PLEXIGLAS MIRROR INSTALLATION AND ATTACHMENT RECOMMENDATIONS (For ceiling installation and attachment recommendations see page 9.) ADHESIVE ATTACHMENT Double-laced Foam Tape. Double-faced loam tape may be used for most Plexiglas mirror mounting requirements. The tape is simple to use and provides the cleanest method of attachment. The tape may be used for small fabricated items to adhere Plexiglas mirror to itself or Plexiglas mirror to another material. Double- faced foam tapes provide the flattest mounting and thus, the best image reproduction in Plexiglas mir- ror installations. To obtain optimum flatness of the mirror, the foam tape should be cut into panel length pieces. The pieces should be distributed evenly over the back of the mirror. The surface to which the mirror is to be placed should be flat, smooth, clean and should not have significant sur- face irregularities such as that found on a stuccoed surface. The tape should be no less than 1/4" from edges of Plexiglas mirror. The following table lists recommended foam tape sizes to be used with specific sizes of Plexiglas mirror and recommended placement of the tape for optimum flatness. Foam Tape Recommendations Plexiglas Mirror Thickness Foam Tape Thickness Total Length of Term Up to 12" x12" ye" Me" 3% minimum Up to 36" x 48" 14" Ye" 1W minimum Up to 48" x 96" Ye 14" 32' minimum Over 48" x 96" 14" 3/4" Twice the long dimension Tape width is 1" 9 I tt Foam Tape Source 3 M Company 3 M Comp Industrial Tape Div. 3 M Center.. Paul, Minnesota Silicone Sealants Plexiglas mirror may be installed on many types of surfaces or attached to itself using silicone seal- ants as adhesives. Silicone sealants should be used in place of mastics or panel adhesives. Panel adhesives tend to destroy the reflective coat. Sili- cone sealants will remain flexible for long periods of time and are readily available from building sup- ply centers and Authorized Plexiglas Distributors in either small tubes or caulking gun sizes. When using silicone sealants as adhesives, they should be applied to the Plexiglas mirror in evenly dis- persed, open end beads; this will allow the adhe- sive to cure properly. The Plexiglas mirror may have to be supported or secured with tape for 24 hours until the sealant cures. Use only pigmented silicone sealants on Plexiglas mirror; clear silicone sealants will cause failure of the mirror appearance. Recommended Silicone Sealants Dow Corning DC 780 Silicone Building Sealant Dow Corning Company Midland, Michigan Contact Cements Contact cements can be used for installing Plexiglas mirror on many types of surfaces. They are useful when fast drying or setting of the bond is necessary. Contact cements do require the ap- plication of the adhesive to both the Plexiglas mirror and the surface to which it is being attached. Apply the cement with a fine brush, enamel paint roller, or spray it on in order to apply it evenly. Wait until the cement dries sufficiently so that a piece of paper will not stick to it before placing the Plexiglas mirror into position. This allows the solvents in the cement to evaporate. Applying the Plexiglas mir- ror before the cement is dry will result in failure in the mirror appearance. Since the mirror cannot be moved after placement, a slip sheet of kraft paper should be used between the two cemented surfaces to position the mirror properly. Because of thermal and humidity expansion of Plexiglas mirror, the size of a Plexiglas mirror panel is lim- ited to the following recommendations. The chart provides the maximum allowable long dimension with temperature change of area of use of Plexiglas mirror when installed with contact cements. 10 EFTA R1 01181050 EFTA02305985 Panel size limits for Contact amnia Maximum long dimension Temperature Variation Up to 12" ±70° Up to 24" *40° Up to 38" *30° Up to 48" *20° Up to 72" *15° Up to 96" *10° Note: Do not mount Plexiglas mirror with tapes o adhesives where the mi ror is to be dismounted from the surface to which it is attached. Remove of the mirror from the mounting surface is mos likely to cause the separation of the reflective film from the Plexiglas at the adhesion areas. Unde such circumstances, mechanical mounting meth ods should be used. Use contact cement with minimum solvent attack. Those with strong solvent content will attack the Plexiglas mirror backcoat and reflective coating. Contact C•111•M Sources Formica #140 Formica Corp. Spring Grove Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45232 Armstrong 0220 Armstrong Cork Co. Lancaster, Pa. Instant-Lok #41-4060 National Adhesives Division National Starch and Chemical Company 7503rd Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 MECHANICAL ATTACHMENT SCREWS AND BOLTS Plexiglas mirror may be easily drilled and attached to other surfaces using recommended screws and bolts. For decorative purposes Plexiglas mirror panels of 18" square and under may be attached with one fastener centrally located. Panels requir- ing two or more fasteners should be provided with oversized holes in the Plexiglas mirror to allow for thermal movement when they are to be at- tached to non-plastic surfaces such as wood, masonry or metal. A minimum oversize for each drilled hole is recommended in the table below in accordance with the size of the Plexiglas mirror panel and the temperature range to which the panel will be exposed. Oversize Hole Recommendations for Through-Bolting Plexiglas Mirror Size of Plexiglas ± of Temp. Change A 10°15° 20°30°40°50°60° 12" Ms Vie Sis the Ks 1/21/2 24" Me Ms Ms Mt Vs 1/21/2 36°%a Sit Yu 34V* 316 1/4 48" 6. 