There are a few items that you need to know when winter begins creeping around your marquee still hasn’t hunkered down for hibernation. Marquees require special care to ensure safe use through to the end of the year.
Snow Issues
The main point that we need to stress is that no Celina marquee has been tested and approved for any kind of snow loading. Snow load refers to any amount of snow that comes to rest on the top of the canopy. Due to the gathering effect that snow has, it can quickly accumulate with a propensity for becoming very heavy, very quickly. Keeping a marquee installed in snowy conditions is not recommended and will void the warranty for your shelter.
If a shelter is installed and snow occurs, make sure the shelter is cleared of guests immediately. Snow can be removed from the top by lightly brushing the snow from the roof sections from the outside, or by heating the air inside of the shelter to cause the snow to melt and slide from the roof.
Tensioning Guy Line/Anchoring Straps
Keeping the tensions on all guy lines is imperative for preventing wind whip and cold crack. As the ambient temperature begins to fall, the PVC layers in the vinyl become more and more brittle. Because of this change in the elasticity of the fabric, sudden sharp movements can cause the outer layers to crack. This allows water and bacteria to enter the fabric scrim that is embedded in the fabric, and in warmer environments will allow mildew and mold to grow in the fibers. Scrim mold can’t be removed and is a rather large health hazard – any fabrics (canopies and sidewalls alike) with scrim mold must be disposed of over for guest safety.
Tip: Add one twist to guy lines before feeding the loop strap into the ratchet buckle. This will help to keep the strap from being able to catch the wind and knock against the side of the tent.
Frame Versus Pole Supports (Partial Uninstall)
If you are only expecting short periods of extreme cold, or have the marquee as a semi-permanent feature, you may be tempted to remove the fabric only and leave the supporting structure in place. This holds different results depending on the style of the marquee:
Frame – An assembled frame may be left in place. While this requires much less attention than a fully installed marquee, the frame will still be exposed to more extreme weather and will most likely suffer more wear than if the frame was struck and stored in a more favorable environment.
Pole – As the tension that holds poles in place comes from the canopy fabric, there is no way to keep the poles from a pole tent in any sort of “installed” orientation once the fabric is removed. As the poles must be brought down in the first place, they may as well be taken and stored out of the elements as opposed to be left out at the installation site.
By keeping a close eye on your marquee, most installations can be kept safe through the fall and early winter months and enjoyed time and again. Have any questions or want more tips on marquee usage? Email us at UK@CelinaTent.com or call our Account Managers at 44-115-794-0041. We’re here to help!
The Seasonal Transition: Marquees and the Winter