People understand the price difference between a domestic and a commercial awning, but the price difference goes beyond money.

Garden awnings are meant to be used occasionally, be wind resistant, and be retracted by homeowners before storms. Commercial awnings placed on the side of a pub or restaurant must be able to withstand all kinds of weather and be left out all day, every day. They are built differently, the specs are different, and the maintenance is different.

Getting the decision wrong is a costly mistake. We see this fairly often. A business has selected a domestic provider, installed a unit that may have the desired appearance, and spend the next two years dealing with the poor quality of the unit, bending arms, and fading fabric.

The Most Common Examples

Retractable cassette awnings are the most popular option for commercial awnings. When cassette awnings are not in use, the arm and fabric retract fully into the protective cassette. Retractable awnings are also wall-mounted, motorized, and are able to cover long distances of greater than 15 meters depending on the manufactured model.

Some canopies are not retractable. This makes them more robust. A canopy must be left out for long periods of time and in most cases use a greater span than retractable awnings. Semi-permanent canopy structures provide shelter and have to be considered during planning.

More commercial spaces are looking for free-standing pergola systems instead of traditional pergolas for space definition rather than space coverage. Adjustable pergolas systems are available where louvres can be adjusted for flexibility. Building a more permanent structure with a proper foundation may involve more planning, drainage, and design due to the increased scope of the project. However, these structures are successful in creating an actual outdoor living space instead of a mere presence of a cover.

Entry canopies are designed to do one thing, and one thing only, and that is to offer weather protection. They do not have the same primary focus of providing additional space. These structures serve as the outdoor ‘face’ of the business and provide the initial presentation to each customer.

Wind Rating

There are other things that matter in the commercial sector. Things like customer focus and shopping experience are a leading area of concern. However, there exists an unwritten code as to what actually counts as a commercial space and a domestic one.

Commercial structures are here to stay, and there are guidelines as per their structural integrity and their rated structures. These vary according to their occupancy and their intended use, and there are conditions that govern their placement. Make sure to check before you buy and ensure that there are no domestic structures in place. Customers are the leading area of concern.

Fabric

A fabric failure often occurs on a poorly designed awning. A commercial awning should be fabric coated in a solution dye, where far superior options like Sunbrella and Dickson can be found. Due to the dye being colored throughout, Sunbrella and Dickson fade at a much slower rate. Because Sunbrella and Dickson are fade resistant, cleaning can be done properly.

Unless you are incorporating this for a very short contract or temporary use, you should be avoiding PVC coated polyester. Out of the box, PVC coated polyester looks amazing, but its short lifespan should deter any buyers.

Motorized or Manual

For awnings in the commercial sector that stretch over 3 meters wide, incorporating a motorized awning should be the only feasible option. Large manual awnings that exceed 3 meters wide become difficult to utilize as the manual awnings are also difficult to operate and slow to maneuver.

Integration of the awning’s motorization with a wind sensor is standard. Integration of a wind sensor with the commercial awning also is standard. Integration of the sun sensor is optional and opens in the presence of UV light of a predetermined level, and retracts at the set time of the day.

Integration with the building management systems is standard in most systems in the mid to refined range. Building management systems are also standard.

Planning Permission

With most commercial properties, retractable awnings fall into the realm of permitted development and are generally exempt from planning permission grants. Fixed canopies are also more likely to need planning permission, especially if the building in question is a listed or located in a conservation area.

Do your research before going through a specification. Each local authority has their own rules based on the type of structure. A knowledgeable installer will understand the rules of your area. If they don’t, that says something.

Maintenance

Every commercial awning needs at least one annual service. The hood needs to be cleaned, the lubrication of a vehicle is necessary, the fittings and shadow motor need to be inspected, and don’t forget about the occasional light obstruction. None of these are optional. If an awning gets disservice, it will break faster.