So does anyone know what the law is regarding materials you can use for a windscreen on the road?

I'm quite interested to find out for our "Rally Project Fug", now that we're doing bodywork. ;)

yeah i'd like to know too since my mate accidentally smashed my screen :angry: :(

It's all cool, i've discovered that it is indeed legal to use lexan/polycarbonate etc as long as it is clear, in good condition and shatter proof.

Here you go a little snippet of info from the official mot testing docs via
http://www.uk-hotrods.co.uk/law_and_the_hot_rodder.htm

http://www.ukmot.com/checklist/motcheck/mo...#information100

Windscreen:
windscreen material is a construction and use reg. The MOT only checks condition, it does not specify type. C&U only states ''safety glass
or shatterproof''. Use polycarbonate eg Lexan as it does not go cloudy with age as Perspex does. Also Perspex shatters! There are some very good Acrylic materials also, which are cheaper than polycarbonate and just as tough.

B)

nice! should be easy (and cheap) enough to get a screen made for a fuge then B)

dudes - I fitted a polycarbonate screen about 2 years ago!.........I bought an 8mm polycarbonate sheet, just bigger than the screen hole - it was not cheap - about £70 if I remember correctly........then carefully cut it to shape with a hand held jigsaw - its the stuff police riot shields are made of - hence nice and safe.

I bought a load of aluminium P-Clips which I had to bend into a C-section, in order to mount the screen on the between the tubes........I could have just screwed it into the frame but I wanted a bit of movement with the C-clips, as I was afraid the body movement would crack the screen if solidly screwed into the frame........but looking back on it I think I was worrying about nothing!.....

There are "site glass" places that will come to your doorstep and cut a piece of laminated glass for you, but you can NOT drill holes in it, hence yyou will need a frame or fancy clips........personally I was quite hapy with my polycarbonate results :)

heres some pics

I've worked with acrylics and polycarbonates for years as a signmaker,the best is lexan by far. As knighty says,his 8mm screen works well. At that thickness in lexan it would actually be strong enough to withstand anyting it's ever likely to encounter. Suggestion though,I'd had a think about a detachable screen in mine and even though I work with this stuff it's not what I'd use. What about getting the screen cut in laminated glass,making a channel surround up,using something like tiger seal to bond the glass into the frame then bolting the frame by four points into the buggy! It'd be strong,easily removed in the real hot weather and would not be scratched by the wipers if you get mud,grit or sand on it off roading.

This is some spec from a company who specialize in it ;)

Polycarbonate Solid Sheet With Hard Surface Coating

Its main use is as a safety, security and vandal resistant glazing sheet. Its impact resistance combined with its hard surface coating makes it ideal for shop front windows, bank glazing, bus shelters and entrance hall glazing. For the first time, now a real solution to certain transportation glazing problems such as vandalism on urban buses and trains, Cutting out both accidental and deliberate breakage in construction machinery, standing up to automatic washers and even windscreen wipers, allowing significant fuel savings versus glass through weight reduction. As the general purpose polycarbonate it has excellent weathering properties, extremely high impact strength, with a wide temperature range together with increased resistance to graffiti attack.

Applications: all forms of glazing, bus shelters, sports halls, schools, urban buses and trains and other public areas subjected to vandalism, it can also be used for machine guards, telephone kiosks/booths, street furniture

Lexan Margard
Makrolon 8099 Hard

The above brands are normally available in Clear: thickness from .3 to 12mm.

2000 x 1500
3000 x 1500

Sheet sizes do vary from brand to brand but we can normally supply the above sizes




Bullet-Resistant Polycarbonate Solid Sheet

LEXGARD bullet-resistant laminates provide the solution. Compared with glass, they offer the advantages of not shattering or splintering, even after receiving several shots from a gun. They are also much lighter in weight than glass of a similar thickness, making installation not only easier but more economical as no special reinforcing or strengthening constructions are needed. LEXGARD consists of sheets of LEXAN polycarbonate, of varying thicknesses, bonded together using a patented intermediate film to form a laminate. The result is a bullet-resistant glazing material with outstanding properties. It can stop a great number of bullets from a variety of firearms (multiple shot capability), and provides protection from bullets with a strike energy as high as 3100 Joules (Blondeau ammunition). When struck by a bullet, there is no danger to anyone located behind the Lexgard from flying,jagged splinters- a common problem with most normal bullet-resistant glass types. As well as bullets, it will even withstand bludgeoning with a sledgehammer-without splintering.

Applications: Security glazing, banks & Post Offices, Petrol Stations, Money Transport Vans, Diplomatic Vehicles, Government Buildings, Embassies and Museums.

LEXGARD

ooh!!! i need that!!! :D :D ;)

I'll admitt it's amazing stuff,I've made lots of signs with it. Admittedly I don't use clear all that often,but generally opals for alluminated signs that are likely to get a brick thrown at them,and not just becase they don't like my work ;) Amari,Robert Horne and Williaam Cox which all have regional offices are efficient suppliers I've used before, try hard to get trade as there is a massive mark up on this type of stuff before you even get started. Some will even cut it for you at a nominal fee although it will cut with a bench saw,or router with the right blade. If you chose to cut it with a hard point hand saw put a little WD40 on the saw blade and it will help no end. Don't know much about Fug or VW's but I've had 25yrs of this stuff :(

Nice one Bob for the info B)

I've got polycarbonate in mine and it seems to work fine.

As an extra snippet B)

How big can a flyscreen get before it's a windscreen and so need a wiper/washer?

A flyscreen can be as big as you like so long as it is hinged along the bottom. If its fixed in then technically its a windscreen and technically needs a wiper / washer :P :P

Depends on your nice MOT man, but thats the law

ooh thanks for that tigger!! B)

makes sense and explains why you don't need wipers if you have safari windows on a split etc :D

Yeah it comes under the "Has another method of gaining clear vision" proviso ;)