Shade Blog

National Schools Solar Program Back On

After a period of hiatus, the National Schools Solar Program is once again offering grants for awnings and shade structures to Australian schools but applications have a cut off of 20-August so be quick !

Shade Awnings help save energy.

That's why the Australian Federal government has included shade awnings in the National Solar Schools Program Grant aimed at tackling climate change.

Eligible schools can get funding for retractable shade awnings.

1800ShadeU supplies retractable shade awnings including folding arm awnings and a range of other similar solutions which may qualify as they also help your school save energy and also provide sun-smart UV protection for the children at the same time.  A fantastic opportunity!

We can quote for design and installation and provide pointers for your grant applications.  Contact us today to find out more.

Four Sided Sails are Superior to Triangles

A number of customers walk through the our factory door and enquire about a triangular shaped Shade Sail but the triangle is not the ideal shape for most applications.  Only on the rare occasion is the triangle shape necessitated by a small courtyard or some other triangular shaped area. It seems that most people's idea of Shade Sails comes from depictions of them as triangles (our own logo features triangular shapes) but in most case what they have actually seen is t whereas it is in fact the illusion that a Hyperbolic Shade Sail creates.

A Hyperbolic Sail is a four sided, four post ShadeSail with two diagonal posts placed high and two diagonal posts placed low. This shape is optimal as it creates an even wind load above and below the Sail but when seen from a distance one post can appear to disappear over the horizon of the Sail and give the appearance of a triangle.

Our company sells ShadeSails to the public but we also wholesale to the the ShadeSail industry and we find that we make very few triangular Sails if any.  This is especially the case for custom Shade Sail projects.  By the time you cut the catenary curves in to the Sails perimeter (which are needed to keep the Sail tight) you don’t finish up with enough coverage to meet the requirements of the job. The depth of the catenary curve is based on a percentage of the distance between the Shade Sail posts so this is especially bad when the triangle is much longer than it is wide. When a ShadeSail is being designed the ShadeSail designer needs to take in to account the direction and height of the sun, which normally means look out fot the northern sun lower in the sky later in the summer and of course the low western sun in the afternoon.With a larger area that can be covered by a four sided ShadeSail it is easier to provide protection from the sun as the Sail shades a wider area.  So while triangular pre-made sails are popular with do it yourself enthusiasts, we will rarely if ever recommend them for projects.

Four sided shade sails are much more effective and this is why we don’t usually recommend triangular Sails 

Advantages of Cantilever Shade

The greatest advantage of a cantilever structure is the fact that it only requires support posts on one side of the structure where a conventional ShadeSail requires posts on both sides.eg A square or rectangle require at least 4 posts or posts on one side and another type of structure on the other such as a building.(if structurally suitable.)

The loads of the cantilever are contained within it’s own frame so unlike a ShadeSail there isn’t tension between the posts or posts and another structure. The cantilever is freestanding and doe’s not rely on the structural integrity of any other structure. If you need a waterproof or shaded area without a gap between between the building and the cantilever, the cantilever is simply designed with rafters that are long enough to stretch over the roof eliminating the gap. When designing a ShadeSail you should always create a hyperbolic shape which will equalize the pressure above and below the sail cloth and reduce the loads on the entire structure. This has it’s advantages but the disadvantage is that you need to raise certain parts of the Sail which will allow some sun under the sail at different times of the day or times of the year. The cantilever is engineered for the wind loads or fabric covering and the curved rafters of the structure allow for water run off.

The greatest advantage of a cantilever is where a view must not be obstructed or where the extra posts of the ShadeSail would make access for a vehicle or other difficult such as in a driveway or carpark. Cantilevers can be designed side by side or back to back.   

Architec 400 Shade Structures

Architect 400 is one of the new materials which 1800ShadeU uses in the designs and installation of very large commercial tension membrane structures and shade sails.

Architec 400 is a 400 gsm High Density Polyehtlyene (HDPE) knitted shadecloth fabric available in a range of colours including sandstone, porcelain, aquamarine, navy blue, slate grey and midnight green. 

Popular with architects, Architec 400 is tear resistant, excellent under tension and is a long life material.

Melbourne heat wave survival tips

Summer is almost upon us and some are saying it could be the hottest yet, causing more deadly heat waves and bushfires.  Melbourne is one of the hottest cities in Australia during summer.  So here are some tips about surviving another Melbourne heat wave.

In recent years we've seen power outages in Melbourne which render air conditioning useless when it is needed most.  Air conditioning can not always be relied on to provide respite from heat wave conditions.

The World Heatlh Organisation in Europe highlights the harmful health effects of heatwaves which cause many thousands of deaths around the world each year.  The effects include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke (or Sun Stroke) with symptoms including fainting, nausea, weak pulse, vomiting, dizziness, exhaustion, confusion, dry skin, heavy sweating, painful spasms, blood pressure, hyperventilation, loss of consciousness and even death.  The organisation in fact lists shade up there with hydration as one of the most important things to survive the heat.

With the summer heat waves so close, it is time to start planning ways you can reduce the impact on your health, as well as the health of your family, friends, workers and colleagues.

Seniors as well as people with medical conditions are at highest risk of fatality during a heat wave.  While heat disorders effect school children, sportspeople, people working in heat related industries, construction workers and pregnant women people most.

Custom built Shade Sails, awnings and umbrellas are one of the best ways to block the sun and UV radiation outdoors during heat waves.  Also unlike tin roofs, tensile structures are typically resistant to changing heat conditions.  To get the most out of Shade Sails, you need a customised shade solution that takes into account position and sun to provide maximum resistance to heat wave conditions.

So help the people you care most about to survive the next Melbourne heat wave by having a Shade Sail or Shade Structure put where you need it most.