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Shade Structure

Westfield Coomera shopping centre child care shade structure installed by Versatile Structures

Shade sails and structures for shopping centre car parks

From the image above you will notice that the Westfield Coomera Shopping Centre has done something a little different with their car park area. They sacrificed about 8 car parks to create a bespoke play zone. The perfect distraction if you are a parent with a needy 8-year-old. Play zones as well as car park shade structures attract more customers to your shopping centre. Creating a sun safe play zone for your customers children and their cars says that you care about your customers. Having a car park with no shade can be a real turn-off for customers. No one wants to return to a boiling hot car after spending hours shopping or cutting your shopping short because your car could be hit by hail. An investment in shade sails and shade structures for a shopping centre car park will help you attract more customer to your centre. Whether you manage a small strip mall or a major shopping centre, whether the complex is located in Brisbane, Gold Coast, or Sunshine Coast the benefits of a car park shade structure is undeniable.  Custom Shade Sails and Shade Structures for Shopping Centre Car Parks A quality shade sail and shade structure installer will design and manufacture the structure for your shopping centre’s specific need. They will look at whether or you need the structure to be waterproof, How much UV protection you need as well as consider the fire performance. fabric component of car park shade sails and structures for installations across Australia. If you have ever worn a tailored suit that was made specifically for you, you know nothing can compare to that bespoke feeling. The reason you feel good wearing a bespoke suit is that it has been created specifically for your needs. The same is true for a custom-made shade sail. It could hide some less attractive bits of your building. Make your shopping centre looking more appealing, and make it stand out. All these reasons will help you secure better tenants and draw in more customer. More customers and a list of tenants waiting to get into your shopping centre means you can charge more rental. Shade Cloth and Waterproof Shopping Centre Car Park Covers Shade cloth and waterproof shade structures are both options for your shopping centre car park. Whether you’re looking for a cost-effective solution that provides excellent sunshade and hail protection or a superior solution that protects against the sun and rain. As with all options there is a top-of-the-line option. A car park shade structure made from solar panels. We understand that winds can reach wild speeds with the current record sitting at 263km/h wind gusts in Queensland in 2015. Selecting the right installer will give you piece of mind that your structure will handle whatever is thrown at it as will also come with a 15 year warranty to ensure your investment maximises longevity. A good shade structure company should use quality materials that can withstand huge wind gusts, high UV and have a high fire performance. A good shade structure company should offer you a wide range of colour options for both the fabric as well as the structure itself. The Process The process for each shade structure company is a little different however they should cover the below key areas: Know the types the shade sails Consult the manufacturer Consider the sun shadow Create a proper hypar Pick the right fabric Pick the colour Know council rules Hardware quality To read more about each step read this article 8 steps to creating the perfect car park shade sail Conclusion In essence there are a lot of benefits of a car park shade structure and partnering with a good shade structure installer will guide you through the process. Depending on rain and council approvals you are generally in for about a 12 week turn around period.

