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Survey
Questions:
What
is the average total weight of your
10x10 foot canopy system with top and
four drop down side tarps to totally
enclose the display (but not including
any attached weights)?
What
features involving the above
components do you feel help make your
system more
wind resistant?
Other
than the usual replacement of the
canopy tops and side panels, what 2
parts of your system have artists most
often had to replace over the
years?
What
design or material modifications have
you made to improve the structural
integrity of your canopy?
Have
you ever conducted engineering studies
of the effects of wind upon your
canopy system or its components? Is it
your experience that canopy problems
are due to canopy component failure or
to improper setup in high winds
without sufficient weights to
adequately secure the canopy
structure?
Can
you recommend any structural
reinforcements or setup procedures for
exhibitors to make your system more
secure in the wind?
When
your canopy is secured with weights,
where and how do you recommend the
weights be attached? Do you provide
weights or attaching materials?
What
is the recommended total weight of
securing all four legs?
Survey
Responses:
Light-Dome:
The total weight is 75-80 pounds.
Fifteen years ago we tested our
product at an airport with winds up to
65 MPH to determine what changes to
make before it was marketed. We
increased the diameter of the tubing,
the gage of metal, and tensile
strength. Canopy problems are due to
inadequate staking or weighting most
of the time. If the show has a lot of
rain the ground will become wet and
even the stakes won’t hold. Weights
need to be at least 38 pounds [each],
should be never be hung by a strap and
left suspended, but should rest on the
foot of the canopy and be secured by a
strap that does not stretch. Do not
use rope; use a strap with a quick
release buckle. In high winds
exhibitors should stake down from the
foot of the canopy as well as from the
corner. By having a tie-down strap
from the corner secures the top part
of the canopy. A round top such as the
Light-Dome will fare better in high
winds as apposed to one with a flat
top like our Finale.
Trimline:
 Total
weight of our system is 127 pounds. On
the question of the weight of steel
frame vs. aluminum, we feel that
although aluminum is lighter, it is
less strong and will require more hold
down weight. In other words you have
to carry the weight one way or
another. Our popular option, the
Stabilizer Bar Kit, is set of three
poles that join the legs adding
substantially to stability of the
unit. We offer customized sets to fit
all major canopy brands. The addition
of our Mesh Panel Walls, which are
stretched between the legs and form
tope pole to bottom stabilizer bar
pole-the wind resistance and stability
far exceeds other canopies. Our
standard Heat/wind vents at each end
of the canopy top permit the release
of wind pressure that may tend to lift
the canopy. No wind studies have been
conducted, as meaningful data is
difficult to obtain. We rarely replace
any components, usually they are the
result of a vehicle backing into or
running over a canopy or part. We
warrant canopies for three years and
have had to replace fewer than six
canopy parts per year because of part
failure. Insufficient weight or
tie-down can be critical. We include
two tie down screws and four 10”
steel spikes with each unit plus offer
an optional set of four 40-pound
weights, the minimum on hard surfaces.
EZ-UP:
Our Express III Value Pack has a
carton weight of 65 pounds. We have
done extensive testing and engineering
studies to improve our designs. EZ-UP
Canopies have been professionally
tested in a wind tunnel. We have also
set up our canopies and those of our
competitors on top of a high truck bed
and pulled them across the dry lakebed
flats at high speeds to the point of
destruction. The result has been
numerous (patent protected) changes
over the past 20 years. These
improvements involve design geometry,
something others might try to copy but
will find hard to get the math right.
We employ reinforced trusses and high
strength steel. We offer a flexible
roof on the Dome II using fiberglass
rods that actually flatten out the
roof reducing resistance when winds
exceed 22 MPH. The roof restores to
its original shape when wind speed
drops below 22 MPH. It is very
important that the shelter be properly
anchored with 40-pound weight bags
secured to the bottom of each leg. Our
convenient weight bag system attaches
to the lower part of the leg with
lynch pins. Do not tie ropes to the
canopy top as it may pull out the
threads sewn into the top that are not
designed to hold the weights.
 KD:
Our
Dynidiom fittings allow some movement
within the structure, which allows a
little more flexibility in the canopy.
We do highly suggest that the canopy
is either spiked down or has weight
bags attached and because we have a
welded footplate that accepts spikes
or allows the weight bag to rest fully
on it, this also helps with wind.
Usually people do not read the set up
instructions or simply abuse the
canopy. We always tell the clients
that they must secure the canopy. If
they ignore that then with a high
enough wind any canopy will take
flight. Our 10x10 weighs 90
pounds and comes with steel spikes. We
offer a specialized sandbag that wraps
around the leg and secures with
commercial grade Velcro. These bags
are 30lbs each at $ 49.00 for a
set of four. We recommend 120lbs
[total for four legs] and have tested
that to a 28mph wind.
Showoff:
To improve wind resistance we moved
from welded thin wall corners to cast
heavy wall corners and use a special
strength aluminum alloy. Top arch
supports are the parts artists request
replacements for. Canopy failure is
due to insufficient securing and
weather conditions beyond the
capability of the canopy. The total
weight of our system is 70 pounds. We
recommend 60 pounds for securing all
four legs. We provide manufactured
sand bags with quick release buckles
to be strapped on at the leg base. We
have seen very few failures when a
setup includes the integrated fabric
display panels. Panels use the leg and
cross bars of the frame in addition to
a bottom crossbar. The fabric is then
tensioned with quick release buckles
on four sides securing the leg system
and stabilizing the frame.
Craft
Hut:
The total weight is about 100 pounds.
The heaviest piece is the roof at 15
pounds. The fabric is more wind and
rain resistant because it is welded
together using RF welders (the same
equipment used for pool liners). The
roof seam is sewn and sealed using a
Queen Light heat sealer. We feel the
shape of the roof is a factor in
keeping it from blowing away. Many
times we have heard from our customers
that the Craft Huts were the only
booths standing after a storm. Tie
down dog leash anchors work well to
secure a booth. We do not recommend a
specific amount of weight although the
weight kits we sell consist of four
18-pound weights (when filled with
cement). Obviously the more weight the
better. We do supply tie down ropes.
They are looped around the corners at
the top and the weights are tied to
the other end. We do not warrant
weather related damage. The most
vulnerable parts would be the side
rails or upper portion of the leg. Now
and then some of the PVC rafters will
break.
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This
article was written by Carl Buehler www.jewelgallery.net
and is copyrighted by Sunshine Artist Magazine and may
not be reproduced in any form without written permission.
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