Awning
An architectural fabric projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is wholly supported by the building to which it is attached. An awning is comprised of a lightweight frame structure over which a cover is attached.

Canopy
An architectural projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is supported by the building to which it is attached and at the outer end by not less than one stanchion. A canopy is comprised of a lightweight frame structure over which a cover is attached.

Retractable Awning
A moveable awning that rolls or folds against a building or other structure by which it is entirely supported.

STANDARD AWNING DESIGNS – Click here

Abrasion Resistance
Capacity of material to withstand wear due to friction, rubbing, or scraping.

Acceleration Stress
Additional stress placed on rope due to increasing the velocity of load.

Acrylic
Generic term for manufactured fiber in which the fiber- forming substance is any long – chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of acrylonitrile units. Made in both filament and staple forms.

Adhesive/Apoxy anchors
Attachment for installations onto masonry (including brick, marble, stone, stucco, etc.) or concrete. Ideal for use in anchoring to a variety of base materials ranging from soft common brick to hard marble or granite Aluminum Pipe
Manufactured with the same dimensions as steel pipe, it weighs only one-third as much.

Aluminum Tubing
This is available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and tempers, with an array of advantages and disadvantages in comparison to steel. Tubing measurements are described with outside dimension.

Anchorage
This involves the location, style and strength of connections from the awning or canopy to the building or to its foundations.

Anodizing
A process used to improve corrosion resistance of aluminum and it’s alloys. The material is cleaned, then immersed in a bath of acids. The metal is the positive pole, or anode, in the acid bath. A current is applied and oxidation occurs. After this process is complete and the item rinsed, a second step or sealing treatment is applied. It is during this step that a chromate is applied, and various colors can be realized. This entire operation is also known as “two step anodizing.”

Applique
Motif or design made separately, then sewn or affixed on a cloth or garment

Awning Cord
Small diameter cord used for attaching awning covers to a frame or structure; most commonly a cotton, polyester or nylon with stretch resistant fiber core.

Backlit Awning (see Illuminated Awning)

Basket Weave
Plain weave with two or more warp and filing threads interlaced to resemble a plaited basket. Has flat look, porosity, and looseness or “give”. Can be very heavy or lightweight and made of any fiber.

Bolt-through
Attachment for installations mounted to a wall, or some other structure, where a bolt extends from one end of the wall or structure through the other side and securely fastened with a nut.

Braid
A narrow fabric, usually between 1/2″ – 1″ wide, used as a trim. Common use is on the edge of a valance to finish the cut edge of the fabric.

Breaking Strength
The measured load required to break a fabric or rope under tension; also called tensile strength.

Cadmium Plating
An electro plating process which protects iron and steel. Salt spray tests indicate cadium is superior to zinc in corrosion resistance.

Calendering
A process of passing cloth between rollers ( or”calendars”), usually under carefully controlled heat and pressure, to produce a variety of surface textures or effects in fabric.

Canvas
Cotton, linen, or synthetic in heavy weights with an even firm weave, for sails and many industrial purposes. Awning stripe canvas has printed or woven stripes.

Coated
Fabrics that are coated are usually done so with a liquid or semi liquid product. Coatings can be urethanes, acrylics, PVC, neoprene’s, and many other types of substances. Knife over roll: the material rolls past a knife that acts to spread a liquid substance across the width of the fabric. Extrusion: dry chemical mixes are heated and mixed through an extruder and then passed through a roller or die to flatten and spread the substance across the width of the fabric.

Coated Fabric
A fabric where a liquid or semi-liquid polymer has been applied in firmly adhering layers to provide certain properties. Examples of commonly used polymers are urethanes, acrylics and PVC. Many other polymers can be used to design fabrics for a specific end use.

Convex
An awning configuration characterized by a series of parallel bows in the shape of a convex curve. It produces a radius shape with flat ends.

Cordage
The general term that covers all rope, cord, lines, and string.

Count
Number size of a yarn. 2.) Number of ends and picks per inch of a weave, or their sum, as 200 count sheeting.

Crazing
This describes the condition of scratch marks on the surface of fabrics. These can occur as a result of abrasion or folding. It is usually a topical condition and does not affect the fabric’s performance except from an aesthetic point of view.

Crimp
To bend, kink, curl or wave a fiber to give it more loft.

Crocking
Rubbing off of color as a result of improper dye, poor penetration, or fixation.

Cut-out lettering
Lettering or graphic elements that are cut out of a fabric and replaced from behind with letters or graphics of another material.

