Perspex

[nuttycam]

Hi All

Im hoping someone can help or give me an idea!

We are moving to a converted appartment that used to be a mill. Our appartment is the top floor and has exposed gabeled style roof with beam work showing. Instead of each room having divisons there are sheets of perspex between the top of each room and the gabel roof, which let the light flow to each room.

The problem is that the perspex looks terible and is so easliy marked and attracts dirt. We are trying to find an alternative or something that can be put on it to prevent dust sticking to it and also to prevent it from being marked/scraped.

Unfortunately we cannot use glass as its to heavy / dangerous.

Any suggestions?

[dom]

Sounds like a fancy pad, so it's likely you can afford a good solution. I would go for glass, and use something like 6.4mm laminated glass. I find it hard to believe that the walls couldn't take the weight - unless they're surplus props from Crossroads. If the walls don't wobble when you close the doors it's likely they could take quite a lot of weight, and none of the plastic glazing substitutes is as clear and rigid as glass. Laminated glass is very safe and difficult to crack. A brick thrown at it might crack it (in fact it's designed for security to take that sort of attack), but the glass would remain in place like a car windscreen - actually pushing a piece out is much harder.

[Mr Alun Davies]

Ask at K2 plastics for replacement sheets of Perspex or Acrylic. K2

01279 508305 6 Haselmere Industrial Estate Pig Lane, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3HG

[Dave H.]

ever survive a fire - perspex fumes are way more dangerous (acrylic acid etc.), and it's actually barred from use in habitable buildings for that reason.

Dave H. (The engineer formerly known as Homeless)

[1] poly methyl methacrylate, to use the generic name.

[Mr Alun Davies]

"Dave H." >

> Please don't use perspex[1] or acrylic, use polycarbonate if you hope to

Then why has the OP got it already ?

I understand the significance of the problems with smoke inhalation etc and dripping plastic in a fire, but if it's gone to that temperature I reckon there will be more to worry about apart from fumes from the plastics

[nightjar]

My guess would be that he hasn't, but used the name of a transparent plastic he knew. It sounds more like polystyrene to me.

Colin Bignell

[Guy King]

The message from "nuttycam" contains these words:

It's not that much heavier than perspex in the amounts you're talking about - if I understand you correctly. As for dangerous - get it toughened.

[Guy King]

The message from "Mr Alun Davies" contains these words:

Because someone didn't apply the rules or it predates them or it isn't actually Perspex, I should expect.

[Owain]

And mean that one person's night-time reading keeps others awake?

Comments about the fire performance of various plastics aside, I don't think any plastic (even polycarbonate - I have polycarbonate windows[1] in the close) is as scratch-resistent as glass.

If you must use plastic then I suggest one with a textured finish. Although this will hold the dust more than flat glass, it will show it and scratches much less. Also consider a lightly smoked tint rather than clear. Use an anti-static cleaning spray[2] on it when it goes up, and it should be easier to clean with a fluffy-caterpillar-on-a-pole duster. An ioniser may also help to drop dust out of the air.

Owain

[1] Spate of stone-throwing - It was cheaper paying for polycarbonate windows once than glass windows every couple of weeks. [2] Somewhere like RS should have them suitable for plastics.

[Peter Parry]

On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 16:46:34 GMT, "Dave H." ever survive a fire

By the sound of it that's what he has. Tough as old boots and about as attractive. Scratches as soon as you look at it and attracts dirt like flies to a corpse.

Brilliant stuff for riot shields.

[nightjar]

Neither being my experience of using it for clean room vision panels.

Colin Bignell

[Guy King]

The message from "nightjar" contains these words:

Well, it's hardly likely to attract dirt in a clean room, is it!

[nightjar]

Only one side is in the clean room, while the other side has been wiped down daily, for a period of 16 years, without getting scratched.

Colin Bignell

[nuttycam]

Thanks all for your replys, some good ideas there.