GLOSSARY
Terms:
Aluminum Tape: Tape used to cover the top end of a multiwall sheet to prevent water, dust, debris, and bugs from entering flutes.
Anti-Drip Coating: A unique proprietary hydrophilic coating which reduces the contact angle of condensation droplets. Also known as Dripgard.
Bending Radius: The minumum radius a sheet can bend without damaging or shortening its life.
Deflection: The degree to which a structural element is displaced under a load. Also known as DMX.
Difussion: To spread in all directions. In horticultural terms, it is how the sun beams are scattered when passing through polycarbonate sheets.
Dripgard: Allows condensation to spread into a thin sheet rather than form into droplets. Also known as Anti-Drip coating.
Easy Clean: Self-cleaning polycarbonate sheet which features a unique hydrophobic coating on the outside surface. This coating reduces the surface tension of polcarbonate and increases the contact angle of water to the sheet. This causes larger droplets to form and wash away dirt, leaving the sheet almost spotless.
Flame Spread: The burning characteristics of building materials.
H-Channel: A polycarbonate profile used vertically to join two mulitwall polycarbonate sheets.
Impact Strength: The maximum force or energy of a blow (given by a fixed procedure) which can be withstood without fracture.
K-Value: The measurement of heat conductivity of a particular material.
Light Transmission: The percentage of visible light that passes through a sheet.
Multiwall: A polycarbonate sheet consisting of two or more layers depending on the thickness of the sheets. Flutes are formed by the vertical interior walls within the layers.
Point Fasten: A screw that is driven into wooden/metal structure by rotating, most commonly by means of a screwdriver.
Purlin: A horizontal beam that provides support for rafters.
R-Value: Measures heat gain. A higher r-value is better. To calculate the r-value take 1 and divide by the u-value.
Rafter: A series of vertical timbers, usually having a pronounced slope, used for supporting the sheathing and covering of a roof.
Shading Coefficient: The amount of heat passing through glazing (SC)
Smoke Density: The visibility through smoke when material is on fire.
Solar Heat Gain: How well heat is blocked from sunlight.
Solar Transmission: The amount of the sun's radiation that passes through glazing.
SunXP: A polycarbonate sheet that offers a higher resistance to UV radiation, yellowing, and loss of light transmission.
Thermal Expansion/Contraction: The change in sheet length per degree of temperature change.
Thermal Installation: The hallow form of multiwall sheets provides excellent insulation characteristics with heat loss significantly lower than monowall glazing materials. Also known as the U-Value.
U-Value: Measures heat loss. The amountof energy transmitted through a material per square foot of glazing and per degree temperature difference. A lower u-value is better. To calculate the u-value take the k-value and divide by 5.678.
U Channel: A polycarbonate profile used horizontally to cap off the top and bottom of a multiwall polycarbonate sheet.
Vent Tape: Tape used on the bottom end of a multiwall sheet to allow for condensation to drain and to prevent water, dust, debris, and bugs from entering the flutes.
Weep Holes: Small holes drilled into the U-Channel every 12" to allow for drainage on bottom of sheets.
Yellowing Index: The tendency of plastic to turn yellow upon long-term exposure to light.