A polycarbonate welding screen stops sparks reaching the next bay and stops a passer-by watching an arc from close range. It is a barrier with a tint, and it is not eye protection for the welder.
A fabrication shop in Birmingham hung 3 mm clear screens between bays. Two months later the screens were opaque where spatter had embedded in the surface, and the draught from the extraction system had worked the panels loose in their frames.
Polycarbonate welding screen gauge and tint
- Curtain screen: 3 mm, replaceable
- Fixed bay panel: 5 to 6 mm
- Tint: bronze or grey, 30 to 50 percent transmission
- Frame spacing: 1200 mm maximum, gasketed
The tint is for the people outside the bay. A clear screen transmits the arc flash straight through and bystanders get the full glare; a 30 to 50 percent tint cuts it while keeping the bay visible from the walkway.
Frame, spatter and fire behaviour
Frame spacing decides whether a screen sags. A 3 mm panel on a 1800 mm frame will bow under its own weight and the arc heat; two frames at 900 mm keep it flat and make the panel easier to replace when the surface is spent.
Spatter embedment is unavoidable, which is why bay screens are consumables. A replaceable frame-mounted panel costs far less over five years than polishing a scorched surface that never comes clean.
For a cell rather than a bay, the fixed-panel approach is described in machine safety guards.
Send your bay dimensions, process type and frame layout to oversales@rpplexiglass.com for a screen quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thickness polycarbonate welding screen?
3 mm for a curtain-style screen in a light bay, 5 to 6 mm for fixed panels in a production area. The thickness resists spark impact and stops the panel flapping in a draught.
Does polycarbonate block welding UV?
Bare polycarbonate blocks most UV-B and UV-C but is not a welding filter. Anyone looking at the arc needs proper eye protection; the screen protects bystanders from sparks and stray light, not from the arc itself.
Is polycarbonate suitable near hot work?
It softens around 145 C, so it is fine for sparks and spatter but not for a panel in contact with hot metal. Ask for a grade with a documented fire performance and keep the screen 300 mm clear of the work.