FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Questions
How important is it to follow Palram general recommendations on product usage?
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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 recommendations ensures that product warranty isn't void. Please be sure to view the specific product's documents for more information.

Do I really need to buy Palram’s recommended fasteners and related accessories?
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To ensure long-term warranty coverage, it is strongly recommended to use Palram-approved fasteners and accessories, which have been tested to ensure high quality and function.

Palram products + fasteners + related accessories should be thought of as a system meant to provide the best possible installation. Proper use of the complete system greatly reduces the possibility of problems and insures that product warranty will be honored.

Please see the installation instructions for the specific product for details.

Do Palram sheets expand in heat?
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Yes. PVC and polycarbonate sheets expand with heat, and contract with cold.

Various Palram sheet products require different installation and fastening methods to account for expansion/contraction.

Always review the specific installation instructions for each Palram product before installing.

Do any Palram polycarbonate products have a UL 94 fire rating?
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Yes, some Palram products do have a UL 94 fire rating.

  • PALSUN FAMILY
  • PALCLEAR
  • PALCLAD PRO HYG

Click here to view the UL 94 Tech Brief for the most up-to-date information.

You may also click here to view the Palram UL listing on the official UL website.

Can Palram sheets catch fire?
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All plastic materials are flammable to some degree, and will catch fire in presence of exterior flame.

The ignition temperature of polycarbonate sheets is 915ºF (490ºC).

The ignition temperature of PVC sheets is 736ºF (391ºC).

Both materials are self-extinguishing, and fire will decay when the exterior flame source is removed.

Note that compared to polycarbonate and PVC, acrylic sheets (which are not produced by Palram) are more flammable.

Can Palram sheets be curved?
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Bending/forming instructions vary by sheet material. Always check the installation instructions of the relevant sheet material.

But in general, some of our sheets can be cold-curved for arched shapes, provided the relevant Palram specifications for minimum radius in cold-curving are followed.

Rigid flat sheets can be cold-curved in any direction.

Corrugated sheets can be cold arched "along the grain" of the corrugation (lengthwise). Corrugated sheets cannot be curved/arched "against the grain." That is, do not bend perpendicular to the direction of the ribs.

Like corrugated sheets, multiwall sheets can be arched only "along the grain" of multiwall (lengthwise).

Our Palight Trimboard "lumber-style" boards can be heat formed in any direction, with the proper heating equipment and forming jig.

Again, see the installation guidelines for each material for specific instructions.

How should I store Palram sheets when not in use?
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Store sheets in a protected, shaded, ventilated site, with no direct exposure to sunlight and winds. For outdoor temporary storage, cover with an opaque protective tarp, avoiding heat-absorbing materials.

Important note: Palram flat (non-corrugated) panels have a protective surface film that keeps the product safe from dirt and scratches during the long journey from manufacturing to the job site.

These films are sensitive to heat and direct sunlight. Excessive heat and direct sunlight before taking off the film can cause that film to bond the sheet surface, after which it will be extremely difficult to remove the film from the sheet.

Can I use any of Palram’s products as a hurricane screen?
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Palram has one product specifically designed for hurricane protection: Stormlite Multi-Wall Polycarbonate. Review the product page for more information.

Palram's other polycarbonate panels have excellent impact resistance, but the thin gauge of these products makes them inappropriate for this application.

How long do Palram PVC and polycarbonate products last?
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Palram manufactures a variety of different products for different applications. Most have industry-leading warranties against manufacturing related defects, as well as specific warranties related to the intended use for the product.

However, with proper installation and maintenance, our products typically far exceed their warranty periods.

Many of our products are engineered to be installed outdoors and are warranted accordingly. Nevertheless, the lifespan of outdoor products can be affected by how well they were installed, as well as environmental factors like air pollution, sun exposure, winds and erosion by airborne particles.

Warranty details can be found in the Downloads tab under the Warranties section at the bottom of the page for each individual product.

Can I recycle Palram polycarbonate or PVC panel scraps?
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Yes, Palram's polycarbonate and PVC sheet products are recyclable.

Polycarbonate products such as Suntuf, Sunlite, Palsun, DynaGlas, or ThermaGlas should be marked "Plastic #7" prior to recycling.

PVC products such as Palruf, Ag-Tuf, PALCLAD PRO HYG, Palclear, or should be marked "Plastic #3".

If local recycling is not available, other resources are available. For PVC products, click here to visit the Vinyl Institute's Recycling Provider Database.

For polycarbonate products, visit The Association of Post Consumer Plastic Recyclers site and review their materials buyers and seller's list.