Building Tents and Shading Structures

Building Tents and Shading Structures

General

1. These guidelines are obligatory and apply to every participant in Midburn - camps, free camps, and art.

2. The only exceptions are personal tents, and small shades (gazebos) lower than 2.2 metres.

Background

1. Tests and shading structures are considered “light construction” according to Israeli law.

2. Building tents and shading structures requires compliance with Israeli standards and emergency services requirements.

3. Tent and shading fabrics must comply with Israeli Standard 5093 - which necessitates spraying the fabric with flame retardants. Participants who spray the fabric on their own should upload their proof papers to this folder.

Safety Guidelines

1. Stakes\pegs should be fixed within the camp’s allocated perimeter.

2. Stakes\pegs should not be fixed on the road adjacent to the camp.

3. Stakes\pegs should be wrapped in foam and clearly marked for both day and night.

4. Cables and ropes should be clearly marked for both day and night.

5. In case of strong winds, the structure should be checked for damage to the cables, fabrics, or other elements.

6. Whenever the shading becomes loosened by wind or other factors, it should be re-tightened.

7. A damaged cable\rope should be replaced immediately.

8. Any maintenance work on the shading structure should be performed only after clearing the camp of people and marking the area to prevent entry until the job is complete.

Variables to Take into Account

1. Material characteristics.

2. Size

3. Fabric weight.

4. Soil characteristics.

5. Suitability of the anchoring method and integrity of the equipment.

6. Wind conditions expected on the days of the event.

7. Metal frameworks are generally preferred over other materials.

Building your Tent/Canopy:

1. The construction shall be carried out before the arrival of the city participants.

2. The support poles shall be placed apart at a distance that does not exceed 5 metres, and in any case no less than 3 poles will be used on each side.

3. The cover sheet must be stretched in a way that does not allow it to loosen or be blown by the wind.

4. The centre post shall be fixed to the ground by tying them to 1 meter long pegs (50 cm stuck in the ground and 50 cm above the ground). Minimum 2 pegs for each central post.

5. A load divider shall be installed at the end of the central post to prevent the sheet from tearing.

6. The corner beams shall be anchored with at least two ropes connected to pegs that will be placed in the ground along the line of each edge of the canopy.

7. Ropes will be tightened such that free movement of the columns is not possible.

8. The pegs anchoring the columns will be stuck in the ground at an angle of 45 degrees and at a depth of at least 50 cm.

9. The distance of the anchoring pegs from the column will be the same as the height of the column.

10. The use of standard pegs with a ring at the end of the peg is preferred, to prevent accidental release of the cable.

11. Do not use damaged ropes to fix the beams of the canopy.

Folding the Tent/Canopy

1. Do not take apart the structure while there are people under the tent/canopy area.

2. The folding shall be carried out in teams to support the structural beams and prevent an uncontrolled collapse.

3. The pegs should be removed from the ground after all other elements are disassembled.