How to Prepare Your Apollo Sunguard Shades for a Hurricane

As a Florida company, Apollo Sunguard knows the importance of making hurricane preparation quick and simple. When necessary, Apollo Sunguard fabric shades can be removed in less than five minutes with no tools required.

Engineered for Strength

Apollo Sunguard’s high quality fabrication and materials are engineered to stand up to 115 MPH Wind Load per current International Building Code (IBC), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7, Florida Building Code (FBC) and applicable city, county and state codes. However, we recommend removing the fabric covers winds are forecasted to exceed a Category 1 hurricane of 74-95 MPH, 119-153 km/h.

With the fabric covers removed, Apollo Sunguard’s cold rolled, galvanized tubular steel structures are engineered to withstand winds up to 180 mph.

Remove Apollo Sunguard fabric shade covers when winds are forecasted to exceed a Category 1 hurricane of 74-95 MPH, 119-153 km/h.

Fast and Easy Shade Removal

Apollo Sunguard’s cable and turnbuckle canopies feature an innovative Quick Release System™ that allows the fabric covers to be removed by two workers in less than five minutes. No tools are required, but the workers will need ladders to reach the corners where the shades connect with the structure.

To remove fabric shades:

1. Begin at opposite corners by opening the Velcro pockets on the shades and loosening the turnbuckles. At least one turnbuckle will need to be released completely.
2. Release the perimeter cable and the fabric from the pin at each corner. Once the fabric is released, it will slide off easily. Take care to avoid snagging the fabric.
3. Store fabric out of the weather during the storm. There is no need to remove the cable from the fabric unless the fabric will be folded for winter storage.

To reinstall fabric shades on a hipped structure:

Reinstalling your Apollo Sunguard shades is just as quick and easy as removing them.
Installation is easiest with two workers. They will need ladders and a 50’ rope.

1. Begin by tossing the rope over the center bar of the hipped structure.
2. Using one end of the rope, tie a slip knot around one corner of the shade fabric and slide the knot back to the reinforcing loops so that the hole for the pin is exposed.
3. Repeat this step on the adjacent corner.
4. Use the rope to pull the fabric shade over the hipped structure, taking care to avoid snagging the fabric. Secure the rope to keep the fabric from sliding back off.
5. One person should pull the fabric taut using the rope and a tugging action, while the other person secures the corner by pulling the hole in the fabric over the pin. Repeat for all corners.
6. Once all corners are in place, reattach any open turnbuckles and tighten until the fabric is tight and has no wrinkles.
7. Close the Velcro pockets.

To reinstall fabric sails on a structure that is not hipped:

Installation is easiest with two workers. They will need ladders and a 50’ rope.

1. Secure one corner by pulling the hole in the fabric over the pin.
2. Using the rope, tie a slip knot around an adjacent corner of the shade fabric and slide the knot back to the reinforcing loops so that the hole for the pin is exposed.
3. Use the rope to pull the corner to the appropriate column for attachment, taking care to avoid snagging the fabric. Secure the rope to keep the fabric from sliding back off.
4. One person should pull the fabric taut using the rope and a tugging action, while the other person secures the corner by pulling the hole in the fabric over the pin.
5. Repeat Steps 2 – 4 for all corners.
6. Once all corners are in place, reattach any open turnbuckles and tighten until the fabric is tight and has no wrinkles.
7. Close the Velcro pockets.

Know Your Warranty

Apollo Sunguard’s Shade Cloth is made with durable high-density polyethylene material with ultraviolet additives that block up to 96% of UV rays, reducing the risk of sunburn, overheating and other heat-related injuries. And they come with the shade industry’s leading warranty – a 20-year warranty on the steel framework and a 15-year warranty on the fabric. However, the warranty does not cover damage due to storms such as hurricanes and tornados, so make sure to remove the shades when winds are predicted to exceed Category 1 levels of 74-95 mph.

For more information on Apollo Sunguard shade structures, contact us at 941-925-3000 or at [email protected].