Sheltered walkways are an ideal way to protect visitors and employees from the effects of bad weather like rain and snow when they have to walk about outdoors in order to move between buildings. Using linked 3 metre long units; canopy sections can be linked together to create any length of covered walkway that is required. UV resistant polycarbonate panels can provide up to 97% ultra-violet protection, and additional side panels can be added which are normally made from clear Perspex which gives increased protection from the weather, sheltering users from the effects of wind and rain.
What Types of Businesses Would Benefit From Modular Sheltered Walkways?
Covered walkways come with a range of stylish and durable designs to choose from which not only look attractive but also act as essential safety features to protect the public. They are especially useful for buildings such as colleges, hospitals, schools and other public areas where separate buildings need to be accessed by visitors or staff.
Retail environments can also benefit from covered walkways which help with protecting their customers from rain and allowing them to walk through open areas, or used as an extension to the main retail premises. The covered walkway entices them into the building and can be filled with external displays which can be viewed outdoors without having to experience the worst of the British weather. Improving customer satisfaction by protecting their customers from the elements can only be a good thing for a retailer, who could benefit from repeat custom thanks to a positive and dry visitor experience.
Modular sheltered walkways are also ideal for preventing goods and materials that are being transported between buildings from getting wet whilst in transit, reducing damages and wastage. A curved roof design allows for rain to be transported away from the walkway and to prevent both goods and people who might be using the walkway from getting wet.
Sheltered Walkways and Health and Safety
Sheltered walkways between offices can improve the health and safety of a workplace, with fewer incidences of the kinds of trips and falls which are normally caused by wet weather. During autumn and winter slip and trip accidents rapidly increase as paths become wet and slippery, or ice builds up over time. Wet leaves can also be a hazard and can create a slip risk, and can easily be prevented by a covered walkway to protect paths.
Sheltered walkways are easily spotted and therefore also help to increase the use of the proper paths as a means of access, discouraging the use of shortcuts over grass and other areas which could lead to an increase in trips and falls. Covered walkways are less likely to be slippery and are therefore an ideal measure to improve health and safety in the workplace, which architects would do well to consider at initial planning stages.
