Project Overview
Large-span roofs and enclosures need a glazing material that combines high light transmission, reliable waterproofing and the structural strength to cover wide bays without intermediate supports. Jietai recently supplied U-Lock polycarbonate panels for two very different projects — a factory daylighting roof and a municipal swimming pool enclosure — both of which rely on the same locking-ridge system to stay dry, bright and low-maintenance year after year.
The U-Lock Polycarbonate System is a hollow-structured, interlocking glazing panel designed specifically for big roofing and skylight applications. Unlike ordinary multiwall sheets that depend on sealant and cover profiles, U-Lock panels snap together along a U-shaped ridge, forming a continuous, leak-resistant surface that carries wind, snow and maintenance loads efficiently.
The Challenge
Both projects came with demanding requirements. The factory roof spans a wide bay where the owner wanted maximum natural daylight to cut daytime lighting costs, yet the roof still had to stay watertight through heavy rain and daily thermal expansion. The swimming pool, meanwhile, is a permanently humid, chlorine-rich environment — the glazing had to resist condensation and corrosion while flooding the pool hall with soft, glare-free natural light.
Our Solution
For the factory we supplied 16 mm U-Lock panels in the 1040 mm wide format with a double-hook profile and a co-extruded UV protection layer on both faces. The wide panel reduces the number of joints, and the double-hook ridge locks each sheet to its neighbour so fewer fasteners penetrate the surface and fewer leak points remain. The arched daylighting section was set on aluminium purlins with EPDM gaskets, letting the roof flex with temperature changes without stressing the sheets.
For the pool enclosure we recommended the same locking system in a lighter 10–12 mm gauge. The hollow multi-cell structure traps an insulating air layer that slows heat loss in winter and limits condensation on the water side, while the translucent surface diffuses daylight so swimmers are never dazzled.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Available Range |
|---|---|
| Panel width | 600 mm (narrow) / 1040 mm (wide, most common) |
| Thickness | 6–40 mm (16 mm and 20 mm are typical for large spans) |
| Length | 6 m standard, custom 1–30 m |
| Structure | Hollow U-lock ridge, single-hook or double-hook |
| Colors | Clear, opal, bronze, lake blue, grass green, grey |
| UV protection | Co-extruded on both faces |
| System accessories | Aluminium U-channel, I-beam and cover caps, EPDM gaskets |
Results
Both installations went up quickly thanks to the snap-together ridge: fewer fixings and no on-site sealing mean a faster, cleaner build. The factory owner now runs the daytime shift largely on natural light, and the pool hall stays bright and condensation-free through summer and winter alike. The same system has been repeated across further applications — carports, walkway canopies, skylights and sports halls — because the weather-tight joint and wide-panel format suit any large-span daylighting job.
Applications
Beyond factories and pool enclosures, U-Lock polycarbonate roofing is widely used for sports halls, skylights, ecological restaurants, greenhouses and station canopies. Its 1040 mm wide, 16–30 mm thick panels handle the biggest spans, while the 600 mm format suits smaller canopies, walkway covers and facade grids.
Why Jietai
As a specialist supplier of polycarbonate glazing, Jietai offers the full U-Lock range in both 600 mm and 1040 mm widths and thicknesses from 6 mm up to 40 mm, cut to any length you need. We help you match the panel grade, hook profile and aluminium system to your span, snow load and budget, and we ship in standard 6 m lengths or arrange longer runs where the design requires them. Contact our team for a quote and a sample — we will walk you through the right specification for your next roofing project.
