BUILDING DESIGN, IDEAS & SOLUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS
Welcome to the Winter 2026 edition of Outside Comfort Zone In this issue, we explore how wall mounted canopies can help reduce solar gain in classrooms, examine why early canopy planning supports contractors and architects, and share key Coniston Canopy statistics from 2025 Plus, discover additional insights, projects and updates from across Able Canopies
We are delighted to be exhibiting at the UK?s Real-estate, Investment and infrastructure Forum ? UKREiiF 2026. Which gathers over 16,000 professionals from national and local government, investors, developers and contractors Taking place from 19th ? 21st May 2026 at the Royal Armouries Museum and New Dock, Leeds City Centre, this prestigious event brings together the cross-sector partnerships driving the future of construction, regeneration and place-making
You?ll find Able Canopies on stand F42, where our team will be ready to explore how smart, durable shelter and canopy solutions add value to your projects Whether you?re working in schools, hospitals, transport hubs or modular building schemes, we?ll showcase how our technical capability and nationwide installation service can support your delivery
Above: Kensington Mono-Pitch Freestanding Canopy installed at Astemo UK Ltd in Bolton, Manchester
How Canopies Help Reduce Solar Gain in Classrooms
Managing classroom temperature is an ongoing challenge for many education facilities, particularly in buildings with large areas of glazing or south-facing elevations
Excessive solar gain in classrooms can lead to overheating, discomfort, and increased energy costs due to the use of air conditioning and heating systems.
Installing wall mounted canopies for education facilities is a proven and cost-effective way to control solar gain, improve thermal comfort, and reduce long-term energy expenditure
What Is Solar Gain, and Why Is It a Problem for Education Facilities?
Solar gain refers to the increase in internal temperature caused by sunlight entering a building through windows and glazed doors In classrooms, this can quickly result in:
- Overheating during spring and summer
- Increased reliance on air conditioning or electric cooling
- Higher energy bills
- Reduced pupil concentration and staff comfort
- Glare affecting whiteboards, screens, and digital learning
As education facilities work to improve sustainability and manage tight operational budgets,
reducing solar gain has become an important consideration for estates and facilities teams
How Wall Mounted Canopies Reduce Solar Gain in Classrooms
Wall mounted canopies are fixed directly to the exterior of a building, typically above classroom windows, doors, or glazed façades. Their primary function is to provide effective solar shading before sunlight reaches the glass
Blocking Direct Sunlight
By preventing direct sunlight from striking classroom windows, wall mounted canopies significantly
reduce heat buildup inside teaching spaces This helps maintain a more comfortable and stable internal temperature throughout the school day
High UV Protection
Modern canopy roofing systems provide high levels of UV protection, filtering harmful ultraviolet rays This not only improves comfort for pupils and staff but also protects classroom furniture, flooring, and equipment from fading and sun damage
Thermal Performance and Light Diffusion
Many canopy systems use materials with thermal properties that diffuse daylight rather than allowing harsh sunlight to penetrate the building. This ensures classrooms still benefit from natural light without the associated heat and glare
Reducing Energy Bills and Improving Energy Efficiency
One of the key advantages of installing wall mounted canopies at education facilities and academies is the impact on energy consumption
By reducing solar gain: Classrooms stay cooler naturally during warmer months
The need for air conditioning and portable cooling units is reduced
Heating systems work more efficiently due to improved temperature regulation
Overall electricity and heating costs are lowered
For multi-academy trusts managing multiple sites, these savings can add up to a significant reduction in annual energy spending
Supporting Comfortable
Learning Environments All Year Round
Thermal comfort is essential for effective teaching and learning Fluctuating classroom temperatures can negatively impact concentration, behaviour, and productivity
- Wall mounted canopies help academies create:
- More consistent internal temperatures
- Reduced glare on teaching surfaces
- Improved learning conditions throughout the year
- A calmer and more comfortable classroom environment
Additional Benefits of canopies in the Education Sector
In addition to controlling solar gain, wall mounted canopies also provide:
- Weather protection for entrances and circulation routes
- Covered outdoor transition areas for pupils and staff
- Improved building appearance and professional presentation
- Extended lifespan of doors, windows, and external finishes
- A low-maintenance, long-term solution for education facilities
A Sustainable Solution for Academy Schools
With increasing focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction, wall mounted canopies support education facilities in meeting environmental objectives By reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling, they offer a passive solution that delivers both financial and environmental benefits
Conclusion
Wall mounted canopies are an effective way for academies to manage solar gain in classrooms, reduce energy costs, and improve learning environments By blocking direct sunlight, providing high UV protection, and enhancing thermal performance, they help schools create comfortable, all-weather teaching spaces while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
For larger schools and muti academies trusts looking to improve energy efficiency and classroom comfort, wall mounted canopies represent a practical and proven investment
Why Early Canopy Planning Benefits Contractors and Architects
