InTents October/November 2020 - 28

PRIVATE
UNDERGROUND
LINES ARE MOST
OFTEN MISSED
BECAUSE 811
WON'T LOCATE
PRIVATE LINES.
-JOE LANGEHAUG
LOSBERGER DE BOER

When an evaluation has been done far
in advance of an install, additional visits
may be required, Kouzmanoff adds. This
is especially the case for a site prone to
change, for example, construction work,
grading or a reconϐiguration of the layout or
the tent placement within the event space.
Establishing a weekly or monthly re-inspection of long-term installs is advisable,
especially if weather conditions become
extreme, says Belliveau. Frequency also
depends on the product, he adds. For example, clearspans generally don't require
as much looking after as rope-and-pole
tents. Re-inspections not only allow the
tent rental company to proactively spot
potential issues, says Langehaug, they also
give clients peace of mind.

TAKING CHARGE

This commercial custom job, performed
by the Collective Event Group, involved a
tremendous amount of prep work, custom
design by Anchor Industries and many
visits to the site. The deck size required
tents to be made in custom lengths and
widths and, because anchors and stakes
were not allowed in the ground, ballasting
was required. Detailed CAD drawings
were critical to ensure that everything ﬁt.
Photo courtesy of Anchor Industries Inc.

Spotting all the issues that could thwart
a smooth install can prove challenging,
as can conducting the actual evaluation.
For one thing, says Belliveau, getting
everyone involved on the same page
at the same time can be vexing.
"Often there are too many chiefs and opinions, which can lead to disconnection and
confusion on how to go about the project," he
explains. "The rental company representative has to manage this situation, be sure of
what the conclusion is, and make sure the
tent part of the project is something they're
comfortable completing."

Belliveau says additional site
evaluation hindrances one might
encounter include:
* Obstacles making it difϐicult for
one person to obtain the necessary
measurements, which is why he advises
having two people handle the task.
* A site that can't be correctly evaluated or
measured-for example, if construction
is going on, or if there's snow on the
ground preventing a clear look. "Better
to come back another time," he says.
* A customer who wants too many
options. "This can cause a lot of
confusion when you begin making
equipment recommendations."
* A site that isn't tent-able. "Too hilly, too
rough of terrain, or not big enough,
and the customer just doesn't want to
hear it. There are times when you have
to politely say no, especially when it
comes to overall safety."
Regarding safety, remember the things
that most often escape notice, especially
if in a rush. Overlook some of these-
Belliveau mentions low-hanging branches,
underestimating ground slope, among
others-and the install might require
sudden-death reconϐiguring. However,
failing to identify other problems, in
particular underground lines, and the
consequences could be far worse.
"Private underground lines are most
often missed because 811 won't locate
private lines," says Langehaug. "They're
the responsibility of the property owner to
locate and mark. Having a conversation
ahead of time with the tent company and
the property owner will help ensure that
the private lines are located by one of them.
"But even though the property owners
can call 811, it should be done by the company doing the stake pounding," cautions
Langehaug. "[The marking] needs to be
done correctly or hitting an underground
utility could be expensive, even fatal."
Pamela Mills-Senn is a writer based in
Seal Beach, Calif.

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oct-nov 2020

9/17/20 8:45 AM
InTents October/November 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InTents October/November 2020
