A polycarbonate fence panel solves a boundary problem that timber and glass both handle badly: it keeps sight lines open, does not rot, and does not shatter into the garden when a branch lands on it.
A homeowner in Auckland wanted a 14 m clear boundary so the garden stayed visible. The panels were 8 mm on 1 m posts at 1500 mm high, and the exposed position meant the first winter tested the fixing rather than the sheet.
Polycarbonate fence panel gauge and post spacing
- Panel to 1200 mm: 6 mm, posts at 1000 mm
- Panel to 1800 mm: 8 to 10 mm, posts at 1000 mm
- Fix: perimeter frame or channels, not edge bolts
- Expansion: 3 mm per metre allowed at each end
Post spacing is the wind load answer. A 1800 mm panel spanning 1500 mm between posts deflects visibly in a gust and fatigues the frame over a few seasons; at 1000 mm spacing it stays rigid.
Framing, expansion and the UV layer
A perimeter frame gives the panel continuous support and hides the edge, which is where a clear fence looks unfinished. Edge bolts alone put a point load on a 6 mm section and crack in the first cold snap.
Thermal expansion is small but real: 3 mm per metre over a 40 C swing. A panel cut exactly to the opening will bow or crack at the ends, which is why a clear 3 mm allowance at each end is part of the drawing.
For the roof and canopy version of this structural logic, see polycarbonate canopy sheets.
Send your boundary length, height and local wind exposure to oversales@rpplexiglass.com for a fence panel quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thickness polycarbonate fence panel?
6 mm for panels up to 1200 mm high with posts at 1 m, 8 to 10 mm for 1800 mm panels. Wind load, not height alone, drives the gauge on an exposed boundary.
Will a clear fence panel go yellow?
Not with a co-extruded UV cap layer, which is standard on exterior grades. An unprotected panel yellows within three to five years in strong sun and cannot be restored.
How should a fence panel be fixed?
In a perimeter frame or a top and bottom channel, never by edge bolts alone. Bolting through the edge puts load on the weakest part of the sheet and cracks start at the hole.