Shade sails in schools: What are the benefits, and how can they be maximised?

Shade sails in schools: What are the benefits

All schools have a duty and desire to protect the children in their care as much as possible. Parents want their children to spend time outdoors but be protected from the sun at the same time. Installing shade sails can help address these concerns. However, several factors must be considered. Protecting children from the sun is absolutely critical. Children are at the greatest risk of harm from the sun’s UV rays because their skin is more sensitive than that of adults. Frequent exposure to UV rays as a child can lead to skin cancer later in life. Common surfaces used in schoolyards, such as asphalt and artificial grass, can reach up to 60 degrees during the day. However, shade sails can lower this temperature by up to 20 degrees. Furthermore, children’s exposure to harmful UV rays can be reduced by up to 75%. Shade sails provide good thermal comfort, making outdoor spaces more attractive for children to sit and play in. Therefore, by making them more comfortable, shade sails will encourage children to spend more time outdoors. Schools that have installed shade sails have found that outdoor areas have seen increased use. Students have used these spaces to wait for buses, study, eat lunch, and participate in recreational activities and PE classes.

Factors to consider when installing shade sails

When installing shade sails, various factors must be considered to ensure that your school maximises its benefits. Schools generally do not have unlimited resources. Therefore, they must maximise the protection their sails provide. Fortunately, there are several ways to do this. Firstly, you should ensure the shade sails will provide the shade you require. There should be enough shade for socialising, eating, and playing games.

Enhanced Safety and Comfort: Shade sails significantly reduce children’s exposure to harmful UV rays by up to 75% and lower temperatures in outdoor school areas by up to 20 degrees, making them safer and more comfortable for children to play and learn outdoors.
Increased Outdoor Usage: Schools that install shade sails report increased usage of outdoor spaces for various activities, including lunch, studying, and physical education, as they provide a cooler and more inviting environment.
Strategic Installation Considerations: Effective shading involves considering the most utilized areas and times of day to ensure optimal protection, especially during peak UV radiation periods in the afternoon and summer months. Positioning of shade sails relative to school buildings and seating arrangements is crucial to maximize shade throughout the day.
Design and Supervision: Shade sails should be designed not only to minimize UV exposure but also to allow sufficient light and warmth during colder months. Additionally, the design should facilitate easy supervision of children by teachers and be visually appealing to encourage frequent use by students.
Resource Management: Schools must strategically plan the installation of shade sails to maximize benefits while managing limited resources, ensuring adequate shading for key social and recreational areas within the school premises.

You should also consider which areas of the school get the most use and at what times of the day. You want to ensure shade is maximised at the right time of day. Prioritise shading of spaces that will be used during the afternoon when UV levels are at their highest. For example, students should receive maximum protection while outdoors eating lunch or waiting at the bus stop after school. You should also prioritise shading areas that are used mostly in summer when UV radiation is at its harshest. Also, consider how long students spend in each area when considering which areas are a priority for shade. Seats should be positioned away from the edge of the sail so they are kept under shade for as long as possible. It is also important to consider the positioning of your shade sail in relation to buildings.

Working with exsiting structures when installing shade sails

Buildings can amplify the protection provided by your shade sail. Shade sails should be designed to minimise exposure to UV all year round while allowing sufficient heat and light in winter. Indirect UV exposure should also be considered when designing shade sails for schools. This refers to the UV rays that bounce off surfaces and reflect into the shaded area. Consider the surfaces around the shade sail and what they are made of. You don’t want surrounding surfaces to reflect sunlight into your shaded area.

Teachers must be able to supervise children adequately. Therefore, you must consider whether the design of your shade sail will affect this supervision. It’s one thing to install shade sails, but you need to ensure children actually use them. One way to do this is by making them visually appealing. For example, coloured or textured shade sails will capture children’s attention, encouraging them to play under the shade sails. You should consider the location of your school and the weather associated with this area. Ideally, choose a shade sail product that will also protect from wet weather.