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Coolshade Shade Cloth: UV Claims, Sizes and Australian Specification Checks

Coolshade is commercial HDPE shade cloth for sails and structures. Here are its stated UVR and warranty claims, sizes, colours, standards context and verification steps.

By ThatPainter Team 18 October 2026
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Coolshade is a heavy-duty commercial shade cloth made from HDPE monofilament yarn and tape. Ricky Richards markets it for shade sails and structures, schools, childcare centres, parks, playgrounds, car parks and residential areas such as driveways, pools and patios. The material can be a useful part of an Australian shade design, but the cloth alone does not make an area completely sun-safe: performance depends on the selected colour, geometry, tensioning, orientation, installation and the evidence supplied for the project.

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Ricky Richards claims up to 97% UVR block across the range and supports the product with a 12-year UV-degradation warranty. Those are manufacturer claims. The available material does not independently verify the claimed percentage or establish that this specific product is certified to the Australian shade-fabric testing standard. A careful specification therefore treats the claims as a starting point and verifies the exact configuration and documentation before ordering.

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What is Coolshade shade cloth?

Coolshade is a knitted, commercial-grade shade fabric from Ricky Richards. Its construction uses high-density polyethylene (HDPE) monofilament yarn and tape, rather than a solid waterproof membrane. That distinction matters: knitted shade cloth is designed to filter solar radiation and create shade while allowing air to move through the structure. It is not automatically a rainproof roof, thermal insulation system or substitute for a separately engineered weather enclosure.

Ricky Richards describes the fabric as “heavy-duty commercial grade shade cloth” that provides ultraviolet protection and is engineered to last under harsh Australian conditions. The statement appears in the company’s 2026 Coolshade brochure; it is a product description, not an independent durability assessment.

The manufacturer lists the following potential settings:

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  • shade sails and other tensioned shade structures;
  • schools and childcare or daycare centres;
  • parks, playgrounds and car parks;
  • residential driveways, pools and patios.

Actual suitability still depends on the structure, local wind exposure, span, edge detailing, drainage, clearances and the fabricator’s design. A cloth that is appropriate for a playground canopy may not be the right solution for a high-wind coastal site or for a structure that must remain dry in heavy rain.

How much UV does Coolshade claim to block?

Ricky Richards states that Coolshade provides up to 97% UVR block across the range of colours. The same company material states that the range carries a 12-year UV degradation warranty. Both figures appear on the manufacturer’s product page and in the 2026 brochure.

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Claim What the available evidence establishes What a specifier should still verify
Up to 97% UVR block Ricky Richards’ stated performance claim for the Coolshade colour range. The exact result for the colour being ordered, the test method, specimen conditions and the current product data sheet.
12-year UV degradation warranty Ricky Richards states that the warranty applies across the range. Written terms, exclusions, geographic or installation conditions, and the process for making a claim.

“Up to” is important. It does not mean every colour, orientation or installed design will block the same amount of ultraviolet radiation. Openings between sails, low sun angles, reflected light and uncovered edges can all affect the protection experienced by occupants. The reviewed sources do not provide an independent laboratory result for Coolshade’s claimed percentage, so marketing language should not be presented as a third-party certification.

What widths, roll lengths and colours are available?

Ricky Richards’ current product page lists single-folded rolls in 300 cm and 380 cm widths, a 50 m roll length and a nominal weight of 325 grams per square metre (gsm). The manufacturer brochure gives colour availability by width:

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Item Manufacturer information
Listed widths 300 cm and 380 cm on the current Ricky Richards product page
Roll length 50 m
Nominal weight 325 gsm
Colours listed in 300 cm and 380 cm Black, dark charcoal, slate, dark green, midnight and aqua blue
Colours listed in 380 cm only Silver, maize, red, manor red, sand, cappuccino and ivory

An Architecture & Design listing updated 15 June 2026 also reports a 370 cm width. That conflicts with the manufacturer page and brochure. Treat 370 cm as an item to confirm, not as a guaranteed current size. Before a cutting schedule is issued, ask Ricky Richards or the supplying distributor to confirm the live width, colour, roll availability and whether the quoted dimension is a finished width or a catalogue reference.

