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Canopy Weight Guidelines
Most accidents at Markets involve
canopies. It is your
job to minimize the risk. There are two
general rules regarding canopies which
all vendors need to remember:
-
Always fully secure your canopy to
the ground.
-
Be sure that your method of securing
your canopy to the ground does not
itself create an additional hazard.
Below we will explore the basics of
securing canopies in detail, including
pictures of examples of the right and
wrong way of doing it.
Good Canopy
Weight; Bad Canopy Weight
New England is infamous for its
unpredictable weather, diverse climates
and often strong, gusty, and
unpredictable winds. And while Market
vendors use canopies to shield
themselves from the rain and sun, our
region's winds can turn our canopies
into deadly missiles with one unexpected
gust.
You should always have your canopy
secured to the ground. It is not enough
to have the tools necessary to secure
your canopy on hand if you do not employ
them. Or to rely on getting bricks from
our property or securing your tent to
your neighbor's weights. All
vendors must have their own tent weights,
again with a minimum of 40 lbs per tent
leg. Gallon water jugs, and single
bricks will not cut it. Gallons of water
weigh only 9lbs and single bricks are
worthless, weighing in at 3lbs.
Strong gusts can come up without warning
at any time before, during or after the
Market has closed. After the first gust
catapults your canopy like a rocket
powered javelin through the nearest
windshield (happened last year in the
South End), or into a customer or fellow
vendor, it is already too late to decide
to secure your canopy. You should assume
winds will come. Indeed, they often do.
While vendors may experience calm
conditions upon morning setup,
conditions can change dramatically by
late afternoon and breakdown.
Additionally, setup and breakdown
periods are consistently when canopies
prove to be most vulnerable to wind.
Last year we had two incidents that
happened at the end of the Market day.
You must be sure to completely secure
your canopy as soon as you set it up,
and take down your canopy as soon as you
remove its ground moorings at the end of
the day. Do NOT let yourself be
interrupted by ANYTHING in the middle of
this process, as a half-secured canopy
is as dangerous, if not more dangerous,
than an unsecured canopy. They flip.
They crumple. They do weird things!
The Good, the Bad
and the Ugly
Good
PVC Pipe Filled with Concrete (40-50 lbs
per leg)
The PVC pipe filled with cement hangs on
the inside of the canopy pole, and it
has soft edges and the ability to move,
just in case someone still manages to
collide with it.
Instructions
Use a 5" pvc pipe cut 30" long, purchase
two end caps for each section along with
a long eye hook. Drill a hole in one of
the ends to allow the bolt end of the
eyehook to go through it. Using an
adhesive for pvc pipe we sealed one end.
Then take the bags of quickcrete and
fill the tubes. Then add water to the
pipes. (The moisture will set the
quickcrete) Place the end cap with the
hole again using adhesive and stick the
bolt end of the eyehook through the hole
making sure it inserts into the
quickcrete. Stand and allow to dry. Use
tie-down straps or bungies with hooks on
both ends that allow you to adjust for
height for your weights. This keeps the
weight tension tight.
Good
EZ - Up Sand Bags
(40 lbs per leg)
Each weight bag holds up to 40 lbs. of
sand (which you provide) and attaches to
legs. Average cost from most online
stores is 60.00 for 4 bags. Click on
links below to learn more and purchase.
Where to purchase:
http://www.ezupdirect.com/shelter-accessories/deluxe-weight-bag.php
http://www.everythingtrackandfield.com/detail.aspx_Q_ID_E_2613_A_CategoryID_E_254
Bad
Water
Bottles (8 lbs per leg)
8 lbs
water jugs weighing 8lbs each, weighing
in total
at a measly 36 pounds. We recommend that
vendors use at least 40lbs per leg. If
you must go this route, please use 5
gallon jugs attached to each leg at the
bottom of the your tent, not suspended..
Pretty Bad
Cinder Blocks (22
LBS)
Aside from being another tripping hazard
there just plain ugly!
And they only weigh around 22 lbs each,
you'll need at least two per leg.
Again we do not recommend this option,
but if you must, please attach 2 cinder
blocks per leg.
Very Bad
Stakes
Never use stakes in the cement. A stiff
wind will lift these right out of the
ground and they are an extreme hazard to
our customers.
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