Our patio awnings are designed and built to withstand the elements, including strong breezes and occasional gusts of winds. European Directive EN13561, which all patio awnings must be certified to, details different wind classes (class 1, 2 & 3) and confirms the suitability of a patio awning in different wind conditions.
The chart below shows the classes each of our model patio awnings has been certified to, including a description of the acceptable wind levels. It should be noted that the wind class rating is based on the biggest size awning in the range, so in the case of our Anguilla & Tortola model awnings 5m x 3m and Cuba model awning 7m x 3.75m (single module)
| Awning Model | Wind Class | Beaufort Speed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla | 2 | 5 (24mph) | Fresh Breeze – branches of a moderate size move, small trees in leaf begin to sway |
| Tortola | 2 | 5 (24mph) | Fresh Breeze – branches of a moderate size move, small trees in leaf begin to sway |
| Cuba | 3 | 6 (31mph) | Strong Breeze – large branches in motion, whistling heard in overhead wires, umbrella use becomes difficult |
As a general rule of thumb, if you feel comfortable sitting under a patio awning and your furniture is not blowing around in the wind, the patio awning should be perfectly fine. The fabric on patio awnings should be relatively still but if it is flapping around and the mechanism is flexing this is a sign that it should be retracted. It is important that a patio awning is retracted away before high wind levels or extreme weather is expected as even retracting a patio awning away during high winds can cause damage.
Electric awnings can be equipped with wind sensors that detect the wind speed levels, automatically retracting an awning should strong winds exceed safe levels. Whilst these sensors are not a fail-safe device, they do offer additional protection and peace of mind and therefore are highly recommended to protect both your patio awning and property.
Under no circumstances should anything be hung from patio awnings and be sure when retracting your patio awning that there are no foreign objects in the way (ie small broken twigs sitting on the fabric) or allowed to roll within the fabric/cassette. Patio awnings are not designed to be left out in gale force wind speeds or adverse weather conditions of any description including hale, snow, frost, thunderstorms, lightening etc.