Frequently Asked Questions

Ziptrak^® is a patented outdoor track-guided blind system, invented in Australia. Track-guided means that the fabric moves down a track on the left and right side (similar to shutters). Track-guided outdoor blinds are designed so that the blind material the track without any gap for wind or insects to enter through, or cold air to escape from. Unlike traditional cabled blinds which flap about in the wind and are exposed at the sides, the blind material will remain in the tracks, and continue to protect your outdoor space during windy, rainy conditions.

Ziptrak® is the ORIGINAL track-guided blind system. Based in Australia, this ingenuous track-guided system was invented in 1999, and Ziptrak® is the number one brand of outdoor track-guided blinds in Australia. Ziptrak® also patented the revolutionary manual SuperSpring system; which allows user to easily and quickly move the blind up and down, without the need for cords, cranks or even motors.

Since it’s introduction into Singapore in early 2017, thousands of home owners have installed Ziptrak® in their outdoor spaces, to enjoy:

1. Protection from rain
2. Protection from sun glare, UV radiation and infrared radiation
3. Retention of cooled air
4. Privacy
5. Protection from smells

Ziptrak® is the ORIGINAL track-guided blind system. Ziptrak® was invented in 1999, and has popularised the track-guided system that many are trying to copy but can’t. With a track record of 20 years, Ziptrak® is the number one brand of outdoor track-guided blinds in Australia, because the product has shown itself to be effective, reliable and durable. Even businesses like hotels and restaurants rely on Ziptrak®.

In terms of features, Ziptrak® has pioneered lots of features that make the blind stronger, more durable and very low maintenance. Ziptrak® pioneered the SuperSpring manual system, which allows users to move blinds easily and quickly. There are no cords, cranks or pulleys required. Simply push or pull the bottom bar. For those looking to have motorised blinds, Ziptrak® can also be motorised, with a choice of motors from SOMFY or DOOYA.

If you have a wide balcony, you’ll be happy to know that our Ziptrak® PanoView blinds can go up to 6m wide, even for high rise developments. That means you can have a single blind, with no post in-between to block your view.

Ziptrak® also features a patented side spline, which holds the fabric in the track more securely than other brands. Using Cordura® fabric for the spline, the fabric is high-frequency welded (not heat welded) to both sides of the fabric, covering a whopping 23mm of fabric surface area, on both sides. Other brands simply have the side splines sewn or heat-welded, to one side of the fabric, covering only a surface area of 10mm. The Cordura® fabric wraps around a solid PVC core, which keeps the fabric within the track. Other systems use one-half of a standard 5mm zipper. The Ziptrak® side spline helps to reduce the likelihood of jamming and ensures a smoother operation, and is one of the reasons why Ziptrak® is one of the toughest systems in the market.

Another cool feature that Ziptrak® has uniquely is the “PestOut Pelmet”. A recent development, the PestOut Pelmet, which stores the fabric roll, features a brush insert, which BRUSHES & CLEANS your blind fabric every time you move it! It also keeps insects out from the pelmet, which stops them from building nests in the pelmet.

These are just some of the excellent and unique features that set Ziptrak® apart from other brands.

It’s simple. Ziptrak® is the ORIGINAL track-guided blind system. Ziptrak® invented and popularised the track-guided system that many are trying to copy but can’t. Ziptrak® has been around for 20 years. And it’s #1 in Australia, because the product has shown itself to be effective, reliable and durable. Even businesses like hotels and restaurants rely on Ziptrak. When you purchase a Ziptrak blind, you are getting:

•  QUALITY:  There are many components that go into making a blind, and it’s easy to compromise on these components in order to lower costs. With Ziptrak®, every component is selected for it’s strength and durability; from the aluminium, right down to the screws and rivets. We know that the components that make up a blind help determine it’s strength. For a product that needs to withstand scorching sun, lashing winds and fierce rain, only the strongest and most durable, rust-free components are, and should be, used.

• EXPERIENCE: Having installed the first Ziptrak® blind in 2000, we had 20 years of experience-gathering since – reviewing how Ziptrak® performs in changing climate conditions, and the different ways in which our customers use Ziptrak®. We’ve collected valuable feedback; challenges users face, and features they would like to have. We’ve learnt what works, and what works better. All this experience helps us to make the best design decisions, so we can build a stronger, more effective blind, that performs outstandingly in today’s conditions.

• INNOVATION: Since the first Ziptrak® prototype was produced in 1999, Ziptrak® blinds have become even stronger, more streamlined, and more user-friendly. Thanks to our R&D team, there have been significant enhancements made to our pelmet, Superspring, and spline… just to name a few. With the recent introduction of Ziptrak® PanoView®, developed for the Singapore market, home owners in high-rise apartments can now enjoy a superwide blind in the sky. Another exciting innovation is our PestOut® Pelmet, which sweeps the dust off your fabric, as you move the blind. All of these developments are possible because we have a team dedicated to product innovation. With Ziptrak®, you’ll always get the newest and coolest features; not a copy of someone’s blind.

