Test Title:

Wind and Retractable Screens

Objective:

To test the effectiveness of different retractable screen designs to withstand wind.

Test conducted by:

Screen Solutions Inc

Test date:

August 18, 2006

Designs tested:

• Standard coiling retractable screen built by Mirage
• Plissé© retractable screen from Screen Solutions Inc.

Test conditions:

Both designs were installed on a 36-inch opening. In each case a common household fan with an 18-inch diameter blade was placed 24 inches from the screen fabric and level with the bottom of the screened opening. Observations were made with the fan on low, medium and high. In the case of the Plissé© design the fan was moved progressively closer until the fan body was almost touching the fabric.

Observations:

Mirage coiling retractable screen

With the fan speed on low noticeable bowing of the fabric was evident. With the fan speed on medium considerably more bowing of the fabric was seen, but the fabric remained in the track. Finally, with the fan speed on high the fabric came out of the track in less than ten seconds. The test was repeated ten times and each time the fabric came out of the track in under ten seconds with the exception of one instance when the magnetic latches failed to hold and the screen popped completely open.

Plissé© Retractable Screen

With the fan speed on low no noticeable effect was observed. With the fan speed on medium a slight bowing of the fabric was observed. With the fan speed on high the bowing of the screen fabric was more pronounced. As the fan was moved closer to the fabric the bowing became greater but the fabric remained in the track even when the fan was almost touching the fabric.

Conclusion:

The Plissé© retractable screen design demonstrates significantly higher resistance to wind related failure when compared to a conventional coiling retractable screen design.