FAQ

General

What is polycarbonate?

The term Polycarbonate describes a polymer which is composed of many (“poly”) identical units of bisphenol A connected by carbonate-linkages in its backbone chain. Chemically, a carbonate group is a di-ester of carbonic acid, the result of which is a polymeric chain. Polycarbonate is transformed into the required shape by melting it and forcing it under pressure into a mould or die. There are two dominant processes involved in making products from polycarbonate:

Extrusion : The polymer melt is continuously pressed through an orifice called a “die”, which gives the molten polymer its final shape. This process makes it possible to create infinitely long pipes, profiles or sheets.

What thickness should I use?

The correct thickness will be determined by your application and loading requirements.  Width, length, and structure of panel all impact loads and bending capabilities.  Please refer to loading charts in the PoliCarb® and arcoPlus® sections of the website.

Does polycarbonate yellow?

Gallina’s PoliCarb® and arcoPlus® products are all UV-coated on at least one side to prevent the sun’s harmful UV rays from damaging or discoloring our polycarbonate sheets and panels.  See our 10 year warranty for more details.

Can Gallina’s multiwall polycarbonate panels be used for radius applications?

One of the unique characteristics of polycarbonate that makes it a preferred material over glass is that it can be cold bent for arched applications.  Panel thickness and structure design will impact the extent of radius bending.  Click here to go to the bending capabilities.

What do I clean Gallina’s PoliCarb® and arcoPlus® panels with?

GALLINA panels should be protected from abrasion by the installer. After installation, panels should be washed with mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water using only a clean sponge or soft cloth, then rinsed with clean water.  Fresh paint, grease, and smeared glazing compounds maybe removed before drying by rubbing lightly with a good grade of naphtha or isopropyl alcohol followed by a final wash with mild soap or detergent and final rinse.

Click here to read more…

What do I use to cut Gallina’s Policarb® and arcoPlus® panels?

Use a circular saw with plywood blade or jig saw with fine tooth blade. This produces clean, even cut. Cut sheet before taking off film, or static charge will attract fine chips to channels. Remove any fine shavings or chips prior to installation. Condensation moving through layers continues cleaning channels, but get clean as possible. Leave film on sheet until ready to install, remove in an area free from dust. Thinner sheets may be cut with a utility knife using a clamp and secured straight edge to ensure an accurate, straight cut.

Can I use polycarbonate on an angled or straight roof?

It is recommended that polycarbonate be used on slopes no less than 5 degrees.

Will Gallina USA work with me on drawings and make recommendations?

Yes, Gallina has a trained staff and resident architect available to work with you and your plans to make recommendations for all your polycarbonate building needs.  We are also supported by our other manufacturing facilities and their staffs to ensure that all your questions are answered.

top

Technical

Does condensation affect the performance of polycarbonate sheet?

In common with many glazing materials polycarbonate sheets can develop condensation as a result of environmental factors. It does not affect the performance of solid or multiwall polycarbonate sheets; the effects are purely visual and normally temporary. At all stages of the handling, transporting and installation of multiwall sheets care should be taken to minimize the amount of moisture entering the sheet flutes.

 

Please click here for Multiwall Polycarbonate & Condensation PDF

top

Website Support

Is my site the most recent version?

On occasion a computer that you have previously viewed a site on, will retain a copy of the old visited site on the computer to aid in speeding up load times. When your browser does this, it can “forget” to check for a new version of the same page online. To make sure you are viewing the most current version click on the link below and follow the steps to clear out any old files your computer might be retaining.

Your internet browser’s cache stores certain information about webpages you visit, so that they’ll load more quickly in the future. Here are instructions with screenshots on how to clear the cache for all major browsers.

Select Your Browser Below:

Steps

Choose what to deleteInternet Explorer 9

  1. Once your browser is open, click the gear at the top right to open the settings menu. Then, select Safety and Delete Browsing History… Or, optionally you may simply press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the Delete Browsing History window.
  2. Select Temporary Internet Files. You will also need to uncheck all of the other boxes, especially Preserve Favorites website data. This option makes the window also delete objects from websites in your Favorites folder, which is necessary to completely clear your cache.
  3. Click the Delete button near the bottom of the window to perform the operations (i.e. clear your cache by deleting temporary files).
  4. Your computer will work for a moment, and then the process will be complete. You’ve successfully cleared Internet Explorer 9’s Cache!

Internet Explorer 8

  1. Once your browser is open, click the Tools menu. Or, optionally you may simply press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the Delete Browsing History window (and skip step 2)
  2. Click on Delete Browsing History…
  3. Select Temporary Internet Files.
  4. Click the Delete button near the bottom of the window to delete your temporary files (i.e. clear your cache).
  5. If you want the browser to automatically clear the cache whenever you close it, click the Advanced tab. Click to check the box next to the Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed option (in the section labeled Security). Click OK. This will delete everything except cookies.
    • Note: IE8 has a “feature” which retains some cookies even after you clear your cache if you do not UNCHECK the “Preserve Favorites Website Data.” If you truly need to clear your cache, you will want to uncheck this!