144 K 3/434Y414 60"iiis sisVs 14 14 Si 44 72" 14, ye 3/43/414 314 44 84" Vi Vs Ms Ms 3Ss 31, Si 96" Vii Vs 346 Xt ;16Mii 102 Through bolts or sc ews should be p aced 14 o the way in from any edge to maintain maximum strength and minimum distortion. 11 12 EFTA_R1_01181051 EFTA02305986 The following are recommended screws and bolts for mechanical attachment. The bolts and screws should not be tightened but should be turned up to the Plexiglas mirror surface then backed off Y4 of a turn to allow for thermal movement. Counter- sunk screws should not be used as they cause the Plexiglas mirror to crack. Slotted Phillips Socket Head Cap Screw Hex Head Bolt tin 13 Twelve Point Head Bolt Knurled Screw FRAMING Plexiglas mirror may be framed using wood, metal or plastic frames. Wood or metal frames or the placement of edge clips should be made oversize to allow for thermal movement of the Plexiglas mirror. The following chart provides a guide to expansion allowance. Thermal and Humidity Expansion Allowances for Framed Plexiglas Mirror Long Dimension Possible Temp Change s Degree Panel 15° 20° 25° 30° 40° 50° 60° 12" Ms Ks Ms Ms Ms Ms Ms 24" YI6 316 Ms M6 M6 %to 1/4 36" Ms Ms Ms MG WS 1/21/2 48" %6 416 M6 MI 1/41/21/2 60" Ms 31s 34s Vs Vs $16 ,is 72" %is34. % Ve Ws Ms Ks 84° Mshi lb M % Ms M 96. %, Ye 1/4Y. 3i, 14 114 Where op imum image reproduction is desired, the mechanical attachment methods described above should be used in conjunction with tapes and adhesives applied as directed for maximum flatness. OVERHEAD INSTALLATIONS Plexiglas mirror may be used in ceiling installa- tions where glass or other materials present an obvious hazard. Plexiglas mirror may be installed overhead by a number of recommended methods and with specific Plexiglas mirror panel size limitations. HORIZONTAL OVERHEAD INSTALLATIONS Plexiglas mirror should be mounted in ceiling in- stallations with edge-engaging frames such as T-bar system. Foam tapes and contact cements applied to the back surface of the mirror support the weight of the material in ceiling installations which could result in separation of the reflective film from the Plexiglas sheet. Ceiling installations of Plexiglas mirror should be of limited area because of the combustibility of the material. Consult local building codes for limitations. 14 EFTA_R1_01181052 EFTA02305987 FRAMING The following table shows the average deflection of horizontal unsupported frames. Ave age Deflection of Plexiglas Mirror Ye" Plexiglas mirror 1/4" Plexiglas mirror Edge Engagement Under 18" x 18" Sie" Less than va. W" 24" x 24" 3%." %en 1/2" 30" x 30" vie Vs" 1/2" 24" x 48° %e ye Iv, 36" x 36" me V.2%6- 48" x 48" Vs" IKs" Ime, 46" x 72" I y16" %re 1%6" Weaer %Ss Itbff qill. Three year data Panels moan ed horizontally a d unsuPPOzled VERTICAL OVERHEAD INSTALLATIONS Hanging panels or partitions of Plexiglas mirror can be functional and decorative for uses such as backdrops or to partition space. The lightweight of Plexiglas mirror is primary advantage in these applications. 15 Hanging partitions and panels may be framed or unframed. cut to specific size and with drilled holes along the top edges approximately 1" from the edges for chain, wire or monofilament support. Two panels may be adhered back to back to obtain a reflective appearance on both sides. IMAGE DISTORTION Plexiglas mirror is somewhat flexible and is subject to thermal expansion. Adequate panel thickness and proper Installation techniques can minimize visual distortion but cannot eliminate it entirely. For many applications, visual distortion may not be objectionable. CLEANING PLEXIGLAS MIRROR Plexiglas mirror should be cleaned by applying a spray wax such as Johnson's Pledge to the front surface of the mirror and wiping with a soft cloth. BUILDING COOK CONSIDERATIONS Plexiglas mirror is classified as a slow burning plastic material with combustibility comparable With wood. The use of Plexiglas mirror is subject to the limitations applicable to combustible interior finish. Plexiglas minor can be cui, routed, drilled and easily paint decorated by silk screening 10 arnve al a dramatic graphic panel 16 EFTA_R1_01181053 EFTA02305988