What challenges face care home managers and how can the creation of an outdoor covered area help with these?

Care home managers often face the challenge of providing suitable outdoor area which the residents can access in all weather. Residents should be allowed the freedom to access outdoor areas at any time and in all weather but often this is a problem as many outdoor areas are not accessible for a number of reasons.

Covered outdoor areas in care homes not only provide a quiet tranquil setting for residents but can also become a feature in the grounds where regular activities can be carried out.

Can you construct a covered school waiting area for parents?

We have installed a number of canopies which are used as waiting areas for parents. The use of these areas can also be doubled up to create an outdoor covered area for the children to benefit from during play times. Projects such as parent waiting areas can be funded or part funded by the walk to school scheme.

What specific steps do you take regarding child safety during school canopy use?

During school canopy use the following steps are taken regarding child safety:

a) Little or no moving parts
b) Post protectors (optional)
c)Meets BS standard for snow and wind loading
d) Integral gutter so that water doesn't cascade off sides of canopy
e) Foundations mean that base plates and bolt heads are below ground to stop potential tripping hazard
f) Fire retardant

What specific steps do you take regarding child safety during school canopy construction?

During canopy construction the following steps are taken regarding child safety:

a) Area where construction is taking place is cordoned/fenced off
b) Ground is made good on foundations around the legs/supports
c) After installation a 20 point safety check is carried out
d) Site left clean and tidy
e) Correct PPE worn by site staff to make sure they are visible

Is an outdoor school canopy warm enough for British winters?

School canopies can be enhanced by adding a choice of side walls from our range of optional extras. Side walls for the canopies allow the possibility to potentially completely enclose the canopy which in effect can be used as an additional classroom. This can be done either temporarily or permanently by deciding on which style of side wall is required - curtain side wall for temporary enclosure and UPVC glazing for permanent enclosure. Our canopies can have side walls added at a later date if required.

How to protect against fading on outdoor canopies?

To reduce the chance of any fading and to get the canopies maximum life expectancy we recommend cleaning them once a year - this involves wiping over the frame/roof and making sure dirt/debris is cleared from the gutter/drainage points.

Do I2O offer help with planning?

Should the structure require planning permission, we are happy to help with the application and oversee the process. We can also supply technical drawings of the project, as well as super-imposed "artists impression" photograph if required.

Do I20 provide bespoke designs?

The canopies are available in bespoke sizes which means that we are able to provide a canopy to fit in any area. By being able to supply canopies in bespoke sizes it allows us to meeting customers exact requirements, making flexible use of all available space. Advertising and logos can be added to the canopy in a number of locations- on the roof, on the frame and on optional extras (such as leg pads).

Why do I2O support The Orangutan Foundation?

We support The Orangutan Foundation because we provide canopies and they live in tree canopies (in the rainforest). By supporting The Orangutan Foundation it also means that we are able to reduce out carbon footprint.

What Optional Extras can you get with your Canopy?

There are a numbe of optional extras you can get for Inside2Outside's canopies; these include:

1. Leg Pads
2. Roller Shutters
3. Decking
4. Balustrade
5. Curtain side walls
6. Mesh roller walls
7. UPVC double glazing and doors
8. Plexiglass sides
9. Soft play surfacing
10. RAL powdercoated coloured frame
11. Coloured roof

For more information on the optional extras go to www.inside2outside.co.uk/i2o/optional.asp

What guarantee do Inside2Outside offer?

Inside2Outside are pleased to be able to provide guarantees with their work. All canopies come with a 10 year guarantee apart from the wodden structures which come with a 5 year guarantee. Whilst not under a guarantee, we expect the canopies to have a life span in excess of 20 years.

As well as this we are proud to have our 8-Point Service Guarantee which means you can rest assured that the caring service provide is of the very highest quality. This is what the guarantee includes:

1. We guarantee safety comes first in everything we do
2. We guarantee to carry out our 20 point safety and quality check before we finish each structure
3. We guarantee no hidden charges
4. We guarantee we won't ask for final payment until you are absolutely satisfied with the complete structure.
5. We guarantee we will always leave the installation site safe and tidy
6. We guarantee to price match any like for like quote if it equals the package we offer
7. We guarantee our installers are CRB checked
8. We guarantee to provide you with a free no-obligation advisory site-visit and site-survey, plus written quotation.