Children wearing hats

Children need extra special sun care

Sun safety is our core value and even more so when it involves children having to brave the notorious Australian climate year in and year out. We understand the importance of adequate sun protection, especially as our nation is the world’s most susceptible to varying skin cancers that begins at an early age. Shaded cover reduces the ambient temperature of any outdoor area, however an all-too-common oversight we see in our industry is that of shaded areas and shade structures not being deemed a critical design feature. Also, rubber soft fall surfaces, artificial grass, textured or coloured concrete, timber decks and other composite surfacing materials mostly absorb heat creating surfaces that are too hot to touch and often not very inviting to play on. As a result, properties end up with under-utilised areas that are too hot to enjoy in summer. Childhood skin safety Protecting young people’s skins from UVR exposure in Queensland is vital, especially with the UV Index rating being at three or higher all year-round. It is a fact that sustaining as little as five or more severe sunburns in this critical age period more than double their risk of melanoma. Queensland Government Health puts the responsibility of sun-safe practices on teachers and requires that childhood education and care services have an all-embracing sun protection policy that includes effective shade strategies to assist in cooling the grounds and reducing the heat. Versatile Structures is a provider of choice for many early learning, public and private schools, colleges and universities and we are proud to share some of our play friendly and safe space projects with you. GUARDIAN EARLY LEARNING CENTRE needed a non-permeable shading system over the sandpit areas so their children can play comfortably, but it needed to be set back from the fence as it was an exclusion zone. Our designed, manufactured and installed solution comprised of a retractable PVC roofing system with 100% UVR block out properties and that is waterproof to provide ultimate protection all year round. CANTERBURY COLLEGE was so pleased with the large shaded outdoor area project we completed previously; they invited us to install a 450 m2 grandstand membrane for their new Olympic-size pool and their smaller 278 m2 pool structure cover. The project had to be completed during school holidays to maximise site safety, giving us just a 4-day week to complete the structure and our team worked tirelessly to build and install the structure over a long weekend. ST JOSEPH’S TOBRUK MEMORIAL SCHOOL was challenged with available space and needed to create multi-purpose areas. Our custom-designed sail provided a cost-effective and stylish way to protect students from heat and UV radiation. The area is now used as an outdoor classroom, an innovative learning space and a place to relax during break times CARINA STATE SCHOOL needed a shade structure for their students to enjoy lunch and for their teachers to have safe space to conduct outdoor learning activities. We used a 3D design to ensure the structure would provide sufficient coverage for year-round and for maximum lifespan, the structure was manufactured using marine grade stainless steel hardware, stitched Tenera thread and dual-layered Rainbow shade. SUNNYBANK STATE SCHOOL saved more than half on the cost by recycling existing structures, instead of fronting the bill for brand new sunshades. Their Business Manager, Carol Swee, shared it was hard to find a shade sail provider with the engineering expertise who were willing to recycle 150 m2 of sunshades. After her experience with Versatile Structures, Carol saw value in saving costs overall, with a Shade Assist Program which takes care of all the school’s structural, maintenance and compliance needs. Taking care of your investment All too often, we see structures valued up to the tens of thousands of dollars, not surviving the lifetime promised by the initial contractor. Advancements in manufacturing means fabrics these days come with longer lifespans – often around 10 to 15 years at minimum – and when combined with a regular maintenance program that includes visual inspections, annual re-tensioning and occasional repairs caught early, the lifespan and return-on-investment of a shade investment can be maximised. Shade Assist is Versatile Structure’s industry exclusive maintenance program, designed to see out the expected lifetime of your shade assets, no matter who the original supplier was.

