The advent of summer in the Southern Hemisphere always brings with it wind, especially in Cape Town (the notorious Cape of Storms…).
In this article, we highlight the importance of using storm straps to ensure a structurally safe stretch tent all year round.
The purpose of storm straps is to prevent uplift in the fabric in windy conditions. Using the correct length poles for the central uprights ensures a perfectly tight and structurally sound tent, while positioning storm straps in the “valleys” between the central uprights prevents uplift in the fabric.
One of the most distinguishing features of stretch tents is their modular nature, so when linking tents together, storm straps should be inserted through the carabineer clips at the joins.
As stretch tents are erected by way of free-standing poles pushed into the fabric, the omission of storm straps could result in the fabric lifting off of the central poles. If this were to happen during an event, the poles would fall over and cause harm to guests and the tent, which would now be without tension and flapping in the wind (causing even more damage).
The video below is testimony to what can happen when storm straps aren’t properly secured. Here we see freak-cyclone conditions, with the weather changing from sunny to disastrous in as little as 45 minutes!
We wish all our Southern Hemisphere operators a great (and safe) season!
For more information on how an RHI stretch tent can add enormous value to your business, get in touch with our experts.