Inside2Outside's Environmental Policy

Environmental policies are important things. Being environmentally friendly is becoming vital these days and is being pushed more and more every day.

What is Inside2Outside's environmental policy?

1. To actively promote recycling both internally and amongst our customers and suppliers
2. To meet or exceed all the environmental legislation relating to our company
3. To continue to search for long and short term initiatives to help reduce our own carbon footprint
4. To provide our staff with ongoing training and education regarding environmental issues
5. To minimise waste by evaluating product design/operations to ensure they are as efficient as possible.

What is CHAS and why are I20 members?

CHAS stands for the Construction Health and Safety Scheme - we are members because it shows that when we are installing canopies the necessary precautions are taken. This starts with the necessary risk assessments, method statements and correct site work. By becoming members it has allowed us to be put on approved suppliers list by councils (such as Bucks County Council).

How long does it take to install a Puffin Smoking Canopy?

The typical time taken to install Puffin smoking canopies from the day you place the order will not take you more than a 6 week period. As soon as we receive your order, we will start fabricating your shelter as fast as we can. As long as the structure does not have extremely unique designs and specification that are not part of our regular designs, we will have the smoking shelters ready for use within 6 weeks at the latest. We will normally finish the work well within this time period as we always aim to finish our work well ahead of time.

Unless there are legal issues involved in getting the planning permission on time or any other unforeseen delay, you can expect to have your smoking shelter's ready for use well within a 45 day period. Provided extreme weather does not stop our work, we will be able to get your smoking canopies for use well ahead of schedule.

How do i keep the Puffin Smoking Shelter clean?

Our smoking shelters need very little maintenance. They are robust in design and the efficient, integral gutter system ensures that all the water from the roof gets drained immediately. This ensures that there is not unnecessary load on the roof and the possibility of accumulation of moss and other dirt on the top surface of the smoking canopies. However, we offer a comprehensive annual maintenance contract as an option.

We offer to thoroughly clean the frames and the canopy regularly to keep them fresh, sparkling with their original colours. We will clean any accumulated grim or debris in the gutter system to keep it working efficiently, especially during rainy weather. We do the 20 point "Structural Safety & Quality Check" before passing our Annual Safety-Check Certificate. Our "Emergency call-out service" is always available to you in case you need urgent help. Our comprehensive Snag Check will identify any potential problem in the unlikely event that they do arise.

Do i need planning permission for a smoking shelter?

The legal requirements laid down by local county councils are not uniform across the UK. Therefore, it is quite difficult to state whether or not your particular structure for smoking shelters will need planning permission. This also depends largely on the size of the smoking canopies you wish to build and the specific nature of the project. Our advisor who visits your premises for the free advisory visit will be in a better position to determine if the structure would need planning permission. Of course, we can right away state that listed buildings and pubs would surely need permission. But if your building is not one of those, then our advisor will make a spot survey and advise you on the legal requirement according to your specific case. We will also advise you on the steps required on your part to fully comply with legal requirements. I case the structure needs planning permission, you also offer our services to obtain the requisite planning permission for you.

Do Puffin smoking canopies block out the light?

Puffin smoking canopies do block out light but not light from the visible spectrum. Light is composed of various frequencies that are both visible as well as invisible. Much of the harmful UV rays from the sun lie in the visible spectrum. It is precisely these rays of light that the tensile membrane used in the roof of our smoking shelters blocks out. Therefore sufficient sunlight still filters through the roof while all the harmful UV rays that can damage the skin and the eyes are filtered out. As a result of this special screening function, you can spend extended periods of time under the smoking shelters without being affected by the harmful effects of sunlight. The roof membrane used for our smoking canopies are also waterproof, Therefore, you can sit under the canopy even when it is raining heavily outside without worrying about getting wet. Our shelters can withstand all kinds of typical British weather.

What happens after i make an enquiry for a Puffin Smoking Shelter?

