Canopies and Smoking Shelters: Practical, Stylish and Built to Last
Canopies and Smoking Shelters: Practical, Stylish and Built to Last
Every business should consider how best to use their outdoor space, for both staff and visitors. Canopies and smoking shelters offer a smart, practical solution that can enhance the look of your premises while also improving comfort and safety. At Bradfabs, we’ve been designing and manufacturing bespoke metal structures for decades, and we’ve seen first-hand how the right outdoor shelter can make a big difference to how a space functions.
Creating Practical Outdoor Spaces
The main advantage of a canopy or smoking shelter is simple, it provides protection from the elements. In the UK, where the weather can change at a moment’s notice, having a sheltered space opens up outdoor areas to use all year round. Whether it’s a covered entrance, a walkway between buildings or a designated smoking area, a canopy offers shade in summer and shelter from wind and rain in winter, giving you access to your outdoor space all year round.
For staff, this can improve morale and wellbeing, particularly in workplaces where outdoor breaks are common. For visitors, it creates a better first impression and adds a professional touch to your property.
Supporting Workplace Compliance
Since the UK’s smoking ban in enclosed public places in 2007, businesses have been required to provide outdoor areas for smokers. While it isn’t a legal requirement to have a shelter, it’s often seen as a sign of good faith and practice. A well-designed smoking shelter ensures that staff and visitors who smoke have a comfortable, designated space to go, encouraging people not to smoke in other arias that you’d like to keep free of smoke or people.
At Bradfabs, our smoking shelters are designed to meet UK legislation, which states that no more than 50% of the structure’s walls can be enclosed. We use high-quality materials like powder-coated steel and toughened glass to create shelters that are durable, attractive and easy to maintain.
Enhancing the Look of Your Building
Canopies and shelters aren’t just practical, they can also transform the appearance of your building. With modern designs and a range of finishes, they can complement existing architecture or create a striking new feature.
A canopy over an entrance, for example, adds a sense of structure and style while keeping people dry as they arrive or leave. For schools, hospitals and offices, covered walkways provide both protection and a visual link between buildings. At Bradfabs, every project is made to order, so we can tailor the design, size and finish to suit your exact needs.
Improving Safety and Accessibility
Another key benefit of canopies is the safety and accessibility they provide. By keeping entrances and walkways dry, you reduce the risk of slips and falls during wet weather. This is particularly important for public buildings or workplaces where safety regulations are strict.
Sheltered areas can also make your premises more accessible for everyone, especially those with mobility issues who may take longer to enter or exit a building. In this sense, a canopy or shelter is not just a design choice but a practical investment in safety and comfort.
Versatile Design Options
One of the reasons businesses choose Bradfabs is our flexibility. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our canopies and shelters can be wall-mounted, freestanding or integrated into existing structures. We offer options in galvanised or powder-coated steel, stainless steel, and aluminium, with choices of polycarbonate, glass or metal roofing.
From small door canopies to large-scale covered walkways or smoking areas, we can create a structure that meets your specific requirements. We also provide full design, manufacture and installation services, so you can be confident that every detail will be handled professionally.
Long-Term Value and Low Maintenance
A high-quality canopy or shelter is a long-term investment that adds real value to your property. Because Bradfabs structures are built from durable materials and finished to resist corrosion, they require very little maintenance. A simple clean a few times a year is often all that’s needed to keep them looking their best.
This durability makes them cost-effective over time, especially when compared to cheaper alternatives that need regular repair or replacement. Many of our clients find that their Bradfabs installations still look as good as new, years after they were installed.
Why Choose Bradfabs
At Bradfabs, we pride ourselves on producing bespoke, British-made metalwork that combines functionality with design. All of our canopies and smoking shelters are made in-house at our Bradford workshop by skilled fabricators who understand the importance of quality and precision.
We work closely with our customers to ensure every structure meets their needs, from the initial design right through to installation. Whether you need a small smoking shelter for your staff or a large canopy to cover a public walkway, our team can bring your vision to life.
