Gaps in shade safety at primary schools

Not all New Zealand primary schools are making the grade on shade, the Cancer Society says.

A study of the availability of shade in primary schools has revealed some worrying trends and a lack of understanding of the appropriate use of shade to protect children, says SunSmart spokeswoman Wendy Billingsley.

Victoria University of Wellington paid for the school shade research undertaken by architect and senior lecturer Christina Mackay.

Her findings have been interpreted into recommendations which have been published by the Health Sponsorship Council on the SunSmart website.

"Even though schools are better than they used to be about ensuring children wear protective clothing, hats and sunscreen, it's just not enough," Ms Billingsley said.

"While outdoors we receive direct UV from sunshine, there is also UV reflected from the open sky. In an open field, about 50 per cent would come from each source."

The research showed that for shade to be effective it must be made of an excellent UV barrier shading material, Ms Billingsley said. It should be placed to restrict the view of the open sky while also shading the users as the sun moves.

In her study, Ms Mackay said that one of the challenges architects faced in New Zealand was that being an island nation, subject to cool sea breezes, the UV levels might be high, but the temperature cool. People want the sun's warmth for comfort.

Architecture in New Zealand had for more than a century followed designs imported from Australia, Britain, America and Europe without considering the compatibility with local climate, Ms Mackay said.

"For example, verandahs were more a buffer zone between interior and landscape, a narrow linear space where a couple might pause to contemplate the outdoors and communal outdoor space, as found in the deep porches of some traditional Maori whare, was rare."

Ms Mackay said the easiest way to provide UV protection and warmth was to use a transparent material.

Polycarbonate and laminated glass tended to be more expensive than shade fabric but provided more than 99 per cent UV protection and transmitted the warmth of the sun.

- NZPA