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Critical to our local climatic conditions, external sunscreens continue to be an Australian industry mainstay, with new colours as well as the ability to provide both privacy and temperature control among its key characteristics.
THE SHANN GROUP
“Let’s talk about windows for a moment, actual windows,” says Melissa Vine, National Product Manager – Industrial Fabrics The Shann Group. “There are an estimated 9,000,000 dwellings in Australia. Using a conservative estimate of five windows per dwelling, that’s around 45,000,000 windows in residential homes and apartments across the country. How many are you covering?”
“While not all of those windows need covering, based on our environment, most do and it’s critical to find the right product to meet and exceed performance applications, and in the right colour. The Sustainability Council’s advice is that external shading is much more effective at keeping the temperature down indoors than interior window treatments, by preventing the heat from reaching the glass (although, using a mix of both will provide maximum protection).”
“Offering the right shading product is about matching the shading type to the right window; during summer, most of the heat will be gained by east facing windows in the morning and west facing windows in the afternoon. Choosing a drop blind or angled awning that can be adjusted up and down, will provide optimum control to manage comfort and temperature over the weather conditions.”
Equally, choosing the right material for that blind or awning is critical, says Vine, adding that the Atmosphere external mesh range is perfect for use in a wide range of external applications, including drop blinds and awnings. “Atmosphere is also the ideal fabric for patio, pergola, fixed screen and track system applications, such as Urban Track,” she adds. “Featuring superior visibility and exceptional glare, UV and heat reduction, the versatile Atmosphere range is manufactured using outdoor rated PVC coated polyester fibre and is treated with anti-bacterial and ani-fungal treatments to keep it looking and performing better, for longer.”
“Rounding out the performance requirements, colour is an unquestionably important element and the new colours recently launched in the Atmosphere range, Polar and Icon, have already proven incredibly popular among our customers, and theirs. Taking cues from stunning Hamptons beach style, Polar is a brilliant white, featuring the latest in UV resistant fibre for even better performance. Icon is at the other end of the colour spectrum, a statement dark grey with charcoal notes, a perfect complement to inky-black and dark coated façades. The full colour range showcases shades created to coordinate and contrast with a wide range of prominent outdoor finishes, from bricks and paint, to coated aluminium and steel, such as Colorbond, ensuring there is the perfect Atmosphere match to almost any surface.”
RICKY RICHARDS
Ricky Richards’ Mode Zero has been successfully positioned as “Australia’s genuine block out mesh fabric.”
“Launched into the market earlier this year, Mode Zero is proving a highly sought-after mesh fabric. With zero percent openness, it provides complete privacy and the ultimate protection from the sun. You can control your privacy level, the heat, wind and rain all by keeping your external blinds opened or closed.”
“Mode Zero was specifically designed as a breathable mesh fabric to augment our existing Outlook range. While offering complete privacy, Mode Zero minimises unwanted heat gain allowing improved energy efficiency in the home or office.”
“Mode Zero has all the features of other Outlook fabrics including a full 10- year warranty. It is UV stabilised, lead free, printable and fire retardant. Available in six popular colours, Mode Zero is the perfect mesh fabric to place into an external blind where privacy and comfort are required.”
