Before choosing a polycarbonate sheet, write down what the panel must do and how it will be installed. This worksheet turns a vague request such as “clear plastic for a roof” into a shortlist and a usable RFQ. It also shows when a PC-versus-acrylic comparison is worth making; the material name alone never settles an impact, fire or structural requirement.
1. Fill the application brief
Use the right column for your project. If a value is unknown, write “to confirm” and attach the drawing or a photo of the existing assembly.
Swipe sideways to see all columns →
| Field | What to record | Your project |
|---|---|---|
| Use and location | Guard, roof, glazing, sign, diffuser or fabricated part; indoor/outdoor; country of installation | ________________ |
| Geometry | Finished length × width, candidate thickness, support spacing, holes/slots, edge and drawing revision | ________________ |
| Mechanical exposure | Impact source, expected loads, access/safety role, abrasion or repeated cleaning | ________________ |
| Light and appearance | Clear/tinted/diffused, viewed face, target light result, LED pitch and cavity if applicable | ________________ |
| Environment | UV/weather, temperature range, moisture/condensation, chemicals and cleaning agents | ________________ |
| Compliance | Named fire, electrical, ESD or other standard; edition, rating and test thickness if specified | ________________ |
| Production | Cutting, drilling, bending, coating or printing; quantity, destination and target date | ________________ |
| Evidence to receive | Grade-specific data, original report, sample approval, drawing/inspection or batch document | ________________ |
2. Make a conditional PC shortlist
| Dominant requirement | PC family to examine first | Question before approval |
|---|---|---|
| Clear protective panel or impact screen | Solid PC; consider hard-coated PC if abrasion or cleaning is significant | What is the impact hazard and how are the panel, frame and fixings qualified together? |
| Lightweight roof or daylighting assembly | Multiwall PC or solid PC according to light, weight and support needs | What span, load, UV face, drainage and movement detail does the installed system use? |
| Visible LED dots or glare | Diffuser PC | Does a sample in the actual fixture meet the required uniformity and transmission? |
| Specified fire or ESD performance | Flame-retardant PC or ESD PC, according to the requirement | Which original report covers the quoted grade, construction, thickness and named method? |
| Persistent condensation in a viewing area | Anti-fog PC as one candidate | How will ventilation, temperature and drainage be handled in the whole assembly? |
If impact duty is low and surface appearance, stiffness or cost is driving the brief, a PC-versus-acrylic comparison may be useful. Compare proposed grades at the same thickness and under the same method. This page selects a question to test, not a winning material or a certified grade.
3. Turn the shortlist into an approval request
Example, not a product approval: A clear enclosure panel must fit a 700 × 500 mm machine opening, be replaceable, and tolerate frequent wiping. A sensible first enquiry is for solid PC, with a hard-coated option if abrasion is important. Send the hazard description, frame/fastener drawing, cleaning chemical, viewed-surface requirement, quantity and applicable machine-guard standard. Ask for the offered grade and a sample; do not select thickness from the opening size alone.
This draft stays in your browser and is not sent or saved by this page. Copy your completed text into the message field of the PC enquiry form and attach your drawing there.
After you send the brief, ask sales to name the proposed PC grade, suitable construction, sample and applicable report scope. Confirm any assembly approval or local code review separately. The written quotation should identify the offered specification, price, lead time and agreed inspection documents.
SinoPlastix can supply custom PC specifications. Price and lead time depend on grade, fabrication and order complexity; figures elsewhere on this site are averages for planning and the written quotation controls your order. Original reports for commonly requested tests are available privately from sales; check that the offered grade, thickness, specimen and method match the approval need. For the document review path, see PC test reports.
Questions buyers ask
Does this worksheet select a safe thickness for my roof or guard?
No. It collects the loads, dimensions, support and applicable standard needed for a grade and assembly review. Use the PC thickness guide to frame the question, then obtain the required project approval.
Can a photo or colour sample prove which plastic I have?
No. Appearance does not identify the polymer, grade, coating or tested performance. Ask for a named material, grade-specific data and an approval sample, especially if matching an existing sheet.
What if I need flame-retardant or ESD polycarbonate?
State the exact standard, rating, test method, product form and thickness in the RFQ. Ask sales for the applicable original report for the offered PC grade; a family label alone is not a tested result.