This photo essay illustrates the “behind the scenes” preparation for the graduation season.

Quality chair rentals start with the purchase of quality chairs. All our new inventory purchases within the past 8 years has been from Palmer Snyder Furniture, from whom we purchase chairs by the container load.

Event Central took delivery of 1 container on April 1st

For the 2013 season, we purchased 2 containers of chairs.             4,500 white and 4,500 brown

Panoramic shot of all the boxes unloaded from the first container-  waiting to be processed

Chairs are removed from the cartons

During the check in process, every chair gets an Event Central identifying sticker affixed under the seat.  We then place a colored pin stripe inconspicuously on the bottom of the leg.  This is a quality control marking which insures other rental companies do not swap other brand chairs into our fleet of newer higher quality chairs.

Our material handling system of specialty pallets minimizes the number of times a chair is handled.  A full trailer can be unloaded by 2 people using a forklift within 45 minutes. The 6000 chairs on 30 skids are then transported from the parking lot to the commencement area  in 90 minutes.  Depending on the complexity of the site, Event Central’s material handling system can reduce the man hours required from the time the truck arrives until the chairs are completely setup by 30-40%.  We even have a specialty forklift that allows us to carry the pallets of chairs across the sand-based grass soccer field without damage to the turf.

100 new metal pallets for 2013

Thousands of chairs on metal pallets waiting to be strapped and loaded on the truck

Tractor Trailers are loaded with up to 6000 chairs on 30 pallets.

Detailed load diagram

5250 white chairs ready for 2 hour transport to university

Truckload of brown chairs

Truckload of white chairs ready to roll the following week

Citing the Handbook Introduction:

“It is designed to educate novice as well as experienced tent renters on installation theory, with an emphasis on safety. This handbook may be used as a basic guide for tent installation. The goal is to clarify specific tenting theories, verifying as well as dispelling common tenting myths. The information presented here is based on the combined experience of the all volunteer Education Committee, with validated engineering data from an industry expert.”

The handbook covers 5 different types of tents:

• Pole-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Bail-Ring Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Pipe Frame-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Box-Beam Frame-Supported Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Tensile Structure Rental Tents

Within each type tent, it is further detailed by:

• Introduction
• Site Survey
• Layout and Staking
• Poles
• Tensioning
• Safety and Maintenance

Municipalities Adopt the Document

Some municipalities have adopted the IFAI handbook into their application processes as shown in this cutout from The City of Phoenix Tent Permit Application.

The City of Phoenix tent permit application referring to the IFAI Handbook for Safe Installation

Most-Frequently-Used Section

One commonly applied reference chart used by tenting professionals is the squaring chart. Only when a stake line is square can the tent be tensioned to look it’s best and have it’s greatest strength against the winds and weather it was engineered to stand up to.

IFAI Tent Squaring Chart using the Pythagorean Theorem

Why do We Dwell on Safety?

One sad reminder of how tenting jobs can go sour involved a rental company in Virginia on July 25, 2005. Under the neglectful direction of the rental company staff, four scout leaders were accidentally electrocuted when the tent’s center pole was raised up into a high voltage electric line. Soon after, the rental company went out of business, and the lives of thousands of young scouts were impacted forever as they witnessed this accident that should never have occurred. This speaks to the merit of why training and following industry standards is critical to a safe business model.

How do You Select a Professional Tent Rental Company?

When you are in the selection process of a tent rental company, look for signs that they are active in rental association operations and conferences, that they are willing to offer good quality references, and that they maintain field crews with sufficient experience and training to get the job done safely.

The 102 page handbook is available free to members and for $385.00 to non-members by visiting the IFAI Bookstore. The handbook can also be purchased by ARA members for $12.

Handling, Storing and Transporting Safeblocks made easy

For Sale:
Gently used Concrete Ballast Tent Weights for anchoring tents and structures – 500#,  1000# and 1800#. These concrete blocks were designed by tent professionals for ease in handling, storage and anchoring tents.

Round Safeblock Specifications:

• The blocks are poured in concrete forms using standard mix concrete
• Tent to ratchet attach point is a recessed pocket in the center of the Safeblock top
• Recessed pocket has built in water drain hole
• Blocks can be stored in a stacked position to reduce space required
• Fork pockets are built into the bottom edge of each block
• Blocks can be moved with standard warehouse pallet jack
• Blocks are shown with wood chocks for wider base
• Easily secured on flat bed trucks
• Can be pallet jacked on standard Penske & Ryder lift gates
• Block attach points are designed to accommodate all major manufacturers’ ratchet straps

Condition of used blocks:

• These blocks are from our rental fleet, being replaced by a new design
• Some blocks have minimal spalled edges as would be typical from normal handling
• Block colors vary with the pour, as can be seen on the pictures below
• For the sale price,  Event Central selects and loads the blocks without grading quality
• Buyer’s desire to obtain all matched color blocks will add 30% to current sale price
• Buyer’s desire for matching color blocks with no spalling (like new) will result in the MSRP price
• All blocks are fully functional,  in excellent condition, and are still in use.