Delamination
This describes the separation of the individual plies in a laminate. Laminates are typically made of two or more plies that are fused together under combinations of heat, pressure and adhesive. When a lamination comes apart, delamination has occurred.

Denier
Unit of weight indicating size of a fiber filament based on weight in grams of a standard strand of 9,000 meters. The higher the denier number, the heavier the yarn. Used in connection with silk, rayon, acetate, and most man – made fibers.

Die Casting
The forming of parts by forcing molten metal into metal molds. Castings made with this process can be made to very exacting tolerance. Zinc and aluminum are most commonly used.

Di – Electric Welding
“The terms ” RF (radio frequency) welding” or “RF heat sealing” are often used interchangeably with HF (High Frequency) or di-electric heat sealing or welding. When a Di-electric material comes into contact with an electromagnetic field, some portion of the electromagnetic energy will go though a change of state and be dissipated as heat with the Di-electric. The degree to which this conversion of energy will occur is dependent on the atomic and molecular structure of the material the frequency of the electromagnetic field and the field strength.”
The term Di-electric heating correctly describes this phenomenon at any frequency while RF or HF heating describes this process over the limited frequency range (1 to 200 megahertz).

In the case of RF or HF welding of thermoplastics the effective mechanisms producing heat in the Di-electric are Dipolar and Interfacial polarization.

Dimensional Stability
Fabrics can stretch and shrink in the warp, fill or bias directions, depending on the construction and/ or fibers employed. When a fabric is dimensionally stable, means that stretching and shrinking have been controlled to a certain degree.

Drawing

The hot or cold stretching of fibers to increase orientation and reduce size. 2.) Process of repeated drafting of fiber slivers on a carding machine and doubling and redoubling of the silvers.
Electro Galvanized or Electro Plated
This is similar to Hot Dip Galvanized except the application process is different and the final appearance is smoother and brighter. Instead of dipping the metal into a hot zinc solution, the metals are charged with positive ions and put into a negative ion solution on the metal in a more uniform manner. An average plating thickness is .0002″.

Eradication
Eradication involves eliminating with special chemicals, an existing color from a white vinyl fabric that has been pre-coated at the factory with eradicable inks.

Expansion anchors
Used to fasten awnings to concrete surfaces. They develop their essential strength by pressing hard against the side of the drilled hole in which they are set.

Extrusion Coated
Dry polymers are heated and mixed through an extruder and then passed through a roller or die to flatten and spread the polymer across the width of the fabric.

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Fiber
The fundamental unit that makes up a textile raw material such as cotton or woven acrylic.

Fill Yarns
The yarns that run crosswise of the warp yarns in weaving.

Fire Proofed
A fabric or substance which has been treated so that it is absolutely impervious to flame, and will not, under any circumstances, support a flame Erroneously used in reference to fire retardant goods.

Fire Retardant Finish
A finish rendering a cloth which will repel flame, or which will prevent the spreading of flame, or which will not support a flame. Usually tested for length of time it takes for a flaming portion of the cloth to extinguish itself.

Fluropolymer
This is a synthetic fiber noted for its resistance to sunlight and ulta-violet deterioration. This material will not degrade in outdoor applications for an almost unlimited period.

FABRIC ATTACHMENTS

Lacing
This is the most traditional technique of attaching a fabric cover to an awning frame. Grommets are placed along the edge of the fabric cover. The cover is tied to the frame by lacing thin rope through the grommets.

Screws
Fabric attachment that uses screws for fastening. The cover is stretched tightly over the frame and attached using self-tapping hexagonal screws.

Staples
A fabric attachment that uses staples to attach the fabric to a frame system instead of screws. The fabric is stretched over a frame, then stapled to the frame.

Staple-in-Extrusions
The fabric is stapled into “slot” built into specially designed framing. The slots are then covered with strips of vinyl trim

Awning Molding
Usually made of aluminum, this track system has channels that accept the rope-filled hem of an awning cover.

Grab Tensile
This is a property of fabrics where a machine will try to pull the fabric apart in opposite direction in both the filling and warp directions. The resulting effort to do this is measured in pounds.

Hand Painting
A process whereby graphics are hand-painted directly on an awning

Heat Color-Transfer
A graphic process that utilizes heat and a vacuum applicator to adhere color to the fabric. Any number of colors can be applied simultaneously, as pigments and resins are embedded into the fabric.

Hot Dip Galvanized
This refers to a finish that is the result of metal being dipped into a hot solution of zinc to add a protective, coating to the metal. Awning iron and some malleable fittings have typically been hot dip galvanized.

Hydrostat Pressure
The ability of a fabric to resist water under pressure and is expressed in inches of water column.

