Why your kindergarten needs shade sails

June 21st, 2016 · Published to Playgrounds by Steve Lewis

Kindergarten owners in Australia certainly have a lot of challenges to deal with. No, I’m not just talking about having to manage mischievous children and keeping them in line. A much more pressing concern is to offer a safe outdoor environment for the kids to play in.

Australia is known to have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and this is largely due to the high amount of UV radiation that we experience. Kids lie at a higher risk of being exposed to UVR as they do not understand the potential hazards of staying out in the sun for too long. As responsible adults, it is our duty to ensure that kids are safe and well protected from the harsh sun rays and the most effective way of doing this is through shade sails.

Recently, I came across a brilliant article published by the Medical Journal of Australia which mentions the importance of shade structures in kindergartens and children play areas. As a shade solution specialist myself, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the things that have been mentioned in the article. Hopefully, after going through what I have to say, you will realise that your kindergarten definitely needs shade sails.

What “effective shade” means

Customers, both in the education and domestic sector, are often under the misconception that all shade sails provide effective shading. However, this is quite far from the truth. The amount of protection offered by a shade sail always varies with the angle of the sun. If a shade sail is not large enough, during certain times of the day the shade falls outside the structure rather than below it. In such cases, the risk of exposure to UV rays stays just the same despite having a shade structure in place. The positioning of shade sails always needs to be given importance, especially when children are involved. Therefore, it is always wise to use large-sized shade sails in kindergartens. Kindergarten shade sails are large enough to provide effective shade over a vast area at all times of the day.

Ultraviolet radiation in shade

I am often asked if UV radiation is lower in shaded areas or on cloudy days. The answer to this is no. Several research studies have demonstrated that UV radiation manages to reach the ground even on cloudy days. Even if shade structures are used, unless special attention is paid to the material with which the structure is made, UV radiation will penetrate through. The best way to protect children from UV radiation in the shade is by making use of shade sails with a high UPF rating. Kindergarten shade sails, such as the ones we manufacture here at Global Shade, are made out of top quality fabrics with high UPD ratings. Our shade sails are specially designed to offer UV protection of up to 99%. Such high-quality fabrics allow you to rest assured, knowing that kids will be well protected when playing under our shade sails.

How to ensure complete protection from UV rays

It’s important to understand that not all shade solutions work against UV rays. In environments, where kids play such as kindergartens, special attention always needs to be paid to shade structures. Not only should shade structures be large enough to cover a vast area, but they should also be manufactured with high UPF rated fabrics. Fortunately, our kindergarten shade sails meet these requirements. Our shade sails are scientifically tested and proven to offer adequate UV protection. No wonder that our shade sails are used across several kindergartens and playgrounds in Australia.

Here, at Global Shade, all our shade sails are manufactured using premium-grade fabrics supplied by Rainbow Shade. The fabrics that we use are specially designed to offer the ultimate UV protection of up to 99%. Our kindergarten shade sails are made out of fabrics which are large, lightweight, durable and fire-resistant and allow light to pass through. Moreover, we have a range of colours and design options for you to choose from. When you choose Global Shade kindergarten shade sails, not only will you offer a safe environment for children to play in, but you can also provide an aesthetically pleasing and stylish shade solution.

Conclusion:

As a kindergarten owner, you must always ensure to provide a safe outdoor environment for kids to play in. You must build effective shade structures that cover a large area. Shade structures that you choose should also be made of high UPF fabrics that block out most of the sun’s UVR. The best solution is to make use of large kindergarten shade sails to offer the highest level of protection to kids.

For the best quality kindergarten shade sails in Australia, get in touch with us at Global Shade. Our shade sails are extremely effective in blocking out UVR and are available in a range of designs and colour options as well.  Choose Global Shade – you definitely won’t regret it!