The 6 benefits of a fabric shade structure

The 6 benefits of a fabric shade structure

Fabric structures are often associated with temporary shading solutions, but they can be economical long-term solutions. With new and advanced fabric technologies as well as construction methods, it’s possible to create custom fabric structures that are long-lasting and can become a permanent architectural feature that adds to the overall aesthetic of your property. Reputable manufacturers of commercial shades will work with you to create a custom industrial shade structure that can meet your requirements. Let’s explore the benefits:   An easy and cost-effective solution for covering wide-open and large spaces Fabric structures are ideal for outdoor swimming pools and sports facilities for tennis, football, and rugby. They are also practical for amphitheatres, rail stations, sports stadiums, and other locations where massive public gatherings occur. Industrial applications, such as bulk storage facilities, aircraft hangars, and warehouses may also require custom fabric structures.   Fabric structures offer an easy solution for large, wide-open covered spaces. Architectural fabric structures requiring a large interior, wide-open spaces are known as clear span structures. They don’t require internal support columns for reinforcement in the middle of the structure because the high strength architectural fabric only weighs between 0.07 to 0.9 kilograms per square 0.093 meters.   The clear span width of an architectural fabric structure can range from 15 to 91 meters. Many structures require the use of a clear span design, such as participative sporting facilities for football, soccer, tennis, baseball, and swimming pools; sports stadiums; amphitheatres; airport terminals; rail stations; churches; and other public gathering locations. Many industrial applications such as warehouses, aircraft hangers, and bulk storage facilities also require a clear span structure. You can read more here about the difference between an industrial and commercial shade structure. If you have a need in your design for a wide space that is clear of posts and beams, an architectural fabric structure is a good choice.   Fabric structures reduce construction and installation time. The time required to design, manufacture, construct, and install a fabric structure is substantially shorter than that required for a conventional building. Many fabric structures are considered “pre-engineered” with most of the engineering already complete. The architectural fabric is prefabricated at the manufacturer and arrives at the job site in large panels, ready to cover thousands of square meters at one time. In addition, job site work, such as moving earth, pouring foundations and floor slabs, and erecting metal frames, can all take place at the same time as the production of the prefabricated panels.   Fabric structures give you the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind, eye-catching, and high-profile structures. Architectural fabric structures can be high-profile and designed to incorporate high peaks and sweeping lines. Fabric structures can also use a wide variety of coloured fabrics; in fact, PVC-coated architectural fabrics can be colour matched to meet any architect or building owners wishes. Often customers request a colour match to coordinate with corporate or school colours. Designs can include any number of different coloured fabrics used on the same structure, creating a dynamic appearance. Almost clear and high-light transmission white fabrics can also be produced, which allow a lot of natural sunlight to enter during the daytime and produces a glow when the interior lights up at night. Many fabric structures incorporate both high-light transmission fabrics with panels of opaque fabrics. This allows for some sunlight while still controlling the amount of thermal gain.   Fabric structures offer permanent, seasonal, or relocatable options. Most architectural fabric structure designs are meant to be permanent. They can have an internal metal frame, use an internal mast and cables, or use only air to support the architectural fabric skin. The architectural fabric itself can last 20 to 30 years and be replaced with a new skin after that time, just like shingles or single-ply roof membrane. The metal frames, masts, and cables will last 50-plus years. Permanent fabric structures are frequently insulated with fiberglass or other lightweight insulation and must meet all local fire and safety codes, just like conventional buildings. A great benefit of architectural fabric structures is the ability to design them to be seasonal or semi-permanent structures. Air-supported fabric structures can easily install over artificial sports turf fields to provide a recreational facility during the winter. The structures can come down in the spring and stored for the following season. Architectural fabric structures designed to be permanent can also relocate to a new site if needed. This simply requires a foundation at the new location for reinstallation of the fabric skin and any supporting frame work.   Fabric structures are cost-effective. Architectural fabric structures are frequently more cost-effective to cover a given space, especially if a large clear span structure is required. The cost of a fabric structure will vary depending on the type of fabric structure you are considering; air-supported fabric structures and pre-engineered frame structures will cost less than a custom designed fabric structure. 

Other factors affecting cost include selection of the architectural fabric, the use of insulation, lighting, and HVAC systems. In all cases, when you do a side-by-side comparison of a conventional brick and mortar building to an architectural fabric structure of the same size, the fabric structure will always be a lower cost. In some cases, the savings could be as much as 50% or more.   Fabric structures are energy-efficient and sustainable. Architectural fabric structures have many sustainability benefits. The first factor to consider is that a fabric structure is extremely lightweight, enabling you to cover very large areas with very little mass. It takes less raw materials and less energy consumption to produce architectural fabrics and deliver them to the building site. That said, these architectural fabrics will last 20-plus years, so you get a long-life with low mass and energy consumption. Many of the key parts of an architectural fabric structure are recyclable or reusable at the end of its life. For many of these structures, the majority of the mass is the metal frames or steel masts and cables. These metal parts (steel or aluminium) are easily recycled.