Trade-size rolls can be much larger than a small domestic project requires. Confirm whether the supplier will sell a cut length, what joining method is recommended, and how the fabric will be packaged and transported. A nominal gsm figure describes fabric mass per area; it does not, by itself, predict wind loading, span capacity or the life of a completed shade sail.

Is Coolshade suitable for a shade sail?

Yes, shade sails are one of the applications named by Ricky Richards. The product is intended to be fabricated into a tensioned structure, not simply draped over an area. A competent shade-sail fabricator should convert the architectural concept into a pattern that accounts for pre-tension, catenary curves, reinforced corners, edge webbing, attachment hardware and drainage.

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Questions to settle before fabrication

  • What clear span, edge height and curvature are required for the proposed sail?
  • What wind region, terrain category and exposure apply at the site?
  • Will posts, beams and footings be engineered for the resulting membrane forces?
  • Are there nearby trees, walls, fences, play equipment, pool edges or electrical services that affect clearances?
  • Does the brief require shade only, or also rain protection, acoustic control or a weather-tight enclosure?

HDPE knitted cloth should not be described as waterproof simply because it is suitable for a canopy. If occupants must remain dry, the designer may need a different membrane system, additional drainage design or a separate roof assembly. The fabricator should also explain how the selected colour and tensioning pattern affect the amount and distribution of shade during the hours the space is occupied.

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What standard is used to test shade fabric in Australia?

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) identifies AS 4174:2018, Knitted and Woven Shade Fabrics, as the appropriate standard for testing shade fabrics intended for sun-protection use in horticultural and human applications. ARPANSA’s shade-fabric testing page also notes that AS/NZS 4399:2017, Sun Protective Clothing, was used historically for shade-fabric testing.

The standard’s existence does not prove that Coolshade has been tested or certified to it. The product sources reviewed do not establish product-specific AS 4174:2018 certification. For a school, childcare, public playground or other duty-of-care project, request the actual report and check:

  • the product name, construction and colour tested;
  • the laboratory and report date;
  • the standard and edition used;
  • the ultraviolet or solar-performance result and its uncertainty, if reported;
  • whether the result applies to new fabric only or includes ageing or weathering;
  • any installation assumptions that must be maintained in the finished structure.

Do not substitute a general statement that the fabric is “UV resistant” for a report showing the performance of the exact material and colour specified.

What physical and environmental claims does the manufacturer make?

Ricky Richards publishes mechanical test headings for breaking force, elongation, tear resistance and bursting, with associated AS 2001 test-method references on its product page. The extracts available here do not provide a complete set of numerical results, so those properties should be obtained from the current technical data sheet rather than inferred from the 325 gsm weight.

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The manufacturer also describes Coolshade as:

  • mould and mildew resistant;
  • heat-set to reduce shrinkage after installation;
  • 100% recyclable.

These are manufacturer claims. “Mould and mildew resistant” does not mean the installed structure can be ignored in a damp, dirty or poorly ventilated location. Heat setting is intended to reduce post-installation shrinkage, but the fabric still needs correct patterning and tension. “Recyclable” describes the material’s stated end-of-life potential; ask the supplier how local collection, separation and processing are handled before making a project waste-management promise.

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How should a specifier verify Coolshade before selecting it?

Use a written verification process rather than relying on a catalogue headline. The following sequence keeps the design, safety and procurement decisions connected.

