Questions
1. How important is it to follow Palram general recommendations on product usage?
2. Do I really need to buy Palram's recommended closure strips and screws for corrugated panels?
3. Why do I have to pre-drill fastener holes in roofing with corrugated panels?
4. Do Palram products keep the "heat" out?
5. How long do Palram Sheets last?
6. How do I cut these sheets?
7. What should I use to clean my panels?
8. My building inspector says I need to know your flame spread rating.
9. Do Palram accessories come in all of the same colors the panels do?
10. In roofing with corrugated panels, what are purlins and closure strips?
11. In roofing with corrugated panels, where should I start?
12. In roofing with corrugated panels, should I insert screws at valley or crest points?
13. Is it OK to fix screws by a power screwdriver?
14. Is it OK to walk over roofing sheets while in storage, during or after installation?
15. What is the weight of typical SUNTUF and PALRUF panels?
16. What is the weight of typical SUNLITE/Themaglas sheets?
17. How should I store packed sheets?
18. Why are there polyethylene films on certain sheets and should I peel it off?
19. Can the sheets be curved?
20. Can these sheets catch fire?
21. Do the sheets expand in heat?
22. Do plastic roofing sheets really block UV radiation?
23. If polycarbonate sheets block UV radiation, why is there a ‘UV side’ to face outwards?
24. In Sunlite, can I leave the masking tapes that block both ends?
25. Should I paint the structural rafters with any paint?
26. I'd like to use your Palruf panels to create an under-deck liner. How can I do this?
Answers
1. How important is it to follow Palram general recommendations on product usage?
Very.
Palram recommendations for the storage, installation and general
treatment of products are drafted to ensure that the product’s quality
and serviceability is met to full extent, and following these
recommendation ensures that product warranty isn't void.
2. Do I really need to buy Palram's recommended closure strips and screws for corrugated panels?
Yes.
Palram products are a system meant to provide the best possible
installation. Proper use of the complete system (panels, closure
strips, fasteners, etc.) greatly reduces the possibility of problems
and insures that product warranty will be honored.
3. Why do I have to pre-drill fastener holes in roofing with corrugated panels?
Pre-drilling
the holes insures the panels will have room to expand and contract
properly with temperature change. Skipping this step can lead to
distorted or warped panels.
4. Do Palram products keep the "heat" out?
To
a certain extent. Palram sheets are available in a variety of colors
each with its own heat and light transmission properties. While most
Palram sheets block 100% of harmful UV radiation, there are variations
in heat and light transmission. Clear sheets allow most solar light and
heat through while opaque colors are more reflective. In case excessive
heat buildup is a concern, we offer several products that outperforms
conventional heat/light ratio: Solar-Control sheets, SUNLITE SLT,
SUNLITE CL, SUNTUF SMART and more.
5. How long do Palram Sheets last?
Palram supplies individual product warranties against most types of failures.
The
life expectancy can be as much as 30 years, depending on professional
installation practice and environmental factors like air pollution,
winds, and erosion by sand particles.
6. How do I cut these sheets?
Easily.
Palram sheets may be cut with either a circular saw (using a very fine
blade, e.g. plywood, etc.) or a jig saw. For best results it is often
better to cut a few sheets at a time to reduce vibration.
Also, if
using a toothed circular saw blade, better results may be seen running
the blade backwards. Sheets may also be cut by hand by carefully using
tin snips or a utility knife. For further information please refer to
our product manuals.
7. What should I use to clean my panels?
Warm
water with a mild household detergent should be sufficient to clean
Suntuf or Sunlite panels. Wipe off any remained dirt with a soft cloth
and wash again. NEVER use a solvent based cleaner (ammonia, etc.).
AVOID using sponges or brushes that can scratch the panels surface.
8. My building inspector says I need to know your flame spread rating.
Can you provide this information?
Yes. We can provide test reports and other such documents. Please contact your palram dealer if you require these data.
