An acrylic column cladding wrap is a curved panel project that is usually specified for one reason: the client wants the column to disappear or to glow. Both outcomes depend on how the panel is formed and how it is fixed.
A hotel lobby refurbishment in Dubai wrapped six 900 mm columns in 8 mm clear acrylic with concealed LED uplighting. The first installation cracked at every fixing within two heating cycles.
Acrylic column cladding geometry: radius, chord and sagitta
- Radius: column radius plus 8 mm clearance
- Segment width: 900 mm developed maximum
- Sagitta check: a 450 mm chord on a 458 mm radius needs 6 mm of forming depth
- Height: 3000 mm typical, in one piece where transport allows
The sagitta is the number that decides whether a panel can be formed from flat sheet. For a chord of 450 mm on a radius of 458 mm, the forming depth is about 6 mm; a line bender handles that easily. A chord of 700 mm needs 45 mm of depth, which is a drape forming job.
Fixing without visible screws, and the joints
Most architectural specifications call for concealed fixings. The workable detail is a top and bottom rail, with the panel clipped or bonded to a bracket, and only one edge fixed. Where a fixing must show, use a countersunk screw with a polished acrylic plug, not a self-tapper.
Joints between segments are the visual signature of the scheme. A 3 mm open joint reads as a deliberate line and allows movement. A butt joint with sealant reads as a crack after the first season.
Fire is a project question, not a panel question. Acrylic is combustible, and a lobby column is often in a protected space. Where the specification requires a class, the argument has to be settled before the panels are formed, not after.
For the light detail behind a clear wrap, the fabrication overlaps with acrylic facade cladding, which covers panel joints on large elevations, and with custom size acrylic sheets for the tall single-piece options.
Cleaning a wrapped column is straightforward as long as the agent is neutral. The cleaning and maintenance guide covers what is safe on a clear panel.
Send the column diameter, height and finish to oversales@rpplexiglass.com for a cladding panel quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is acrylic cladding formed around a column?
Panels are line-bent or drape-formed to a radius 5 to 10 mm larger than the column, then fitted as two or three segments with a joint at the least visible angle. A full 360 degree single panel is not practical above about 600 mm diameter.
How many segments does a round column need?
Two for diameters up to 500 mm, three or four above that. Each segment must be under about 900 mm developed width, or the forming and the transport become unreliable.
Do acrylic column wraps need expansion gaps?
Yes. A 3 m high panel moves about 4 mm over a 40 degree swing. Leave a 3 mm joint between segments and fix only one edge of each panel, so the others can slide.