The waterside walkway shade structure installed by Versatile Structures

What’s the difference between a commercial and industrial shade structure

As an installer of both industrial and commercial shade structures we’ve noticed some distinct differences between the two in our years. For a civilian, or someone not trained in construction, you may not see a big difference, but each project presents different and unique challenges and processes.   Industrial vs. Commercial Industrial and commercial shade structure construction includes many different businesses and many different industries like commercial and industrial buildings, land, zoning, products, and more. “Industrial” refers to any business dealing with manufacturing goods. “Commercial” refers to any business done with the sole motive of gaining a profit. Furthermore, the Oxford dictionary says that industrial is “designed or suitable for use in industry” and that commercial is “concerned or engaged in commerce”.   Commercial Shade structure The design and development of shade structures for restaurants, offices, shopping centres, retail stores, and hubs of entertainment are dealing with commercial projects. Commercial projects are almost always designed to be aesthetically attractive in order to grab a consumer’s attention. In addition to the attractive design, commercial sites are typically very well maintained and have a good physical location. Retail centres and offices depend on easy consumer access, good parking (see our car park shade structures), and are usually pedestrian-friendly. In commercial projects, a contractor may often work with suppliers and subcontractors to meet specific goals. Commercial construction projects may bring in modern design experts who will work with traditional contractors. Before a commercial site can be ready for business, it must finalize permitting requirements that meet local legal requirements.   Industrial shade structure Industrial is a term used to describe any business that manufactures goods. These businesses could include construction, factories, working with electrical, civil or mechanical processes. Industrial construction is almost always located on the outskirts of a town. Manufacturing sites factor in the need for special conveyance requirements such as 24/7 shipping and receiving, accessible nearby air or railroad transportation, or access to major highways. A shade structure design for an industrial plant revolves around floor plans that promote smooth foot traffic and focus on coordinating manufacturing and distribution – these buildings are built for functionality, not style. Industrial buildings are made to support heavy equipment and other equipment that must be made to meet industry-specific regulations.   Industrial shade structure projects go through permitting requirements to satisfy local entities, just like commercial projects, but these larger industrial projects must meet permitting requirements that comply with many different exacting standards from local, state, and federal agencies. Industry is the lifeblood of our local economies.  

Stanford Plaza car park shade structure installed by Versatile Structures

Everything you need to know about commercial car park shade structures

After reading this article on commercial car park shade structures you will have a good understanding of the various kinds of car park shade structures.  The team at Versatile Structures have worked on custom shade structures for a single park as can be seen here,  this article however will focus on commercial applications. Why car park shade structures Before you start designing the structure you are after it is good to first look at why you want to install a car park shade structure. Have your team complained about the damage to their car standing in the sun all day or have you seen a drop in sales on those rainy days. Maybe you need to give the tenants in your building a reason as to why you are increasing their rent. Selecting the right solution will communicate the right message to your intended audience. For example a car shade structure that just covers cars but doesn’t keep a client dry while walking to your store doesn’t solve the challenge of keeping clients dry. A double bay structure with walkway using a waterproof fabric would have been an option for the above example. Once you know your why we can move onto options. Car park shade options Every car park has different needs, different sizes and a different audiences so the below will mention a couple of the most common options however at the end of the day the shade supplier you are working with needs to deliver a custom solution for your needs. Single bay Double bay Double bay with walkway Full cover If you want to read more about the above the list you can see images and a description of the options here. There are also cantilever type structures for space saving or limited space areas, waterproof tension membrane structures providing a complete waterproof solution, shade fabric structures with the highest UV block rating, rolled hoop to compliment design aspects of buildings, Flat top for space and view saving design aspects, V type structures, including many more. Fire rating As a commercial entity you know how important it is that you look after the safety of your clients. Older shade fabrics haven’t had the best reputation when it comes to being flame retardant. Most fabric now must pass a number of tests and be compliant with government regulations. You can read more about the standards and regulations here. Shade or waterproof Deciding between just doing a shade protection or offering shade and rain protection will be determined by your why you are wanting to install in the first place. The main differences you need to know is that waterproof shade structures are a little more expensive this is because wind can’t pass through the fabric which means there is more tension on the structure itself which means deeper foundations and more engineering to create a stronger structure overall. Waterproof fabrics also have fewer colour options. You can have a look at all the various colours here.   Added options Apart from choosing whether or not you’d like your car park shade structure to offer shade or shade and rain protection, you can also include some extra options like adding lighting, security or even optimise the structure to provide electricity to your facility and create a solar top structure and be part of helping to reduce the need for fossil fuels. If you are interested in a solar power car park shade structure have a read through this article. Quality hardware A significant differentiator to look for when selecting your shade structure installer is the quality of hardware they use to hold the fabric in-place. The fittings used need to be rust proof, corrosion resistant and be able to withstand an immense amount of pressure. To read more about what kind of quality fittings to look out for have a read through this article. Conclusion There are numerous elements to consider when selecting a supplier and installer for a commercial car park shade structure. The most important is to start with your why. Then find a supplier and installer that you can ask questions about the fabrics they have available, hardware used and their compliance.

