What Is the best Polycarbonate Clear Burglar Bars?
Luxury Livings Clear burglar bars made from polycarbonate and are transparent or see through strips (or slats) of a high‑performance thermoplastic resin, securely fixed in window or door frames as a security barrier. Instead of using old school steel bars, Luxury Livings polycarbonate bars preserve visibility, light, aesthetics, while offering comparable protection. Luxury Livings Clear Burglar bars
Why Polycarbonate Is a Strong Option
Polycarbonate (PC) has several material properties that make it especially well-suited to burglar‑bar applications:
| Property | What This Means | Evidence / Examples |
| High impact resistance | Bars can absorb blows, twisting, pulling, force, without shattering like glass or even fracturing easily. Polycarbonate has an extremely high impact resistance and tensile strength over 3 tons. | Luxury Burglar Bars |
| Tensile strength / Breaking strength | Under pulling or bending stress, polycarbonate can hold up an astonishing load with a breaking strengths ~ 3 000 kg (≈ 3 tons) for their bars/slats. | Secure Burglar Bars |
| Flexibility + Elasticity | Polycarbonate can flex twist/pull and return to its original shape. This helps resist deformations during forced entry attempts. | Luxury Livings |
| UV / weather resistance | Good polycarbonate burglar bars are UV‑Protected so they don’t yellow, degrade, become brittle in sun exposure. Many come with long UV warranties. |
What is stronger for security Steel Aluminium or polycarbonate |
| Rust / Corrosion resistance | As a plastic, polycarbonate doesn’t rust like steel does, which is a big plus especially in humid, coastal, or wet conditions. | |
| Fire and heat resistance | While not completely fire‑proof, great grades are flame‑retardant, resist heat, and don’t ignite easily or burn rapidly like cheaper plastics that are not pure polycarbonate. | What is stronger for security Steel Aluminium or polycarbonate |
Strengths vs Traditional Steel Bars
It’s not just about being transparent; what matters is how strong the system is versus traditional steel. Here’s a comparison:What is stronger for security Steel Aluminium or polycarbonate
| Aspect | Steel Bars | Polycarbonate Bars |
| Visibility / Light / Aesthetics | Steel bars are visible, can obstruct view, make spaces feel closed in. | Polycarbonate is clear – preserves view, natural light, blends in more. Great in scenic homes or design‑sensitive settings. |
| Weight and Handling | Steel is heavy; installation often more labour-intensive. | Polycarbonate lighter; easier handling; often quicker installation. |
| Corrosion / Maintenance | Steel must be protected from rust; regular maintenance needed. | Polycarbonate is maintenance‑free in many cases, no rust, no painting. |
| Resistance to cutting / forced entry | Steel bars when thick and well installed are hard to cut; but welds or fixings can be weak points. | Polycarbonate may be cut with tools like a hacksaw or angle grinder, but it takes much longer. Fixing method is critical. |
| Durability over time | Good steel lasts long but may corrode, need repainting, may be weakened by weather. | With high‑grade polycarbonate (UV stabilized) the degradation is slower; warranties are often given. |
Key Features of the Strongest Polycarbonate Bars
To get a truly strong, effective system, it’s not just the material but several implementation details. This is what Luxury Clear burglar bars offer:
- Material Grade
Use premium or certified polycarbonate UV‑stabilised, fire‑retardant, with proven impact / tensile strengths. - Thickness / Cross‑section Dimensions
Thicker bars or larger cross‑sections are more resistant to bending or breaking. Examples: 6 mm thickness combined with widths/heights around 30‑50 mm in many products. - Fixing Method
One of the weakest points is how the bars attach to the window/door frames:- Luxury Bars use tamper‑proof or one‑way screws / multi-grip rivets so they cannot be removed from the outside.
- Secure anchoring into structural frame (wood, steel, aluminium) rather than just cosmetic or thin frames.
- Use of channel rails or aluminium rails that add strength to the mountings.
