The recent wild storms experienced on the east coast of Australia resulted in catastrophic damage to infrastructure, homes, schools, factories, churches and many other structures.

So what options are available to minimize the impact of these occurrences?

Firstly, the most common damage from strong wind gusts or hail is broken glass or acrylic skylights. Clear or opal polycarbonate skylights offer 250 times the strength of normal glass… virtually indestructible.

 

 

Secondly, pergolas and awnings with thin corrugated sheets are prone to severe damage from hail.

We recommend flat tinted, clear or opal polycarbonate for outdoor use, it comes with a 10 year warranty. Furthermore, unlike corrugated sheets, flat polycarbonate sheets will not aggregate dust, leaves or other debris.

Finally, create wind barriers in outdoor structures such as carports, pergolas and walkways. The attached photo shows a project where metal mesh is cladded with tinted polycarbonate panels. The polycarbonate panels are virtually indestructible and will prevent wind coming through the metal mesh. The same principal applies to trellis and other decorative panels.

Polycarbonate is available in Flat solid sheets as well as Multiwall (honeycomb structure) Sheets . The solid sheets are less likely to be dented in a hailstorm and generally are easier to install for flat roofs. The multiwall polycarbonate requires a 7 Degree pitch to allow the aggregated moisture to run off.

Talk to the team at Allplastics Engineering for ideas about how to protect your property and be storm ready with minimum cost.

Polycarbonate Clear, Opal & Tinted