As construction projects move through the winter months, the approach of spring provides an ideal opportunity for contractors and architects to review external works packages and ensure developments are ready for increased use. While spring brings longer daylight hours and generally improved conditions, it also introduces unpredictable weather, making well-designed canopy solutions a key consideration for external environments
At Able Canopies, we work closely with contractors, architects, and project teams across the UK to deliver high-quality commercial canopy solutions that are practical, compliant, and seamlessly integrated into wider construction programs
Designing for Spring Use and Long-Term Performance
Spring typically signals higher occupancy levels and increased footfall across education, healthcare, commercial, and public sector developments
Canopies provide immediate functional value by protecting key access routes, entrances, and external spaces from rainfall, while maintaining an open, well-ventilated environment that supports comfort and accessibility
From an architectural perspective, modern commercial canopies can be specified to complement the overall design intent of a building. With a wide range of structural systems, roof materials, colour options, and bespoke configurations available, canopies can enhance both usability and visual cohesion across a site
Key Benefits for Contractors and Architects
Improved Programme Efficiency
Early canopy planning allows sufficient time for design coordination, approvals,
manufacturing, and installation
This reduces the risk of late-stage changes and helps ensure canopy installations align with wider construction schedules and handover dates
Enhanced Safety and Compliance
Covered walkways, entrances, and external waiting areas support safer movement once a site is operational, particularly during periods of spring rainfall. This contributes to improved user safety and supports long-term duty of care obligations for building owners and operators.
Specification Flexibility
By engaging early in the design process, architects can ensure canopy solutions meet both functional and aesthetic requirements Able Canopies provides technical guidance, drawings, and specification support to assist with planning submissions and construction detailing
A Durable, Year-Round Asset
Although spring readiness may drive the initial requirement, a commercial canopy offers long-term value Designed for durability and year-round use, the same structure provides shade during warmer months and reliable protection throughout autumn and winter
Allowing Adequate Time for Installation
Spring deadlines can be demanding, particularly on multi-phase developments By considering canopy requirements early, contractors can avoid seasonal bottlenecks and integrate installation during suitable stages of the build Able Canopies manages the full process in-house, from design and manufacture through to installation, ensuring clear communication, reliable lead times, and consistent quality
Supporting External Works Packages
Whether the requirement is a freestanding canopy, a covered walkway linking buildings, or a bespoke solution tailored to a specific architectural brief, early collaboration helps ensure the final installation meets performance, aesthetic, and budget expectations
For contractors and architects planning spring handovers or upcoming project phases, Able Canopies offers experienced technical support and proven commercial canopy solutions designed to integrate smoothly into construction and development projects across the UK
Why is the Canopy System A Proven High-Performance Solution for Architects
& Contractors?
For construction professionals seeking a reliable, compliant, and long-lasting canopy solution, the Coniston Canopy System continues to be one of the most specified systems in the UK market Designed, manufactured, and installed by Able Canopies, it delivers exceptional performance across education, commercial, and healthcare environments, ensuring seamless integration into both refurbishment and new-build projects
Strength, Durability & Proven Compliance
Manufactured from high-strength aluminium with a durable, low-maintenance finish, the Coniston has been engineered to withstand UK climatic conditions and meet structural loading requirements. Its robust polycarbonate roof panels provide year-round weather protection, UV resistance, and high light transmission, preventing spaces below from becoming dark or oppressive
For architects, this means:
- A fully engineered canopy system backed by structural calculations
- Peace of mind around wind and snow loading performance
- A system that supports long-term durability with minimal client maintenance
For contractors, the solution offers consistency, reliability, and a proven track record across thousands of UK installations
Flexible Design for a Wide Range of Applications
The Coniston can be installed as a wall mounted canopy, covered walkway, entrance canopy, or extended shaded area, making it highly adaptable to project-specific layouts The Coniston Canopy is also available
as a Freestanding solution. This can be very beneficial if your clients wall structure is not able to take the full strength of the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy System.
Key advantages include:
- Multiple projection and length options, tailored to façade constraints
- Variety of canopy heights, suitable for differing site conditions
- Clear or opal polycarbonate choices, depending on glazing and light requirements
- Seamless integration with brickwork, cladding, curtain walling, and rendered façades
- This flexibility enables architects to maintain design intent while ensuring practical, buildable solutions
Fast, Efficient Installation with Minimal Disruption
Able Canopies? off-site preparation and modular installation approach allow the Coniston to be installed swiftly, even in sensitive or live environments such as schools and healthcare sites
Contractors benefit from:
- Reduced time on site
- Pre-engineered components
for consistent quality
- Clear fixing details for efficient scheduling
- Compatibility with phased projects and restricted-access sites
The system is also ideal for projects requiring installation during term time or operational hours due to its reduced noise and minimal groundworks.
