Temporary marquees are used for a wide range of different things. You see them at music festivals and at sports events, and they can be used to host garden parties and special celebrations.
While they can be a handy temporary shelter that will offer protection from the weather, they are not without their risks. Let’s take a look at three common safety issues with temporary marquees and discuss how these risks can be reduced. Read on to learn more.
The Marquee Could Collapse
Marquees might appear to be just a piece of fabric. However, they are large, and this fabric can be much heavier than you might realise. If your marquee was to collapse while full of people, it could cause widespread panic and people could get seriously hurt.
For this reason, ensuring your marquee is properly constructed is absolutely vital. If you are hiring a marquee, the company should send out an experienced team who can help you erect the marquee properly. This will involve ensuring it is on flat, stable ground and that all building instructions are followed exactly.
Furthermore, ensure that the poles and ropes used to erect the marquee are in good condition and show no signs of degradation.
The Wind
Marquees are designed to protect us from the weather and the elements. However, extreme weather conditions can pose a safety risk, with wind being particularly dangerous.
If the wind gets under your marquee, there is the potential it could uproot it and essentially turn it into a giant sail. This could cause untold damage and put your marquee’s occupants at risk of serious injury.
The most effective way to safeguard against the risk posed by wind is to use marquee weights. These are 1,000 KG blocks of concrete that can be installed along the sides of your marquee. Ropes from the marquee are attached to hooks on top of the weights, keeping your marquee secured even in the event of extremely high winds.
Fire Risks
When it comes to temporary marquees, fire is perhaps one of the most serious risks. While the material of the marquee itself should be fireproof, the contents may not be. What this means is that a fire could start and be contained within the marquee, which would quickly fill with smoke and flames.
A full fire safety check should be carried out before your marquee is put to use. This must check for potential risks and safety standards. For example, there must be multiple exits for people to use in the event of a fire, both at either end of the marquee and along the sides.
If you are using electricals within your marquee, for live music, for example, ensure these have been properly checked over by a professional to ensure they do not pose a fire risk.
Finally, ensure there are fire extinguishers and fire blankets available should a fire break out in your marquee.
Conclusion
Structural collapse, wind and fire pose the greatest safety risks in temporary marquees. These risks can be addressed through proper construction, using marquee weights and conducting fire safety checks.
