Traditional Awnings

The traditional awning was the standard form of shop blind before the introduction of the folding arm type. It is specified mainly for use on shops within conservation areas. The drop arm type was popular on long narrow windows of Victorian and Edwardian houses

Traditional awnings comply with Class 3 (the highest) standard for the wind loading tests of EN14501. Whilst traditional manufacturing methods are more labour intensive leading to higher initial costs the lifecycle costs are much lower than their modern equivalent. Although the cloth would typically need to be changed at 15-20 year intervals it is not unusual for the framework and mechanisms to last over 50 years. Indeed we believe that one on our own premises can be traced back to when the building was extended and that was in the 1930’s

All traditional blinds have a solid timber front bar with a tacking fillet to which the cloth is attached. All metalwork is of steel with a hand painted finish. Operation is manual with the cloth being retracted to a spliced steel roller by one or two helical springs in the roller.

The blind is pulled in or out by engaging the hook of the blind pole into a steel eyelet (that used to have the makers name on the front bar). The iron fittings are still cast to the traditional design in one of the surviving Midlands foundries.

There are three styles:

Drop arm where the side arm pivots and the drop of the arm is equal to the projection.

Sliding arm where a slide on the wall allows the arms to be manually pushed up and held with a pin to give a better head clearance.

Trellis arms have a cantilevered arm at each side that concertinas together when the blind is closed.

Linked Information:

The History of Traditional Awnings

Design Notes for Blind Boxing for Roller, Venetian and Shop Blinds

Shop blinds - If I have side curtains on my shop blind can I have a stall behind them?

Shop blinds - What are the clearance requirements from the front of the blind to the edge of the pavement?

Shop blinds - What are the headroom clearance requirements for the frames?