Internet Explorer 7

  1. Open IE 7 and click the Tools menu. Click the Delete Browsing History link at the top.
  2. Under the Temporary Internet Files heading, click Delete files…
  3. Click Yes when you see the prompt asking if you are sure you want to delete all temporary files.
  4. Alternatively, clear your cache for just the current page you’re visiting. Press and hold [Ctrl] on your keyboard, then Press [F5] or click on the Refresh button (square button on the toolbar with opposite-facing arrows).

Select 'Cache'Firefox 4.0 / 5.0 / 6.0 +

  1. Click the Firefox menu in the top left corner. Next, select the right arrow next to History >, and click Clear Recent History (or click on Tools then Clear Recent History if you don’t have the Firefox Menu) Or, you can press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the recent history window.
  2. Make sure ‘Details’ is expanded, then select Cache from the list. Uncheck everything else.
  3. In the Time Range to Clear: drop down, select Everything.
  4. Select Clear Now.
  5. Your computer will work for a moment, and the process will be complete. You’ve successfully cleared Firefox’s Cache!

Firefox 3.5 / 3.6

  1. Click the Tools menu, then select Clear Recent History.
    Note: If you don’t see the Tools menu, hold down the Alt key then press the T key to access Tools.
  2. Choose the time range of cache you’d like to clear.
  3. Click on Details and make sure Cache is checked.
  4. Select Clear Now.

Firefox 1.5 / 2.0 / 3.0

Below is the full method, although it is possible to simply go to Tools, and select Clear Private Data.

  1. Go to Tools and select Options… (on Linux, go to Edit then Preferences).
  2. Go to the Privacy tab and click the Settings button.
  3. Make sure Cache is checked on the list of options to clear.
  4. Return to the Options menu and click the Clear Now button.

Firefox 1.0

  1. Click the Tools menu and select Options (on Linux, go to Edit then Preferences).
  2. Click the Privacy button and select the Cache tab.
  3. Click the Clear Cache Now button.

Check 'Empty the Cache'Chrome v10 +

  1. Once your browser is open, select the Wrench icon (the settings menu, located in the upper-right corner) then, Tools, and Clear Browsing Data…. You can also access the Delete Browsing History window by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete, or clicking on this link: [chrome://settings/clearBrowserData].
  2. Select the Empty the cache check-box. Uncheck everything else to avoid deleting data unintentionally.
  3. In the Obliterate the following items from: dropdown menu, select the beginning of time.
  4. Click the Clear Browsing Data button. Chrome will work for a moment, and then the process will be done. You’ve successfully cleared Chrome’s Cache!

Chrome v1 – v9

  1. Once your browser is open, select the Tools menu (the wrench in the upper-right corner) and select Options (Preferences on Mac).
  2. On the Under the Hood tab, click the Clear Browsing data… button.
  3. Select the Empty the cache check-box.
  4. You can also choose the period of time you wish to delete cached information using the Clear data from this period dropdown menu.
  5. Click the Clear Browsing Data button.

Safari for Mac OS X

  1. Once your browser is open, click the Safari menu and select Empty Cache….
  2. Click Empty.

Safari for Windows

  1. Once your browser is open, click the Edit menu and select Empty Cache….
  2. Click Empty.

Mobile Safari

  1. Click on Settings from the home page.
  2. Scroll down until you see “Safari.” Click on it to bring up the option page.
  3. Click “Clear Cookies and Data.”A popup box will appear. Click “Clear Cookies and Data” again to confirm your choice.

Opera

  1. Once your browser is open, select the settings menu and click delete private data.
  2. Click the details button.
  3. If you do not wish to delete cookies, saved passwords, etc., remove checks from them in the list.
  4. Press delete.
  5. If you are using the browser, go to History (accessible from the start page (press start button) & extended toolbar) and touch Delete All.
  6. Then go to the start page again and touch Settings.
  7. Then scroll down until you find Delete Cookies and touch that.

Mozilla SeaMonkey

  1. Once your browser is open, click the Edit menu and select Preferences.
  2. In the left-side list, open the Advanced node and select Cache.
  3. Click the Clear Cache button.

Konqueror

  1. Once your browser is open, click the Settings menu and select Configure Konqueror.
  2. Scroll down in the list of images and select Cache.
  3. Click Clear Cache.

iPhone

  1. Click on Settings from the home page.
  2. Scroll down until you see “Safari.” Click on it to bring up the option page.
  3. Click “Clear Cookies and Data.”A popup box will appear. Click “Clear Cookies and Data” again to confirm your choice.

Android

  1. Open the browser.
  2. Hit the Menu Key.
  3. Click on the “More Options” button.
  4. Click on “Settings” 
  5. Hit “Clear Cache.” You’ll then be presented with a verification menu. Hit “Okay” or “Clear Cache” again (depending on the version of your phone) to complete the process.

 

Warnings

 

Tips

  • If you wish, you can disable the cache entirely in your browser’s options panel by choosing the ‘do not remember history’ option or simply browse incognito. The cache is used to speed up access to websites by loading data from the local memory rather than downloading it, however you probably will not notice a difference from a high-speed internet connection.
  • You may also want to clear your browser’s cookies.
  • You can use Portable Firefox from a USB flash drive, which will store the data (cache, cookies, etc.) on the portable device, rather than your computer’s hard drive.
top
© Copyright - *Gallina USA* - Hosted and Programmed by anARTIST unleashed