Proper Canopy Weights Explained

Most accidents at markets involve windblown tents, canopies and umbrellas. We require all vendors to minimize the risk caused by canopies by following rules for canopy safety. Canopy weights must be wrapped around the canopy legs properly at all times. We only allow the SAND FILLED BAG weights that are manufactured for the canopy structure.

All vendors who wish to erect canopies (including umbrellas) at the market, including the set up and break down period, are required to have their canopies sufficiently and safely anchored to the ground from the time their canopy is put up to the time it is taken down. Any vendor who fails to properly anchor his or her canopy will not be allowed to sell at the market that day, unless that vendor chooses to take down and stow their canopy and sell without it. Each canopy leg must have no less than 40 lbs. (pounds) anchoring each leg.

In certain inclement weather conditions even properly secured canopies can be precarious. If canopies need to be taken down in the middle of market due to inclement weather, vendors should direct customers to move out of the way so they are not injured.

WEIGHTS SHOULD BE SECURED IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT CREATE ITS OWN SAFETY HAZARD

  • Weights should not cause a tripping hazard
  • Weights should be tethered without lines. They are to be wrapped by the Velcro
  • Weights should have SAND only filled in the canvas style bags made for canopies
  • Weights should be securely and tightly wrapped and placed on the leg base
  • Weights should be on the ground. NO HANGING WEIGHTS period.

Canopies are used at markets to shield vendors and their product from sun and rain, but unpredictable winds can come up at any moment creating a safety hazard if the canopy is not properly secured. Sufficiently weighted canopies will have at least 40 pounds per leg. One canopy manufacturer recommends at least 40 pounds on each corner of a 10×10 tent. 50 pounds should be used for umbrellas. Weights for signs will vary depending on the size of sign. It is recommended that enough weight be used to prevent the canopy from lifting off the ground.

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

You should always have your canopy secured to the ground. It is not enough to have the tools necessary to secure your canopy on hand if you do not employ them. Strong gusts can come up without warning anywhere, at any time. After your canopy takes flight and causes damage it is too late to decide to secure your canopy. You should assume winds will come. Indeed, they often do.

Always secure canopies. During setup and breakdown periods canopies are vulnerable to wind. Stay alert. During the peak business hours of markets, the mere presence of hundreds of shoppers, along with the tight configuration of all the vendors, creates a disruption in the flow of wind, reducing its force through the market. But at setup and breakdown times, the shoppers are gone, the solid block of vendors is disrupted, and you are at some point in the process of setting up or taking down your canopy. You must be sure to completely secure your canopy as soon as you set it up, and take down your canopy as soon as you remove its weights at the end of the day. Do NOT let yourself be interrupted by ANYTHING in the middle of this process, as a half-secured canopy is as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than an unsecured canopy.

CANOPY WEIGHTS

The safety of farmers’ market shoppers should be the goal of every market’s staff and vendors. In general, outdoor markets are statistically among the safest places in our country. Nevertheless, canopy weights needlessly continue to pose hazards at many farmers’ markets. Perhaps this is because we are not looking at how we set up our canopies and stalls each day from the perspective of the customer. After all, we are used to being the vendor or manager. But take a minute to really think about it from the customer’s point of view. The average customer is looking at the bountiful tables filled with every sort of fresh fruits and vegetables, processed foods, crafts and so on. In other words, they are looking straight ahead, not down!

Canopy weights should be located on the ground and customers are not looking around them. Thus, if the canopy weights are in the path of the customer, the customer will trip over, kick, or entangle with them. Therefore, we need to anticipate this ahead of time, and place canopy weights carefully, using only canvas canopy style sand filled weights period.

EXAMPLES OF GOOD CANOPY WEIGHTS – only ones allowed

  • Sandbag weights that are specially made for securing canopies and weigh at least 40lbs pounds each leg (min. 160 for 10 by 10). These sandbag weights are vertical and can be strapped to each leg of the canopy.

(We line our canvas bags with plastic and fill them with wet-sand, and pack it as it is being filled)

EXAMPLES OF BAD CANOPY WEIGHTS and are NOT ALLOWED at our markets

  • Filling an empty bucket (2.5 gallon works great) with cement and tying this to each corner of the tent with a rope or bungee. It is NOT ALLOWED PERIOD.
  • Filling buckets/containers with sand/cement that can be anchored or secured with a rope or bungee; these include canvas bags or plastic buckets/containers that have a handle through which a rope or bungee can be secured.
  • Gallon water jugs are not heavy enough for large gusts of wind. One gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. One gallon of water on each corner would be the equivalent of a 3 year- old child trying to hold down a 100 square foot parachute.
  • Tying tents, canopies or umbrellas to tables, coolers or vehicles provides tripping hazards and frequently does not provide adequate weight. Vendor safety is just as important as customer safety.
  • Sandbags that cannot be placed upright and securely tied to the tent or canopy should not be used.
  • In addition to not providing enough grip to prevent a canopy from taking flight in a strong gust of wind, tent stakes are barely visible to shoppers and can cause a serious tripping hazard to an unsuspecting customer.
  • Never use cement blocks! They are hard and dangerous and can cause death or injury if the canopy does indeed take flight. Canopies lift like parachutes;.
  • At all costs, avoid stretched out cords and lines. Customers and their children will get them wrapped around their arms or legs, causing them to trip and fall, and perhaps pull over your displays in the process.
  • PVC pipe capped and filled with cement cannot be hung on the inside of canopy poles these pose a danger when canopy takes flight and hits people and property
  • No dumb bells, weight plates or any other gym equipment