Two Safety Issues To Watch Out For When Renting An Event Tent

When you want to hold an event outside, renting a tent is a good way to provide a place for guests to gather without having to worry about bad weather ruining the occasion. However, to protect you and your guests from potential hazards, here are two safety issues to watch out for when renting an event tent.

Scout for Underground Utility Lines

One method of anchoring the tent involves sticking poles and stakes into the ground to secure it in place. The deeper the poles and stakes can go, the more resistant the tent becomes to collapsing under wind or other adverse weather. At the same time, though, if you put the poles in the wrong place, you could end up piercing utility piping or electrical wires.

This generally isn't much of a problem in publicly accessible areas such as parks or beaches, as people who run these facilities will typically direct you to spaces where you can set up the tent safely. However, if you're using the rented tent in your backyard or on private land, then it's essential that you have the area surveyed and underground hazards marked.

There is a public service website that provides information about the local organization you must contact to notify regarding your intention to either dig or stick items into the ground. Typically, you have to provide the organization with advance notice so they can properly survey the land. For instance, you must give the Miss Dig System in Michigan a minimum of 72 hours—but not more than 14 days—notice before your event.

The service is usually free, but some areas may charge. Discuss this with the organization so you're fully informed and prepared before making an appointment.

Guard Against Inclement Weather

Another thing that may threaten the fun and safety of your event is inclement weather, and each type of weather event will bring its own safety concern. With rain comes the concern about ponding. This is when water pools on top of the tent creating one or more ponds that may cause it to sag in places and even topple under the weight. This typically occurs when the tent fabric is not pulled tight enough to create the requisite tension to force water to roll off the structure. When setting up the tent, therefore, make sure the top is as smooth as possible and doesn't dip or cave inward.

Rain can also cause the ground to soften so much that the stakes holding the tent in place lose their gripping power. You can mitigate this by tying the tent to other stable structures such as nearby trees or the railing of a deck or placing heavy sandbags over the stakes to provide additional security. However, if it's raining so hard that the ground becomes essentially soft mud in a relatively short period of time, then it may be a good idea to move the party indoors.

Wind is another issue that can ruin a good tent setup. It can put undue stress on poles, ratchet assemblies, and stakes. This may lead to stakes being pulled up or poles being blown down. It's critical that when the wind starts howling to check the anchoring mechanisms to ensure they remain taut and make the necessary adjustments.

It's best to end the party if you start getting snow and lightning. There really is no way to mitigate a lightning strike that hits the tent, and the majority of event tents are not designed to tolerate the heavy weight of accumulated snow. If you're expecting this type of bad weather on the date of your event, then you may want to have the party another day or make sure you have an alternate place people can go if the weather stops cooperating.

For more tips on safely erecting and using an event tent, contact a rental company or visit a site like http://www.joliettent.net.