At Ziptrak®, we want you to use your outdoor blinds all year round, even when windy.
When designing our blinds, their ability to withstand wind isn’t just important, it’s essential!
Learn how wind affects an outdoor blind in this short 2.5-minute video.
What 3 factors influence a blind’s ability to withstand wind?
1. Blind Strength
Each component must be designed to work together, ensuring a strong and reliable blind system.
2. Quality Installation and Structure Strength
A quality installation, using correct fixings to anchor into a strong structure, ensures maximum blind performance.
3. Blind Size
The larger the blind, the more wind pressure the blind and structure must endure.
3 Reasons to Choose Ziptrak®
1. We’re the Original Track-Guided Blind System!
2. Our blinds have been proven to withstand wind because of these 5 design features:
1. No zips used! Using Ziptrak®-made extra strong, purpose-made spline
2. Manual spring-balanced and motorised options available
3. Engineered for Clear PVC or Mesh
4. Easy to use! Leave at any height
5. Only quality fixings and components are used
3. Each component is designed to work perfectly together
We use a closed system of only Ziptrak®-approved parts. This ensures top performance and unmatched strength and durability.
A great way to identify if your outdoor blind is a Ziptrak® is to look for the Ziptrak® logo on the spline, centre-lock handle, bottom bar end guides, and pelmet ends.
Installation in Windy Areas
Ziptrak® is the number one choice for some of the world’s windiest locations!
Pictured left: A Ziptrak® installation in windy New Zealand.
By using our installation method for windy areas, Ziptrak® Outdoor Blinds can handle winds up to 160km/hr*, staying securely in their tracks.
Talk to your Ziptrak® Retailer today to achieve the best performance for your specific location.
Find your nearest Ziptrak® retailer, here.
*Tested on a 2.5m x 2.5m blind.
Protect Your Investment
In very strong winds, a storm or severe weather event, fully raise the blinds for maximum protection of the blinds and your structure.
But rest assured, Ziptrak® Blinds are built to withstand the elements, even if you accidentally leave them down.
Proven to last in some of the world’s windiest locations!
5 Vital Factors for a Strong Ziptrak® Blind Installation
A blind’s ability to withstand strong winds
1. Components: Use only Ziptrak® components
2. Fabrication: Authorised Ziptrak® Fabricators only use Ziptrak®-approved processes to fabricate strong blinds.
3. Installation Fixings & Process: Trusted Ziptrak® Retailers only use Ziptrak®-approved recommended fixings, spacings, and procedures specific to the structure type and location.
4. Maintenance: Regularly clean and maintain your blinds, including the side tracks.
5. Location Optimisation: Every installation is unique. Consider your local wind conditions. Your local Ziptrak® Retailer can recommend the optimal installation for your location.
7 Tips for Real-World Installations
1. Install a blind into a strong and secure structure.
2. In real-world conditions, wind hits blinds differently. While lab tests can show how strong blinds are, they can’t perfectly predict how blinds will perform in storms or how they’ll affect the structure they’re attached to.
3. Blind skins may deform or stretch in strong winds, but usually return to their original state once the windy conditions have passed.
4. To maintain your blinds, their operation, and your outdoor structure, raise your Ziptrak® Outdoor Blinds fully during strong winds, storms or severe weather.*
5. Blinds may not move up or down in strong winds, as the wind pressure on the blind effectively locks the skin in the tracks. Wait for the windy conditions to pass before using your blinds. Alternatively, press on the blind skin with your hand to relieve pressure, before moving up or down.
6. When not being used, keep blinds fully open or fully closed. These are the strongest positions.
7. Use Trusted Ziptrak® Retailers and Installers, because once the blinds are installed, they last! Find your nearest one, here.
*Visit the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s Severe Weather Knowledge Centre at www.bom.gov.au for more information on these weather conditions.
Please Note:
The size of the blind, and the fabric used, affect wind performance.
Small blinds handle high winds better than large blinds.
The blind skin material and airflow across or on the skin also impacts wind resistance.
Read our Engineering Report for in-depth information on our testing and results.