Outdoor living areas in New Zealand are often impacted by wind. Calm sunny days can be peppered with squally gusts, and the typical ‘four seasons in one day’ can make our lovely outdoor accessories vulnerable to damage. Many Kiwis who approach Shade7 seeking the right sun umbrella for their treasured outdoor space begin conversations with phrases like “I live in quite an exposed location,” or “we get a lot of wind” or even “I’m in Wellington!” to express their need for an umbrella that is strong enough to handle the wind. But can any outdoor umbrella really stand up to the wind?
The answer is, of course, yes and no. Yes, if the umbrella is a Shade7 umbrella, and the open umbrella is used in conditions the umbrella has been engineered for. No, if the umbrella has not been engineered for strength, or is left open in winds that exceed its wind-rating.
Shade7 umbrella wind-ratings indicate how much wind force an open and level (not tilted) umbrella can withstand when it is bolted to the ground. It is important to note that although a strong umbrella might not break in high wind, exposure to high wind can cause fatigue to even the strongest umbrella, and greater wear to the fabric. In addition, if the umbrella is on a freestanding base rather than bolted to the ground, strong wind could tip it over. And violent gusts that far exceed the general wind force of a blustery day can fly through in seconds, causing damage to buildings, grounds and accessories. Best practice is to close your umbrella when you are not using it.
So, what kind of wind-rating does a Shade7 umbrella have? And what does a wind-rating mean for regular outdoor use? Let’s look a little deeper so we can understand the windy conditions a Shade7 outdoor umbrella can handle.
Here are some examples of wind force that might be experienced in windy situations. For those who have crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge at any time, wind gusting at 60kph is “drive with care over the bridge”. 75-85 kph closes lanes and demands reduced speed, and 90kph and up can generate a full bridge closure. Shade7’s most popular residential umbrella sizes, the 3.5 octagonal Riviera Cantilever umbrella and the 2.6 octagonal Venice umbrella (when anchored to the ground) have wind-ratings of 60kph and 80kph respectively. Shade7’s 4m square Tempest commercial umbrella is wind rated to 100kph.
For those unfamiliar with the harbour bridge, sailboats offer an effective comparison. It takes a light breeze of around 10kph for a small sailboat to get underway. A strong breeze of around 39kph up to a moderate gale of up to 61kph creates conditions recommended only for experienced sailors in large sail boats. An outdoor umbrella is essentially a sail, but unlike a boat, an umbrella is not designed to travel across a surface. The wind that propels a boat across the surface is the same pressure an umbrella canopy can experience. Given this comparison, a high wind-rating shows just how strong a wind-rated umbrella can be but also suggests that if an umbrella isn’t bolted down, then just like a boat it could be pushed along, risking damage to the umbrella. A strong umbrella is only as good as its base or installation, so where conditions are going to be exposed, seek advice about installing your outdoor umbrella for the best experience of your outdoor umbrella in the wind.
Going up a level of wind force, 39-49kph, described as a strong breeze on the Beaufort scale, is strong enough to set large branches swaying. If a Christmas barbeque is in full swing and hardy souls still resist moving indoors, Shade7’s entire Venice and Milan umbrella ranges and most of the Riviera cantilever umbrella range are engineered to withstand winds even stronger than this. But if heavy branches are being pushed around by the wind, once the event is over, common sense suggests that closing the umbrella will protect it from wear and potential damage from flying or falling debris.
Perhaps surprisingly, the main risk to highly wind-rated umbrellas is not from occasional windy conditions that send people inside. Due to the excellent durability of Shade7 umbrellas which are engineered to be strong in the wind, some proud owners leave their Shade7 umbrellas open year-round, thrilled at how well they perform and perhaps considering them as more like a permanent pergola feature than an umbrella. But even the highest wind-rated and strongest of umbrellas installed in very sheltered locations can be vulnerable to damage from an unexpected mini-cyclone or violent gust, such as the freak gust on the Auckland Harbour Bridge that in 2020 surged from 60kph to more than 120kph for just ten minutes, pushing two trucks out of their lanes. The best solution is to close your umbrella when it is not in use. Using a protective cover bag on your closed umbrella adds excellent protection from the elements, with the added benefit of keeping it beautiful for years.
Shade7 umbrellas are designed and engineered for NZ coastal conditions, performing exceptionally well in the wind. Umbrellas range in size from 1.9 square and 2.6m octagonal (round) all the way up to 4.5 octagonal and 6m square, with wind-ratings ranging from 30kph to 150kph. Anyone seeking the best outdoor umbrella for wind can choose with confidence from Shade7. With strength and durability covered, you will be free to focus on choosing the best size, shape and colour for your outdoor umbrella.
For expert guidance and recommendations for your outdoor space’s unique conditions, contact the team at Shade7, or visit the showroom at 1096 Great South Road, Mt Wellington.
