Handling instructions

Storage of the sheets

Weathering, such as heat, UV light and high atmospheric humidity can affect the properties of the masking films made of polyethylene after a short time. Depending on the type of film it could be embrittlement or problem by removing. Therefore, it is recommended to store HIGHLUX® sheets indoor with the ends sealed under temperature 15-20 °C ideally. HIGHLUX® sheets should be covered or protected from UV light, for example with PE films.

Expansion

HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets expand due to heat and moisture. A general allowance is therefore to be made of approx. 6mm/m for HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets. The sheets must not be allowed to slip out of the profiles due to shrinkage and must be able to expand freely to exclude damage by buckling.

Roof Pitch

Roofs glazed with HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets should have a roof pitch of at least 5° (= 90 mm/m) to allow rainwater to flow off safely. As a general rule, the greater the roof pitch, the better the roof can be cleaned by the rain. Sheets installed as roofing material must be installed with their webs in the direction of the slope, i.e. of the water flow. Avoid transverse butts and use sheets of roof length wherever possible. Otherwise, design the supporting structure in such a way that two roof sections are obtained that overlap at a distance.

Preventing heat buildup

The supporting structure should be non-warping and consist of laminated timber beams or metal. Dark surfaces heat up to a greater extent and faster than light-colored surfaces. It is therefore very important to provide all structural surfaces facing the sheets with a durable white or reflective coating (e.g. light-resistant emulsion paint). The heat-protective coating must be allowed to dry properly before installing the sheets. If dark-colored metal structures are used, the surfaces facing the sheets should also be light in color (this can be done by sanding, coating etc.). Supporting structures treated with wood varnish or paints should be allowed to air for several weeks before installing the multi-skin sheets.

Cutting to size

High-speed circular (hand)saws with unset, multi-tooth carbide-tipped blades are most suitable for cutting HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets to size. We advise against the use of cutting disks to avoid possible damage to the sheets.

Drilling

We do not recommend drilling holes in the sheets, as this method of fixing acrylic multi-skin sheets can be problematic.
If drill holes are required, e.g. for cutting out corners, use twist drills with special bits for acrylic (the main cutting edges are ground so that the material is scraped rather than cut), conical or step drills.

Sealing the ends

HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets are permeable to water vapor. Condensation may occur within the chambers. If the open ends of the multi-skin sheets are not protected on delivery by suitable end closure sections that prevent dirt, water and insects etc. from entering the cavities, they must be sealed before installation. A simple but very important rule applies for closing the open ends of the sheets: they should be sealed as tightly as possible at the top (Aluminium End Closure Section + adhesive aluminium tape) and as tightly as necessary at the bottom (only Aluminium End Closure Section).

Walking on the sheets

It is often unavoidable to walk on the roof when installing the sheets and glazing bars. Roofing with HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets should only be walked over by means of crawling boards that are at least 50cm wide. These protect the sheet and comply with occupational safety standards. Placing a non-slip blanket or such between the HIGHLUX® sheet and the board protects the sheet from scratching.

Removing the masking film

You should leave the masking film on the HIGHLUX® sheet during processing and installation to protect the material from scratching. This film must be removed immediately after installation, as it becomes difficult to remove if left in place too long.

To remove the masking film, first loosen the film at each corner. Then carefully pull the film from the corners toward the middle of the sheet, forming a kind of pouch. This has the advantage that most of the dirt and dust remain on the film and so do not soil the material. Finally, pull the film off the sheet completely.

NO DROP coating

The NO DROP coating is to be installed on the outside of the roof. The patented technology prevents water droplets from forming on the surface of the sheet and reducing light transmission. The water-spreading NO DROP coating causes any surface water to melt into a thin film of water. This helps to support roof cleaning by rainwater.

Activating the NO DROP layers

The NO DROP coating is covered by a protective coating applied during production. The functional layer of HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets with the NO DROP coating needs to be activated.
This is done by rain, but it is better to wash down the sheets with water straight after installation.

20-year guarantee

When new, HIGHLUX® multi-skin sheets achieve a light transmission of up to 88 percent. After 20 years, this value is reduced by a maximum of 4 percent. The light transmission is measured in accordance with DIN 5036, Part 3, illuminant τ D65.

Recycling HIGHLUX® sheets

HIGHLUX® products can be easily recycled without any problems. The material is not special waste and can be easily recycled by the end users through national waste disposal companies or in household waste. Alternatively, specialist disposal companies can reintegrate all HIGHLUX® cuttings generated during processing by specialist processors into a useful cycle. That is because HIGHLUX® sheets can easily be recycled and, with suitable processes, even be broken down into their original components to create new HIGHLUX® products.

Recycling masking films

HIGHLUX® masking films are usually made from polyethylene (PE), unless explicitly stated otherwise in the product description. PE films are easy to recycle, provided they are carefully separated from other types of plastic. Where recycling is not possible, the masking films can be disposed of harmlessly in a household waste incineration plant or in landfill.¹⁾

¹⁾ PE can be landfilled “without harm” to the environment because it decomposes within a foreseeable period upon exposure to the weather, giving rise to non-toxic oxidation products.

Service Side

The color of colored extruded sheet including white sheets may vary slightly from batch to batch. The reverse side of translucent or opaque colored sheets may differ slightly from the controlled “Service Side”, which is printed.