Specialist playground canopies are designed to keep playground equipment cooler and more user-friendly on hot days. By shielding children and adults from the sun’s harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays, these shade structures can help prevent skin burns and heat-related illnesses, while also helping to extend the life of playground equipment.
As well as offering protection specialist playground canopies from the sun’s rays, these shade structures can add a great deal of character to a play environment. The wide range of fabric, configurations and colors available to choose from allows them to complement and enhance the artistic and architectural look of a playground project.
Sunshades can be added directly to a playground structure as part of a design feature, or they can be installed separately as a stand-alone shade structure. Regardless of the type of structure, a key consideration for any design is to ensure the shade is positioned at least 84 inches above the height of a play system’s tallest deck. This allows the structure to be safely used by children of all ages and abilities, including those with mobility impairments or sensory issues.
The most popular option is to install a modular shade design that can be built into a new or existing playground space. These canopies require no footings and can offer a very cost-effective solution to shade for a playground. They can reduce the surface temperature of a playground by up to 15 degrees, which is an important factor in helping to prevent skin burns and heat-related illnesses.
Another popular option is to add a steel frame hip shade to a playground. These can be a single shade with a minimal footprint, or multiple shades overlapping one another to cover a larger area. They can be a good choice for sites with tight budgets that still want to meet statutory requirements for minimum shade coverage.
An increasing number of states and local authorities are introducing requirements for shade over playgrounds. While these requirements are not as stringent as those for safety and accessibility, they do help to ensure that playgrounds provide a safe environment for everyone.
In addition to protecting users of all ages and abilities, playground shade also helps to protect the structural integrity of the equipment itself. Direct exposure to sunlight can increase the deterioration of playground components, and even certain paints. This can affect their longevity, and may cause them to degrade much more rapidly than if they are protected by shade.
Adding shade to a playground can dramatically reduce the surface temperature of the equipment, and can significantly prolong its life. As such, it is an investment that will pay dividends for a long time to come. This makes it an ideal addition to any school, community or public park that wants to protect its users from the sun’s harmful rays and extend its lifespan at the same time. We supply a wide range of high-quality shade products, all of which are designed and manufactured in the UK by our sister company, Becker’s Leisure.