Innovative Makrolon^® multi UV wall sheet from Bayer Sheet Europe brightens up new A380 hangar and resists strong winds and hail

Darmstadt, October 27, 2008. Gigantic window panels made of the 4-wall sheet Makrolon^® multi UV 4/10-6 provide bright, glare-free and natural lighting in the new maintenance hangar of the A380 aircraft at Frankfurt Airport. The special sheet geometry also guarantees high load-bearing capacity and resistance against wind, hail, and snow load. Together with the distinctive design of the roof, the transparent Makrolon^® window panels give this impressive industrial structure its special look.

The size of the A380 surpasses all other aircrafts so the hangar where it receives its preflight checkup also has huge dimensions. With a size of 180 x 140 meters, the hangar is as big as two soccer fields and the largest aircraft maintenance hangar in Europe. Slightly curved window panels are integrated into the large roof at regular intervals to let natural light into the building. The window panels with a combined length of 600 meters, and containing 120 smoke funnels and heat ventilators, are made of the 4-wall sheet Makrolon^® multi UV 4/10-6.

High light transmission, excellent load-bearing capacity and resistance and low weight were the reasons why the choice fell to Makrolon^® multi UV 4/10-6 as the suitable material for the window panels.

• The transparent Makrolon^® multi UV 4-wall sheets create not only a pleasant atmosphere in the hangar but they also reduce the cost for lighting.
• The special Y-structure of the sheets and the optimized 6-mm wall spacing give each sheet its high load-bearing capacity and resistance to physical impact, such as wind, hail or snow loads. This is particularly important in view of the strong winds prevalent in the airport area, and the wind suction that puts a heavy strain on the roof. The transparent roof elements also withstand large hail. The Makrolon^® 4-wall sheets fulfill the hail resistance requirements of the EMPA standard. The highly impact-resistant sheets also provide safety against breaking-through according to the German GS-Bau-18 norm.
• The low weight of the sheets and their superior cold-bending radius facilitate the transport as well as the processing and installation of the material on site. This was especially advantageous because ventilation flaps, smoke funnels and heat ventilators were integrated into the roof, and the sheets could be optimally fitted into the structure.

Bayer Sheet Europe gives a 10-year warranty on the high weatherability of the sheet, which is achieved by a UV-resistant coating. The classification of the material as B1 fire behavior according to DIN 4102 rounds off the performance spectrum of this versatile material.

The Makrolon^® multi UV 4-wall sheet is part of the successful i-LINE from Bayer Sheet Europe, a quality label that stands for a new generation of optimized products providing innovative solutions for the highest requirements in construction.