While playing and learning outside, Australian students are exposed to some of the harshest and most dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the world. So, for schools, sun safe protective shade sails and structures are essential.
Polyfab™ Australia designs and develops market-leading shade cloth to keep your students and teachers safe.
Polyfab™ Xtra provides the world’s highest UVR protection in the 50+ range and an average UVR block of 99%+
Developed using premium raw materials and a tightly woven monofilament and tape construction, Polyfab™ Xtra shade cloth is stronger under the sun and stronger against vandalism so shade structures last longer. With extremely high physical strength for large shade structures and supported by a 15-year warranty, Polyfab™ Xtra offers ultimate peace of mind.
Shade cloth with a ‘monofilament and tape construction’ offers better UV protection
A monofilament shade cloth is a strong and durable netting that offers some shade without blocking out all light or air circulation. A monofilament and tape shade cloth weaves a thicker yarn tape through the gaps of a monofilament shade cloth, blocking out considerably more light, UV rays and heat.
In the image below, you can see a comparison Polyfab™ Xtra and a monofilament competitor. Polyfab™ Xtra boasts a tightly woven monofilament and tape construction -casting a dark shadow over the school courtyard – while the competitor product is a monofilament-only product and offers considerably less shade and sun protection.
Shade is an all-weather solution
A tightly woven shade fabric, like Polyfab™ Xtra, promotes exceptional water run-off, making it the perfect ‘all-weather’ solution when installed over spaces that are used year-round, like basketball courts and courtyards.
In warmer months, Polyfab™ Xtra helps keep your staff and students cooler. In cooler months, when installed over hip-and-ridge structures, the tightly woven Polyfab™ Xtra shade cloth promotes water run-off to keep the area drier.
Your school shade cloth checklist:
☑️ UV Protection Category: Excellent
☑️ Shade Cloth Protection Category: Most Effective
☑️ Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF): 50+
☑️ UV Radiation (UVR) Block: 98%+
☑️ Monofilament and tape construction
☑️ Promotes water run-off for year-round, multi-use spaces
Know your stats and meet building quality standards easily
While sun protection and shade are recommended in schools when UVR reaches 3 and above, research has shown that in Australian cities, peak daily values in summer are regularly over 12-14 and up to 16+ in northern regions. Only during the winter months in our southern cities do the average daily maximum UVR levels drop below 3. Providing year-round built shade in Australian schools is essential, as a high-quality shade fabric will provide both UVA and UVB protection.
According to Building Quality Standards for school shade projects, built shade in schools must provide extreme UV protection of 50 UPF or higher for students and teachers. A shade cloth, like Polyfab™ Xtra that offers UPF 50+ blocks, also offers 98%+ UVR block, meaning it reflects or absorbs 98% of the sun’s rays. Polyfab™ Xtra falls into the ‘Excellent’ UV protection and ‘Most Effective’ shade cloth protection categories.
Work with our network of shade designers, manufacturers and installers trusted by schools Australia-wide
As suppliers of shade fabrics, we work with an extensive network of shade professionals who regularly work with and are trusted by schools across Australia. We will help you specify the most suitable fabric for your next shade sail or shade structure. We will then find a local, experienced team that will assist you with the design, manufacture and installation of your shade solutions.