16mm Polycarbonate Sheets
16mm polycarbonate sheets are the most popular for car ports and canopies and other larger structures. 16mm polycarbonate sheet is more rigid than 10mm. This allows for wider spans between your glazing bars. They are well suited to rafter glazing bars or self support glazing bars. These 16mm triple wall polycarbonate roof sheets are also a really cost effective alternative to 25mm for smaller, unheated conservatories. They are really useful in any areas where you may need lower levels of thermal insulation. The 16mm triplewall structure has high impact resistance and a built-in layer of UV protection. This results in durability and colour stability. Available in Clear, Opal or Bronze 16mm polycarbonate sheets from The Glazing Shop come with a ten year warranty.
FREE CUT TO SIZE SERVICE on all 16mm polycarbonate - saving you the job of cutting on site.
November Savings! - get a 10% discount off all rafter glazing bars through the whole of November when you buy your polycarbonate from us. Just use the discount code RAFTERBAR10 at the checkout.
Please choose your colour then input the length and width you require below :
16mm Polycarbonate Sheets - Triple-wall
The 16mm polycarbonate sheets from the Glazing Shop have a triplewall structure. This makes them high impact resistant whilst still being light weight and easy to handle. The sheets are cut to size for your convenience and are taped at both ends making them ready for you to install. 16mm polycarbonate sheet has fine optical clarity and excellent fire resistance. 16mm Polycarbonate roof sheets are very strong. As a result they perform well against vandalism & accidental damage. In addition our 16mm polycarbonate is made with a built in layer of UV protection. This protects it from the effects of the sun's UV rays. As a consequence this UV absorbing layer protects the polycarbonate sheet from discolouration. It aso prevents brittleness, giving it a very long life.
16mm polycarbonate roofing sheets offer some level of thermal insulation. However, if this is a real priority like in a conservatory, then 25mm or 35mm would perform better in this respect. Further details on 16mm polycarbonate sheet properties can be found in the information table below. 16mm polycarbonate sheets offer larger spanning opportunities between glazing bars than the lower priced 10mm twinwall sheets. This results in the need for less glazing bars. We recommend the sheets are a maximum of 900mm width between supports. 16mm polycarbonate is therefore an excellent middle choice that is cost effective and performs well in the right applications. 16mm polycarbonate from The Glazing shop is available in clear, opal or bronze tints. It comes with a 10 year warranty.
Main Benefits of 16mm polycarbonate sheets
. Allows high levels of natural light
. Light weight
. Easier to handle than glass
. Provides some thermal insulation
. Impact & damage resistant
. Has a longlife
. UV protected
. Fire resistance - Class 1 surface spread of flame when tested to BS476 Part 7
. 10 year guarantee
. Is compatible with the majority of glazing systems
Applications of 16mm Triplewall Polycarbonate
. Some unheated Conservatories
. The most popular choice for Canopies and Carports
. Covered Walkways
. Pergolas
Colour Options for 16mm polycarbonate
Tints: Clear, Opal, Bronze
Glazing bars for 16mm twin wall polycarbonate panels
Once you get to a sheet thickness of 16mm you have a choice of whether to use self-support glazing bars or rafter supported ones for your Lean to roof. Rafter bars need to be supported by wooden rafters and are screwed into these along the length of the bar. Self-support roof systems do not need rafters and are fixed to the eaves beam at the front of the roof and the wall plate at the back.
We have a wide range of rafter bars well suited to 16mm polycarbonate. We supply PVC capped and aluminium capped rafter glazing bars in a range of colours and lengths.
We also have a full suite of self-support glazing bars and all the other profiles needed to build a self-supported lean to roof.
Details of our full range of glazing bars.
Extra parts needed for a 16mm triple wall polycarbonate roof
For a rafter supported roof you will need your rafter bars as described above with either PVC or aluminium capping. Your roof will begin and end with a glazing bar and you will have additional joiner bars between your sheets. With PVC capped bars you will add a 16mm universal edge trim to create your end bars and with aluminium capped bars this will be an 16mm aluminium F section. These trims will neatly cloak off the ends of your roof and balance up the empty outside of the bar where there is no glazing. Finally a sheet end closure is needed to cover the anti-dust tape at the bottom of your sheets, this will stop moisture getting into them. These are available in white & brown or anthracite grey.
For a self support lean to roof you will first need your glazing bars. Self support end bars will be used for the left and right hand sides of your roof and main bars will be needed between each sheet to join them together. You will have a wallplate at the back, high end of the roof and an eaves beam for the lower, front end of the roof where your gutter will be attached. You will need sheet end closures to enclose the bottom ends of the polycarbonate sheets. These go on top of the anti-dust tape and prevent moisture from getting into the flutes of the sheets. If you will be cutting your sheets down further on site you will need additional anti-dust tape to retape them.
