FABRIC

SHADING

ATHIRA NAIR
TEJASVI NIKAM
SONIYA JOSEPH
 Shade fabric structures have been
used since the advent of woven
shade cloth over 60 years ago.
The invention of knitted shade cloth in
1978 marked the commencement of
many changes.
Shade cloth had been primarily used
up until then for agricultural and
horticultural applications.
In the mid 1980's it started being used
for commercial swimming pools, car
storage, retail nursery's and domestic
applications.
The cover factor UV BLOCK became
increasingly important as the
applications for people protection
such as at kindergartens, schools and
playgrounds, started to grow.
 Fabric structures are used for any application that requires shade and/or
wind protection.

Schools, colleges
Sheltered workshops
Playgrounds, athletic sports grounds and aquatic centers
Wholesale and retail nurseries
Hail protection for vehicles
Industrial safety screens and fall nets
Commercial businesses, outdoor entertainment and relaxation areas
Property developers, landscaped areas of new estates
TYPES OF FABRIC MEMBRANES

PVC
Less expensive
15 to 20 year life span
Easy to erect
SILICON GLASS
Higher tensile strength
Brittle, subject to damage from flexing
30+ year life span
PVC fabric membrane structure
TEFLON GLASS
Similar to silicon glass, less brittle.

Teflon glass roof structure

Silicone coated fabric structure
 SOLAR BEHAVIOR

Fabric shading is also used as canopies, and sun control devices that offer protection from the elements as
well as visual enhancement to your building.
With an interior shade we can block 50 percent of solar heat gain, but with an exterior shade were
blocking 85 percent of heat gain from entering the space.
EXTERNAL SHADING INTERNAL SHADING
SUN AWNING
 For External Use: Coated fabrics
For external Use there are two main choices PVC (Poly Vinyl
Chloride) coated polyester cloth and PTFE (Poly Tetra Fluro
Ethlene) (Teflon) coated glass cloth.
The PVC coating contains additives that include UV
stabilizers, fire retardants, coloring and anti fungicides.

For Internal Use: Mesh Fabrics

For interiors there are three main fabrics:
Cottons are most economical and are available in a wide
range of colors.
Due to their susceptibility to staining and shrinkage they
are ideally suited for short term use or where a softer and
more natural texture is required.
PVC coated glass mesh is very durable and acts like a
sunscreen.
Polyurethane coated glass cloth which has benefits of
durability and similar appearance to cotton.
Silicon coated glass cloth is being used for its high fire
resistance and low relative fore toxicity but tends to attract
dirt.
PIER SIX PAVILION WATER DRAINAGE
Baltimore, Maryland

OPEN STRUCTURE CLOSED STRUCTURE

BDA HOUSING PROJECT PREFABRICATED SHEDS
BANGALORE
ADVANTAGES
Longer life cycles of materials.
Materials can be re-used in form.
Most materials are completely
recyclable.
Less impact on site.
Less construction debris after demolition.
Unique designs
Lightweight and flexible
Environmentally sensitive
High strength weight ratio
DISADVANTAGES
Little to no rigidity
Loss of tension is dangerous for stability
Thermal values limit use
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
Fabric structures cannot take heavy weather
conditions is an incorrect statement.
Fabric is elastic and stretches.
Fabric has a strong tensile strength and will creep
(stretch very slightly) only a few percent over 20
years of use.
 GARDENS BY THE BAY, SINGAPORE

The external solar protection system integrating 25,000 m of Soltis 92 screens was designed to ensure the
comfort of visitors, limit solar energy contribution and reduce air-conditioning consumption.
419 outdoor retractable blinds are completely hidden beneath the building structural arches, when not in use. A
cable system tensions the 8 x 12 m triangular blinds (average dimensions).
The automated, individual blind control system integrates an intelligent self-learning algorithm for adjusting the
internal lighting level.
The shading reduces solar heat gain by more than 30% when partially deployed and approximately 70% when
fully deployed. They can be deployed in an emergency to reduce solar heat gain inside the building.
 The BURJ AL ARAB" is the world's tallest structure incorporating a
membrane facade. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow (Arab
sailing vessel)
The open side of the V-shaped floor plan is encased with a
15,000sq/m, 200m high membrane facade.
12 individual tensioned two layer membrane panels form the
north facing facade, which enclose the vast 18 storey atrium.
In the evening the translucent PTFE glass fiber facade becomes a
gigantic projection screen.
The membrane material has excellent resistance against the
extremes of UV radiation, large temperature variation, sandstorms
and fire.
 Al Bahar Towers took inspiration from a traditional Islamic motif to
design an innovative and visually interesting external automated
shading system for the building.
The dynamic faade has been conceived as a contemporary
interpretation of the traditional Islamic mashrabiya; a popular form of
wooden lattice screen found in vernacular Islamic architecture and used
as a device for achieving privacy while reducing glare and solar gain.
The mashrabiya at Al Bahar Towers comprises a series of transparent
umbrella-like components that open and close in response to the suns
path.
Each of the two towers comprises over 1,000 individual shading devices
that are controlled via the building management system, creating an
intelligent faade.
Each unit comprises a series of stretched PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)
panels, to prevent direct sunlight from striking the faade and to limit
direct solar gain to a maximum of 400 watts per linear meter.
The entire installation is protected by a variety of sensors that will open
the units in the event of overcast conditions or high winds.
The effects of this system are comprehensive: reduced glare, improved
daylight penetration, less reliance on artificial lighting, and over 50%
reduction in solar gain, which results in a reduction of CO2 emissions by
1,750 tones per year.