Shade Structure Safety Guidelines

Why
The development of these guidelines is an initiative of the Local Government SunSmart Project, which is part of The Cancer Council South Australia's SunSmart Program. The SunSmart Program is an evidence-based health promotion campaign that works toward reducing the incidence and impact of skin cancer within the South Australian community.

It is well established that exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the leading cause of skin cancer in Australia.

Shade creation is an important strategy for reducing people's exposure to UVR and built shade structures can be an effective form of providing shade.

These guidelines provide assistance, in selecting and installing appropriate and safe built shade structures.

How
The South Australian shade manufacturing industry, in collaboration with the Local Government Mutual Liability Scheme and The Cancer Council, has developed these shade structure safety guidelines to address the challenge of providing built shade structures that meet acceptable safety criteria for use in public settings.

Purpose
The purpose of these guidelines is to provide practical advice for the design, installation, and maintenance of shade structures and shade sails. These guidelines are suggested for use unless another solution achieves equal or better safety measures.

Safety Guidelines for Shade Structures and Shade Sails

1. South Australian Building Codes require by law that all non-domestic works (including the installation of shade structures) must be certified by a registered private certifier. Each site is different in regard to soil conditions and wind loading and therefore each site/structure requires individual certification. Proof of certification and planning approval must be provided for each structure.
2. Development approval is required for all non- domestic installations i.e. private schools, business property (Crown Land exempted). Some local councils also require development approval for shade structures erected on domestic properties.
3. The installation of a shade structure must be undertaken by an appropriately licensed builder.
4. The location of shade structure posts around a playground, should comply with the recommended playground safety standard i.e. 2.5m from any fall off point, or 1.5m from any point less than O.5m in height.
5. In designing the structure, care should be taken that there is no direct access from the play equipment onto the shade structure.
6. The tops and edges should be at a height that tampering with the cloth or fittings is difficult. Recommendations should be made to modify! relocate equipment to reduce the risk of tampering.
7. Builder should have adequate product/public liability insurance.
8. Only galvanized or stainless steel fittings should be used. All framework and posts must be galvanized.
9. The membrane fabric should comply with the appropriate Australian Standards.
10. Each structure should be marked with suppliers name and date of installation.
    A suggested schedule of maintenance and safety checks should be provided with each installation and maintained for the duration of the structure.
11. All shade structures to be marked that they are designed for the provision of shade only and that any access, climbing on or other activities by persons is prohibited and done entirely at own risk.

Maintenance and Reporting Schedule for Shade Structures
Each manufacturer should supply their own maintenance schedule, together with safety check requirements, for each shade structure installed.

In addition, structures should be checked following a storm or heavy winds.

A maintenance and report form should be developed and if repairs are considered necessary after inspection, a record of the repair action and implementation should be maintained and signed off.