9. Do Palram accessories come in all of the same colors the panels do?
No.
Palram accessories are available in some standard colors, and they may
need to be specially ordered depending on your retailer.
10. In roofing with corrugated panels, what are purlins and closure strips?
Purlins
are cross members running across the rafters of your structure. Closure
strips match the corrugation pattern of the panels and are attached to
the purlins.
11. In roofing with corrugated panels, where should I start?
You can choose to install left to right, or right to left, or start at the middle and continue to both sides.
It is recommended to Always advance against the dominant wind at the site.
Never start at both sides, or at any two separate points.
12. In roofing with corrugated panels, should I insert screws at valley or crest points?
Crest fixing should always be preferred.
13. Is it OK to fix screws by a power screwdriver?
Adjustable
electric screwdriver is allowed, provided you set the torque to the
minimal needed, in order to prevent over-tightening and local
deformation of the panel.
For that reason, pneumatic tools should be avoided.
14. Is it OK to walk over roofing sheets while in storage, during or after installation?
No. In case it can’t be avoided during installation, use stepping ladders or crawling boards.
15. What is the weight of typical Suntuf and Palruf panels?
| Product |
Thickness
mm (inch) |
Walls Area weightKg/m² |
Area weightLb/ft² |
| SUNTUF 76/18 Iron/Sinus |
0.8 (0.031) |
1.08 |
0.22 |
| SUNTUF 76/18 Greca/Trapeze |
0.8 (0.031) |
1.20 |
0.25 |
| SUNTUF 177/51 5,6 Waves |
1.0 (0.039) |
1.15 |
0.24 |
|
|
|
|
| PALRUF 76/18 Iron/Sinus |
1.0 (0.039) |
1.60 |
0.33 |
| PALRUF 76/18 Greca/Trapeze |
1.0 (0.039) |
1.81 |
0.37 |
| PALRUF 177/51 5,6 Waves |
1.5 (0.059) |
1.81 |
0.53 |
Thickness mm (inch) Area weightKg/m² Area weightLb/ft²
Suntuf
76/18
Iron/Sinus
(insert profile) 0.8 (0.031) 1.08 0.22
Suntuf 76/18
Greca/Trapeze (insert
profile) 0.8
(0.031) 1.20 0.25
Suntuf 177/51 5,6
Waves
(insert
profile)
1.0 (0.039) 1.15 0.24
Palruf
76/18
Iron/Sinus
(insert
profile)
1.0 (0.039) 1.60 0.33
Palruf 76/18
Greca/Trapeze (insert
profile)
1.0 (0.039) 1.81 0.37
Palruf 177/51 5,6
Waves
(insert profile) 1.5
(0.059) 2.60 0.53
Note: Contact your Palram distributor or browse Palram website for additional sheet profiles and data.
16. What is the weight of typical Sunlite/Thermaglas sheets?
| Product |
Walls |
Walls Area weightKg/m² |
Area weightLb/ft² |
| SUNLITE/Thermaglas 4mm |
2 |
0.8 |
0.16 |
| SUNLITE/Thermaglas 6mm |
2 |
1.3 |
0.27 |
| SUNLITE/Thermaglas 8mm |
2 |
1.5 |
0.31 |
| SUNLITE/Thermaglas 10mm |
2 |
1.7 |
0.35 |
| SUNLITE/Thermaglas 16mm |
3 |
2.7 |
0.55 |
Sunlite/Thermaglas 8mm 2 1.5 0.31
Sunlite/Thermaglas 10mm 2 1.7 0.35
Sunlite/Thermaglas 16mm 3 2.7 0.55
Note: Contact your area Palram distributor or browse Palram website for additional data.
17. How should I store packed sheets?
Store in a protected, shaded, ventilated site, with no direct exposure to sunlight and winds.
In outdoor temporary storage cover with opaque protective film, and avoid PVC films and heat-absorbing materials.