Illuminated Awning
A lighting system placed behind the fabric structure causing the fabric to be illuminated.

Jacquard Weave
The type of weave to be seen in damasks, brocades, tapestries, and other complicated cloths. Made n a Jacquard loom which provides mechanisms to control the action of each warp yarn individually, if necessary.

Knitted Fabric
It is different from weaving in that it uses a tying stitch to hold the other yarns together. Knitted fabrics typically stretch more than woven fabrics. Many of the substrates used in laminates are knitted because knitting is usually faster and, and therefore, less expensive than woven fabrics.

Lacing
This is the most traditional technique of attaching a fabric cover to an awning frame. Grommets are placed along the edge of the fabric cover. The cover is tied to the frame by lacing thin rope through the grommets.

Lag screws
Screws which are tapered to a point and do not utilize nuts. Their strength is proportional to the hardness of the wood in which they are embedded. In many awning applications that require fastening to wood framing wood lag screws may be the best available option.

Laminate
Combine the above two definitions to read: Laminated fabrics are made of two or more plies fused together under a combination of heat, pressure and adhesives. They are normally constructed of a plastic top and bottom layer and an intermediate scrim layer.

Lateral Arm Awning – also see Retractable Definition
These awnings resemble typical traditional triangular structures except they rarely have end fabric panels and they include a manual or electric cranking system that allows the awning to be rolled up or retracted against the wall

Load
A load is anything that causes force to be exerted on a structural member.

Dead Load
This is the self-weight of the awning or canopy frame, fabric and hardware. This load must always be included with other design loads since it is always acting on the structure.

Wind Load
Basic wind load is a function of its wind speed. Basic wind pressure can be computed as the product of 0.00256 times the square of the wind speed (mph).

Snow Load
A load imposed on a structure from snowfall. Snow leads vary considerably from region to region.

Live Load
All changing loads exerted on a roof

Mesh
Any fabric, knitted or woven, with an open texture, fine or coarse.

Mildewproof
It is unlikely that any fabric can be rendered permanently mildew proof under all conditions “Mildew Resistant” is a more proper term. Usually refers to a treatment on a cloth with various non- toxic chemical compounds that poison or discourage the growth of mold and fungi. Effectiveness is directly proportional to the type of fungicide and the quantity of fungicide contained in the finished cloth (to the point of maximum potency). The treatment may be durable or non-durable.

Modacrylic
Generic name established by the Federal Trade Commission for “a manufactured fiber in which the fiber – forming substance is any long-chain synthetic polymer composed of less than 85% but at least 35% by weight of acrylonitrile units, except when it qualifies as rubber”.

Modulus
This is a measure that tries to explain how a fabric reacts when it tensioned and relaxed. It is used to explain things like snow and wind loads, elasticity, memory, stretch and shrinkage.

Monofilament
A single filament of manmade fiber, used as yarn.

Natural Fiber
Any organic fiber such as cotton, jute, manila, sisal, etc.

Non-Woven
Neither woven, knitted, nor spun. A material made of fibers in a web or mat held together by bonding agent.

Nylon
Any of a family of high strength, resilient synthetic materials, the long-chain molecule of which contains the recurring amide group CONH.

Painted Cloth
Cloths which have been finished by painting in solid colors or in assorted stripes. The paint is generally applied to the surface of the cloth from fonts as the rolls of cloth pass under them. Used for awnings, outdoor furniture, umbrellas.

Pigmenting
The process of applying color to fiber stock, yarn or fabric.

Plain Weave
One of the three basic weaves. In plain weave, each filling yarn passes successively over and under each warp yarn with each row alternating.

Polyester
A synthetic fiber used for it’s strength and resistance to ultraviolet deterioration. It does not have the stretch and elasticity of nylon and, as a result, will often last longer.

Polymer
A synthetic material from which fibers are formed. Usually composed of large molecules(monomers) with each other.

Ponding
This involves establishing a steep enough pitch, properly spaced bows or rafters, as well as maintaining a taut fabric, so draining water or melting snow cannot cause the fabric to sag and collect water on the surface.

Pressure-Sensitive Graphics
Pressure-sensitive vinyl film is cut by hand or by computer to a desired design and then adhered in the proper register on the fabric as decoration.

Pre-stress
The effective long-term stress for which an awning is designed; the load in the awning that results when the fabric is pulled tight on the frame. This stress exists in the awning fabric and acts on the frame, even when the awning is not acted upon by the service loads.

PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride. A polymer used for vinyl fabric.

