Please note that this is a scanned copy of a paper originally published in 1998, so the text and photographs are not as clear as in documents created as pdf files.

Transparent and translucent plastics materials are widely used for glazing applications, taking advantage of their good daylight transmission characteristics and their strength qualities. These properties have encouraged their use in the exterior fabric of buildings, notably as rooflights, where they are exposed to weathering.

This Digest discusses the types and applications of plastics glazing materials as well as the factors which influence their durability, especially the combination of ultraviolet light and thermal effects. It briefly mentions the use of flexible plastic films to modify light or UV transmission through new or existing glazing, or for safety reasons in case of impact damage to glass.