  1. Define the exposure. Record the site address, climate, wind exposure, coastal or inland conditions, intended occupancy, hours of use and whether rain protection is required.
  2. Choose the actual configuration. Identify the colour, width, roll length or cut length, seam layout and intended finished area. Do not approve “Coolshade” without a colour and size.
  3. Request current technical evidence. Ask for the data sheet, mechanical values, test methods, UVR result for the selected colour and any ageing protocol used.
  4. Check the standard position. Ask whether the supplied product has a report to AS 4174:2018. Keep that answer separate from ARPANSA’s general explanation of the standard.
  5. Read the warranty. Obtain the complete 12-year UV-degradation warranty, including exclusions, installation requirements, cleaning rules, claim evidence and remedies. A brochure statement is not a substitute for the contractual terms.
  6. Confirm fabrication details. Have the fabricator document seam construction, edge reinforcement, corner plates, webbing, pretension and attachment hardware. Verify that the proposed details suit the structural engineer’s loads.
  7. Resolve supply constraints. Confirm whether 300 cm, 370 cm or 380 cm is available for the chosen colour, the actual usable width, lead time, minimum order and shipping method.
  8. Approve samples and records. Keep a physical colour sample, lot or batch information, the quotation, the final drawings and the technical documents with the project file so future repairs can match the original specification.

What can go wrong, and how can it be prevented?

The quoted width is unavailable

The 370 cm listing conflict is a warning to verify stock before designing around a nominal dimension. If the selected colour is only available in 380 cm, revise the pattern and waste calculation before purchase; do not assume a narrower cut can be supplied without a seam or surcharge.

The shade is adequate at midday but weak at other times

UV and shade performance varies with sun angle and the geometry of the canopy. Model the occupied area at morning and afternoon angles, and account for gaps between sails. A single percentage attached to fabric does not describe the protection of an entire site.

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The fabric is treated as a complete roof

Knitted HDPE shade cloth is not automatically a waterproof roof. State the weather-performance requirement in the brief and select a membrane and drainage strategy that actually meets it.

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A warranty claim is rejected

Common causes can include missing installation records, unsupported alterations, unsuitable cleaning, incorrect tensioning or conditions excluded by the written warranty. Obtain the terms before fabrication and retain invoices, drawings, maintenance records and photographs.

Public users are given an overconfident safety message

Describe the canopy as providing shade and the manufacturer’s stated UVR performance, not as making the area completely sun-safe. Keep other sun-protection measures—clothing, sunscreen, scheduling and access to deeper shade—within the site’s broader risk-management plan.

How does Coolshade compare with other shade-material choices?

The available sources do not provide a balanced dataset for ranking Coolshade against competing fabrics. A fair comparison should use like-for-like evidence rather than brand reputation or a single UV figure.

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Comparison axis Evidence to request for every option
UV performance Product-specific result, colour, test method, laboratory and ageing condition.
Warranty Term, coverage, exclusions, installation conditions and remedy.
Supply Usable width, colour range, roll or cut-length options, lead time and minimum order.
Construction Yarn or tape construction, mass, breaking force, elongation, tear and bursting data.
Fabrication Approved seam, edge, corner and attachment details, plus installer capability.
Weather function Whether the material provides shade only, partial rain shedding or a designed waterproof enclosure.

This method prevents a shade cloth from being selected for a requirement it was never designed to meet, while allowing Coolshade to be assessed on the same evidence as any alternative.

Buying and specifying the material

Ricky Richards lists 50 m trade rolls, so a buyer should confirm the exact seller, cut size, colour, shipping, storage conditions and project suitability before paying. The phrase “Coolshade shade cloth” may help locate a listing, but the available sources do not establish that a current marketplace listing exists for every configuration or that any listing is eligible for referral compensation.

For a professional project, purchase through a supplier or fabricator who can provide the technical documents and answer installation questions. For a small residential job, still verify the roll width and colour against the manufacturer’s current catalogue; a photograph or old listing may not reflect live stock.

Practical verdict for Australian projects

Coolshade is a credible candidate when the brief calls for knitted HDPE shade cloth for a properly designed and tensioned shade structure. Its strongest documented advantages are the commercial-grade HDPE construction, broad listed application range, stated UVR-block claim, stated UV-degradation warranty and trade-scale availability. The decision should be conditional on obtaining current product evidence, resolving the 300/370/380 cm width discrepancy, checking the exact colour’s performance and confirming fabrication, structural and warranty requirements.

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Use the manufacturer’s claims as specifications to verify—not as proof that every installation will deliver the same protection. ARPANSA’s AS 4174:2018 context is useful for asking the right testing questions, but only a product-specific report can establish how the selected Coolshade configuration was tested.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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