Automation for awnings. All the comfort of the open air home automation

05.21 — Product

To fully experience the pleasure of elegant outdoor spaces, comfort is an indispensable element in any project, which must be able to recreate not only a welcoming and pleasant environment from an aesthetic point of view, but also usable in a simple and personalized way.
This is why, even in the open-air environment, home automation is a valuable ally in terms of comfort and safety, thus allowing you to benefit from motorized awnings, easily managed by remote control, app or voice command.
In fact, the automation for awnings and pergolas offers important benefits such as remote control of the awning and also the automatic activation of specific movements in case of sun or bad weather.
An advanced technology that Pratic has chosen to develop for each of its outdoor solutions, thus creating a line of awnings with a refined design and a highly technological core.

T-Hide awnings with extendable arms can be equipped with different sensors for automation
T-Hide awnings with extendable arms can be equipped with different sensors for automation

1. Automation for awnings

Ideal for creating large shaded spaces and protecting windows and verandas from light, Pratic motorized awnings offer the incredible advantage of fully automated management.
High-performance weather sensors regulate the opening of the cloth in the event of high temperatures or when a freely selectable lighting threshold is exceeded. In strong winds, rain or hail, however, the awning is immediately secured by rewinding onto the roller tube or inside the elegant boxes that characterize the advanced T-Project line of awnings.
For these full optional models, the automation of the awnings also includes ambient lighting with LED bands that can be installed at the base of the aluminum box, for comfortable and suggestive use even in the evening. In this case, management takes place via remote control or app, allowing not only the switching on and off of the lights, but also the adjustment of their intensity.
An essential aspect of Pratic’s advanced design is the possibility of easily integrating the automations of each awning to the automation systems of homes, hotels, bars and restaurants, to set highly customized and programmable scenarios according to your needs.

2. Automation for bioclimatic pergolas

The same compatibility with the main home automation systems is also offered by Pratic’s bioclimatic pergolas, whose automations guarantee important benefits in terms of efficiency, safety and resistance of the roof.
What distinguishes the bioclimatic models is in particular the movement of the characteristic aluminum sunshade blades, retractable or adjustable up to 140 degrees depending on the desired model. These can in fact interact – independently or guided by precise user commands – with the natural elements, to always obtain the ideal climatic comfort and to protect the underlying environment from bad weather.
When not controlled by remote control, app or voice command, the automations of the Pratic bioclimatic pergolas can be activated via the signals sent by the integrated weather sensors, which react to weather events, such as light, rain, ice and snow, independently activating the movement of the blades, opening or closing of awnings and lighting.
In addition, the Opera and Vision pergolas by Pratic with adjustable blades also make use of a practical anti-crushing sensor, which detects the presence of obstacles between the blades and automatically blocks their closure. The models of the Brera Series, with folding cover, instead have a 24 V motor that offers greater electrical safety and allows for a smoother closing of the blades.

Opera, bioclimatic pergola with adjustable blades with automation system
Opera, bioclimatic pergola with adjustable blades with automation system

3. Lighting for awnings

The potential of Pratic outdoor awnings extends far beyond the sole function of sun protection, giving shape to refined environments to be enjoyed even in the evening.
To recreate the perfect atmosphere for your home dehors or for the exteriors of bars and restaurants, a simple gesture is enough, thanks to the lighting for awnings and pergolas, created through dimmable LED lights with low consumption and high illuminating power, which they may vary in intensity and color.
The lighting combinations are customizable according to the chosen awning. For the automated awnings of the T-Project range, a set-up with white LED lights is available, which can be positioned on the front profile section and on the wall profile section, which illuminate the space below and adjacent to the awning with a pleasant and soft allure.
In the case of bioclimatic pergolas, on the other hand, the RGB LED lighting is positioned discreetly along the perimeter of the roof and the Set platform, while an additional white light is offered by the Spot Light (rounded shape) or Quadra Light (square shape) that can be installed on the blades.
These are accessories that can be managed in a personalized way, with the ability to program in advance – via sensors and apps – the modes or times of switching on and off of each light. Find out more about lighting for awnings.
Practical, but above all safe, the lighting of Pratic automated awnings is finally certified to protect the sight of those who use it. In fact, the supplied LEDs offer RGB or warm white light options, which preserve the eyes from damage and fatigue, as well as contribute to the well-being of the individual, who finds great benefits in exposure to color and a light that is as close to natural for his/her psychophysical health.

T-Hide, retractable awning with Led lighting
T-Hide, retractable awning with Led lighting

4. Solar light sensor for awning

And precisely to offer an always pleasant and safe exposure to natural light, Pratic has chosen to integrate practical sunlight sensors into its outdoor solutions, which allow awnings and sunshade blades to automatically generate perfect shading.
As the intensity of the light varies, in fact, the sensors intervene by opening or closing one or more awnings depending on the origin of the sun’s rays, composing the ideal scenario for regulating the temperature.In addition, the sunlight sensors for awnings offer an additional advantage as they are able to detect the lack of light and consequently activate the integrated lighting of awnings and pergolas.