Once you have made an enquiry for our smoking shelters, we will call you back within 7 working days and fix an appointment with you according to your convenience. Based on the date you provide for the meeting, one of our experienced experienced advisors will visit your premises and advise you on the best options according to your requirement. This advisory visit is totally free of cost and there is absolutely no obligation attached on your part. Our advisor will brief you about the best options that would suit your requirement the best and offer you a full-colour brochure of our range of smoking canopies designs. You can also read testimonials on the brochure from our delighted customers who have chosen to install our smoking shelters. Our advisor will provide a written quote along with a proposed plan of the new structure if required. We will also enclose a simple order form with our quotation so that you can place an order by fax when ever you are ready. Once your order reaches us, we will finish work on your premises within the next 90 days.

What optional extras are offered with Puffin smoking shelters?

The optional extras offered with Puffin smoking shelters include plexiglas half-sides which you can request us to place on any side of the structure. While the structure can be left totally open for most practical purposes, smoking canopies can be covered on the sides also, as long as the openings are more than 50% of the area of the walls of the structure, as per the regulations for smoking shelters. The optional Plexiglas half-sides that we offer with our designs totally conform to the regulations laid down for such structures. Moreover, these plexiglas half-sides also provide much needed protection from side winds for smokers, especially when the weather is much colder outside. While these stipulations are meant only for smoking canopies, other kinds of shelters do not come under these regulations. Therefore, we have several other options available for other kinds of structures that we have designed for these covered spaces.

Why should i invest in a Puffin Smoking Shelter?

There are six great reasons that we have for you to invest in a Puffin Shelter.

• All our smoking shelters are extremely strong and long lasting. The aluminium frame that supports the structure comes with a 10 year guarantee.
• The roofs of the smoking canopies are made of 100% waterproof tensile fabric. The fabric used can specifically withstand the harshest of British climate.
• Our smoking shelters come with an integral gutter system that is capable of easily draining the water from the the roof as quickly as possible.
• Our smoking shelters come in 3 different shapes for the roof. They also come in a range of colours to match your specific surroundings. You can choose the specific shape and colour that would best suit your particular requirement.
• We also offer custom-made designs that are made-to-measure. No matter how complex the shape of our building, we can design smoking canopies that would perfectly match the exteriors of your building.
• All of our installers are CRB checked and you can rest assured that we have the best professionals working for you.

What guarantee is offered on Puffin smoking shelters?

With Puffin shelters, the quality of our product and service always come first.

• We guarantee that we take safety of our smoking shelters very seriously and give it first priority.
• We have a 20 point safety and quality check before we consider each structure as finished.
• We guarantee to carry out these checks meticulously before we finish work on your premises.
• We guarantee that there are absolutely no hidden charges involved in our services.
• We guarantee that we will not require a final payment from you until you are completely satisfied with the installation of your smoking shelters.
• We guarantee that your site will be left safe and tidy when we finish work installing your smoking canopies.
• We guarantee that we will price match a quote from a different company if they offer the same package.
• We guarantee that every one of our installers is CRB checked. We guarantee a free, no-obligation Advisory Visit and Site-Survey with a written quotation for our smoking canopies.

Want to dine outdoors whatever the weather

Outdoor dining is something that many of us enjoy and would like to do more. It provides a good opportunity to relax and ejoy the outdoors with firends and family.

However, one thing often stops us here in the UK...the weather.

As we all know through experience, the UK climate isn't always the most friendly for those wanting to bee outside. It's either too hot, too cold, too wet or something else. We are often never satisfied with the weather.

How can you find a way to enjot outdoor dining - in any weather!

A canopy from Inside2Outside can be the answer. Whether you are looking for a canopy for your home, business, school, care home or other use, Inside2Outside can provide this for you.

For more information on canopies go to the following Inside2Outside sites:

Schools - http://www.inside2outside.co.uk/Pocca/index.asp

Domestic - http://www.inside2outside.co.uk/JGO/index.asp

Commercial - http://www.inside2outside.co.uk/Puffin/index.asp

Care Homes - http://www.inside2outside.co.uk/C2C/index.asp

General Canopies - www.inside2outside.co.uk

Step-by-Step Canopy Installation

Outdoor canopies are without doubt the best way to transform playgrounds and make great use of otherwise wasted space to create versatile areas for outdoor learning and play. Here's a step-by-step guide to how a 4m x 4m POCCA Qube with a peak roof is installed...