RF Welding or RF Heat Sealing (see Di-Electric Welding)

Retractable Awning
A retractable awning is a cantilevered structure, entirely supported from a building, and constructed so that the awning cover and supporting frame retracts completely against the building, and in doing so, relieves the awning from wind, rain and snow pressure and/loads normally associated with extended fixed frame awning or canopies

Screen Printing
Similar to stencil work, except that a screen of fine silk, nylon, polyester or metal mesh is employed. Certain areas of the screen onto the fabric by a squeegee to form the pattern. Separate screens are used for each color in the pattern. More expensive than roller printing, but for limited yardage and more delicate designs, often more economical. Graphic application method capable of printing great detail and color.

Seismic Load
These are earthquakes or earth tremor loads.

Shear
Force that causes a body to shift away from the acting force where it is not supported.

Solution Dyed
The process in which the color (pigment) is added to the liquid “solution” prior to fiber formation. By being added during the liquid state, the pigment becomes an integral (inherent) part of the fiber resulting in improved UV resistance.

Spray-painting or air brushing
Hand painting made sophisticated as it can achieve color blending or shading plus sharper edges by spraying inks on fabric.

Stainless Steel
As the name implies, this is a special steel alloy that is made more stainless than regular steel, due to higher concentrations of chromium and nickel. Note it does not say stain proof. There are many grades of stainless steel, the more common being #304 and #316. #304 is commonly used for wire forms, and #316 for investment castings

Staple on Extrusions
The fabric is stapled into “slot” built into specially designed framing. The slots are then covered with strips of vinyl trim.

Strain
The measure of the change in size of shape of a body under stress, compared to its original size or shape. It is usually measured as the change (in inches) per inch of length

Steel Pipe
This material can be characterized as a relatively thick, round section of mild steel, with manufactured foot lengths up to 24′-0″. It is easily welded, bolted and threaded, and is adaptable to many shop environments. It is heavy and functional.

Steel Tubing
Steel tubing is similar to steel pipe, but available in a range of wall thickness and shapes, including round, square and rectangular. It is easily welded or bolted, and can be obtained in higher strengths than steel pipe.

Stress
The force-per-unit area

Substrate
The surface to which an awning frame is attached. A substrate also is a base fabric.

Tongue Tear
This is a property of fabrics where a machine will tear a strip of fabric across the warp and filling. The resulting effort to this is measured in pounds.

Top Coating
The coating intended for the front, side or top of a fabric or membrane.

Ultimate Strength
The maximum strength under which an awning material is capable of sustaining a gradual and uniformly applied load.

UV Resistance
Ability to retain strength and resist deterioration due to on from exposure to sunlight.

Warp Yarns
The yarns that runs lengthwise and parallel to the salvage in the machine direction of a woven or warp knitted fabric.

Waterproof
The use of the term in relation to treated cotton ducks is prohibited by the “Fair Trade Practices Act” unless the product shall be impervious to the passage of any water so long as the fabric may endure”. Water Resistant is the proper designation for cloths treated to resist water penetration and leakage.

Water Repellent Finish
A finish either durable, applied to cloth which makes it relatively impervious to the effects of water repellent finishes does not close the pores of a cloth.

Weave
The configuration of threads running perpendicular to one another. A plain weave places weft thread over the warp thread in sequence, then reverses for the next row of threads.

Webbing
A sturdy fabric woven in narrow widths for use where strength is required as for seat belts, head bands, etc.

Weft Yarns
The yarns that run crosswise of the warp yarns in warp knitting.

Welt
A strip of material seamed to a pocket opening as a finishing and a fabric strengthening device.

Welt Cord
A tape or covered cord sewn into a seam as a reinforcement or trimming.

Wicking
A phenomenon that occurs when moisture accumulates at the edge of a fabric where substrate yarns may be exposed, or in sewn seams where threads come in contact with the substrate and moister is absorbed into a fabric.

Wickability
The property of a fiber that allows moisture to move rapidly along the fiber surface and pass quickly through the fabric.

Working Load
(Or working strength) is the weight in pounds that is recommended for safe working conditions. It is applied to new rope in good condition with appropriate splices and only under normal service conditions. Where dynamic loading may occur, the recommended working load should be adjusted accordingly.

Woven Fabric
Fabric composed of at least two sets of yarns – one warp(longitudinal)and one filling (crosswise),laced at right angles to each other.

4 – Bar
This is the term commonly used to describe a stripe in awning fabric. This is the approximate number of colored 4 inch stripes across the width of 31 inch fabric. The stripes are not exactly 4 inches, they are more like 3.8 inches. Since many fabrics are wider than 31 inch today, this term is used to describe the width of the stripe. Also known as a classic stripe.