PC Multi-wall panel

High strength and rigidity for skylights and SHEV systems

Polycarbonate (PC) stands out as an innovative and versatile composite material. Polycarbonate multi-wall panels – also known as double wall panels, twin wall panels or multi-wall panels – combine special properties in terms of transparency, thermal insulation and impact resistance. The multi-wall panels do not let UV radiation through and are therefore a very popular material for roofing. Polycarbonate is also lighter than glass and much cheaper to buy. Due to these special properties, we recommend PC multi-wall panels for the hood infill of smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems and for the glazing of skylights and shed structures.

Transparency for optimal light transmission

On the one hand, polycarbonate is colourless and, on the other hand, it is characterised by high light transmission. This provides natural lighting in buildings. This daylight illumination ensures indoor comfort and well-being. The light transmission can be regulated by the corresponding colouring (opal, softlite) and number of compartments (3, 4, 5, 6 or 11) of the material. This can also optimise the shadow effect.

Thermal insulation through PC multi-wall panels

In addition, polycarbonate is an excellent insulating material. It protects rooms and buildings from strong temperature fluctuations, such as cooling or heating. The thickness of the panels and the number of compartments play a particularly important role in this regard. Both influence the thermal insulation of the PC multi-wall panels. The colouring can also regulate the insulating behaviour.

High impact strength for greater safety

Compared to glass or acrylic, polycarbonate is much more impact resistant, especially against hail and other shocks. In this way, PC additionally ensures greater safety, as it does not pose any danger due to shattering. This is particularly important in public spaces and in the workplace.

Cost savings through PC multi-wall panels

Polycarbonate is a very light material compared to glass. The low weight enables a reduction in construction costs.

Applications

Skylights
Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation Systems
Ventilation systems

Advantages of the product

Why PC multi-wall panels?

Combination of daylight illumination with good thermal insulation
High strength, impact resistance and stiffness
Natural daylight (glare-free if filled with opal or softlite)
Excellent thermal insulation values (U-value) up to 1.1 W/m²K with standard glazing

Sound insulation values up to 21 dB
Fire class B-s1, d0 according to EN13501
Fire class B-s2, d0 according to EN13501 for opal
Cost-effective alternative to glass

Technical details of the product

PC multi-wall panels

Designs

Polycarbonate is characterised by high strength, impact resistance and stiffness. The material is also resistant to many mineral acids, salts, oxidising agents and hydrocarbons. The light transmission of the PC panels coated for UV stabilisation changes only slightly due to weathering, which is why polycarbonate is ideally suited as a lighting element. Polycarbonate reveals its special advantages especially as a multi-wall panel. With a weight of 2.6 – 3.2 kg/m², for example with a 16 mm thick panel without infill. PC multi-wall panels are a much lighter alternative to glass infill panels. They offer excellent U-values and are hail-resistant up to a hailstone size of 50 mm in the HW5 variant.

The importance of the U-value

The U-value is a factor that expresses the thermal conductivity of the glazing system. It is also called the total heat transfer coefficient or thermal insulation value. It indicates the amount of heat flow through the glazing material in relation to the time and thus also expresses the insulation capacity. It is the most important key figure in connection with thermal insulation. Precisely defined, it indicates the amount of energy (in joules = watt seconds) that flows through an area of 1 m² in one second when the air temperatures on both sides differ by 1 K (= degrees Kelvin) in a stationary state. It is a specific indicator of the material composition of a component. The lower the value, the better.
Our roda PC multi-wall panels offer excellent U-values.

Glazing types

A variety of polycarbonate multi-wall panels are available for the hood infill of smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems (SHEVS), ventilation systems and for the glazing of skylights and shed structures. These differ in thickness, structure and infill. In addition, a distinction can be made between clear, opal or softlite. Depending on these criteria, the light transmission, the g-value, the U-value, the sound insulation value, the UV protection and the fire class of the respective PC multi-wall panel are determined.

Glazing type A: Available polycarbonate multi-wall panels

In the following table you will find all available variants of our polycarbonate multi-wall panels.

Glazing type B: Hard roofing

There is also the option of hard roofing, which is particularly suitable for the EUROLIGHT and DELTALIGHT skylight systems. In this design, a 16 mm PC multi-wall panel of type 6/16-20 is installed together with a 1.1 mm thick GRP panel underneath. The panel used is marked orange in the table.

Strength: 16 mm
Structure: 6-fold
Base weight: 2800 gr/m²
Variant: clear
Translucency: 59%
g value: 0.57
U value: 2.00 W/m²K
Sound insulation value: 20 dB
UV protection: coated on one side
Classification Broof(t1) according to EN13501-5

Glazing type C: roda PC16 HW5 ultra sturdy

For particularly high hail resistance, roda has developed its own polycarbonate multi-wall panel that is assigned to hail protection class HW5: the “roda PC16 HW5 ultra sturdy”. A reinforced upper flange helps the panel to withstand hailstones of 50-55 mm in size. Such a large hailstone, weighing 56.9 grams and falling at a speed of about 30 m/s, has an impact energy of about 28 joules. Such a hailstone can damage or even break windows and car windows and knock medium-sized branches off trees. The “roda PC16 HW5 ultra study” protects against such damage. In addition, the 16 mm panel with five chambers has an improved U-value and thus increases the energy efficiency of the building.

Description: Polycarbonate multi-wall panel
Strength: 16 mm
UV protection: UV protected on both sides
Heat insulation: 1.8 W/m²k
Translucency: 60% transparent / 40% opal
Solar factor: 62% transparent / 45% opal
Shading coefficient: 0.71 colourless / 0.52 opal
Fire class: B-s1,d0 colourless EN13501-1 / B-s2,d0 opal EN13501-1
Minimum bending radius: 3000 mm
Hail protection class HW5 according to test report no. 446 of 19/11/2013

Glazing type D: roda PC16 HW5 ultra sturdy softlite

Classified in hail protection class HW5, the “roda PC16 HW5 ultra study softlite” also withstands 50 mm hailstones. In addition to the dielectric strength and improved U-value, the softlite variant offers excellent light diffusion thanks to a diffusion of 100 percent. With a bending radius of 2,400 mm, the hail-resistant PC multi-wall panel can also be used in smaller continuous rooflights.

Description: Polycarbonate multi-wall panel
Strength: 16 mm
UV protection: UV protected on both sides
Heat insulation: 1.86 W/m²k
Translucency: 57%
Shading coefficient: 0.65
Fire class: B-s2,d0 (EN 13501-1)
Minimum bending radius: 2400 mm
Hail protection class HW5 according to test report no. H217VKF of 25/08/2014

Sizes

As our roda products are manufactured to customer specifications, they can be customised to fit your building project. Whether you require hood infill for your SHEV system or ventilation system or glazing for skylights or shed structures, our professionals will be happy to advise you individually on the possible sizes and provide you with competent planning support.