Hand-crank · manual

Simplest operation: a crank handle inserted into a gearbox at the cassette deploys or retracts the fabric. Suits smaller installs (sub–3 m) with occasional use. No electrical supply required — useful in remote courtyards or heritage installations where new electrical runs are constrained.

Motorised remote

Somfy or Becker tubular motor inside the cassette. Operated by handheld RF remote (most common), wall-mounted RF panel, or wired-in switch. Standard inclusion on most commercial and premium-residential installs. Position memory holds the last setting between deployments.

Wind sensor · auto-retract

Anemometer-style sensor mounted on the building exterior measures wind speed continuously. If wind exceeds the design threshold (typically 45–50 km/h), the Cortaviento retracts automatically to prevent fabric or cable damage. Critical for unattended commercial deployments — restaurants and cafés where staff can't monitor weather constantly.

Rain sensor · auto-retract

Optional rain sensor triggers retraction during heavy rain — light showers are tolerated, but downpour conditions can stretch and stain acrylic fabric over time. Configured at commissioning to the venue's tolerance for fabric exposure versus uninterrupted service.

Sun sensor · auto-deploy

Optional sun sensor deploys the Cortaviento automatically when solar irradiance exceeds a threshold — useful for unmanned wellness courtyards and penthouse terraces where the screen should follow the sun rather than waiting for a person to operate it.

Smart home · KNX, Loxone

Wired motor models integrate cleanly with KNX, Loxone, Crestron, and any modern building-management platform. The Cortaviento appears as a shading device in the BMS, controllable by schedule, sensor input, or app. Multi-unit installations coordinate through the same controller.

Group control · multi-unit

For terraces with multiple Cortavientos (corner-wraps, L-shapes, U-shapes), all units operate from a single remote or BMS command. Optional independent control per unit lets venues adjust shading patterns through the day — east-facing screens down in the morning, west-facing in the afternoon.

Schedule programming

Time-of-day automation: restaurants set the Cortaviento to deploy at the start of service and retract at close. Wellness courtyards schedule deployments around treatment-room booking patterns. Configured at the smart-home controller or directly at the motor's onboard timer (where supported).

Position memory

The motor remembers the last partial-drop position used and returns to it on the next deployment — useful for terraces that prefer a partial-screen position (half-drop for ventilation, full-drop for full shading) rather than always running to full extension.

1 · Top roller cassette

Extruded-aluminium cassette housing the fabric roller, motor (where specified), and cable-tensioning hardware. Standard 110 × 110 mm cross-section; larger 150 × 150 mm cassette available for the biggest widths. Powder-coated in any RAL colour or anodised aluminium as standard. Bespoke finishes (painted-matte, hand-finished) available for premium architecture.

2 · Fabric · acrylic, PVC, or hybrid

Three fabric families: Sauleda or Recasens solution-dyed acrylic (the premium standard — fade-resistant, water-resistant, breathable), PVC-coated polyester (most water-resistant, less breathable, lower fade life), and hybrid woven fabrics combining both. Fabric choice driven by climate exposure, aesthetic preference, and budget. Colour and pattern options run into the hundreds across the three families.

3 · Stainless guide cables

Two 4 mm stainless-steel cables tension between the cassette and floor-level anchor points, guiding the fabric vertically through fabric-edge channels. Cable tension is adjustable at the lower anchors to compensate for slight movement over time. Stainless grade rated for coastal exposure.

4 · Bottom weight bar

Extruded-aluminium bar at the fabric's bottom edge, sized to weight the fabric taut and resist wind uplift. Finish-matched to the cassette. The bar accepts an integrated LED strip option for night-time terrace lighting along the screen's lower edge — a popular addition in restaurant and wellness scope.

5 · Cable anchor points

Stainless-steel anchor fittings cast or bolted into the terrace floor at the bottom of each cable run. The anchors must transfer the full cable tension load — typically 250–400 N per cable for a Class 3 wind-rated install. Specified at the survey based on the floor build-up.

6 · Motor & controls (where specified)

Somfy or Becker tubular motor inside the cassette. Wired or wireless (RF) options. Optional wind sensor, rain sensor, sun sensor — each adds an automated trigger to the operation logic. Smart-home interface modules available for KNX and Loxone integration.

5-year warranty

Persax UK warrants the cassette, motor, and cable hardware for five years from commissioning. Fabric carries a separate 5-year warranty against UV fade and structural failure (10-year warranty on Sauleda premium acrylic). Conditional on annual cable-tension check and fabric cleaning.

15-year design life

Persax publishes a 15-year design life on the cassette and cable system. Spanish manufacturing with corrosion-tested specification for coastal and UK climate exposure. Motors are replaceable as service items at end of life — typically 10–15 years in commercial duty.

Annual cable tension check

The most important annual task. Cable tension can drift over time as the building settles or as repeated wind loading takes effect. CleverBloom service plans include the annual tension check and adjustment — typically a 15-minute visit per installation. Critical for wind-rating performance.

Annual fabric clean

Wipe fabric down with mild soap solution and soft brush once a year. Sauleda and Recasens acrylic fabrics are specifically formulated to resist staining and clean easily. Removable for deep clean every 5 years where venue use generates significant fabric soiling (restaurant terraces, smoking-permitted spaces).

Sensor calibration

Wind, rain, and sun sensors check their calibration annually as part of the CleverBloom service plan. Wind sensors particularly benefit — a sensor reading 10% high will retract the screen unnecessarily, reading 10% low risks fabric damage in real wind events.

Replacement fabric available

At end of fabric life (10–15 years in typical UK use), the cassette and motor remain in service. Persax supplies replacement fabric to original specification — CleverBloom handles the swap in a single day. The cassette and hardware investment carries through two or three fabric lifecycles before any major replacement is needed.