Low Maintenance, Long-Term Investment
The non-corrosive aluminium frame and UV-protected polycarbonate roofing ensure the Coniston delivers long-lasting performance, reducing maintenance requirements for estate managers and creating a strong whole-life value proposition.
Conclusion
The Coniston Canopy System delivers a unique combination of structural integrity, design versatility, ease of installation, and long-term resilience. For architects and contractors seeking a proven, specification-friendly canopy system, the Coniston offers a dependable solution that aligns with modern construction demands
If you?ve been with us a while, you will likely be aware that the Coniston is our most popular canopy year on year The Coniston, which started life as a wall mounted canopy and is now also available as a freestanding canopy, is a cost-effective yet high-quality structure that features an aluminium frame for longevity and rust resistance and is covered with polycarbonate sheets that are vandal-resistant and shatter-resistant.
The durable design and sleek appearance, combined with the competitive price, make it easy to see why this canopy is so popular
I have therefore put together some statistics for my fellow statistics lovers so you can see which parts of the UK we installed Coniston?s in in 2025, who we installed them for, who the end users are, the total length of Coniston canopies we installed, and how many Coniston canopies we installed compared to our other products.
Total Percentage of All Canopies
Our Coniston canopy made up for a whopping 64% of the total number of canopies we installed in 2025. We have over 50 standard products within our range, which goes to show just how popular this versatile canopy really is
Total Length of Coniston Canopies
This brings us onto the total length of Coniston canopies installed, which is an impressive 997 metres.
That?s 169m more than the height of the world?s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and almost double the height of the One World Trade Centre, which is the tallest building in the United States and the Western Hemisphere and the seventh-tallest building in the world
Now that?s a lot of Conistons from just one year Can you imagine the total length we?ve installed since we introduced the structure 20 years ago (watch this space)
Where have we installed the Coniston canopy? During 2025, we installed the Coniston in various counties all over England and Wales, with our Head Office home county of Essex coming out on top with a total of 11% of our Coniston installations and Northamptonshire coming in close with 9% of total Coniston orders and South Yorkshire and Gwent in Wales with the third and fourth most Coniston canopies installed in 2025 This goes to show that this versatile and robust commercial canopy is a popular choice across the U K
Coniston?s by Sector:
Customers
The pie chart shows the sectors that ordered the Coniston Canopy from us, with direct education customers and contractors without a doubt coming out on top with 47% and 51% of total Coniston orders
Coniston?s by Sector: End Users
After seeing the above stats, I then decided to delve deeper and create a pie chart to show all the sectors that the canopies were ordered for, breaking up the projects that the contractors were working on As you can see, education still comes out on top, making it an extremely sought-after school canopy, with healthcare, hospitality, sports & leisure, transport, commercial, and community centres also benefiting from Coniston Canopies in 2025
Conclusion
So, there we have it, another year of installing the stunning Coniston Canopy
10 Things Our Canopies Don? t Do
The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy & What it Doesn? t Do:
1
The Roof Panels Will Not Turn Yellow
You may find that some canopy structures will feature roof panels that turn yellow over time from sun exposure.
Our polycarbonate panels will never do that, they are co-extruded with a UV layer to prevent that from happening, leaving you with fresh-looking panels for many, many years to come Keep them clean and they will continue to look as good as new.
2. It Won? t Be Inflexible in Design
The Coniston features our most flexible design; it will not fail to cater to your needs, it will not refuse to fit around the internal and external corners of your building, and it will not refuse to try and accommodate any obstacles
5 It Won? t Look Plain
4 It Won? t Limit You on Length
It won? t tell you the maximum length your canopy can be, and it won? t leave you with a disappointing projection.
The Conston Canopy can wrap around buildings, have multiple projections and heights to accommodate obstacles
3 It
Won? t Rust or Rot
Featuring a fully aluminium frame which is a naturally rust resistant material, the Coniston will not rust or rot, so you know your canopy really will last for many years to
The Coniston has an unlimited length so you can keep going to suit your requirements I believe the largest Coniston canopy we have installed is 112 metres, and we are happy to top that if you need us to It also features an impressive projection of up to 6 metres, however our Stepped Coniston and Coniston Apex feature projections of up to 11 5 metres and 12 metres
Your canopy won? t be plain, unless you want it to be of course
The Coniston is available with so many options and upgrades you can completely personalise it. Choose from coloured posts, a coloured roof frame, Canopy Side Panels, the colourful Rainbow Package, coloured Post Pads, Canopy Signage, Secure Roller Shutters and more
6
The Gutter Won? t Start to Sag and Come Away Over Time
The guttering along the front of the canopy won? t start to sag or come away over time from weight of debris such as leaves and soil. This is because it is manufactured from aluminium and is integrated into the canopy roof frame, making a much stronger, robust guttering system.
