August 2010 Ballasting Webinar Summary - A webinar was held on August 17th to discuss developing guidelines for the ballasting/weighting of tents. Members of the Tent Rental Division of IFAI presented the information to industry. This is a summary of the information presented by representatives of the Life Safety Task Force of the Tent Rental Division.
Introduction:
Ballasting is a way of life in our industry. It is an accepted practice and is in almost every market sector, It is used in every geographic region. Manufacturers support ballasting by supplying basic reaction or hold down values. Almost every rental company ballastst on a consistent basis. Many customers including municipalities insist on ballasting on specific venues.
The question before our membership is this:
Is it in the best interests of the industry, specifically the members of the Tent Rental Division of the Industrial Fabrics Association to undertake the creation of a set of guidelines on engineering research and conduct by an independent third party firm that result in a set of practical guidelines for the safe and effective use of ballast?
Ballasting Guideline Objectives:
- This set of guidelines will specifically NOT create hold down or reaction values Responsibility will remain with the tent and structure manufacturers.
- The guidelines will address methods needed to safely adjust manufacturer supported hold down values and to apply ballasting solutions for common surfaces and applications that rental companies regularly encounter.
- The guidelines will address methods to safely and effectively attach ballast to tents and structures of as many manufacturers cooperating with this study.
- The guidelines will address methods of attaching ballast to tents and structures in a safe effective and consistent manner.
- The guidelines will specifically address and recommend ballast and ballasting practices.
Items of specific attention will be:
- Modifications, alterations and additions to base plates
- Methods of securing ballast to tents or structures
- Specifying minimum hardware standards for any equipment that is integrated into the ballasted tent or structure installation
- Examining and recommending placement methods to ensure consistent factors
May 2010 Statement to Industry
To weight or not to weight, ballast guidelines or no ballast guidelines…industry topcis for discussion.
The Tent Rental Division of IFAI desires all members of the tenting industry to be aware of the pros and cons of “Guidelines to Alternative Anchoring and Ballasting of Frame Tents.” The process of developing guidelines must be thorough and in the best interests of the industry. As a trade association representing our industry, we want to be proactive in this matter.
Members of the Codes Task Force of TRD have compiled a list of Pros and Cons for industry to consider. Topics for discussion will be addressed during a special session held during IFAI Tent Expo 2011 in St Pete Beach, Florida preceding a membership vote.
All members of industry are being asked by the Code Task Force to evaluate the importance of guidelines for ballasting of tents. Again, we remind members of industry the recommended weights per tent leg will still be determined by the tent manufacturer. The study will provide guidelines on how to achieve the recommended weights with ballasting instead of anchoring.
Similar industry challenges were voiced when the Tent Rental Division of IFAI developed “Guidelines for Determining the Holding Power of Tent Stakes.” After many months of discussion, research and development, the guidelines were launched changing the way tent rental companies staked tents. The end result continues to be safer tent installations and improved safety for the public in tented events. The study increased the awareness level on how to determine sufficient anchoring of tents with staking. Recouping of the costs of the initial study continues today. Individual rental companies, tent manufacturers, tent publications, code officials, engineers and installers continue to reference the study.
Now, the tent installation industry is being asked to ballast instead of stake a tent. The Tent Rental Division believes it is the industry’s responsibility to develop guidelines before officials and inspectors mandate methods.
Consider the following reasons why the tent rental industry should have ballasting guidelines:
The market is requesting this option.
Guidelines established by a reputable, credible source
Engineered data will aid in establishing guidelines for proper procedure for ballasting
Assist rental companies in securing a safer job site for customers and public
Create a level playing field for quoting projects avoiding/forcing members into quoting unsafe low levels of ballasting “to get the job.”
Members can use this information as a competitive edge
Guidelines may be more easily accepted by code officials
Industry would be proactive rather than reactive
There is no conflict with underground utilities
Ballasting allows setup in more locations
What potential impact could the guidelines present to the tent rental industry?
The amount of weight required could be substantial
Increasing costs for current installs that have not been using sufficient ballast in the past
Raises questions for manufacturers on “non-certified” tents and structures of what are loads
Some manufacturers may not be able to provide needed load information to meet guidelines
May not be accepted by code officials
May cause loads on uprights that are not designed/planned for based on how weight attaches
Aesthetics of how sacks of weight look and possibly block tent openings
Our industry’s future is in our hands. The mission statement of TRD, your industry trade association, is to foster safety, quality and creativity in the use of commercial rental tents. Our industries future is linked to safety. Voice your opinions by e-mail at tentcodes.com.
March 2010 - Comments to Industry
There is a need among the Tent Rental Division of IFAI membership for guidelines in regards to the ballasting of commercial rental tents. The need for ballasting is ever growing with increasing limitations on the staking of commercial rental tents. A survey was forwarded to the membership during February 2010.
Ninety percent of the membership responding stated ballasting guidelines are necessary and to spend division monies on the study. However, the Steering Committee of the Tent Rental Division agreed the division members need to have the opportunity to express their concerns and ideas for ballasting study guidelines. The Steering Committee has recommended that the study go before the membership of Tent Rental Division at the annual business meeting to be held at Tent Expo 2011, January 24-26, 2011, Tradewinds Resort, St Pete Beach, Florida. Because ballasting of tents is such an important project, it was decided that the next nine months should be spent educating the members and industry on the objectives, implications, costs, risk, etc.
The study will determine best methodology for using ballast units to anchor frame tents
and clearspan structures and determine the expected mean coefficient of friction for water & concrete barrels, concrete blocks on dry and wet asphalt, dry and wet smooth concrete, dry and wet rough concrete, grass, dirt and gravel.
The source of the recommended weight to be applied on a given leg of a tent will still be the tent manufacturer. The study will only give recommendations as to how a tent rental company can reach a given amount of ballast and what the “weight” of ballast is under various conditions. For more information regarding the ballasting study for the commercial tent rental industry, visit tentexperts.org or e-mail jmschieffer@ifai.com.
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