These are just some of the reasons why Ziptrak^® is the leading brand of outdoor blinds in Australia!

When you are seeking out Ziptrak^® with all of its advanced product features and benefits, be sure to:

1. Use this website to contact a retailer
2. Ask your retailer if they sell the official Ziptrak^® system
3. Ask that your quotation and invoice include the Ziptrak^® brand name
4. Once installed, ensure you’ve received the genuine Ziptrak^® system by checking you have the correct parts

Click here to learn more.

To retract the blind, simply lift the handle on the central lock release, to release the left and right locking mechanism, and lift the bottom bar. Hold the bottom bar at the centre and pull up to retract the blind. If you need to retract the blind to a level that you can’t reach, simply use the pull stick provided. Position the pull stick along the centre of and underneath the botton bar, and push up.

To lower the blind, simply grab the bottom bar along the centre, or use the pull stick. Pull down to lower the blind. To lock the blind, simply push the bottom bar all the way down, until the lock clicks in place.

A few seconds is all it takes!

They are made of corrosion-proof aluminium, with powder-coated finishes. With high-quality aluminium components and stainless steel screws, your Ziptrak® blinds will stay rust-free, and endure even the harshest outdoor conditions.

It depends on the blind fabric that you choose. Porous fabrics do not provide significant reduction of external noise. For ClearView® PVC, preliminary tests at one test site with high traffic noise have indicated a 30% reduction in external noise (5 to 6dB), resulting in a noticeable difference. We are still conducting acoustic tests on the different non-porous fabrics that we offer. Stay tuned.

Ziptrak® blinds can be very effective in keeping in cold air, but they should not be expected to keep in cold air completely. The amount of cold air that Ziptrak® will preserve will depend on the type of fabric that you choose. Cold air will escape more easily with porous weave fabrics (estimated up to 40%). On the other hand, non-porous fabrics do not allow air to pass through, and will be much better to preserving the cold air within the area. Non-porous material like ClearView® are a popular option among restaurant owners, who wish to keep their patrons cool, while allowing them to enjoy the view.

Ziptrak® blinds can be very effective in keeping out rain but it does not guarantee 100% watertightness. For track-guided blinds, the amount of rain protection will be largely determined by the fabric you choose. When there is little to no wind, most of the rain water will simply flow down the exterior surface of the blind and onto the ground. Porous weave fabrics will allow more water to pass through, especially when there is strong and direct wind blowing against the blind. Non-porous fabrics will not allow water to pass through, thereby offering better rain protection. However, in heavy rain and windy conditions, some water may still enter via the Ziptrak® system.

This will depend on the height or width of the blind that’s required, versus the roll width of the selected fabric. For example, if the height of the installation is 3000mm or below, and the fabric selected has a roll width of 3000mm, you will not have any joint lines. Most of our fabric selections are in rolls of 3000mm.

If the height or width of the blind exceeds the width of the fabric roll, two pieces of fabric will be joined to make a single piece. A fabric joint will be of the same color and material; the opaque 20mm joint will only be slightly visible, and the joint line will be very neat.

Many Ziptrak® blinds have been installed in Singapore homes, to provide a fully protected living space. Since Ziptrak® became available in Singapore, track-guided blinds have become a very frequent sight at balconies, patios and roof terraces, especially in condominiums, across the island. Home owners enjoy the protection that Ziptrak® blinds give to their outdoor areas – converting a previously dusty, hot/water-soaked balcony into a usable area, that’s protected from wind, rain, heat, dust, and flying insects. If you live in a condominium, do check with your Managing Agent (MA) or MCST, on the type of installations they allow and the colors they’ve specified for blinds.

Ziptrak® blinds can be installed in an area as narrow as 450mm for a manual system (for widths between 450mm and 599mm, we can install blinds that go up to a max height of 2600mm), and 800mm for a motorised system. For anything narrower, we can install a fixed fabric panel, so that you can still enjoy protection from the elements. Do note that this panel will not be movable.

Each track is 40mm thick and 25mm in depth. Though slim, the thick aluminum has a track stiffener for enhanced strength.

The recommended maximum dimensions for Ziptrak^® blinds are 6000mm wide by 3500mm high when using Ziptrak^® Sunshade, or 5500mm wide by 3000mm high when using Ziptrak^® ClearView. An experienced installer can decide whether to exceed these measurements considering wind rate, skin material, operators, structure strength and other factors. There are specific requirements for installation of larger blinds that installers must adhere to.

