Helpful Event Information - Tent Rental Glossary

The next time you need to rent a tent or temporary structure, you'll know your stuff! Below is a comprehensive Tent Rental Glossary of Terms that will give you the tent rental information you need to know.

When you have questions or need additional help, give us a call. Our National Event Center can help no matter where in the U.S. you are located - call 1-800-852-9441. 

Tent Rental Glossary of Terms

A-Frame Tent: A-frame tents have a peaked roof and sloping sides, they are light weight but not that roomy as their sloping sides limit interior space.

Base Camp Tent: A large and bulky tent which is used where camps are established once for many days at a site.

Bivy Sack: A small and lightweight shelter with no poles just large enough to hold a sleeping bag.

Center Pole: The main support; solid or telescopic poles of metal used to support the center and highest part of a tent.

Clear Span Structure Tent: A tent with an aluminum frame support structure that eliminates the need for center pole support. The stable, wind resistant structure can stand for long rental periods.

Concrete Anchor: A 2-piece combination of eyebolt and lag anchor drilled and set into existing concrete to tie guy ropes off. The eyebolt is removed after use and replaced with a cap plug flush with concrete so that the lag anchor can be reused at a later time.

Convertible Tent: A convertible tent provides the flexibility of using the same tent as a three- season tent and also as a four-season or winter tents.

Dome Tent: A dome shaped tent with two or more poles looping over the tent in a crisscross fashion.

Double Decker Tent: Modular interior walls allow you to divide into private areas. Available in a A frame or curved, this structure is virtually available in all sizes (as small as 10 meters or as large as 30 meters).

End Sections: The initial set of sections to form the tent roof. Center sections may be added to increase the length.

Fiberglass Pole: A pole that comes in various lengths and diameters to match fabrication of each tent.

Fire Retardant: Treatment of tent fabric with fire retardant to reduce the risk of ignition in case it gets accidentally ignited, giving the habitants of the tent, more time to escape safely if a fire accident should occur.

Flysheet: A rain-proofed outer fabric of a tent, which is proofed on the inside with a coating. The fly takes the most wear & tear from UV, wind, tree sap and storms etc.

Flameproof: A material used to retard the flammability of tent and wall materials.

Floor: A temporary deck built of wood and covered with Astroturf or carpet that helps alleviate inclement weather (rain drainage, cold, etc.). It also makes the surface more uniform, negating trip hazards and stabilizing seating.

Frame Tent: A professionally installed tent made of flame retardant vinyl covering that has a metal frame with no center poles.

Free Standing Frame: A tent with no additional ropes or stakes for basic shelter set-up.

Gear Loft: A piece of material or netting that dangles from the ceiling of a tent. A gear loft is a safe place here one can keep wallets, flashlights, watches, or any other small items.

Grommet: A little round metal ring. Grommets assists the tent in durable, fast set-ups, and easier adjustments when temperatures change fabric and pole lengths.

Guy Ropes/Straps: Ropes or straps with ratchets, that extend from the eaves of a tent to each side pole and then to anchors in the ground, providing support for the roof. Straps/ratchets are commonly used on larger tents. The guy rope helps support the tent against wind.

Liners & Leg Drapes: An interior fabric used to mask the structural support of pole and frame tents, while still giving it warmth and ambiance.

Marquee: A long, narrow tent structure used mainly for sheltering walkways or defining an entry to a tent.

Party Canopy: A lightweight overhead shelter for sun or light rain, usually an inexpensive rental that customers erect and take down themselves. Includes one or more center poles.

Pitch: The slope of the roof of a tent resulting from the difference in height between the highest point and the perimeter height.

Pole Tent: A heavy duty tension tent made of flame retardant vinyl supported by poles around the perimeter and in the center. Anchoring/staking is critical to insure proper installation. Pole tents must be installed by professionals and will shelter against most bad weather.

Pop-up Canopy: A small, lightweight, collapsible frame canopy with a fabric covering. Provides shelter and protection from light rain and usually provided as a do-it-yourself rental tent which may be erected and removed quickly.

Porta Path: This type of flooring must be installed on a hard, stable surface since it does not work on thick spongy grass or loose rocks. Porta Path is a three quarter inch resin surface that rolls out and locks together to form a floor. It can be conformed to fit most rectangular and square areas.

Rainfly: Rainfly is a water-resistant fabric covering which is usually placed over the outside of a tent to keep out wind, rain, and sand. It protects the tent body from UV rays and precipitation. In most if the tent designs, the rainfly is removable.

Scaffold Floors: Typically used for sloping areas or surfaces that are not level. They can also be used to bring an area up to the height of another surface such as a porch or deck.

Seam Sealant: A waterproof coating of the sewn seam areas on tents, backpacks, and other combined outdoor fabrics, to decrease water entry.

Side Pole: The support poles placed around the perimeter of a tent.

Sidewalls: Detachable vinyl walls used to enclose the sides of a tent. Side wall is available in clear, window, and solid white for tents at an 8 foot eave heights and clear and solid white for 10 foot eave heights.

Stakes: Hardened steel rods ranging from 30" to 42” in length and approximately 1" in diameter driven into the ground used to secure the guy ropes or straps. Stakes can be driven into dirt, grass, gravel, or asphalt surfaces, but not concrete. If stakes are driven into asphalt surfaces, a cold patch will be used. All underground utilities need to be clearly marked prior to driving stakes.

Sub Floor with Carpet: This type of flooring is to be considered when your surface is fairly level. This lay down floor consists of 2" x 6" boards generally 16 feet in length placed on 2 foot centers. Three quarter inch plywood is placed on top of the boards and then screws are used to secure.

Tent: A collapsible portable shelter of fabric (as nylon or canvas) stretched and sustained by poles and used for camping outdoors or as a temporary building. Tension tent tops are available in sizes up to 120 feet wide.

Tension Tent: These tents are attached to the ground with 42 inch steel stakes attached to nylon webbing,  with the use of  ratchet straps the tent becomes very tight. It is this taughtness that creates the shape of the tent.

Tent Clips: Clips that attach the tent body to the poles. These clips can allow for slightly quicker set up.

Valance: Vinyl material permanently attached to the perimeter of tent. It usually hangs down 12” and can be straight or scalloped. Gives the tent a finished look and helps seal sidewall against rain or wind.

Vestibule: A tent feature that provides a covered area for entering or exiting the tent and can also be used for gear storage.

Weights: Sometimes used in areas where stakes are not applicable, however stakes are the safest and most desirable way to secure a tent.

Tent Accessories: The following are some of the tent accessories, which may be available in your area. Please consult your professional rental center for the specific products and services available to help make your "Tent Event" a complete success.

Air Conditioning

Audiovisual Equipment

Banners

Carpeting

Chairs

Dance Floors

Decorating

Fans

Flooring

Heating

Lighting

Linens

Party Supplies

Sidewalls

Staging

Tables

Table Settings

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