Cheap, Translucent, Plastic...that's fire rated? Safe for showers?

It looks like were' (FINALLY) going to be finishing our basment and then possibly our upper 1/2 story.

For the basement, this being an old house, I'm trying to go as in-organic as I can with the wall materials to avoid mold/mildew. I'll be using XPS insulation, steel studs, and then paperless sheetrock for the upper 4' of the wall. For the lower 4' of the wall, and for some of the interior walls and sliding doors, I'd like to go with some sort of unique paneling system. I'm thinking corrugated roofing panels or plastic (which would give us a bit of a Shoji screen look for the sliding doors).

So...first of all...any and all ideas for materials appreciated.

Secondly, any specific suggestions for a plastic panel system are what I'm mainly interested in. I could use plexi or lexan, but that won't be cheap nor lightweight.

I'm thinking of the type of material that you see used for political yard signs. It's like a corrugated box, but made from plastic. I thought they used a simliar product for the siding on a modern house they built here in Minneapolis a few years ago (that, for the life of me, I can not recall the name of nor architect).

I'm guessing whatever I go with, if I decide to go with code, it's going to have to be fire rated. That's likely the big 'gotcha'.

If we do find something, I'm thinking of also using it as part of our upper story remodel. We'll be adding a dormer for a bathroom and would like to use a translucent material to frame the walls of the bath, and possibly as a really affordable shower surround.

Now Haus! That was the place:

http://www.nowhaus.com/

I think (though not positive) that they used something called "Fluted Polypropylene Board" which is a material that they make yard signs out of.

when i was in school i worked part time at a sign company and we used Coroplast for allt he yard signs we did. It comes in a variety of opaque colors and a milky white translucent.

I was going to use frosted acrylic panels for my showers.  I bought some opaque backing paint from a sign company so any adhesive wouldn't show through.  My shower walls weren't  perfectly straight.  The problem is the material is pretty thin and would be near impossible to get tight butt joints and corner fitment without using trim pieces to cover the joints.  My scribe and cut skills were not adequate nor could I get any local contractors to do it.     I ended up using gloss white cultured marble panels.  It turned out great.  It'd be much easier if whatever material you use has some thickness to it to give a little leeway on gaps in the corners if you want a modern clean look with no trim.  The double wall fluted polycarb panels might be pretty cool.  Just so water or condensation wouldnt get into the flutes and cause mold.

Have you looked into Polygal. I have used it as interior walls before when I need to let light shine through. It is rate as roof material and is more energy efficient than a window. It comes in all kinds of thicknesses and transparencies.

http://www.polygal.com

I buy the 4'x8' panels from a local plastics distributor.

What do those go for, Jason?

I heard back from The NowHaus folks. They used polycarbonate sheets like they have in greenhouses. DEFINITELY sturdier, but more expsneive ($50-60)

I can't remember what it costs. It has been 18 months since I purchased it. It is not a cheap material but it is high quality stuff.

Kalwall is another translucent and insulating product.  I'll bet it can be so insulating that you would not need to use any cavity insulation behind it.  It would open all sorts of interesting lighting opportunitites.  But it is very expensive.

For a totally different idea, what about 4x8 sheets of smooth HardiPanel?  No fire.  No mold.  Paints nice.

Jason,

Which local plastic distributor did you use?  You're in Dallas, correct?