Step 1 - Footings
The team establish where the fame should be installed according to the instructions provided by the sales advisor, checking drainage and marking out the placement of each base plate with chalk. Once these have been marked, a disc cutter is used to cut around the edge before the conctrete can be broken into pieces with a breaker. This process depends on the surface - for example, a grass surface will be dug and slabs will be lifted on paved surfaces. In this case, the breaker is used to cut through each layer until the hole for the footing is at least 500mm deep. Each footing is then filled with a mixture of concrete and ballast before being covered and secured to make the area safe.

Step 2 - Roof
The following day, the team will remove the safety cordon and lay the roof beams and corner knuckles on the footings which are now dry. The corner knuckles are fitted upside down and each beam is turned the right way up before the corner brackets are fitted and secured. Once the roof beams have been assembled, a Genie lift is used to raise the beams to a more suitable height in order to fit the roof comfortably and temporary legs are attached to secure it. A piece of carpet is then laid on the ground to protect the roof sheet, as it is unpacked. The roof is then attached to the frame using nylon roads; these are fed through a pocket in the hem of the fabric, which is in turn fitted into the specially designed groove in the roof beams.

Once the roof fabric has been attached to the beams, the fixings needed to tension the fabric are attached to the corner brackets before the cables can be secured and attached to the bottom of the centre pole which supports the peak. The cables are tensioned with a ratched spanner until the roof is complletely taut like a drum skin and the balance of the roof is then checked using blocks and the position for each leg can be marked on each footing. Once the roof has been balanced and the leg positions are marked, sealant is used to make the roof completely watertight and make sure that passage for the drainage of rain water into the integral guttering is clear.

Step 3 - Frame
While the roof is being made watertight, the excess is cut from each leg extrusion according to the surface of the area (i.e. if the surface is sloping, certain leg will need to be left slightly longer to accomodate it) and te base plates are attached before drainage holes are made in the appropriate legs. The temporary legs are then removed from the roof frame and the Genie is used to lift it so that the actual legs can be fitted and bolted to the roof beams.

Once the legs have been secured to the roof, the strucutre is "waked" into its footings and levelled, then holes can be drilled in the base plates according to where each leg needs to be positioned and chemical sealant is applied.

Step 4 - Finishing
After around 20 minutes the sealant will have dried and the base plates are bolted to the ground and will be completly secure. The installers will then paint the edges of the footings with adhesive and fill the holes (in this case with sift play) before levelling each one to make good the ground.

Our unique 20-point safety check is then carried out beofr ehte site is cleaned and tidied. Once this is complete, any optional extras (such as leg pads) can be fitted and the canopy is ready for use, providing year-round protection from rain and harmful UV.

This installation is just one example offered by Inside2Outside, but our advisors and installers can help you plan and achieve a canopy or shelter to meet your exact needs and make the absolute most of your outdoor area - you can choose from a variety of colours, shapes and sizes and optional extras to customise the space to your school's requirements.

Protection against wind and rain from Inside2Outside Canopies

Many of those who are interested in purchasing a canopy often have similar queries and worries. A common question asked is whether the canopy can be sealed against wind and rain?

The simple answer is yes. How do Inside2Outside make their canopies protect against the wind and the rain?

Canopies can be selaed agains the wind and rain by installing side walls form Inside2Outside's range of optional extras. Side walls for the canopies allow the possibility to potentially part or completely enclose the canopy which in effect can be used as an additional classroom. This can be done either temporarily or permenantly by deciding on which style of side wall is required. Inside2Outside offer two different types of sidewalls - curtain sidewall for temporary enclose and UPVC glazing for permenant enclosure. The canopies can have side walls added at a later date if required.

So if you are looking so a canopy but also protection against the wind and rain from all angles, picking an Inside2Outside canopy with side walls can be the answer.

Smoking Shelters - How can they benefit your employees and your business?

The law does not require you to provide a smoking shelter for employees/customers who smoke. However, installing a smoking shelter demonstrates acknowledgement of employees/customers needs and will greatly assist in the implemnting of designated smoking areas.

How can Inside2Outside help you get a smoking shelter? What regulations are there for smoking shelters? What benefits are there to having a smoking shelter from Inside2Outside?

