed the test!
Double Glazed Polycarbonate Esthetics
What color is daylight? It’s impossible to answer that question, of course, because natural light isn’t a color. But Danpal’s approach to daylighting architecture expands so that double glazed plastic sheets are available in an array of colors. When lit from behind, double polycarbonate panels give off a gorgeous glow. You’ll get a better sense of the way that color and polycarbonate work together by taking a look at the Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre in the United Kingdom. In this structure, polycarbonate is the palette upon which light and color are painted.
Double Polycarbonate Panels Are Green
Danpal manufacturing affirms that environmental responsibility is a priority. Polycarbonate is recyclable. Polycarbonate glazing panels support sustainability because of the opportunities they offer for daylighting. When natural light is incorporated into a building design, the properties of light can reduce the need for artificial lighting along with giving the heating and cooling systems a break. Practicing energy efficiency by installing polycarbonate glazing sheets saves you money, and makes things a little easier on the environment.
Double glazed polycarbonate can boast a low U-value. In terms of double glazed windows, that’s a U-value of 1.6, which means that very little heat is escaping through the windows, floors, or walls of the structure. Planet Earth thanks you!
