FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The best way is to use Palram-recommended screws fastened through pre-drilled holes that are slightly larger than the diameter of the screw. Pre-drilling insures that the panels will have room to expand and contract properly with temperature change. Skipping this step can lead to distorted or warped panels.

Whatever you do, never use nails. Unlike wood fibers, which compress when a nail is hammered in, Palram's rigid PVC and polycarbonate panels do not compress. That means there is significant risk of cracking and impact damage in the area of the attachment. Also, nailing the panels in place prevents them from safely expanding and contracting with temperature change, resulting in warping of the product.

For exact hole size guidelines and other important installation instructions, see the documents at the bottom of each specific product's web page.

First, do not use adhesives or caulks that contain silicone when working with PVC.

If waterproofing is your primary concern, use a PVC-specific caulk/sealant. Unlike adhesives, PVC caulks are meant to fill gaps and create a water-resistant seal between materials.

If bonding is more important, don't use PVC pipe glue, which is often colored blue. Instead, choose a PVC-to-PVC adhesive such as Weld-On 705, OSI Quad, Christy’s Red Hot or PVC TrimWelder.

First off, don't use PVC cement. PVC cement and polycarbonate do not react well. Also, generally speaking, Suntof/Suntop panels are not recommended to be "glued" together. For sealing polycarbonate, use a 100% silicone caulking.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.