Solid polycarbonate sheet is the glazing workhorse for public infrastructure — railway station canopies, walkway light tunnels and school shelters where glass is too heavy and too easy to break. Jietai manufactures solid polycarbonate from 1 mm to 30 mm thick, and this one material carries three of our public-building projects: a green-tinted railway station skylight canopy, a transparent walkway light tunnel, and a blue school entrance shelter. In every case the panel replaced glass to cut structural weight, withstand impact and vandalism, and keep its clarity through years of direct sun and heavy foot traffic.
The Challenge
Public buildings put glazing through conditions that ordinary glazing rarely meets. Canopies over platforms and walkways sit in direct sun, absorb hail and falling debris, and face accidental and deliberate impact in crowded public spaces. Glass delivers light but is heavy, shatters dangerously, and needs dense, expensive steel framing. A railway operator needed a canopy that would not shatter over passengers; a school needed a shelter that children could not easily break; and a walkway needed a light-transmitting cover that could be arched on site without cracking or yellowing after seasons of exposure.
Our Solution
As a manufacturer, Jietai extrudes solid polycarbonate sheet in widths of 1220, 1560, 1820 and 2100 mm (up to 2500 mm on request), in thicknesses from 1 mm to 30 mm, and in lengths up to 12 m, with thin gauges supplied as rolls. Every sheet carries a co-extruded UV layer on the weather face that blocks the wavelengths responsible for yellowing, and the material cold-bends to a minimum radius of 150 times its thickness — the property that lets us form smooth arches for canopies without heat forming.
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.0 – 30 mm |
| Standard width | 1220 / 1560 / 1820 / 2100 mm (up to 2500 mm on request) |
| Length | 6 m standard, custom up to 12 m (rolls for thin gauges) |
| Colours | Clear, bronze, blue, green, opal, red, orange, grey, black, custom |
| UV protection | Co-extruded UV layer, single or double side |
| Light transmission | Up to 89% (clear) |
| Impact strength | 200 – 250× glass |
| Cold-bend radius | 150 × thickness |
| Fire rating | UL94 V-0 to V-2, B1 |
| Service temperature | −40°C to +120°C |
Project One — Railway Station Skylight Canopy
For the station we supplied green-tinted solid polycarbonate sheet fitted into an arched metal frame over the escalator and pedestrian channel. The green tint softens glare while still letting daylight through, and the panels are tough enough to absorb the vibration, impact and weather of a working station. Because solid polycarbonate weighs roughly half as much as glass of the same stiffness, the supporting arch stayed light and the installation finished faster without heavy lifting gear.
Project Two — Walkway Light Tunnel
For the walkway we used clear solid polycarbonate sheet cold-bent over a series of aluminium arches to form a transparent light tunnel. The panels follow the curve without heat forming, keep the path dry in rain, and let full daylight through to the ground below. A 3 mm clear sheet still stops the impact that would shatter glass, so the tunnel doubles as overhead protection for pedestrians.
Project Three — School Entrance Shelter
For the school we supplied blue solid polycarbonate sheet over the entrance canopy, chosen for a bright, child-friendly colour and impact resistance. The co-extruded UV layer keeps the blue tint from fading, and the panels stand up to the knocks and weather of daily school use. The translucent blue also casts a soft, even light over the entrance instead of the harsh glare of clear glass.
The Results
All three public-building installations now deliver bright, even natural light while cutting the weight and breakage risk of glass. Solid polycarbonate is rated at 200 to 250 times the impact strength of glass and carries a co-extruded UV layer backed by a 10 to 15 year warranty against yellowing, which keeps the canopies clear over their full service life in demanding public environments.
Why Jietai
As a manufacturer we control the whole process — from polycarbonate resin to extruded sheet — so we can match thickness, colour and UV spec to each project and ship factory-direct. Buyers who need dependable glazing for stations, walkways and public buildings come to us precisely because the sheet is made in our own factory, not traded through a middleman.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thickness of solid polycarbonate is used for public canopies?
For curved canopies and light tunnels we typically supply 2 mm to 6 mm sheet; for flat station and school roofs we use 4 mm to 10 mm. Solid polycarbonate cold-bends to a minimum radius of 150 times its thickness, so thin sheets form smooth arches without heat forming.
Is solid polycarbonate strong enough for public spaces?
Yes. Solid polycarbonate offers 200 to 250 times the impact strength of glass, so it absorbs hail, falling debris and deliberate impact without shattering into dangerous shards — the main reason it is chosen for stations, walkways and schools.
Will the colour fade after years in direct sun?
No. Every sheet carries a co-extruded UV layer on the weather face that blocks the wavelengths that cause yellowing and fading. Installed with the protected side facing the sun, coloured solid polycarbonate is backed by a 10 to 15 year warranty against colour shift.
What widths and colours are available?
Standard widths are 1220, 1560, 1820 and 2100 mm (up to 2500 mm on request), thicknesses run from 1 mm to 30 mm, and colours include clear, bronze, blue, green, opal, red, orange, grey and black.
