What you need to know about shade sails in Perth

June 14th, 2016 · Published to Shade Sails

Are you looking to increase the outdoor living space in your Perth residence? There are certainly a number of ways to do this. While you can extend your roof or build a permanent shade, a more cost effective approach is to make use of shade sails.

Shade sails in Perth are used both in homes and in commercial locations. Not only do they offer protection from the sun, wind and rain, but they also offer great privacy. Flexible, lightweight and durable, shade sails are indeed a great alternative to other shade solutions.

Information about installing shade sails in Perth

If you’re considering installing shade sails in your Perth residence, there are certain things that you need to be aware of. As a professional shade solution provider, I will use my knowledge to explain everything you need to know in terms of building requirements for installing shade sails in Perth.

Is a building permit required for installing a shade sail in Perth residences?

There are some special requirements for large sized shade sails in Perth residences. If your proposed shade sail covers more than 10m² in area, or is greater than 2.4m in height, you will need to obtain a building permit for the installation.

What are certified and uncertified applications for shade sails?

There are two types of applications for shade sails in Perth residences, namely certified applications and uncertified applications.

A certified application (also known as BA1 form) can be obtained by having your building inspected by a registered private building surveyor. If the specifications and plans of the building have been assessed and found to be compliant with applicable standards in Perth, you will be provided with a certificate of compliance. When you submit your building permit application for installing a shade sail, you need to submit this certificate along with it. A decision on certified building permit applications will be made within 10 business days.

If your building has not been assessed to meet compliant building standards, the building permit application that you submit is known as an uncertified application (or a BA2 form). When the Perth City Council receives an uncertified application, a registered building surveyor is appointed to assess the information and documentation. A decision on uncertified building permit applications will be made within 25 business days.

What are the submission requirements for applications?

When submitting your building permit application for installing shade sails in Perth, you need to furnish a complete building permit application (BA1/BA2) form which is signed by all owners of the property and the builder.

You also need to provide two copies of the scaled site plan of the property (minimum scale of 1:200), showing clearly:

• The dimensions of the proposed shade sail structure
• The setback distance of the proposed structure from existing building in the lot and the lot boundaries
• The location of the building and any other structures or outbuildings on the lot

Along with this, you need to furnish two copies of the scaled cross section drawings and elevation plan of the property (minimum scale of 1:100), showing clearly:

• The footing size
• The configuration and the roof pitch
• The connection details of how the proposed shade sail will be attached to the eave or wall of your residence building
• The height of the proposed shade sail
• The finish and the type of roof cover

Two copies of the scaled floor plan of the proposed shade sail (minimum scale of 1:100) will also need to be submitted.

You also need to pay a building permit application fee and other associated levies when submitting your application.

Is a planning approval required?

Even if a building permit is not required for installing shade sails in your Perth residence, a planning approval may be required. As such, you must obtain a planning approval for shade sails before you lodge an application for a building permit. Contact the City Building Services or the Planning Services in Perth to obtain this planning approval.

Conclusion:

If you’re considering installing shade sails in Perth, there are certain regulations that you need to be aware of. If your shade sail is larger than 10m² in area or it exceeds 2.4m in height, you will need to obtain a building permit. Building permit applications can either be certified or non-certified by local private building surveyors. When submitting your building permit application, you also need to furnish the site plan, cross section drawings and floor plans of the proposed structure. A planning approval is also required to be obtained. There are certain fees and levies associated with building permit applications which need to be paid as well.

Here at Global Shade, we have been providing shade solutions in Perth and across Australia for well over 25 years now. While we offer all types of shade products, shade sails are what we specialise in. Our products include both standard designs as well as custom tailored products. Take a look at our products to find out more about our offerings.

To know more about shade sails and other shade solutions in Australia, give us a call. We’ll put you through to one of our experts who will gladly help you obtain all the information you need.