Event Central will not provide advice to buyers on the amount of ballast to be installed on a given size tent. Please do not ask! We recommend you consult the IFAI Ballasting Study in conjunction with your tent vendor’s anchoring load requirements to determine the safe anchoring of a specific tent.

SB1000R with chocks and rubber mat installed on 20 wide Eureka frame

SB500R installed on 10×10 in football stadium

SB1000R on gable end of 30 wide Maxi Frame

SB1000R 40 wide Maxi Frame with Gable End

Handling, Storing and Transporting Safeblocks is easy

SB1000R blocks being loaded by fork lift on trailer

Trailer of blocks tied down with 4″ DOT straps over orange “VeeBoard” corner protectors to protect straps from damage.

Terms of sale:

• All sales require payment in advance by cash or check (we can not take credit cards at this price)
• Full payment is required to lock in the sale price.
• Blocks must be picked up within 15 days of purchase, after which storage is $.50 per day per block

We also have a limited quantity of 1800# stacking blocks for sale – $55.00

Also for sale, up to 25 1800# stacking blocks – excellent condition $55.00

Trucking
For budgeting purposes, we have an owner/operator who can transport approximately 44,000# at a cost of $100.00 per hour including time loading, unloading and travel (based on short trips).  For longer trips, once you have paid for your purchase, we will be happy to obtain a competitive quote from the driver to your specific destination.

To Purchase, Please Contact:
Event Central Customer Service
info@eventcentralpa.com
(717) 591-7368

The following is a Infographic produced using some of the technical data provided in the IFAI Proceedural Handbook for the Safe Installation of Tentage

Tensile tent education with drawings from from IFAI Handbook

You can also learn more about the 4 other common types of rental tents by linking to:

• Pole-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Bail-Ring Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Pipe Frame-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Box-Beam Frame-Supported Tents Through 100-Foot Widths

Clear Span education from IFAI Handbook

• Pole-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Bail-Ring Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Pipe Frame-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Tensile Structure Rental Tents

Frame tent education from IFAI Handbook

• Pole-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Bail-Ring Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Box-Beam Frame-Supported Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Tensile Structure Rental Tents

Infographic showing a bail ring tent

• • Pole-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
  • Pipe Frame-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
  • Box-Beam Frame-Supported Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
  • Tensile Structure Rental Tents

Pole tent education from IFAI Handbook

• Bail-Ring Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Pipe Frame-Supported Tents Through 60-Foot Widths
• Box-Beam Frame-Supported Tents Through 100-Foot Widths
• Tensile Structure Rental Tents

Crew finishes top taping black AstroTurf on stage prior to snow fall

Framing tent Saturday morning in the spring snow

Granite stage installed against 3 dock doors of warehouse

30 x 60 frame tent installed on stage

Standing at Dock, looking out toward truck lane

Looking through tent toward dock doors

View of customer pickup and return area for Event Central

Tent secured with 2000# concrete ballast at corner

If you have not registered, you can still attend by registering on site the day of the event.

Event Central will be host to the Mid Atlantic Tent Renters Association, MATRA, on March 19, 2013 from 8:30am to 4:00pm. This is a one-day educational program which will focus on your installers.

Topics include:
> Critical Communication within the Rental Organization/Keynote Speaker

> Emergency Event Evacuation

> Job Costing Strategies

> Auctions and your Transitions

> Tent Crew Foreman Challenges and Development

> Table Top Exhibits

> Tour of Event Central facility

This annual winter maintenance is broken up into 13 separate projects. Each project has a written scope of work which includes a detailed step-by- step process to be followed so the quality control is identical from year to year. This blog post will give the reader a feel for the types of projects we undertake, their current progress, as well as some pictures of work underway.

We know winter projects are part of what differentiates us from our competitors when it comes to delivering a quality party rental product.

Inspection of tent prior to washing to grade for quality, locate pinholes, and replace straps as needed

Tent poles being painted with white gloss by Pete

They look good before, and great when Pete is finished!

It looks like they are raring to get outside and see spring

Winter project include PM’s on the truck fleet

We also installed our 3rd linen conveyor system this winter as a one time project

Steve from Keystone Pump & Power reviews the preventative maintenance needed for the new 25KW Genset