Sun protection: coconut-fiber shade structure for schools | RACINE
Our coconut shade sails in schools: shade solutions from the RACINE project
In the face of increasingly frequent heatwaves, school shade structures offer a simple answer to a major challenge: protecting children and buildings from the sun while improving the thermal comfort of educational facilities.
It is with this mindset that the RACINE project, launched in Grabels (Hérault, France), is experimenting with various solutions to adapt schools to periods of extreme heat. Natural ventilation, outdoor layout, or solar protection: multiple devices are being tested to identify efficient, accessible, and low-energy solutions.
The coconut shade sails from Les Ombrières de Provence were integrated into this trial alongside other measures implemented across the school.
The RACINE project: adapting schools to high temperatures
RACINE stands for “Recherche sur l’Adaptation aux Canicules à l’Intérieur de Nos Écoles” (Research on Heatwave Adaptation Inside Our Schools). This project aims to study various ways to mitigate the effects of extreme heat in schools.
The objective is to find concrete solutions that enhance thermal comfort in schools without systematic reliance on energy-intensive equipment.
In Grabels, several measures were tested both on the building and its outdoor spaces. This approach allows for simultaneously addressing heat sources, airflow, and the creation of shaded areas.
The observed results are particularly compelling: depending on the location and space studied, the installations achieved up to a 7 °C reduction in perceived temperature.
The experiment is also being extended to other facilities in order to identify solutions that can be replicated across different school layouts.
Coconut shade sails to protect glazed surfaces from the sun
At the Grabels school, shade sails were installed to meet two distinct needs.
The first structure was positioned in front of the windows of a facade with heavy sun exposure. Its purpose is to create an outdoor solar shield that reduces direct radiation on the porch and windows.
Positioned upstream of the glass, the shade sail blocks part of the solar radiation before it heats the surfaces and penetrates the building. It also helps maintain a more comfortable temperature under the covered porch. This is especially vital for children, who are more sensitive to heat radiated from the ground due to their height.
By creating a shaded area in front of this exposed facade, the shade sail limits solar heat gain and offers students a more comfortable outdoor space to enjoy under the porch, even on sunny days.
This application is particularly relevant for schools with large south-facing glass surfaces, which can quickly become heat hotspots during hot spells.
A shade sail is obviously not a standalone fix for building overheating. It forms part of a global adaptation strategy, such as the one tested under the RACINE project.
A shaded area for children in the schoolyard
A second coconut shade sail was installed in the schoolyard to create a shaded zone during recess.
Schoolyards are particularly exposed to high temperatures. Paved surfaces trap heat, leaving children directly exposed to the sun for much of the day.
Creating shaded spaces in schoolyards provides areas protected from solar radiation while keeping an open outdoor environment.
Thanks to their open-weave design, coconut fiber sails also allow air to circulate freely. They deliver shade without completely enclosing the space.
A public facility shade sail can thus be considered for various applications: schoolyards, playgrounds, rest areas, municipal parks, or waiting areas.
Up to 7 °C lower: taking direct action on thermal comfort
One key takeaway from the RACINE project is that there is no single solution to extreme heat.
Combining multiple measures makes it possible to address various factors responsible for overheating. Window solar protection, shade creation, greening, or improved ventilation can complement one another.
In Grabels, the different tested solutions yielded up to a 4 °C difference in ambient temperature and a reduction of up to -7 °C in perceived temperature.
These results highlight the value of tailoring school heat adaptation to each individual facility, considering its orientation, architecture, playground layout, and usage.
Shade sails, one measure within a broader framework
Above all, the RACINE project demonstrates the value of a holistic approach to school climate adaptation. Coconut shade sails were just one of the solutions tested in Grabels. They met two very practical needs: protecting south-facing windows and establishing a shaded area in the yard for children.
They stand alongside other systems designed to enhance thermal comfort in educational institutions.
For local authorities facing rising temperatures in classrooms and schoolyards, outdoor shading and solar protection offer a straightforward approach to explore, especially when searching for fast, cost-effective solutions.
At Les Ombrières de Provence, we are proud to have contributed our expertise to this initiative carried out in Grabels.
Because adapting schools to extreme heat also requires very practical action: creating more shade where children live and play.
Coconut fiber: a natural and sustainable material to create shade
The shade sails installed as part of the RACINE project are crafted from natural coconut fiber, a plant-based material aligned with environmental sustainability. Derived from an agricultural byproduct, the fiber is repurposed to give it a second life as a durable material for outdoor design. At the end of its lifecycle, it is also biodegradable, unlike synthetic alternatives derived from plastic.
Beyond its eco-friendly credentials, coconut fiber delivers a warm, natural aesthetic that blends seamlessly into various settings. In a schoolyard or public space, the sail serves as both a solar protection solution and an architectural feature.
Its weave creates shade while maintaining natural airflow. This feature is particularly valuable in outdoor spaces subjected to intense heat: the goal is to generate cool conditions while preserving an open, comfortable feel.
An accessible shade solution for local authorities
For municipalities, adapting schools to heatwaves represents a major financial investment. Not all local authorities have the immediate resources to undertake heavy construction or structural alterations. In this context, shade solutions provide a more accessible starting point.
A school shade sail can be installed quickly to establish a sun-protected zone without altering the building’s infrastructure. Its optimized cost also makes it an attractive avenue for municipalities seeking to enhance children’s comfort within controlled budgets.
The choice of the ideal solution naturally depends on site layout, technical constraints, and municipal needs.
Are you a local authority or public entity?
Are you a municipality, local authority, or public organization looking to improve thermal comfort for children in your schools? With heatwaves becoming more severe, establishing shaded areas in schoolyards is becoming a critical spatial planning priority.
As part of the RACINE project, our coconut fiber shade sails offer a natural way to create shaded areas in schoolyards and outdoor spaces without requiring major structural work.
Do you have a shading project for a school or public space? Get in touch with us. We can work with your teams to assess site needs, layout, and installation options for a tailored shade structure.
