What is the transition from Plywood to Tuffak Polycarbonate Sheet?
The transition from plywood to Tuffak Polycarbonate Sheet involves replacing traditional plywood window coverings on abandoned homes with clear, break-resistant polycarbonate sheets. This change is driven by the material's toughness and ability to provide an attractive, clear alternative to opaque plywood, as well as its benefits in fighting blight and reducing crime. For over 50 years, the plastics industry has recognized Tuffak Polycarbonate Sheets for their durability, making them ideal for replacing window glazing. Recently, cities like Phoenix and Durham have mandated or adopted this replacement to improve neighborhood aesthetics and deter squatters, allowing police to see inside vacant buildings. Polycarbonate is produced under various trade names, including Plaskolite Tuffak® GP, Covestro Makrolon®, and SABIC Lexan®, and is available in sheets, plate, slab, bar, and rod.
Recently some cities have passed ordinances to change out the plywood window coverings on abandoned homes, and they are installing clear polycarbonate sheets instead. This is a very attractive replacement, and is a big step in fighting the blight of abandoned homes.
Polycarbonate is produced under several trade names, including Plaskolite Tuffak® GP, Covestro Makrolon®, SABIC Lexan®, Cyrolon®, Zelux® and many more. These materials are available in sheets, plate, slab, bar and rod.
Read more on this material below.
Excerpt from AZCentral, The Arizona Republic:
Property owners and banks in Phoenix had begun outfitting windows with sheets of polycarbonate, a thin, nearly indestructible plastic that mirrors the appearance of glass.
And last month, the city became among the first in the U.S. to make polycarbonate windows a matter of municipal law.
Phoenix now requires all window and door openings visible from the street to be secured with the material if the structure has been unoccupied for more than 90 days. The 90-day provision is also new, replacing the previous deadline of 180 days. The measures were the result of an abandoned buildings task force that Gallego spearheaded.
Read the rest of the story, and see Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski and City Manager Ed Zuercher attempt to break a polycarbonate window in Phoenix: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2015/04/02/phoenix-fights-blight-plastic-windows/70826784/ Durham County, North Carolina also made a change:
By Taylor Knopf, tknopf@newsobserver.com
The transition from plywood to Tuffak Polycarbonate Sheet involves replacing traditional plywood window coverings on abandoned homes with clear, break-resistant polycarbonate sheets. This change is driven by the material's toughness and ability to provide an attractive, clear alternative to opaque plywood, as well as its benefits in fighting blight and reducing crime. For over 50 years, the plastics industry has recognized Tuffak Polycarbonate Sheets for their durability, making them ideal for replacing window glazing. Recently, cities like Phoenix and Durham have mandated or adopted this replacement to improve neighborhood aesthetics and deter squatters, allowing police to see inside vacant buildings. Polycarbonate is produced under various trade names, including Plaskolite Tuffak® GP, Covestro Makrolon®, and SABIC Lexan®, and is available in sheets, plate, slab, bar, and rod.
The city is working to reduce the number of abandoned houses by helping owners fix them up. But for houses that still need boarding up, the city has found that plastic not only improves the overall appearance of a neighborhood, it may reduce crime by discouraging squatters and making it easier for police to see inside vacant buildings.
“I can’t stress enough how the elimination of the boards has a tremendous positive impact on neighborhoods and communities,” said Faith Gardner, housing code administrator of the city’s department of neighborhood improvement services.
These communities have fought back against vandalism and crime, as well as enhanced the value of local homes by changing from Plywood to Clear Polycarbonate Sheets. Tuffak GP is a super tough glazing grade clear Polycarbonate Sheet material is the same kind of material that Police Officers use for face shields and banks are using for bullet resistant glazing.
The premier manufacturer of Polycarbonate Sheet in the USA is Tuffak® PG made by Plaskolite and made from Covestro® (formerly Bayer MaterialScience) resins, and they produce Tuffak® GP Polycarbonate Sheet. Polycarbonate is also available in rod and thick plate for machined parts.
Consider using Polycarbonate sheet for your next glazing material.
Topic: Plywood to Polycarbonate Sheet