5. Wind sensor for awning

Pratic motorized awnings are also designed to ensure very high-quality performance even in the event of strong breezes, thanks to the Magnetic Lock System and Flex Control patents that allow the drop-down models and extendable arms to maintain the perfect tension of the cloth, thus cushioning the movements caused by the wind. In the event of strong gusts, the wind sensors for awnings allow you to activate the rewinding to preserve the integrity of the structure against particularly intense vibrations and oscillations.
Similarly, the anemometer for awnings also acts on the movement of the Raso vertical blinds and the blades of the bioclimatic pergolas, thus activating the rewinding of the former inside the profile sections of the structure and ordering the opening of the blades at 45 degrees. These sophisticated sensors make it possible to detect the wind speed in real time and to set a threshold beyond which the awning automatically closes it, thus avoiding exposure to any risks.

Wind sensor for pergola
Wind sensor for pergola

6. Rain sensor for awnings

Avoiding damage and wear is also the goal of rain sensors for automated awnings. These precious options detect the presence of rainwater and order the immediate closure of the cloth. A non-indifferent practicality to keep the awning safe even when you are not at home or during those days when the weather changes rapidly.
If, on the other hand, the awning is equipped with a waterproof sheet, it is possible to keep it open even with light and moderate rains to shield the space below. However, we must not forget that the awnings are designed to perform the main function of protection from the sun; if, instead, you want an awning that can be used in any weather condition, the most suitable solution is represented by bioclimatic pergolas.
For these models, the rain sensors offer a different benefit: the automation protects the environment created by the structure, thanks to the automatic closure of the blades, which allows rainwater to flow into the perimeter eaves hidden in the uprights.
In addition, to eliminate any residual rain, when the blades are reopened, the inclination maintains a fixed position at 30-45 degrees for a few minutes, which facilitates complete drying.

7. Temperature sensor for awnings

The combination of rain and low temperatures can easily create the presence of ice on the surface of the sunshade blades. For this reason, with temperatures below 2°C, the blades of the bioclimatic pergolas automatically open to a 10° angle, thus avoiding the creation of icy layers.
On the contrary, when the climate becomes hotter, the temperature sensor for awnings and pergolas acts on the movement of the cover to offer better shading and, therefore, greater comfort for outdoor spaces or indoor environments, whose windows are protected by awnings with drop or extendable arms.

8. Snow sensor for awnings

Last but not least, the snow sensor for awnings is an indispensable accessory to protect the roofing of bioclimatic pergolas from the weight of the snowpack that could cause slight deformations.
To avoid this risk, in case of rain combined with temperatures below 3 degrees, the blades take on an inclination of 90°, thus preventing snow from settling on the structure.

Brera, bioclimatic pergola with retractable blade with snow sensor
Brera, bioclimatic pergola with retractable blade with snow sensor

9. Remote control for awnings

For the quick and comfortable management of each automation, Pratic uses remote controls for awnings and pergolas with advanced technology, which allow you to regulate movement, lighting and sensor settings.
Portable or wall-mountable, remote controls for awnings can vary from one to five channels, including buttons for raising and lowering the cloth, “stop” button and “My” function that stores the preferred position and calls it back with a single gesture, for authentically personalized use. Also using the remote control, it is then possible to manually manage the sensors for sunlight and activate or deactivate the integrated lighting.
The technology made available to coordinate the automation of bioclimatic pergolas is even more advanced. A single remote control can organize up to 9 functions and 63 variants: inclination or opening of the blades, position of the Raso drop awnings and customization of the LED Line perimeter lights and the Spot Light and Quadra Light spotlights are all controlled by a single device.

10. Smartphone App for awnings

Thanks to the Connexoon and Tahoma systems, the functions of your pergola or awning can be integrated into any home automation system, thus allowing convenient remote management and via smartphone or tablet.
Simply connect the devices to the home Internet network and activate the dedicated app to control each automation and program or modify customized scenarios by activating several functions at the same time.
Another solution is offered by Pratic E-Connect, a Wi-Fi interface compatible with Android or IOS operating systems, always usable through your favorite device. This allows you to control and activate via the Internet (from anywhere in the house or remotely) all the automations installed on your own bioclimatic pergolas and Pratic awnings, even by multiple users at the same time.

11. Google Home e Amazon Alexa systems for awnings

In step with the most modern home management systems, the brand new Pratic Connect pergola is compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa systems, which activate any automation under the impulse of a simple voice command.
The operation follows that of the Connexon, Tahoma and Pratic E-Connect systems with the only difference that the action is not requested with a touch on the tablet or mobile phone, but with only the sound of one’s own voice, which is interpreted by artificial intelligence and translated into automation.
This is a simple and immediate solution, even more practical because it does not require any mobile device: only a smart speaker to be placed inside the pergol

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