General Information on Sun Protection
Excessive sun can cause overheating, sunburn and heat stress on people, animals and plants. Relative sun levels typically vary from 1 on a overcast winters day to 3 on a sunny winters day to 10 on a sunny summer day. Retractable canopies in layers can be used to match the changing sunshine levels. Alternatively a fixed canopy is chosen to cover the worst case. Shade fabric is available in every shade level from 1% to 99%. Different colours are also available to provide varying light spectrum See the technical pages for more information on fabrics. The picture above shows 4 common shade levels: 30%, 47% 63% and 80% all in black yarn.The sections above are all about 1″ wide, so on many computer screens they will show as actual size.
How Much Sun Do You Get?
A number of service organizations measure levels of Ultra Violet. The image is from the web pages of the EPA and of the Climate Prediction Center.
What Shade Fabric Should I Use?
This is the most important decision in any shade house design. Shade changes the temperature as well as the light spectrum. These effects are discussed in the Growth Optimization page. Not all shade fabrics are created equal for strength and durability, this discussion is in the Shade House page. WeatherSolve selects fabrics to suit your situation from manufacturers around the world.
Other Agricultural Shade
There are numerous Agricultural uses for shade systems. Improve worker and animal productivity with a more temperate environment. Contact our designers to discuss your requirements.
- Packing Area shade
- Maintain fruit quality with shade over newly picked fruit.
- Portable shade and fixed shade systems are available.
Shade systems can be created for any situation- large or small.
As our systems are completely custom designed, you can choose exactly the level of protection and the area to be protected that you need.
For example, if you would like wind protection and hail protection as well as shade, we will create a system to suit. Retraction options are available, or the system can be sized to resist snow loads.
In choosing a system, consider these possible requirements:
- Decorative colours or the (more economical) black or clear for minimal light disruption?
- What level of temperature control, UV blockage and shade?
- Protection from which of – wind, hail, snow, rain, dust, people (visual or security)?
- Area covered – complete coverage for which range of sun angles?
- Structure – where can supports be placed that will be out of the way?
- Strength – what loads do you want it designed for – hurricane strength structures are an option if needed.
Recreational Sun Shade Canopies
Shade systems can be created for any situation – large or small.
As our systems are completely custom designed, you can choose exactly the level of protection and the area to be protected that you need.
For example, if you would like wind protection and hail protection as well as shade, we will create a system to suit. Retraction options are available, or the system can be sized to resist snow loads.
In choosing a system, consider these possible requirements:
- Decorative colours or the (more economical) black or clear for minimal light disruption?
- What level of temperature control, UV blockage and shade?
- Protection from – wind, hail, snow, rain, dust, people (visual or security) ?
- Area covered – complete coverage for which range of sun angles?
- Structure – where can supports be placed that will be out of the way?
- Strength – what loads do you want it designed for – hurricane strength structures are an option if needed.
Note: WeatherSolve specializes in shade structures from approx 3000 sq ft up to multi-acre structures. For smaller structures we recommend using one or two prefabricated shade panels with a reinforced eyelet in each corner that are available from a number of on-line suppliers.