Sitting in the sun on the patio or balcony, closing your eyes and listening to the birds – pure bliss. In moments like these, time stands still. Textile sun shading systems create an attractive ambience and protect the skin from UV radiation, enabling you to relax outdoors and forget the world around you.
Warema awnings provide attractive and reliable sun shading. The fabrics filter between 90 and 100 percent of UV radiation, enabling people with sensitive skin to spend more time outdoors. But what exactly is UV radiation and why is it harmful?
Solar radiation consists of warming infrared rays, the visible rays that we perceive as light, and ultraviolet rays – says Uwe Burs, textile engineer at Warema. – UV rays have a shorter wavelength than normal light and are much more harmful to the skin. Scientists distinguish between UVA, B and C. The dangerous UVC rays are filtered out by the ozone layer. Small amounts of UVB rays provide natural protection for the skin, but exposure to larger amounts causes sunburn and can be a cause of skin cancer. UVA rays reach the deeper layers of the skin and cause it to age prematurely.
Selecting the right sun protection factor for every skin type
Awnings help protect the skin from UV radiation, but not every awning provides the same type of shading. The quality of shading greatly depends on the fabric and its colour. An awning’s sun protection factor is measured in UPF (ultraviolet protection factor). This is comparable to the sun protection factor of sun screens and specifies how much longer a person can safely spend in the sun depending on their skin type.

Awnings with different UPF values are recommended for different skin types. People with very fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes generally cannot stay in the sun without protection for more than ten minutes without risking sunburn. With a UPF of 30, this time can be multiplied by 30 to about 300 minutes, or five hours.
In fact, the quality of the awning fabric isn’t the only thing that affects the UPF – its colour also plays an important role. Light shades often provide lower UV protection and the temperature often feels warmer in the shade of a light-coloured awning. Dark awnings absorb more sunlight and are therefore more suitable for people with sensitive skin – says Burs.
But light doesn't necessarily mean white, and dark doesn't necessarily mean black. Colours can also affect the patio atmosphere and help to create perfect moments. Warema's various awning models allow you to make your space your own, with different fabrics in over 300 designs. This also affects the perception of the space, ranging from cool to warm. Cold tones such as blue and green, for instance, have a fresh and calming effect. Warm tones such as red and yellow, on the other hand, create a vibrant and stimulating atmosphere.
Neutral tones such as grey and white hardly change the colour temperature of natural light. Different fabric colours help achieve the desired effect in every situation. For matching frame colours, Warema offers more than 200 shades and five surface qualities, allowing every awning to be perfectly matched to the facade.
If you want to spend your summer relaxing on your patio or balcony without a care in the world, then make your outdoor space your own – choose the right awning for a pleasant atmosphere and reliable UV protection. For initial inspiration using the colours and fabrics available from Warema, go to the online collection advisor at www.warema.com/collection.
source: newsroom.warema.co