For extra information about all of the thicknesses of structured polycarbonate, their colours, applications and prices, or to place an order have a look at polycarbonate sheets pages. Alternatively have a look at our Polycarbonate Buyers guide.
Should you have any questions or need any help at all please call us on 01536 446395 and we will be very happy to help you.
16mm Polycarbonate Technical Information Summary
| 16mm Polycarbonate Sheet Thickness | |||
| Clear | Opal | Bronze | |
| U-Value | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Light Transmission | 76% | 48% | 35% |
| Weight (kg per sqm) | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 |
Sheet Structure:
16mm Triple wall with the flutes running down the length of the sheet
Flammability:
BS476/7: Class 1
UV Protection:
Yes on the top surface – the sheet must be installed the correct way up – the side with the print on the protective film goes upwards, when print is on both sides, one will say which side is the top.
Cutting Tolerance:
Length & Width: +/-5mm
Warranty:
10 years manufacturers limited warranty
Additional Manufacturers information
Please open or download the following pdfs
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Frequently Asked questions
What does 16mm ‘triple wall’ polycarbonate mean?
16mm triple wall polycarbonate is a structured sheet which means it is made up of three walls and the cavities between them otherwise known as flutes. This structure makes it light weight and easy to handle. Triple wall polycarbonate is very hard wearing and widely used as a roofing sheet in canopy roofs, carport roofs and in some smaller or unheated conservatories.
Which are the length and width of a twin wall sheet?
The length follows the lines of the flutes down the sheets and the width is across them. The maximum sheet length is 7m and the maximum width is 2.1m. We offer a full cut to size service for all of our 16mm twinwall polycarbonate sheets to save you cutting them on site. This is completely free of charge so you only pay for what you need.
Which way up does my 16mm polycarbonate sheeting go?
Polycarbonate sheets are delivered with a removable protective film which covers both surfaces. The top side of the sheet has co-extruded UV protection so the sheet must be installed the right way up. Generally, only one side of the sheet will have writing on it and that is the top of the sheet that will face the sky. If there is writing on both sides look for the writing that says, 'this side up'.
Do the ends of the sheets need to be taped?
Yes, the open ends of 16mm polycarbonate sheets always need to be taped to prevent dust and insects penetrating the flutes of the sheet. We tape the sheets for you at no extra cost. If you will cut them down on site you will need to purchase anti-dust tape to retape them prior to installation.
What colour of 16mm polycarbonate sheet should I choose?
16mm polycarbonate is available in clear, opal and bronze tints.
16mm clear polycarbonate is the best-selling in the range. Clear triple wall polycarbonate allows plenty of light to shine through, with a 76% light transmission. Whilst this sheet colour will allow light through and will not darken the area, it will show up any debris that might build up so will need more routine maintenance.
Opal 16mm triple wall polycarbonate is translucent and has a diffused white look. With a light transmission of 48%, the light through it is softer and it offers a bit of shade. The translucency offers privacy, obscuring the view through it e.g. in a canopy overlooked by a neighbour. Opal polycarbonate is also very good at obscuring the view from beneath of any leaves, moss or debris that may build up on your roof.
Bronze 16mm polycarbonate has a bronze / brown tint to it. This colour is often matched up with brown glazing bars and accessories. Also, a popular choice for covering natural wooden structures or to tie in with brown windows etc. on your home. With a light transmission of 35% bronze polycarbonate will give the most shade of the three colours. It is an excellent choice in areas where you want less sunlight and heat to get through. You would not use bronze 16mm polycarbonate on a canopy directly outside of an internal room without sacrificing light.
Is 16mm polycarbonate sheet a good thickness for my project?
16mm polycarbonate is ideal for roofing canopies and carports. It is still very cost effective, light weight and easy to handle but allows for bigger centres between the glazing bars than 10mm. With 16mm sheets you can have centres up to 900mm on a rafter supported roof – you will, however, need to be guided by the bar structural guidelines for a self-supported roof. You can also use 16mm polycarbonate for a small unheated conservatory. It will not give the same level of thermal insulation as thicker 25mm & 35mm sheets. These thicknesses are much more suited for larger heated conservatories.
The Glazing shop sells cheap 16mm polycarbonate sheets - does that mean they are low quality?
Not at all! Our 16mm polycarbonate sheets are of the highest quality. We simply have excellent buying power due to the amounts that we sell. All our polycarbonate sheets have a 10-year manufacturer’s limited warranty and would be expected to have an even longer life when properly maintained.
Is there a warranty with 16mm polycarbonate from the Glazing shop?
Absolutely, all the polycarbonate sheets from the Glazing shop have a 10-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
If you have any other queries that aren't answered here, please give us a call on 01536 446395 and we will be happy to help you.