News
2012-08-22 Marquee Information
These larger tents are seldom used for sleeping.
- A marquee is a large tent used as a temporary building. They have
long been used for circus or other performances, fairs, banquets, large
weddings or, more recently corporate entertainment
events. Traditionally made of canvas, modern "party tents" are more
likely to use PE (polythene) or, for higher quality, PVC. 'DIY' marquees
are available up to 20 feet (6m) wide. 30 to 150 feet (9m to 45m)
widths are very expensive and require specialized equipment and skill to
erect, so they must usually be rented. Many corporations own large (9m
to 45m wide) marquee tents but have them installed and maintained by
qualified professionals. Party tents are held down with tensioned
ratchets and/or stakes. Sizes range from 10 x 10 feet (3m x 3m) to 150 x
400 feet (45m x 120m). Marquees / party tents are dramatic and very
strong.
- A pole marquee
consists of canvas and more recently PVC, under tension by means of
centre poles, side poles and guy ropes which are attached to ground
stakes hammered into soft surfaces only such as a lawn or field. Hand
made of white cotton canvas, traditional poled marquees are more
attractive but much less practical and versatile than aluminium frame
marquees. The modern PVC traditional pole marquee was introduced
due to the material being easier to clean than woven canvas and giving
them a longer hire life span.
- A tension tent, flex tent or stretch tent is a newer variation of the pole marquee.
The general design is similar to the pole marquee. However, it usually
has fewer poles, and the integrity of the structure is maintained by the
tension of the fabric. It also is very similar to a tensile structure
It is often used for outdoor weddings, parties and other events. It is
generally more economical with poles than tents supported by an aluminum
frame. It has since been adapted and updated in various other tent
types including the High Peak Frame Tent and Freeform / Stretch / Flex
Tent styles developed in South Africa
- Freeform / Stretch / Flex Tents have developed since 2000 driven
predominantly by companies in South Africa and in Australia. The
composition of the fabric differs slightly between those from South
Africa and those in Australia. Stretch Tent Fabrics have been produced
using Nylon and Polyester. Since 2007 Stretch Tents have been introduced into Europe by some of the South African companies such as Intent. Stretch Tents utilize aluminum, wooden and bamboo poles capped by molded polypropylene or rubber
domes that push through the stretched fabric, creating tension between
the ground and the fabric. The fabric can be sculpted into various organic and curvaceous
forms to provide shade and rain cover for events. The tensioned fabric
must be made rigid and the tent form allow water run-off and resistance
to wind load before erection is complete.
- Aluminium frame marquees
- Aluminium frame tents have no centre poles or guy ropes, can be
erected on any surface and adjacent to buildings or annexe tents. Much
more stable and can span a much wider area over pools, flower beds or
trees.
Typical 20'x20' High Peak Frame Tent set up at Events Party & Tent Rentals for Demonstration
- A newer category of the Marquee/Party tents is the High Peak Frame
Tents (known by several brand names like "frame & cable", "vista",
"pinnacle", etc.). These tents have the advantage of the pole tents with
the high top, ease of installation, cleaner look, and fewer parts. They
also have the advantage of the Frame Tents as they do not have support
pole(s) on the inside of the tent that touches the ground. The high top
look is accomplished by using a "floating pole", which is a pole that
sits on cables that run across the tent interior from the top of the
sides. Most tent manufactures are now making these tents and they come
in a variety of sizes and shapes that can be joined together to meet the
needs of unique space requirements.
- Marquee tents typically have interchangeable parts, which allow for a
rental company to easily expand to larger sizes. Tents can be ordered
in a variety of colours. However, white is by far the most popular
colour. Skylights can also be built into the fabric, which allow a
greater amount of light to enter and is useful if walls are being used.
Walls can also be ordered with clear vinyl windows in them.
- Shamiana
is a popular Indian ethnic tent shelter, which is commonly used for
outdoor parties, marriages, restaurants etc. Its side walls are
detachable. The external fabric can be multicolored or can hold
exquisite designs. The history of Shamiana, dates back to the Mughal
era. As per Government of India service tax rules under Finance Act
1997, the definition of Shamiana is given under the clause (77A) of
section 65, that is: "pandal or shamiana means a place specially
prepared or arranged for organizing an official, social or business
function".
- "Bail Ring Tents" are usually tents that are 100 to 150 feet (30m x
45m) wide and expandable to any length. They can be made from either
vinyl or canvas. The purpose of the bail ring style is to raise an
enormous amount of material "the tent" off the ground without using
heavy machinery. Initially, the center poles are raised and guyed out to
stakes after which the tent is spread out and connected to the bail
ring using shackles. Once the outside of the tent is raised a crew of
men can go under the tent and start raising the bail ring up the center
pole using a system of pulleys. This style of tent is not as popular as
it was in the past due to the advancement of forklifts and skidsteers.
There was a time when even smaller tents 40 to 100 feet (12m to 30m)
were often raised and set using a bail ring.
- The four Major golf tournaments have tents set up. They are usually 40×40 feet (12m×12m).
- Tents or marquees are often hired from specialist companies.
- A "Rubb Hall" is a large tent used primarily as emergency warehousing.
- A circus
tent usually has one or more oval or circular arenas surrounded by
tiered seating which might accommodate thousands of people. Nowadays
such large tents are made of some artificial fibre (polyester or vinyl)
and are often erected with the help of cranes. In earlier times it was
common for the circus elephants to be used as a source of power for
pulling ropes to haul the canvas into position.
- The Beach Marquee - Recently designed smaller framed marquee has
been designed for Australia's beaches. Made of aluminium it is rust free
and will last several years. This is a great innovation for beach users
especially in Australia which is the company that produces this
Marquees target marke
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