Polycarbonate Technology

WeÕll help you understand, appreciate and achieve the benefits of translucent daylighting with todayÕs polycarbonate technology. Duo-Gard systems offer diversity in glazings, structural metals and framing options, all custom-engineered to your specs. Unlimited Possibilities Translucent polycarbonate is changing the dynamics of daylighting design with advantages traditional glass and fiberglass simply canÕt match. We know. We specialize in daylighting with polycarbonates. No other daylighting company brings you such commitment to this technology. As a leading design/build manufacturer, we collaborate with the A/E/C community to achieve high-performance, cost-effective, aesthetically appealing daylighting systems for new construction and renovation in all types of facilities. Because we monitor, evaluate and integrate advanced technologies from the worldÕs top extruders, our systems bring not just the right choice but the best choice to your daylighting designs Ð a choice supported by testing and proven in the field. With Daylighting by Duo-Gard, your possibilities are unlimited. Advances in translucent daylighting include a new generation of polycarbonate structured sheet Ð PCSS. This versatile multiwall glazing creates diffused daylight that balances high natural light transmission and high energy efficiency as it minimizes glare and heat gain for windows, skylights, walls, clerestories, canopies and walkways Ð all at typical savings of one-third to one-half over traditional glass or fiberglass. The advantages extend to interior applications too. Translucent panels can separate, enclose and define spaces while allowing the flow of diffused natural light. Architects tell us they want to know more about todayÕs technology, which is far different from earlier ones. In fact, the possibilities can be downright confusing as you consider this potential for translucent daylighting. The A/E/C community wrestles with lingering misperceptions about polycarbonates. Many architects want to get beyond this and find out how they can effectively design with this versatile daylighting resource. We can help. Unparalleled Versatility Design flexibility is a prime asset with PCSS. ItÕs easily cold-formed and weighs only one-sixth as much as glass, yet has 200 times the impact strength, enabling architects to work with wider spans and lighter supports. Glazing colors range from clear, opal, gray and bronze to blue, green and metallic silver. Custom colors are available for large quantities. Duo-Gard systems include structural framing in anodized or painted colors to complement or contrast. Add glass visibility and ventilation sections. Lower the solar energy transmission from 25% to 40% with heat-reflective PCSS. Control the sun with a microprismatic design. Double-glaze for U-value 0.124 and R-value 8.5 with light transmission of 30%. Select one sheet with two complementary exterior and interior colors. Summary of Sustainable Benefits Diffused Daylighting by Duo-Gard upgrades the building envelope, adds energy efficiency and security, reduces glare and solar gain as it increases comfort and productivity for the occupants Ð all important factors in todayÕs green building designs. Combined with other benefits in performance and aesthetics, all these factors add up to an incomparable opportunity in daylighting design. Highest-quality diffused daylighting integrates proven benefits for all facilities. Superior performance satisfies todayÕs demanding specs for green building design. Multiwall polycarbonates reflect leading-edge technology from extruders worldwide. Thicknesses from 8mm to 40mm cover a wide range of structural requirements. Aluminum 6063-T5 structure provides strength in anodized or painted finishes. Energy efficiency+light transmission ratios that integrate all your goals. Architectural aesthetics feature colors, tints and metallics in glazings and frames. Coextruded UV protection ensures stability in color retention and light transmission. Fire-retardant, self-extinguishing, shatterproof systems enhance safety, security. Custom-engineered systems integrate structural demands for wind/snow loads. Prime systems create efficient, cost-effective diffused daylighting in new construction. Replacement systems bring new light and new life to older buildings. Overglazing systems result in economical renovation without removal of existing glass. Visibility and ventilation options enhance occupant comfort and productivity. Recycling potential of PCSS and aluminum components add an environmental plus. A Word of Caution Old myths die hard, especially when itÕs in the competitionÕs best interest to keep them alive. So donÕt be misled. Every daylighting alternative has its strengths and limitations. Check the facts for yourself as you evaluate current polycarbonate technology and its potential for your designs. Weatherization is guaranteed. Protection against UV discoloration and loss of light transmission is now coextruded as an integral element of the process. ItÕs not a surface coating, a gel, a covering or a separate film; itÕs integrated into the full thickness of the exterior wall. And itÕs guaranteed. DonÕt wonder where the yellow went; itÕs long gone. Fire retardation is excellent. PCSS is a self-extinguishing material; it does not support combustion. In a fire, it melts, creating openings through which smoke and fumes readily escape a building. This actually makes a safer environment for the occupants than a material which resists flames and fills a building with inescapable smoke and fumes. Class A fire performance is common among todayÕs PCSS offerings. Expansion/Contraction is minimized. While itÕs true that PCSS has a relatively higher co-efficient of expansion and contraction, Duo-Gard addresses this in our engineering strategy for each system. Our systems are dry-sealed and the glazing floats in the framing channel, ensuring the integrity at extreme temperatures. Architectural acceptance is growing. Have you heard that PCSS is Òa cheap glazing materialÉwidely promoted in Europe and third world economies?Ó Of course it is! The European market is renowned for being more open to new technologies than the American market, consequently PCSS has long had an established foothold there while itÕs just beginning to gain real ground here. Whether you call it cheap, economical or cost-effective, thereÕs no question it typically costs less than traditional translucent materials. When you can match or exceed fiberglass performance at a lower cost, that can hardly be considered what the competition calls Òa serious shortcoming.Ó