All of out smoking shelters comply with the smoking regulations that forbid smoking in an enclosed area. Here, 50% of that area must be open to provide a continuous flow of air whilst still allowing shelter from severe weather.

In the UK there is no restriction on the size of a shelter or the size of its roof. However, to limit smoke build up and thus secondary passive smoke installation, the sides of the shelters may not form more than 50% enclose of the shelter. Simply put, the shelters may only have two sides, either a back and one side or a back and two half sides. Our smoking shelters fully conform to this ruling and are effectively less that 50% encloses regardless of side panel configuration.

Positioning of the shelters is important for health and safety rasons as well as maximising the effect of the shelter with regards to inclement weather. If for example on your site the majority of the windy and rainy weather comes from the south west, you should position the shelter so that the back is facing this direction and thus maximum protection is offered.

The restriction of placing a freestanting shelter 1.5 metres away form your building may not entirely cut down its windy shadow effect.

Renewable Energy - How does it affect you?

Today, renewable energy and sustainability are becoming ever more important things for all people to use. Whether for personal use, businesses, schools and many other sectors, all are being encouraged to become sustainable.

With so much advice and encouragement to use renewable energy, where do you begin?

There are a number of options available for renewable energy:

• PV (Solar Paenls)
• Wind Power
• Hydro Electric
• And many more

There are a number of options out there and one of them is sure to fit you. However, SKYShades (UK) Ltd have an exciting new product available.

Inside2Outside Ltd have combined with SKYShades Int'l. to form SKYShades (UK) Ltd. SKYShades are a worldwide tensile membrane manufacturer and installer, and have been ivolved in some huge projects, including the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

SKYShades have the worldwide eclusive license from Konarka for putting OPV (Organic photovoltaics) on tensile membrane material. OPV is the 3rd generation of solar power panels, and it is more suited to the UK climate than traditional silicon PV panels.

What sets OPV apart from traditioanl PV solar panels?

• OPV relies on daylight rather than direct sunlight to generate power, thus it can face north, south, east or west and sitll generate significant energy
• OPV is lightweight and flexible, thus it will not damage a buildings sructural integrity and can be placed accross the entire roof of a building
• OPV works better as it gets hotter rather than decreasing in performance

The list of benefits goes on and on.

You can get OPV put over the roof, or you could have the OPV on top of a canopy. Then not only would you get the benefits of a canopy, but also source for renewable energy. What's more, the Government have introduced feed-in-tariff's and will pay you a set feee for a number of years per amount of electricity you generate.

For more information on this exciting new product go to http://www.skyshades.com.au/

To register you interest in the UK email ben@skyshades.co.uk

SKYShades (UK) Ltd are running a series of workshop the next being on April 28. Register your attendance now!

Inside2Outside Providing a Greener Future for UK Outdoor Covered Area

Already market leaders in the design, manufacture and installation of school canopies, Inside2Outside Ltd is now at the forefront of a campaign to enable all scholls and business to become sustainable.

Inside2Outside has been designing, manufacturing and installing outdoor canopies for many years and over the last couple of years have expanded into the commercial sector, using our Qube canopy to create versatile outdoor shaded areas and parasols.

Thanks to an exclusive license, Inside2Outside is now able to supply 3rd generation solar power panels as an additional feature of its tensile membrane shelters. This aprticular kind of solar panel works using OPV (Organic Photovoltaic) technology developed in the USA, which is the ideal way to generate clean, green electricity in the UK climate. Unlike traditional solar panels which rely solely on direct sunlight, OPV use any kind of light, including artificial light to generate energy. For this reason, they're effective even on a cloudy day - no other solar power panels have this ability.

Inisde2Outside nw have an excting new product - the Solarbrella. Customers can charge thier phone or laptop whilst enjoying a drink. The Solarbrella is a traditional outdoor canopy but with OPV on top. Thus electricity is generated by the Solarbrella allowing custoemrs to plug thier laptops and phones into the Solarbrella and charge them up.

Our larger structures are of particular relevance to commercila users, who can benefit from the Government's new Feed-In-Tariff incentive. The incentive is that the Government will reimburse those with businesses which choose to invest in renewable energy.

By combining tensile membrane canopies with OPV, Inside2Outside is allowing businesses to harness the power of the sun and look forard to a greener future.