7 The Roof Panels Won? t Break Easily
They?ll be no worrying about having inferior, flimsy roof panels that will break easily
The Coniston is covered with 35mm structured polycarbonate panels that are vandal and shatter resistant and are 200 times stronger than glass
8 It Won? t Leave You Unprotected from the Sun?s UV Rays
Whilst additional sun protection such as sunscreen is always encouraged, you won? t be left with zero protection whilst under your canopy
The polycarbonate roof panels protect from over 98% of the sun?s harmful UV rays, making the area under the canopy a much safer place to be on hot, sunny days
9. It Won? t Fall Apart
You won? t be investing your funds
in a cheap canopy that?s not built to last
The Coniston?s design is not inferior at all; it is strong and robust and is built to stand the test of time. We don? t expect you to just take our word for it, that?s why all Coniston canopies are supplied with a 10-year guarantee and up to a 25-year life expectancy
10 It Won? t Disappoint You
You won? t be left disappointed with the Coniston canopy
We have thousands of feedback from our customers over the last 20 years that love the Coniston and only have good thigs to say
about it such as ?fabulous Canopy?, ?very good quality?, ?expert installation?, ?fantastic product?, ?fantastic price?, ?all of my staff who have seen the canopy are impressed?, ?the children love the [canopy] area?
Case Study: Coleg Cambria Two Coniston Apex Free Standing Canopies
Product: Two Coniston Apex Free Standing Canopies
Sizes: 17m X 8m and 14m x 8m
Frame Colour: Steel Grey ? RAL 7001
Installation Date: April 2025 and September 2025
Installation Duration: 10 days
Intended Use: Outdoor classrooms for practical classes
Coleg Cambria is a leading UK education provider with various sites across Wales They offer a broad and inclusive curriculum from GCSEs to further education and apprenticeships They also support education at HMP Berwyn as part of Novus Cambria Their Bersham Road site in Wrexam boasts some of the best facilities in the region, educating their students in many hands-on skills such as:
The Brief
The Bersham site was undergoing an £8 5m redevelopment which included new state-of-the-art facilities such as the need for two canopies to provide shade and shelter to their outdoor building and construction department.
Proposal
After discussions regarding size requirements and budgets that matched, we offered them an alternative option of a product that has not yet been formally launched ? the Conston Apex Free Standing Canopy which suited their requirements perfectly
The project was then put on hold, and the rest of the redevelopment was completed However, the college got back in touch with us when they were ready to go ahead.
Installation
In July 2024, the college placed an order for a 17m X 8m and a 14m x 8m Coniston Apex Free Standing Canopy
The installation of both canopies was completed 32 days after the order was signed, leaving the college with a quick turnaround, enabling us to install the canopy within the summer holidays as desired
The architects working on the project approached us for a cost for two Welford Dome Free Standing Canopies to cover the paving and brick construction areas so they could be used in all weather conditions. Above: The production CAD drawing
The completed canopies look fantastic and product the college with a total of 248 quare metres of shade and shelter outdoors
Rainy Days: On average the UK experiences around 164 days of rain each year, that?s 164 days of outdoor practical lessons that will no longer be rained off each year for Coleg Cambria?s building and construction department
Before the Coniston Apex Freestanding Canopy
After the Coniston Apex Freestanding Canopy
Our Product Brochure
If you would like a copy of our full product catalogue then let us know on 0800 389 9072 or sales@ablecanopies.co.uk and we will get one out in the post to you. It contains all you need to transform your outside space and keep those cycles secure. As well as our canopy systems, the brochure contains information on all our accessories and upgrades ? such as side fills, heating and lighting and colour options.
You can also download your copy from: www ablecanopies co uk/brochure-download/
Essential Information for Architects & Specifiers
Our website includes all the drawings, technical specifications and recent images that you could need to help your project These user friendly details allow you to quickly compare different systems, roofing options and materials, enabling efficient, informative specifications to be made Our whole product range is available allowing you to decide on the best solutions for walkways, dining areas, shelter, sun shade or all year round weather protection Visit our website and navigate to your chosen product page www ablecanopies co uk
Committed to Service Quality
We are committed to the highest standards of customer service, which is independently audited wherever possible
- External assessment of our quality through our achievement of ISO and ACCLAIM certification requirements means that our service is delivered to a consistently high standard
- We have achieved Constructionline Gold status ? meaning our approach to health & safety, environment & waste and equalities & diversity meet recognised standards
- Each project will have a thorough site survey to ensure your requirements are fully understood and the installation can be completed with the minimum disruption
- At all times our expert team is available to answer questions and help you with project timing and planning