If you live in a high rise or walk-up apartment, the maximum width of the blind will also be determined by what your stairwell or elevator can accommodate.

Depending on the size of the blind and choice of material, there may be a single or multiple vertical seams between separate panels of blind material that have been welded together (known as joint lines).

This depends on the type of protection you are looking for. If you want to block wind and maintain the temperature in your living space, whilst ensuring a clear view outside, Ziptrak^® with ClearView™ PVC is the best option. If you prefer to have some airflow, but primarily block sun and glare, then Ziptrak^® with weave fabrics will be most effective. Weave fabrics can also block a high degree of wind and rain (up to about 96%), whilst also somewhat maintaining the temperature within your space.

Weave fabrics provide privacy during the day, allowing you to see outside but restrict the view into the outdoor area. At night, the opposite occurs; you won’t be able to see beyond the fabric, whilst someone standing outside will be able to see in if you have a light on within your outdoor area. Weave fabrics come in 1% and 5% openness. Openness refers to the tightness of the weave of the fabric. Therefore, the 1% openness fabric has a tighter weave than the 5% fabric, which means it’s able to keep out more rain, and offer more privacy at night. If using the 5% openness fabric, your balcony can still get fairly wet during rainstorms, especially when it’s windy during rainstorms.

Click here for more information on the blind materials available. Motorisation is only recommended for Ziptrak^® with weave fabrics, not ClearView™ PVC.

A pelmet is a slim box covering, at the top of the system. It houses the fabric, keyway tube and motor or SuperSpring™. Ziptrak® offers a fully enclosed pelmet, designed to protect the blind for longevity and provide seamless visual integration with your decor. The pelmet is made from aluminium or steel and is available in a wide range of standard colours, or with the option to totally customise the colour to your choice. Uniline over-roll pelmets can be used for Ziptrak® blinds as well; however, it will protect the roll from the top and front only. Cast aluminium pelmet end plates are utilised for a heavy-duty, long-lasting system. You don’t need to have a pelmet for your blind, although it is highly recommended, especially if the blind will be mounted in an unprotected location.

Ziptrak^® blinds were invented and designed to avoid the time, hassle and energy required to operate a blind with a crank handle. Ziptrak^® blinds are spring-balanced, which means a user can lower or raise the blind by simply moving it with their hand, leaving it securely in any position. Whilst a crank handle can take a minute to fully lower a blind, a Ziptrak^® system takes a matter of seconds. If your retailer is offering the Ziptrak^® system with a crank handle, do note that they are not installing the system to our specifications.

Yes. For manual blinds, the bottom bar can be locked into position with two locks at the bottom left and bottom right, in order to keep the blind fully down and secured in high winds. If you are outside of the outdoor area and you would like to be able to unlock the blind, ask your retailer for a “reverse lock” addition to your centre-lock-release system. This will allow you to operate the centre-lock-release which faces the inside of your entertaining area, even when you are on the outside.

These locks are not designed for use as a security measure. The blind system should not be used as barriers for babies or children. Do note that the centre-lock-release mechanism is not child-proof.

If you have a motorised blind, you do not need a lock, as the blind can only be moved by the motor.

The thickness of the ClearView® / ClearView® tinted PVC material is 0.75mm.

In terms of the blind material, there are two categories; Ziptrak^® Sunshade or Ziptrak^® ClearView. Your local retailer will be able to offer you a range of blind material options, in different colours and degrees of visibility, to complement your structure, décor and outdoor furniture. Ziptrak^® does not manufacture or sell the fabric or PVC that is utilised with our track-guided blind system.

The colour of the Ziptrak^® system componentry (pelmet, bottom bar and vertical tracks) can also be customised to your individual requirements. A standard range of Colorbond® colors is available for powder-coating the componentry to complement your building (roof, guters, alfresco area). Additionally, you can custom select practically any colour for power-coating, although this generally adds cost compared to selecting from the standard range.

Ziptrak^® with ClearView™ PVC blinds refer to a clear or tinted plastic, marine-grade PVC material as the skin of the blind. This style of blind provides a complete barrier against wind, dust and insects, as it offers a solid layer of plastic. Ziptrak^® with weave fabric refer to a mesh or canvas material, which has small holes throughout, allowing a minor degree of airflow, but still blocking dust and insects. Ziptrak^® blinds with weave fabric block a higher degree of sun and glare compared with Ziptrak^® ClearView™ PVC, and often result in more privacy. Ziptrak^® ClearView™ PVC blinds will be more effective at locking in the temperature that exists within the area. If you are looking to motorise your blinds, we only recommend motorisation for Ziptrak^® blinds with weave fabrics; not with ClearView™ PVC.