Common Stretch Tent Rigging Mistakes Can Be Avoided With These Guidelines

A very important element of stretch tent hire and safety is design and rigging. When followed, the tips and best practices set out below will ensure a successful event.

Design guidelines

The sturdiness of a stretch tent’s design is proven either by use over time or by the calculation of a qualified structural engineer. With more complex structures (multiple tents joined together), designs may need to be independently checked by the engineer. As a minimum requirement, such calculations will typically include the maximum wind loading for which the structure is approved and the maximum imposed load permissible. These safety requirements apply to all stretch tent sizes.

Common stretch tent rigging mistakes

As a tent supplier to the international stretch tent market, Tentickle International has years of safety experience – a critical component of the service offering. Industry newcomers often tend to make the same rigging mistakes, so it should be a priority to check a rig’s safety as often as possible.
The main focus of such an assessment is rigging techniques. When a physical site inspection is not possible, send pictures of the setup to an experienced stretch tent hire company for advice and to ensure it is structurally safe and aesthetically correct.
Stretch tent rigging mistakes include:
  • Incorrect pegging and anchoring techniques
  • Incorrect pole positioning and angling
  • Insufficient safety straps

Pegging and anchoring techniques

Correctly angled 3m poles with pegs 3m away.
Anchorage techniques
  • The pull-out force that an anchorage stake can withstand depends on the type of soil, water penetration, and inclination and depth of the anchor.
  • Loose soil provides the least resistance and may require special anchors. In this situation, pull-out tests are required to verify the anchor’s resistance.
  • Where ground penetration is not possible, heavy ballast weights can be used to withstand uplift forces. The ballast weight requirement is often underestimated and can be several tons per anchor point, depending on the size of the structure.
  • Anchors should always be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s manual and be sufficient to resist the maximum uplift force expected.
  • Purpose-designed stakes with defined heads, used in conjunction with gang plates, are generally preferred since they do not need to project significantly above the surface. This provides superior anchorage as well as reducing the risk of tripping.
Pegs lifting out the surface
  • Site inspections should be thorough and include an assessment of the grounds prior to the event .
  • Riggers should ensure that they use the correct length pegs for the type of ground the tent is being erected on.
  • The pegs should be at least 25mmx1000mm in size, and 1 500mm if pegging into soft sand. If pegs are too easy to slam in then double or triple pegging should be considered.
  • Pegs should be hit in straight (no angle) and the full length of the peg should penetrate the ground.
  • All pegs should have covers with suitable padding so not to cause injury if tripped over.
Side-upright Poles
  • Every corner- and side-upright pole should be anchored. An absolute minimum for a side-upright pole is one stake that is at least 1 000mm long and 25mm in diameter, driven fully into the ground. Up to date requirements for the number of pegs required at every point depends on the size of the tent. This information can be requested from RHI.
  • Intermediate points on the stretch tent must also be anchored, even if uplift forces are countered at the main anchor points, as lateral movement can destabilise the structure and cause injury.
  • All side-upright poles should have the means to spread the load at the base to prevent sinking when erected on soft ground.
  • Stakes and ropes near exits or other walking routes should be fenced off or clearly marked to prevent people from walking into or tripping over them. The responsibility of erecting fencing and indicating designated walking routes and will normally lie with the event organiser, but the stretch tent contractor should ensure that the organiser is aware of these safety issues.
Insufficient tension in the tent
  • Riggers should ensure that pegs used at floating sides / entrances are the correct distance from the tent in order to achieve the desired lateral stretch in the body of the tent, as far too often the pegs are too close to the edge.
  • The correct distance to peg is the same distance as the height of the pole being used at that point.

Pole positioning and angling

Centre pole with staggered lengths.
Central poles falling over
  • A good test of pole length is if three strong men can lift a central pole off the ground, then it should be replaced with a longer pole, or moved to where it can’t be lifted.
  • If extreme weather is predicted, ensure appropriate base plates are used.
  • Local weather patterns and direction of prevailing winds should be considered when planning open sides and entrances, as gusting winds can cause the fabric to lift off the poles.
Water pooling
  • Central poles should be placed upright, no less than 4.5m and no more than 6m apart or away from another central pole or edge of the tent.
  • Correct pole lengths will create the ideal run-off with no flat areas. When more than one row of central poles is needed, ensure the lengths are staggered with the longest poles placed in the centre of the tent.
Insufficient tension in the tent
  • Side poles that are positioned too upright will prevent ideal lateral tensioning in the body of the tent. Side poles should be hit in at a 15° angle once the ropes are tensioned.
  • A useful tip is to mark the point on the ground before lifting the edge of the tent, as this is the point where the base of the side pole should be positioned.

Insufficient safety straps

Tent under correct tension.
  • It is imperative that safety straps are use with medium- to large-sized tents, especially where more than one central pole is being used.
  • Safety straps should be placed in the "valley" between each row of central poles. The number of stakes required for the storm bolts over different sized tents do vary.
  • Where the tents join where linked together is an excellent opportunity to use a safety strap by passing the strap through the carabiners that link the tents together.

Article source: https://www.rhitents.com/stretch-tent-rigging/