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Vortex Parasol

The Vortex parasol is a high strength, stainless steel framed parasol, with a high tensile PVC canopy, designed for year round use in the UK in commercial applications.�It is unique in its abilities�and the only umbrella to even consider purchasing if you have any thoughts about leaving it opens during rainfall, windy conditions and the winter months.

Background Of Design And Commercial Umbrellas

The Vortex was developed after the designer had spent a number of years selling, supporting and servicing German manufactured aluminium framed jumbo commercial parasols. During this period a number of repeat issues had been identified and needed to be addressed in a product to fully meet the needs of the users in the more diverse UK climate. The European market for parasols in commercial use, and where the majority of giant parasols are sold is completely different to the UK market. Many European bars, restaurants, pubs and cafes are provided with parasols for seasonal use. Terraces open in time for Easter and are then closed in September and October. At this stage the parasols are then collected from the terraces and stored for the winter, undergoing cleaning service and repair during this period. Many European bars are family run establishments, staffed by family members and older staff than we are used to encountering in the UK. Rarely does one come across waiting staff in a UK restaurant aged 45 or more. This is not uncommon in Europe. In the UK, restaurants tend to be staffed by students, migrants and seasonal workers, most of whom have no desire to take responsibility for the day to day running and maintenance of fixtures, fittings and in this case outdoor parasols. In the UK commercial users expect very different things from their outdoor shelter. Driven by the smoking ban of 2007, UK users have installed a large number of jumbo parasols, with very different expectations to their originally designed purpose. Expectations were�to be�able to provide a year round shelter for their customers, �jumbo parasols were perceived to be a suitable and cost effective solution and were installed in large numbers throughout the UK. In many cases this was successful, but so many cases proved not to be however. UK commercial users of parasols want a solution that can be opened and forgotten and that will provide maintenance free, shade, shelter, heat and light to their customers. Developing an outdoor site with a permanent structure would require planning permission, building regulations and structural calculations, the costs and time scales involved often make this option an impossible goal in many ways. The need for a high strength, yet occasionally collapsible shade structure with the option of integrated heat and light was identified and is the primary basis for the development of the VorTex commercial parasol.

VorTex Jumbo Parasols

Construction

The Vortex is constructed with a 304 grade stainless steel frame, designed and manufactured in the UK. The canopy is manufactured from Ferrari 502 PVC, again manufactured in the UK. The result is a very strong parasol that is designed to provide year round shade and shelter. It will stay open longer providing users with more effective cover that needs less day to day attention. The Vortex includes a tensioning system that maintains the structure and strength in the canopy, keeping the canopy taught, even in windy conditions. Jumbo parasols are normally constructed with aluminium frames and acrylic canopies. The aluminium frames are weaker in their construction and the acrylic fabrics do not have the strength that enable the same level of tension that is achieved in the VorTex. With traditional parasols, users often do not fully open the parasol, leaving the fabric lose. When this happens much of the structural integrity of the parasol is lost. The tension in the canvas is required to stop the ribs from moving in a lateral direction. The result is a weaker product that may have to be opened and closed on a daily basis and is more prone to damage.

Competition

There are a number of manufacturers producing tensile structures, most of these are NOT collapsible. Production of the VorTex in the UK enables greater control of production, reduced lead times and reduced costs. With much of the cost of the product being stainless steel the overall price is largely dictated by global stainless steel prices. The quality and precision of the welding and the finishing is hard to achieve in markets where the labour rates are cheaper. The market has been flooded with cheap, Eastern European or Far Eastern jumbo parasols, often purchased by corporates in large volumes. These provide little other than shade from the sun for a relatively short summer season. Once into the winter they quickly become very grubby and are often damaged and left in a poor state, irreparable and hardly a good advert for any brand.

Maintenance

Vortex is designed for ease of maintenance. The number of moving parts is minimised and there is no winding mechanism.� All repairs can be done on site and there would almost certainly be no need to disconnect any electrics. The canvas is easily replaceable and can be changed without the need to take the parasol out of its ground base at any time. European manufactured jumbo parasols are often sold into the market without the backup and expertise required to service or support the product. They are easily damaged if they are not looked after properly and closed in the likely event of wind. Replacement of canvas or struts in jumbo parasols is relatively easy and can be carried out on site. Replacement of other components is far more difficult and costly. Repairs can often not be carried out on site, requiring removal of the parasol and transport back to repair facilities. Where parasols are fitted with electrics, the additional complication of disconnecting electrics arises. Once spare parts are sourced and the repair made, the parasol can then be returned to site for reinstallation and potential reconnection of the electrics.

Wind Rating

The Vortex �is Tested to WIND FORCE 11 � Vortex parasols will stay up and open far longer than other parasols or awnings on the market. �Vortex Parasols are�the�parasol of choice for your peace of mind. The first Vortex parasols were supplied into the UK market in November 2009. Since this date the only call for replacement parts have been 2 replacement arms Vortex has been tested in some very harsh locations, examples include: Craignure Inn � North West Coast of Scotland. Brighton Seafront � Multiple locations Canary Wharf, Corney & Barrow, installed before Easter 2010. It has never been closed. These also installed into existing Uhlmann in-ground bases. The Haven, Lymington. Costal site, installed on freestanding bases. Testing continues�. Market perception of the wind ratings offered by German manufacturers has been confusing to UK end users. The wind rating certification offered is based on wind tunnel testing and not a real world scenario. Wind tunnel testing blows (or sucks) air in one direction, gently building up the speed to see how much the product is able to withstand. This bears no relevance to a real world situation where wind will gust and particularly in high rise areas is prone to come from any and every direction, including vertically at any moment. Parasols are not tested for this type of situation and the wind rating provided by the manufacturers is not a suitable measure to use when benchmarking product.

Water Resistant Vs Waterproof

The Vortex canopy is a Ferrari 502 PVC and is fully waterproof and very strong indeed. The seams are welded rather than sewn to ensure there is no possibility of leakage along the seams. The majority of jumbo parasols are fitted with fabric canopies, treated with a coating to provide resistance from the rain. After prolonged use and particularly after cleaning the coating degrades and water can start to penetrate the fabric especially along the seams.

Fire Rating

Vortex � Fabric is fire retardant to M2/NFP 92-507, BI/DIN 4102-1, BS7837 Many jumbo parasols are being used as smoking shelters and being fitted with electric infra-red heaters and lights. There is currently no regulation for the canopy fabric to be fire rated. The UK�s laws in this area are far more stringent than mainland Europe and as such we need to be in a position to be able to offer fire rated fabrics. (Note: all soft furnishing cushions in the UK, including garden furniture ones, must be flame retardant. This law does not apply in Europe) Canopy damage due to outdoor �heaters is a very common and costly problem.

Features And Advantages Summary

Tagged In Parasols, Umbrellas

Posted In Commercial Umbrellas