STORMLITE™ MULTIWALL POLYCARBONATE HURRICANE SHUTTERS

The new guidelines by manufacturers of ACQ lumber call for heavily galvanized or stainless steel fasteners due to the corrosive nature of the ACQ treatment.

You have two basic options for using Palram products with ACQ lumber:

1. Use a comparable fastener made from an ACQ approved material. Make sure that such a fastener uses either a neoprene or EPDM washer, and that it is installed per Palram’s recommendations.
2. Use Palram’s fasteners. Initial tests with ACQ have shown no adverse effect on our fasteners. This is added to the fact that the fasteners are being used to secure a light weight plastic panel (rather than connect structural members). If you use Palram fasteners, our 10 year warranty will still apply.

Yes, you can paint structural rafters or supports – but be sure to paint only with light or white color. Do not use dark colors like black or brown that can absorb and reflect intense heat.

Most Palram polycarbonate products feature a very thin co-extruded layer of UV-resistant resins that protect the entire sheet from UV radiation. In most cases, UV protection is applied to one side. However, two-sided UV protection is available for select products.

Polycarbonate inherently blocks UV radiation by absorbing it and not allowing it to pass through the panel. However, UV also degrades polycarbonate over time. Therefore, Palram adds additional UV protection specifically to protect the sheet, not to block additional UV from getting through the sheet.

To ensure the protection of single-sided UV protected sheets, they must be installed with the marked UV protective layer facing out toward the sun. Although sheet products can also be UV protected on both sides, most of the sheets are protected on one side that is marked clearly.

Some of them do. Rigid PVC and polycarbonate sheets are practically opaque to UV radiation, making them a perfect barrier against this harmful radiation. They actually block UV-A and UV-B radiation better than nearly any sunscreen lotion.

On the other hand, acrylic roofing sheets (which are not produced by Palram) generally transmit a considerable portion of the UV radiation.

Review the technical datasheet for each Palram product for specific UV information.

The protective films in flat (non-corrugated) Palram sheets are for protection against dirt and scratching during the long journey from manufacturing to the job site. In some cases, the film also carries important installation and other product information.

The film will also indicate which side is UV-protected. This side should be installed facing outwards (extremely important).

In most cases, we recommend peeling off the protective films after installation. If this is not possible for practical reasons, always mark the UV protected surface, if there is one, so that the sheet will not be installed upside down.

Important note: The protective films that cover Palram 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 be extremely difficult to remove it from the sheet.

Warm water with a mild household detergent should be sufficient to clean Suntuf or Sunlite panels. Gently wipe off any remaining dirt with a soft cloth and wash again.

Never use a solvent-based cleaner (ammonia, etc.), and avoid abrasive sponges or brushes that can scratch the panels surface.

We do not recommend painting our polycarbonate panels. Polycarbonate is a very resilient material, but it is potentially sensitive to chemicals contained in many exterior paints. While we can test a paint for compatibility, we have no way of controlling whether a paint manufacturer will remain consistent with their formulas over time.

Palram products are available in a variety of colors, which varies by product. Each has its own heat and light transmission properties. While all Palram panels block virtually 100% of harmful UV radiation, there are variations in heat and light transmission.

Clear panels allow the most solar light and heat through, while lighter, opaque colors are more reflective. If excessive heat buildup is a concern, our "Solar Control" panels are your best bet. Please see each product page for more information on color offerings, light transmission percentages and warranty terms.

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.

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.