Please
note: Surface protective films that cover sheets are highly sensitive
to heat and direct sunlight. Excessive heat and direct sunlight before
taking off the film can cause gluing of that film to the sheet surface,
after which it will not be practically possible to remove it from the
sheet!
18. Why are there polyethylene films on certain sheets and should I peel it off?
The
surface films in certain sheets, like Sunlite and Palsun sheets, are
needed for protection against dirt and scratching, and also used to
carry important information to the installer and final customer.
The indication of the UV protected side that should be installed facing outwards is extremely important.
It
is recommended to peel off the protective films only after
installation. In case this will not be feasible and the film will be
peeled off before laying the sheets, it must be remembered to at least
mark the UV protected surface, so that the sheet will not be installed
inside out.
Note: wrong installation damages are not covered by Palram.
Please
also note: Surface protective films that cover sheets are highly
sensitive to heat and direct sunlight. Excessive heat and direct
sunlight before taking off the film can cause gluing of that film to
the sheet surface, after which it will not be practically possible to
remove it from the sheet!
19. Can the sheets be curved?
Yes.
Sheets can be cold-curved and serve in arched shapes, provided the
relevant Palram specifications for minimum radius in cold curving are
followed. These specifications can be found in the Installation
Instructions of the relevant sheets.
Solid sheets can be cold-curved in any direction.
Corrugated sheets can be arched so that the corrugations themselves are curved (lengthwise).
Multi-wall sheets can be arched so that the actual ribs will be curved (lengthwise).
Curving is not recommended across the ribs direction.
20. Can these sheets catch fire?
Yes. In principle all plastic materials are flammable, and will catch fire in presence of exterior flame.
The ignition temperature of polycarbonate sheets is 490ºC (915ºF), and PVC sheets 391ºC (736ºF).
Both materials are self extinguishing, and fire will decay when the exterior flame source is removed.
Compared to PC and PVC, acrylic sheets are more flammable.
21. Do the sheets expand in heat?
Yes. Plastic sheets expand with heat, and shrink with cold.
As
engineering plastics, PC and PVC demonstrate limited
expansion/contraction Vs other plastics, however this change in
dimensions should be considered. The use of enlarged screw holes in
corrugated sheets (and aluminum profiles in multi-wall and solid
sheets) are standard methods that should be followed. Always use the
guidance in Palram installation instructions.
Example 1: A 5 meter long Suntuf sheet will add up 3.25mm when the temperature is raised by 10ºC.
Example 2: A 3 meter long Palopaque solid sheet will shrink by 2.0mm when cooled by 30ºC.
22. Do plastic roofing sheets really block UV radiation?
Some
of them do. Rigid PVC and polycarbonate sheets are practically opaque
to UV radiation, making them a perfect barrier against this harmful
radiation.
On the other hand, acrylic roofing sheets generally transmit a considerable portion of the UV radiation.
23. If polycarbonate sheets block UV radiation, why is there a ‘UV side’ to face outwards?
Polycarbonate
blocks UV radiation by absorbing it. This absorption mechanism might
degrade the material, and the sheet has to be protected against it.
Protection to the sheet is achieved by coating it with a special
material that converts the UV radiation into heat that emits to the
external air layer.
In order to protect the sheets, they must be
installed with the marked UV protective layer facing outside. Although
sheet products can also be UV protected on both sides, most of the
sheets are protected on one side that is marked clearly.
24. In Sunlite, can I leave on the masking tapes that block both ends?
No. These tapes are good for packaging/storage only, and are not strong enough for field service.
After
installing sunlite sheets, seal top end with aluminum foil ‘Solid
tape’, and bottom end with special ventilating ‘Breather tape’.
25. Should I paint the structural rafters with any paint?
Yes, but be sure to paint only with light or white colour.
Do not use dark colours like black or brown, that can absorb and reflect intensive heat.
26. I'd like to use your Palruf panels to create an under-deck liner. How can I do this?
Click HERE for a set of instructions on how to use our Palruf panels for this application.
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