Shade at school

When designing shade structures at your school, you should consider:

• what the space will be used for
• type of shade materials to use and how well they work
• the size, height and location of the shade structure
• how the sun moves across the site during the day
• the effects of wind and weather
• the effect on nearby buildings and outdoor spaces.

You also need to consider how to provide protection from UV radiation while making sure outdoor spaces are comfortable and useful throughout the year. Shade spaces should be warm rather than cool.

Schools provide shade in many ways, including:

• trees and other landscaping shades
• verandas and covered walkways
• covered outdoor learning areas
• permanent roofed outdoor structures
• purpose-built shade structures, such as shade sails.

Each option has different costs, maintenance needs, levels of shade protection and expected lifespans. Schools should consider these factors when planning and choosing the best shade solution for their site.

Trees can provide long-term shade. They also make outdoor areas more attractive and are good for the environment. When planting trees, choose locations that won't:

• need much maintenance in the future
• cause problems with buildings, underground services and other infrastructure.

Verandas and other covered outdoor areas provide shade. They support outdoor learning, provide shelter between teaching spaces and connect indoor and outdoor areas.

The location of a shade structure is important. When you're planning the location of a shade structure, make sure you consider:

• how the outdoor space is used
• how the sun and wind move across the site
• accessing and moving through the area
• how it affects the visiblitiy of students for supervision
• future maintenance needs.

Shade structures should not negatively affect nearby teaching and learning spaces. For example, they shouldn't block natural light or reduce airflow into the building. As a general guide, freestanding shade structures should be at least 1 metre away from buildings.

A shade or shadow study can show whether a structure will provide enough shade and still allow nearby buildings and outdoor spaces to be used as intended.

Attaching shade structures to buildings

Shade structures should not be attached to existing buildings, unless the building has been checked and designed by an engineer. This will make sure the building can safely handle the extra weight and forces from the structure, such as the impact of strong wind on stretched fabric materials.

If you’re thinking about attaching a shade structure to a school building, the structure's design must comply with the requirements of the Building Code.

Building Code requirements

Whether or not you need building consent, any shade structure funded or installed by a school must comply with the New Zealand Building Code. This makes sure it's structurally safe, durable and meets fire safety standards.

Schools should get professional design advice to make sure the structure meets building code requirements.

Fire safety

Shade structures must not compromise fire safety or emergency evacuation requirements for a building. Check that the location of the shade structure doesn’t:

• obstruct doors
• affect evacuation routes
• extend open paths that form part of the means of escape from a building to a length that doesn’t meet Building Code requirements.

The placement of a structure should not increase escape distances beyond those assumed in the building's fire design.

Materials used in shade structures must comply with applicable New Zealand fire performance requirements.

Shade structures should be made from materials that are suitable for how long they’re expected to be used.

The supporting frame and structure should be designed to last at least 50 years. This is in line with the durability requirements for structural elements set out in the 'B2 durability' section of the New Zealand Building Code.

When choosing a shade structure, you should consider:

• the total cost over the lifespan
• how durable it is
• how much maintenance it will need
• how often parts may need to be replaced
• whether it provides good value for money.

You should choose materials based on how the structure will be used, the local environment, engineering requirements and how well the materials are expected to perform over their lifetime. There are different types of shade fabrics with different levels of:

• UV protection
• weather resistance
• light transmission and visibility through the fabric
• structural performance under wind and other loads
• maintenance needs
• expected lifespan.

Shade structures can create a fall risk if people are able to climb on them. You can reduce the risk with careful design and placement. Shade structures should not be installed near:

• trees
• buildings
• playground equipment
• anything else that could make it easier for people to climb onto them.

Designers should think about ways to discourage climbing and prevent unauthorised access.

Verandas are a 5 Year Agreement (5YA) priority 3 project if they’re attached to the building and designed to create an outdoor learning area directly off a classroom. If a veranda is replaced as part of a roof replacement project, it will be priority 2.
 
5 Year Agreement funding

Shade and covered outdoor learning areas are generally 'priority 4' in a 5 Year Agreement (5YA) because they’re treated as site improvements, and there are different ways to provide shade and shelter across a school site.

When planning a property project, you should think about all available options. This could include using trees and landscaping, building verandas or covered walkways, or putting in freestanding shade structures. A combination of these approaches may provide the best outcome.

You must use board funding to pay for insurance for shade sails. Our school building insurance funding programme doesn’t cover repairs or replacements for shade sails if they’re damaged in an incident or unforeseen event.
 
School building insurance funding programme