Specialty Fabrics Review December 2021 - 32

2021 | BACK TO BUSINESS
SHADE AND WEATHER PROTECTION
Shade sail dos and don'ts
S
hade sails offer a great business
opportunity for fabricators, but it's
important to keep some key " dos and
don'ts " in mind.
That was the message from Shazeebo
owner and founder Patrick Howe during
his presentation " Shade Sails Dos and
Don'ts-A Deep Dive, " presented at the
IFAI Expo in Nashville.
There are several considerations for those
that are looking to expand their shade sail
business, Howe says. Be sure to study the
environment to look for possible problems.
A steady diet of wind will cause
mechanical breakdown of the shade cloth,
vibrate the hardware excessively and reduce
the lifespan of the product. If you see a
windfarm in the area, for instance, that could
be a warning sign of a potential problem.
Look for water issues, such as a lowlying
area that floods on occasion or a golf
course where the owners soak the ground
to make the grass grow. Too much water
will saturate the ground potentially causing
the footing to fail, which lets the posts tip in,
making the sail loose.
If a yard is full of large rocks, they may not
have been delivered. Those rocks likely came
from the property. Warn the property owner
there may be an extra charge for a hard dig.
Don't forget to measure properly and look
for potential obstacles.
" One of the most important times to
pump the brakes, slow down and take your
time is during the measurement process, "
Howe says. " If you put junk in, you're going
to get junk out. "
Howe recommends investing in a laser
designed with a 3D function. It's quicker,
more accurate and safer than using a tape
measure, he says.
Protect your customers and grow your business
S
kin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. It is
primarily caused by harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and experts
say that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with a skin cancer by age 70.
In a session called " Sell Shade! Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer and Grow
Your Business, " Dennis Rushing, general manager of Industrial Shadeports,
explained why ultraviolet radiation is so dangerous.
There are two types of ultraviolet radiation, Rushing said. Longer
wavelength Ultraviolet B rays cause tanning, but overexposure results in
sunburn and in many cases blistering. It's also the primary cause of skin aging.
Ultraviolet A rays have a shorter wavelength but penetrate the skin more
deeply. " Exposure actually damages the DNA of skin cells on the innermost
part of your top layer of skin, where most skin cancers occur, " said Rushing.
What does all this mean? " Shade is going to be needed more and more, "
he said. Schools, churches, and outdoor public spaces need to provide better
protection to people, especially children who are less likely to realize they are
harming themselves. " He said children often get a lot of intense sun exposure
that damages their cells and may result in cancer many years or decades later.
Rushing said that tent, awning, and shade structure sellers have an
important role to play in reducing skin cancer by educating clients to
the damaging effects of the sun and explaining how they can help limit
exposure. Properly installed and maintained shade structures can block
up to 97.7 percent of UV rays.
" Anything you can do to protect children is good for business, " said
Rushing. " If we all get involved in this, it will only grow your business. "
SHADE SAIL ENGINEERING
T
imothy Akes, representative for the Americas, MPanel Software
Solutions, and Andrew Askwith, senior software developer, MPanel
Software Solutions, presented the education session " Shade Sail
Engineering-It's Not Just a Bunch of Numbers. "
According to Akes, there is a tendency for shade sail engineering
specifications to be overlooked until construction begins, which can be
expensive. Rather, companies should aim to involve engineers during the initial
stages of a new shade sail project.
Askwith guided education session attendees through a live demonstration
of MPanel's software and highlighted the program's unique ability to apply
various loads-such as wind, snow and rain-to determine a shade structure's
sail displacement, fabric stresses, cable tensions, and pole and footer sizing
locations. By utilizing modern and easy-to-use software, companies involved
in shade sail engineering can better design and install shade projects that
can weather outdoor elements.
32 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / December 2021
Specialty Fabrics Review December 2021

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