Shade sails

Specifications

General

• Unless otherwise specified, all materials, methods and workmanship shall be in accordance with the current Building Code of Australia, relevant Australian Standard or best practice industry standard where no Australian Standard exists.
• Shade structures to be built to a locally approved wind rating in line with AS 4055:2012 - Wind loads for housing as determined by an RPEQ based on the specific site conditions and any recommendations specified within the development building approval.  
• Written certification from a structural engineer that the finished shade structure installations are safe, suitable and fit for the purpose.  
• Geotechnical investigation and report to be supplied and footings designed and certified by a structural engineer.
• Shade structure cloth to be of the highest UV rating protection and fire retardant as per AS 4174:2018 Knitted and woven shade fabrics.
• Smaller multiple sails are preferred over larger single units. Where larger single units are necessary, a hole or flap must be engineered to release wind pressure in storm events.

Frame and rigging

• To prevent failure, components of the shade structure must not rub and wear against each other.
• Frame and steelworks to be hot dipped galvanised after manufacture (powdercoating tends to fail on posts).
• Poles to include a concrete apron at the base (to minimise brush cutting around the pole).    
• Fasteners, and perimeter wires to be 316 Stainless Steel.
• Tensioning devices and turnbuckles to incorporate a failsafe system to prevent dislodgement. 
  • For example; double lock nuts and spring washers, Loctite or similar screw/nut locking compound. 
  • Install a safety chain. Must be installed to a separate anchor point. 
• An additional failsafe wire or safety chain to be fastened from the shade sail to the post.
• There must be adequate provision for adjustment and tensioning of shade sails by way of turnbuckles, chain systems or similar (must be independent of fabric tension).
• D shackles to be a minimum of 12 mm in diameter.
• D shackles to include a failsafe tie wire inserted through the eye of the pin and secured to the D shackle to ensure that the pin remains secure.
• Rigging etc. must be ‘closed’ (hooks, hook turnbuckles, ‘S’ hooks, snap links etc. must not be used).
• Corner of shade sail to be sandwiched between circular aluminium plates to form fabric clamp, to minimise tearing of fabric.
• All attachment points to be fitted with safety chains, chain and shackles rated to the relevant Australian Standards - Safe Working Load (SWL) and certified by a Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ).
• Load rating certificates, foundation details, structural details and engineering certification must be supplied to confirm that materials used comply with engineering certified specifications and notes. The engineering certification must provide evidence that the fittings comply with AS 2741- 2002: Shackles. 

Membrane specification

• Membrane to be shade cloth complying with AS 4174:2018 Knitted and woven shade fabric. The material grade to be extra heavy duty.
• Shade sail colours to be dark colours (navy preferred) to minimise staining and to meet UV requirements. Lighter colours (e.g. white, cream, yellow) are NOT accepted. 
• Membranes to be cut to ‘form’ and not stretched to ‘form’.
• Tear strength, minimum - Warp 172 N, Weft 196 N.
• Breaking strength, minimum - Warp 799 N, Weft 2147 N.
• UV Protection, minimum - 91%+ (very effective).
• Wire inside the hem to be protected (inside a tube/hose) and prevented from rubbing through the fabric. 
• Perimeter wire to be a minimum diameter of 5.0 mm.
• Perimeter wire sockets - to be PVC reinforced.
• Corners - to be PVC reinforced and concealed by the shade cloth fabric.
• Fixing points to include reinforced eyelet plates.
• Wire exit points to be reinforced.
• Reinforcing patches to be oriented to match the membrane.
• All shade sail stitching is to be PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) UV stabilised sewing thread.

Footings, fixings and finishes

• Concrete work (footings etc.) associated with the installation of shade structures must have a minimum compressive strength of 25 MPA or as nominated by an RPEQ.
• Finishes and fittings to be vandal proof and corrosion resistant.
• Fixings to be marine grade 316 Stainless Steel to ensure longevity.
• Footing details to include geotechnical report with footings designed and certified by an RPEQ.
• Concrete footings to be as per ‘foundations’ listed in AS 4685.1:2021 and AS 16630:2021. Where posts are installed in turf areas, a concrete apron is to be provided to minimise mower damage.

Shade compliance

• A shade diagram (shade modelling) must be illustrated to provide a minimum of 50% shade cover of the equipment between 9.00 am and 3:00 pm (EST) in summer. Dependent on the size, orientation and activity elements, shade modelling shall be extended for a longer duration of the day, as well as, autumn, winter and spring months. This will ensure the shade sail is appropriately orientated. 
• Future shade provision, shade trees to be planted on the northern and western side of the playground structures, not closer than 2.5 m and not further than 3.5 m. Root barrier to be installed along the edge of the playground surfacing closest to the tree planting to prevent root incursion, dependent on the chosen species (refer to project Arborist for advice).
• Shade trees to be selected to minimise fruit drop and limb drop. Trees to be lift pruned to ensure clear surveillance.

Heights and clearances

• Any sail connection point shall be a minimum of 4.5 m above ground level to limit access.
• When installed, shade sails to have a minimum vertical clearance of 3.0 m above the highest point of play equipment.  In special cases this distance may be reduced to 2.5 m where the likelihood of vandalism is low, or equipment restricts access (e.g. swings are hard to balance upon).
• In special cases where shade profile diagram proves shade is inadequate, the post and shade sail connection point may be reduced, however the height clearances must be maintained (as per diagrams) and there must not be unintended access opportunities onto the shade sail itself (i.e. from an adjoining embellishment). Anti-climb vandal barriers must be installed as per drawing.
• Ensure embellishments (e.g. bin enclosures, seating, shelters) and any part of a tree (both at time of planting and expected mature size) are located a minimum of 2.5 m away from the shade sail posts, to prevent people from using them as leverage to climb upon shade sail.
• Consideration must be given to the positioning of shade sails adjoining natural elements - to not allow people to climb shade sails from overhanging branches (either via post or side of shade sail).
• Shade sail posts should allow ample space for run up and landings at the beginning and end of elements to reduce conflict and enhance safety (particularly important for skate parks). 
• Shade sail post location in play spaces:
  • Shade sail posts should be located outside of the playground surfacing footprint as the preferred option.
    • position posts in garden beds, or where posts are located in turf, provide a concrete mowing collar.
  • Where this isn’t possible, posts may be located within the playground surfacing footprint, provided the following requirements are met:
    • a risk assessment must be undertaken and the post location approved by Council (Parks and Gardens).
    • the posts must not be located in play space fall zones as per AS requirements.
    • the post must not be placed in any transition zones between play equipment elements (i.e. path of travel).
    • the post should be placed at the outer edge of the playground footprint where possible.
    • adequate luminance contrast between the posts and surfacing must be achieved.
• Where possible, posts should not be embedded in rubber surfacing, due to post/footing maintenance. Shade sail posts must not provide easy unintended access to playground equipment.
• Sail to be designed to drain into garden, not onto play equipment.
• Shade sail posts in exercise areas, play spaces and skate parks, must be placed appropriately so they don’t create collision points.