Are you considering a shade sail for your home or business?

With the storm season fast approaching, ensuring your shade sail is wind-rated and properly tensioned will provide you with peace of mind.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, higher-than-average temperatures and moisture provide the potential for an increase in wild weather this spring. In late August and Early September, parts of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania were battered by severe storms downing thousands of trees and causing extensive blackouts.

At Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, wind gusts reached 146 km per hour, while in Melbourne they reached over 100 km p/h.
NSW SES has responded to more than 21,000 storm-related incidents in the past year.
On 1st of September alone they responded to more than 750 incidents.

What can happen to a non-tensioned or wind-rated shade sail in a storm?

During a storm, shade sails that are not tensioned or wind-rated can pose serious risks, potentially causing injury to people and severe damage to property. This underscores the urgency of ensuring your shade sail is properly installed and rated.
Tensioning a shade sail spreads the force of the wind evenly across the surface of the shade sail.

If a shade sail is not tensioned properly, it can be susceptible to strong winds. This may cause the structure to collapse.
Non-tensioned shade sails can also become detached in strong winds, which could cause them to be thrown into nearby buildings or vehicles.

Support poles and anchors can also become dangerous projectiles in the event of strong winds.

A wind-rated shade sail is one that has been designed to withstand a certain level of wind speed and pressure. A wind rating refers to the maximum wind speed a shade sail can withstand before failing or being subjected to damage.

Shade sails that are non-wind-rated often lack the features to withstand strong winds.

In a storm, these sails can act like parachutes, catching wind and pulling up anchors or bending poles, which may result in the sail being ripped away entirely.

Non-tensioned shade sails may have to be more frequently repaired after storms, resulting in higher expenses.

Video: Nine Network

Other dangers of non-tensioned and wind-rated shade sails

A shade sail that has not been tensioned will have a shorter lifespan. This is because exposure to wind will lead to stress on the seams and material. In addition, improper tensioning places uneven stress on the fabric and mounting points of a shade sail, which can accelerate the degradation of the shade sail.

In harsh weather conditions, this degradation will occur much faster.

Many building codes and insurance policies require that shade sails be wind-rated. Installing a non-wind-rated shade sail may void your insurance policy in the event of damage, leaving you or your business financially responsible in the event of damage or injury.

Commercial properties are often subject to especially strict building regulations. If you have a non-compliant shade sail, it may be ordered to be removed, posing a significant cost to your business.

Only a tensioned shade sail will provide maximum protection from the elements. Un-tensioned shade sails will provide less protection from harsh sunlight and will not provide protection against rain.

If you run a school or daycare centre, un-tensioned or non-wind-rated shade sails can be especially dangerous. If sails fall or fly off in high winds it can cause serious injury to children. Improperly tensioned sails may sag, causing a tripping hazard for children.

Video: Severe Weather Australia

Why choose a quality shade sail from Custom Made Shade Sails?

To ensure your shade sail is properly tensioned and wind-rated, it’s best to choose a high-quality, custom-made shade sail from Commercial Shade Sails.

At Custom Made Shade Sails, our shade sails are built to withstand winds over 100 km p/h. We stock a range of Rainbow Shade products which have been certified with the highest level of hail protection. Our shade sails are designed using double-stitching and PTFE thread. Our shade sail installers are licensed and have decades of local knowledge. They understand local weather conditions. We work with builders and insurance companies each year to replace shade sails that have been damaged in storms.

Article References

9 News Australia (2024) ‘Powerful winds wreak havoc in Victoria’.’ [news report], Nine Network, Melbourne.

SES (2024) CALLS TO NSW SES INCREASE AS DAMAGING WINDS CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE STATE, SES, accessed 26 September 2024.

Severe Weather Australia (2024) ‘Melbourne Night Storm: Cyclonic winds impact Victoria‘.’ [Video], Severe Weather Australia, Australia

The Guardian (7 September 2024) ‘Wet, warm spring could bring severe storms to Australia’s south east’, The Guardian, accessed 12 September 2024.