The study focused on a series of basic experiments conducted to determine the performance of different ballast types on various ground surfaces. The performance of the selected ballasts, defined by the static and sliding friction coefficients for each ground surface under various conditions were defined by variables of interest. Variables included angle, anchor horizontal position, anchor vertical position, ballast type and surface type. A large number of drag tests were performed for each set of ballast and ground surface to determine the linearity (on non-linearity) of the ballast performance. 

The guidelines and online tool level the playing field of tent rental companies by providing tested and proven industry guidelines for safe ballasting of tents in a user-friendly format. They help tent rental companies determine best methodology for using ballast units to anchor frame tents and clear span structures and determine the expected mean coefficient of friction for water barrels, concrete barrels and concrete blocks on dry asphalt, wet asphalt, dry smooth concrete, wet smooth concrete, dry rough concrete, wet rough concrete, grass, dirt and gravel.

The source of the recommended weight to be applied on a given leg of a tent is provided by the tent manufacturer. Guidelines will provide recommendations as to how a tent rental company can reach the given amount of ballast and what the “weight” of the ballast is under various conditions. The ballasting tool allows a rental company to select from a drop down menu surface type, ballast type, surface condition and modifier. Companies enter the recommended load from the tent manufacturer, ballast distance from upright and the diameter/size of the ballast.

The ballasting tool formula calculates the required amount of ballast and includes the modifier information. Testing resulted in a set of complex formulas that contained multiple failure modes per configuration. The committee worked tirelessly with Clemson University to convert these formulas into a simple and easy tool for the membership. To access guidelines and ballasting tool see the “members only” section of the TRD website. TRD membership is required to access this portion of the site.

The Tent Rental Division of IFAI is an industry alliance of companies in the commercial tent manufacturing and events business. To become a member of the Tent Rental Division, visit the membership form. 

TRD’s parent organization, the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), is comprised of member companies representing the international specialty fabrics marketplace. Members’ products cover the broad spectrum of specialty fabrics and include fibers, fabrics, end products, equipment and hardware. IFAI is the largest, most comprehensive trade association serving this industry.

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) today announced the beginning of the competition for the 2012 IFF Innovation Award.

The specialty fabrics industry encompasses some of the most innovative companies in the world, and the IFF Innovation Award honors the achievements of the manufacturers whose innovative ideas have made or will make a difference in today's competitive marketplace.

According to IFF Director Ruth Stephens, "Innovation is at the heart of a dynamic specialty fabrics industry, and the IFF Innovation Award encourages invention." Stephens says that the IFF Innovation Award was designed to inspire and reward companies from all over the world, large and small, to create great ideas and bring them to life.

TenCate Geosynthetics of Pendergrass, Georgia, was presented with the 2011 IFF Innovation Award for a product called Mirafi®H2i--the most highly engineered geotextile on the market--which offers a unique combination of high particle retention and exceptional coefficient of interaction.

As Congress and the president focus on restoring the national transportation infrastructure, this super textile significantly minimizes costs of highway repairs, especially in locations of moisture management concern.

The award competition is open to any company which has developed and manufactured an innovative product or process related to the specialty fabrics industry. The IFF Innovation Award and $5,000 prize will be presented at IFAI Expo Americas 2012 (Nov. 7-9, Boston Convention Center).

Entries must meet several criteria: Innovation distinctive from other products currently manufactured or processes currently in use; benefit to the specialty fabrics industry or consumer; practicality and cost-effectiveness.

To qualify entries much be a product or process that is available for the market; the final development of the product or process must have been after 2010; and the product or process must not have been entered in any previous IFF Innovation Award contest or any other competition.

For details on how to enter, go to www.indfabfnd.com, or contact IFF Managing Director Ruth Stephens at +1 651 225 6545 or at rastephens@ifai.com. There is a fee of $250 per entry. All entries must be received on or before July 12, 2012 to be considered.

About the Industrial Fabrics Foundation

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation is committed to a well-educated workforce, with the knowledge and skills to bring quality, innovation and growth to the specialty textile industry. To support this vision, IFF (a 501(c)3 organization), underwrites research and study regarding specialty fabrics, provides information and educates the public about specialty textiles, and engages in other philanthropic activities as approved by its Board of Directors. www.indfabfnd.com

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has officially kicked off the observance of its 100th Anniversary year in 2012 as the largest, longest-running trade association for the specialty fabrics industry.

And when its trade show doors open at IFAI Expo Americas 2012 at the Boston Convention Center, Nov. 7-9, 2012, the entire specialty fabrics industry is invited to take part in a momentous three-day centenary celebration.

"We're hosting a party for around 7,000 of our closest friends," says Todd Lindemann, IFAI vice president of conference management, "and a lot of detail and planning is going into the festivities!" Lindemann says this will include a Welcome Reception and 100th Anniversary Party, an IFAI Historical Museum on the show floor with archival materials and photos, music, prizes and lots of fun. Special events will commemorate industry achievements throughout the three-day trade show.

IFAI Expo Americas is literally the specialty fabric industry's one-stop-shop for connecting buyers with sellers, featuring exhibitors from the industry's top companies in fabrics, fiber, films and chemicals, end products, components, equipment and technology services. As one specialty fabrics end product manufacturer recently said, "If you can't find it at IFAI Expo Americas, it probably doesn't exist."

IFAI Expo Americas' strong educational tradition continues with sessions that include CEU credits. Many companies bring their staff to take advantage of this unique face-to-face training by top industry experts, which they could find nowhere else.

In addition to the training tracks IFAI Expo Americas also includes two events which explore highly engineered specialty fabrics solutions:

• The Advanced Textiles Americas 2012 conference, a forum on new research which demonstrates how to use innovative technology to benefit your company's next generation of products.
• The 8th International Conference on Safety and Protective Fabrics--a biennial conference which will include a full day of materials research and applications (topics to be announced. Programs are carefully selected by an advisory committee of industry leaders and proposals are being accepted through Feb.15, 2012. A submission form is located at www.ifaiexpo.com/AT_education_proposal.cfm.

The IFAI Expo Americas exhibit floor will host one of the largest shows to date, showcasing a diverse and comprehensive representation of industry markets. Bob Varner, account manager from Ascend Performance Materials added: "We've been attending IFAI Expo Americas since the early '90s. This show draws our customers and customers of our customers. The networking is unbelievable."

And for the first time ever, IFAI will co-locate with the JEC Americas 2012 Composites Show and Conferences in its American debut. Combined, there will be more than 600 exhibitors blending fabric, hardware, equipment, tools, software, accessories and services with the composites value chain of polymers, plastics, fibers, glass, carbon fibers, ceramic fibers, resins, adhesives, industrial subcontracting and composites.

Stay tuned for updates on www.ifaiexpo.com.