Shade structures by Shade Systems Inc.

Specifications - Frame-Supported Products

GENERAL:  Shade Systems products are designed and manufactured to the most exacting specifications by skilled craftsmen, and certified by Professional Engineers for structural soundness of designs. All Shade Systems are shipped knocked-down, with complete assembly instructions, and ready for easy in-field installation.

MATERIAL:  All materials shall be structurally sound and appropriate for safe use.  Product durability shall be ensured by the use of corrosion-resistant metals such as stainless steel, and coatings such as zinc-plating, galvanizing, and powder-coating on steel parts, subject to the Project-Specific requirements below.  Fabrics used shall include UV-stabilizers and fire retardants for longevity and safety.

WELDMENTS:  All tubing members are factory-welded by Certified Welders to American Welding Society (AWS) specifications and to the highest standards of quality workmanship.  Weldments are finished with a zinc-rich galvanized coating.  No field welding is required in the assembly of Shade Systems products.

POSTS, STRUCTURAL FRAME TUBING, AND HARDWARE:  All tubing used shall be cold-formed and milled per ASTM A-135 and ASTM A-500.  Material testing is in accordance with ASTM E-8.  Minimum yield is 40,000 psi with a minimum tensile strength of 45,000 psi on all posts.  All tubing shall be pre-cut to appropriate lengths, and where applicable all outside surfaces shall be galvanized, with an interior corrosion-resistant zinc-rich coating.  Where required, support pipes shall be schedule 40 hot-dip galvanized or powder-coated black steel. All fastening hardware shall be stainless steel.

POLYESTER POWDER-COATING PROCESS:  All powder-coated parts are completely cleaned and a hot zinc phosphate pretreatment with non-chromic sealer is applied.  Powder-coating is then electrostatically applied and oven-cured at 375 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.  Polyester powders shall meet or exceed ASTM standards for Adhesion, Hardness, Impact, Flexibility, Overbake Resistance, and Salt Spray Resistance.  Colors shall be specified.

STANDARD FOOTINGS:  Footings shall be designed per stringent International Building Code (IBC) for the specific structure.  Columns will be provided as standard direct embedment. Other footing designs are available.

ROOFING:  Structural frames are designed by Shade Systems only for use with CoolNet™ polyethylene shade fabric.  Fabric is attached to frame using a vinyl covered minimum 1/4" diameter galvanized and clear vinyl coated cable.  Cable fasteners are zinc-plated copper for maximum corrosion resistance.

ENGINEERING DATA:  Structures are engineered to meet or exceed the requirements of International Building Code (IBC), and the following standard specifications:

Optional designs with greater wind speeds, live loads, and snow loads are available.

FASTENING SYSTEM:  CoolNet™ Shade Fabric shall be delivered complete with independent cables pre-inserted in fabric hems.  Each cable shall be looped and clamped at each end.  Fastening System to consist of the Turn-N-Slide™ fastening device (U.S. Patent No. 6,814,094) factory installed at each roof rafter corner.  The Turn-N-Slide features a concealed mechanism which allows the attachment hook and sleeve at each rafter corner to move along a track in the rafter.  Cables are attached to hook which is welded to the moving sleeve, thereby distributing tension evenly over rafters and not directly onto the mechanism.  Rafters are sealed with no penetrations on the top side, thereby preventing water from entering.  Such moving sleeve with hook allows the looped ends of each cable to slide over the hook when the sleeve is at its upper position, and then by turning the concealed fastener within the rafter, moves the sleeve with hook outward (toward end of the rafter), thereby tensioning the cables and securing the fabric at the proper tautness.  A locking cap is secured at the end of each rafter with a vandal-resistant bolt (special wrench provided by the manufacturer) to prevent unauthorized access to the Turn-N-Slide mechanism.  To remove the canopy, the cap is removed, and the mechanism rotated counter-clockwise.  The sleeve with hook moves inward (toward peak of roof), thereby de-tensioning the cables, and allows fast removal of the canopy.  Continuous one-piece cables, cables which are not independent per side and pre-looped and clamped at the factory, and/or cables which must be tensioned with the use of turnbuckles or tools not provided by the manufacturer are not acceptable.  Fastening mechanisms which do not feature a sealed rafter and moving sleeve such as the Turn-N-Slide are not acceptable.

FASTENING SYSTEM INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO: Product must be delivered complete with a minimum 4-minute instructional video on DVD media. Video must show the viewer the exact procedure for removing and re-attaching canopy using an actual shade structure in the field. Submittals which do not include the video on DVD media are not acceptable.

CoolNet™ SHADE FABRIC:  Knitted of monofilament and tape construction high density polyethylene with Ultra Violet (U.V.) stabilizers and flame retardant. UV-Block Factor varies by standard color offered from 91% to 99%.

All hems and seams are double row lock stitched using exterior grade UV-stabilized polyethylene GORE™ TENARA™ sewing thread (GORE and TENARA are trademarks of  W. L. Gore & Associates).

FLAMMABILITY:  CoolNet™ Shade Fabric is treated with fire retardants, and passes the requirements established under the NFPA 701 Test Method 2 test standards for flammability, including the accelerated water leaching protocol.  Written evidence of compliance with this standard, including the accelerated water leaching protocol, must be furnished with bid proposal.

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WARRANTY:  Shade Systems, Inc. warrants that the equipment sold will conform in kind and quality to the specifications listed in the Order Acknowledgment and will be free of defects in workmanship or materials.  Shade Systems further warrants:

• LIMITED 20 YEAR WARRANTY on all upright posts and support structure frames against failure
due to rust-through corrosion. This warranty excludes any cosmetic issues. 

• LIMITED 10 YEAR WARRANTY on all CoolNet™ fabrics and GORE™ TENARA™ stitching thread against degradation, cracking or material breakdown resulting from ultra-violet exposure, mold, or mildew, as well as on Turn-N-Slide™ fastening device and cables.  This warranty excludes failure of fabric or threads due to chemical erosion.

• LIMITED 1 YEAR WARRANTY for structural failure of moving parts, powder-coat finish, or any other product or part not covered by one of the above warranties.

The above warranties are not pro-rated.  Please refer to the full text of our complete Limited Warranty for additional details and other important warranty information.

INSURANCE:  Manufacturer shall show evidence of Commercial Product Liability/Completed Operations insurance coverage on its products in an amount of no less than $2,000,000 aggregate written on the Occurrence Form. 

ALTERNATE PRODUCT APPROVAL PROCEDURE:   Ten (10) day prior approval required for substitution of product design, materials and features specified above. Submittals must include plans, drawings, cut sheets, material data sheets, testing results and samples. Bids failing to meet this requirement will be deemed non-responsive.

Contact Shade Systems at 1-800-609-6066 to learn more about our shade solutions.