The Westend Common walkway shade structure featuring a polycarbonate roof, manufactured, and installed by Versatile Structures

Polycarbonate, the ultimate UVR resistant shade structure solution

The use of lightweight polycarbonate in shade structures has become synonymous with sun protection as the material does not allow harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) rays to be transmitted. To better understand the value of polycarbonate as a protective substrate against UVR in shade structures we need to better understand ultraviolet radiation. What is ultraviolet radiation? Ultraviolet radiation or UVR, is a form of non-ionizing radiation emitted by the sun, with about 10% of the sun’s radiation being generated in the form of ultraviolet. Ultraviolet is part of the electromagnetic spectrum with waves ranging from 10 to 400 nanometres, meaning they are shorter than visible light and longer than X-rays. While ultraviolet has some positive benefits, like assisting in the production of vitamin D, it is also the source of skin cancer and its exposure to eyes have been associated with cornea damage and cataract formation – all valid reasons to be sun smart and get excellent sun protection. Thankfully, the shorter and most hazardous UV waves are absorbed by the atmosphere. At ground level, earth receives the range of 280-400 nanometres, which is further allocated to the higher Ultraviolet A (UVA) and lower Ultraviolet B (UVB) ranges The deadliest form of skin cancer, Melanoma, has been shown to correlate with the degree of UV exposure and while UV exposure also effects and degrades nonorganic materials like cars, any painted items will fade or crack over time depending on the amount of UV they are exposed to.  If you are interested to read more about ultraviolet radiation and shade sails, click here. Does polycarbonate block UV radiation? Polycarbonate nearly blocks the entire UV spectrum, does not allow any UVR transmission and absorbs UVA and UVB rays. Its UVR blocking characteristics makes polycarbonate an ideal shade solution to protect against the sun’s harmful rays and a popular choice for roofing in both commercial and residential construction. A great application for a polycarbonate roof structure would be for covering a swimming pool, allowing swimmers to enjoy the natural light without the harmful UV concerns and swim all day without having to apply sunscreen. Should polycarbonate itself be UV protected? If polycarbonate absorbs all UV radiation, do you need to treat or protect the polycarbonate? As polycarbonate absorbs all the harmful radiation it leads to yellowing or discoloration of the material over time, and eventually polycarbonate would lose its properties and break. It is therefore recommended to add a UV protection over polycarbonate to extend the lifespan of a polycarbonate structure. Reputable polycarbonate manufacturers apply a very thin UV protective layer to the sheets. This layer is invisible to the naked eye and does not impact the physical and optical characteristics of the material, while securing the performance of the sheet throughout its lifetime, even under harsh sunlight exposure conditions such as those found in Australia. When the polycarbonate is used in roofing a one-sided UV protection is enough. Polycarbonate benefits Polycarbonate is highly versatile in it is application and ideal for roofing, cladding, and skylights. Lightweight. Polycarbonate weighs half that of its glass equivalent which saves in shipping costs, handling, and installation. Durable. Polycarbonate is virtually indestructible, making it an ideal choice for protection from extreme weather conditions UVR protection. Polycarbonate does not allow any UVR transmission, while offering light transmission properties that are comparable to glass Warranty. Polycarbonate sheets are available with warranties for up to 15 years. Summary In summary, polycarbonate is an excellent material to protect people as well as non-organic items from UV exposure. However, when deciding to use polycarbonate as a shade structure solution it is recommended to have the polycarbonate sheets treated with a UV protection to extend its lifespan and save yourself money overall.

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