Alfresco SET DIY

How to fit polycarbonate sheets

Years of experience have helped us to understand and refine how to work with polycarbonate so that the best results can be achieved.
Storing, handling and fitting polycarbonate sheets requires attention to a few simple working principles to protect the material from damage or accidents.

Before starting work, feel free to consult these important principles for storage and operation.

Construction principles

When making the supporting structures on which polycarbonate is mounted, remember to bear in mind that:

• The distance between the rafters and the supporting elements depends on the type of tiles selected, and the static load is calculated under snow and wind conditions.
• When designing the maximum width of the slabs, it is advisable to take into account the production width of the slabs, which is 2100 mm. We recommend calculating the width up to 1050 mm or up to 1025 for those with a production width of 2050 mm. This will help you reduce waste.
• Call on experts for the design and construction of the structure so as not to endanger people, traffic or adjacent structures, and do not forget to take into account static load conditions.

General principles

• Polycarbonate sheets are mounted in a dry environment.
• Glazing with polycarbonate sheets should be the last step before the construction is completed.
• To connect the polycarbonate sheets to the structure, use aluminum pressure strips with rubber gaskets.

• Ensure the natural drainage of water by respecting the minimum slope (5o ´= 90 mm of height for every 1 m of length).
• When cutting the boards, take into account the higher thermal expansion of polycarbonate: subtract 3 mm for each meter of the length and width of the board.
• After cutting, clean the edges and remove dirt from the plate chambers. They must be clean before mounting.
• The open chambers at the ends of the plates are sealed with sealing tape, and the glued edges of the plates can be protected with a suitable profile. It will also provide protection against UV radiation.
• A plastic or non-ferrous metal saw can be used for cutting, and an ordinary steel drill for drilling.
• If the material gets wet during transport or storage, spots may appear on the surface where the profiles touch. For this reason, it is advisable to dry the material as quickly as possible, preferably individually.

Polycarbonate sheets - storage and transport

Store lying down, protected from wind and rain. Do not expose to direct sunlight as there is a risk of the protective film sticking.

Always install the boards with the UV-protected side facing outwards. This is indicated on the protective foil.

Do not step on the polycarbonate panels during assembly.

The outside rooms should always be oriented vertically.

The bending of the panels is only in the direction of the chambers and the degree of bending depends on the thickness of the panel.

Fasten the profiles to the edge to a depth of at least 20 mm.