- Bar Spacing
The narrower the spacing between bars/slats, the smaller the gap a person (or animal) may try to get through. Insurance rules often specify maximum spacing (e.g. 100‑130 mm in some cases). For pet and animal safety 60mm spacings is perfect and is also determined by the size of the animal or pet. Primates such as monkey and baboons struggle to get through our clear bars which is the perfect option for wildlife protection. These spacings are generally between 70mm to 120mm
- Warranty / UV Protection
UV exposure can degrade plastic over time (yellowing, loss of strength). Manufacturers offering lifetime UV warranties or long time guarantees suggest confidence in their products. - Fire / Heat Resistance
Look for polycarbonates rated for heat and flame resistance so they do not deform or contribute dangerously to a fire. - Certifications / Insurance Approval
Products that are insurance‑approved, or that comply with local/ international standards (BS, EN, ISO) have been tested, which adds credibility. - Aesthetic Finish / Maintenance
Clear cosmetic covers over fixings for neatness; clarity over time (ease of cleaning, resistance to scratching) are all parts of a product’s overall value.
Potential Weaknesses and Trade‑Offs
While strong polycarbonate burglar bars offer a lot, they’re not perfect in every situation. Knowing the trade‑offs helps make informed choices.
- Scratch susceptibility: Polycarbonate is softer than glass or steel in terms of surface hardness. Over time, surface scratches can accumulate, which may reduce transparency or aesthetics.
- Thermal expansion: Plastic changes shape slightly with heat; good design must allow for expansion/contraction without loosening fixings or gap formation.
- Cutting tools: A determined intruder with heavy cutting tools (angle grinder, etc.) may still breach them; but will require more time, noise, effort, which increases deterrence.
- Cost vs plain steel: Depending on local pricing, clear polycarbonate systems can sometimes cost more (especially for premium grades) than basic steel bars; but when you factor in maintenance, aesthetics, etc., many find them good value.
- Potential yellowing / clouding: If low quality or low UV‑stability polycarbonate is used, or if product is scratched heavily, it may get cloudy or discoloured over time.
Why They Are “The Best” (In Many Situations)
Putting together the strengths and the realistic trade‑offs, here are scenarios and reasons why Luxury clear polycarbonate burglar bars are (for many homeowners / businesses) the best choice:
- Security + Visibility
They offer a strong deterrent, with high impact and tensile strength, but also allow you to see out, let in natural light, preserve views and architectural appearance. - Low Maintenance
No rusting, minimal upkeep, long warranty. For coastal homes or humid environments, this is especially beneficial. - Aesthetic and Design Friendliness
For modern homes, lodges, hotels, buildings in scenic areas — preserving the view is often a priority. Clear bars reduce visual clutter and make the security barrier less intrusive. - Durability Over Time
Premium polycarbonate keeps its strength over years under sun exposure, weather, etc. Combined with robust fixings, these systems last long. - Insurance / Safety Compliance
Many products are insurance‑approved and meet or exceed safety regulations (spacing, strength), which gives peace of mind and may reduce insurance premiums or satisfy building requirements.
What to Check Before You Buy
If you’re shopping for the strongest polycarbonate clear burglar bars, here’s a checklist you should use to evaluate options:
- Material, grade, and UV/warranty details.
- Bar thickness / width / height.
- Fixing method: are screws or rivets tamper‐proof? Is there an aluminium or steel channel?
- Spacing of bars relative to local regulation / insurance requirements.
- Resistance to fire / flame / heat.
- What warranties are offered (for UV stability, mechanical strength, etc.).
- Whether the company has references, or proven installations.
- Cost of installation and maintenance vs steel solution.
Examples of Strong Clear burglar bar Products (South Africa)
Luxury Livings has a secure Clear view bar which is 30mm x 6mm
As well as a Luxury Clear view bar which is 50mm x 6mm for the ultimate security.
With the highest-grade polycarbonate, you can ensure the most transparent look with high durability.
Luxury Livings South Africa’s number one choice when it comes to strong durable and cost-effective clear burglar bars. Custom cut to your window for the perfect fit every time. We offer superior UV Protection on all our Clear burglar bars to prevent that yellowing effect.
Conclusion
Strong polycarbonate secure clear burglar bars can combine the best of both worlds: the security of physical barriers with the aesthetics, light openness, and view preservation often lost with steel bars. The key is getting premium quality materials, solid fixings, correct thickness & spacing, and looking for UV and fire resistance.
Product lines in South Africa (and elsewhere) often use names like Exolon®,Makrolon , Lexan®, “clear view”, “transparent burglar bars” as reference to polycarbonate transparent security bars.
If you choose Luxury Livings Clear Burglar bars, our product can provide long‑lasting, effective security without turning your windows into ugly cages.