Choose the right wind class, mount, and control strategy so the commercial awning stays in place and you avoid service calls.
What is a “wind class”?
Retractable awnings sold in the UK are tested to EN 13561, which assigns wind resistance classes. In practice, you’ll see Classes 1-3 commonly used for folding-arm awnings. Higher classes exist in the standard, but are more relevant to other external products. Higher class = greater resistance at a defined wind speed.
Class 1 = Beaufort 4 (20-28km/h), moderate breeze (sheltered spots and low exposure)
Class 2 = Beaufort 5 (29-38km/h), fresh breeze (a common choice for typical high streets)
Class 3 = Beaufort 6 (39-48km/h), strong breeze (exposed sites: corners, coastal, hilltop. Or larger projections)
Installers often translate this to “Class 2 for most UK high streets if exposure is average, Class 3 for corner/coastal or very exposed sites; backed up with sensors and a sensible retract threshold”.
As a rule of thumb, Wind class 2 or 3 is usually sufficient in the UK as long as the awning is set to retract automatically when wind speeds reach around 11-14 m/s. However, this does also depend on whether the commercial awning is properly installed. EN 13561 sets the performance and safety requirements for external blinds and awnings, including the wind-resistance classes and the test methods behind them.
How to choose a class
Map exposure
- In coastal, hilltop or street-corner sites choose Class 3. Pair with a robust full cassette such as Zenith (for wide spans/projections) or Epica (ultra-slim cassette with optional Giant arms for larger projections) and tighten your sensor threshold.
- For typical high streets, Class 2 is usually fine. Good daily options: Base Plus (our flagship model, fully cassetted) and Armony Plus (premium retractable for stylish frontages)
- In sheltered arcades or narrow streets, Class 1-2 may be okay. Consider compact units like Base Lite for smaller shopfronts, or Italia Slim for a drop-arm option.
Check projection
Bigger projections have higher loads. Where there is more projection, consider Class 3 and add brackets for extra support. The Calnova is a semi-cassette commercial awning with a steel back-bar that makes it robust enough for large installations.
Add controls
Use a wind or vibration sensor and set a conservative threshold for the awning to retract. Sensors are backup, not a substitute for good fixings. We recommend pointing customers to options for motorisation and automation.
Client education
Ensure the wind class is part of the written care sheet and set expectations that awnings must be retracted whenever wind speeds exceed the agreed threshold.
Common pitfalls and easy fixes
- Treating a corner plot like a sheltered frontage: upgrade to Class 3 and tighten the sensor settings
- Oversized projection on weak or light substrate: shorten the projection or add steel/backing (consider Calnova where the steel back-bar helps with flexible fixing strategies)
- Relying on sensors alone: they help, but only with solid fixings and realistic thresholds
- No handover: provide a one-pager with the wind threshold in bold.
- Not thinking long-term: Any fixing point that’s even slightly unsafe should be repaired or reinforced before installation.
Not sure which commercial awning is best for your customer? Send us the site photos, dimensions and notes on the nature of the site. We’ll help you find the right class, projection and fixing and supply sensor spec and handover wording you can drop into your quote.