Design Criteria
The following criteria are considered industry standard or above such and are observed in the design process.
3-side support panels Deflection Standards
Most panel fabricators will design their 3-side support transparencies to an industry maximum deflection standard of L/400. However, there is an issue to this standard, thus below we shall explore an alternative solution and evaluate the issues with this standard.
Example
Panel A) 3-side support 100”L x 40”H
Panel B) 3-side support 200”L x 40”H
Issue
As we can see both panels are of equal height. However, based upon the industry standard design criteria of L/400, panel B would be able to deflect twice that of panel A. Thus the thickness of transparency B could be thinner then transparency A. Also based upon this, criteria a panel could theoretically deflect an infinite amount.
Solution
A more appropriate standard that Innovative Acrylics observes is <= H/200 OR <=L/400 whichever is less. Thus panel A and panel B would be able to deflect the same amount.

3-Sided Cantilever Deflection
The image above is a panel under load. Deflection depicted is exaggerated, actual deflection will be less. The image to the right is a panel under no load in a stationary position.

3-Sided Cant. Detail

3-Sided Cant. Freeboard Detail

3-Sided Standard Detail
4-side Support Panels Deflection Standards
Sructural loading panels with 4 side supported edges: Initial predicted deflection < = 1/300 the length of the shortest edge.

4-Sided Standard Deflection

4-Sided Standard Detail

FEA load

FEA load report