Add a gutter system to your tent. Click on the image to download this handy TechTip PDF.
Or if you need other technical information click here.
The Right Size Tent Heater
You have the tent, you have the tables, you have the chairs and the catering people are on board. Now you look at the forecast and see that the weather is going to be on the cool side. You decide that a heated tent is needed for the upcoming event to be comfortable for the guests. So what do you need to know to correctly heat the tent?
- Determine how much heat (in BTU’s) is needed for your tent and size the heater(s) accordingly
- Identify the fuel source and the quantity of fuel needed
- Calculate how many fuel tanks are needed
- Place the heaters near the tent and get the heat inside the tent
- Research and comply with any local codes as they relate to heat sources for your tent
To determine the amount of heat needed for your tented event, follow this simple formula:
BTU’s of Heat needed/hour = Cubic Volume of Tent x Temperature Rise Required x .25 (Insulation Factor of a Tent)
Example:
- A tent size of 40’ x 80’ x 15’ (average ceiling height) = 48,000 cubic feet
- The forecast is 40° for the low that night and you want to maintain 70° inside of the tent = 30° temperature rise
- 48,000 x 30 x .25 = 360,000 BTU/hour
What happens if you are using one large unit and something fails? Disaster! So ideally you would use two heaters. Using two heaters gives you a chance to get back up and running so that no one may even notice. And two sources also help to distribute the heat more evenly within the tent. So for this example, we recommend using quantity (2) 175,000 BTU/hour heaters. (Which closely approximates the calculated heat needed.)
(Another way to look up, instead of calculating the BTU’s needed for your tented event is to contact a Rainier Tent representative and request your own Heater Sizing Guide. We would be happy mail one to you!)
The next thing to determine is what fuel source is available to you, propane, or natural gas? Most box style tent heaters can be operated on propane or natural gas. Some cities will make you pull a permit for propane, which is by far the most common fuel used for temporary events. Does this apply to you? Check with your local fire marshal to find out!
So how much propane is needed for an event? This is easily calculated if you know that a gallon of propane can produce 91,600 BTU/hour. The formula is:
- Gallons of Propane/Hour = BTU’s of Heat needed/hour ÷ 91,600
Using the same example as above where you needed 360,000 BTU/hr to heat the tent:
- 360,000 ÷ 91,600 = 3.9 gallons per hour (GPH)
We know that the heaters should cycle on and off, but why not figure worst case scenario? If the heaters run nonstop for the entire event, and the event is 5 hours, you will need:
- 3.9 gallons per hour x 5 hours = 19.5 gallons total
When using propane, how do you know if you have a large enough tank? An under-sized tank is the number one service issue when using propane heaters. Most people think that a 100 pound cylinder is enough, but often times it is not. The amount of propane vapor available for the heater varies depending on the outside temperature and how much propane is in the tank. For example, at 40° a single 100 pound cylinder can only produce 214,000 BTU/hour when full and 125,000 BTU/hour when half full. (Our Heater Sizing Guide also shows the rates of evaporation for 100lb tanks!) Connecting multiple tanks together with a two or three bottle manifold will resolve that issue.
So how many propane tanks are needed? There are about 25 gallons of propane in a 100 pound cylinder, but remember you may not have enough enough vapor to keep the heater running at full fire as temperatures drop, or more often, as tanks start to empty. The safe way to determine how many tanks you need is this simple formula:
- Tanks Needed (Rounded Up) = BTU/hour needed per heater ÷ BTU/hr in tank at 50%
Continuing with the example:
- 180,000 BTU/hour needed per heater ÷ 125,000 BTU/hour = 1.44, or 2 tanks per heater.
By using this formula you will never run into an issue. Will there be extra propane left over? Yes. But will the customer be happy? YES! It’s cheap insurance if the event runs long or if the tanks weren’t as full as you thought. Using this formula, you can just about guarantee a successful heat job.
The final consideration for a heated tent is placement of the heaters and availability of electrical power. Most of the time the heater can be set behind the tent, where there is no traffic, and ducted under the tent wall with a heater diffuser. Sometimes local codes require the heater be set away from the tent, in which case the warm arm is ducted to the tent and under the tent wall with a duct diffuser. Also be aware of the terrain as most heaters should sit as level as possible. Finally, the propane tanks must be secured so there is no way for them to tip or get knocked over.
Most tent heaters will also require a dedicated and grounded 15 amp service. You should confirm prior to the event that there is an accessible power outlet or if the generator you are using has enough circuits.
By following these simple guidelines everyone will be warm and happy!
Launching Online Order Processing
We are proud to launch our new online order processing system! You’ll be able to use RainierTent.com to place new orders, check on the status and tracking of existing orders, print order confirmations, and view your order history.
The new online catalog is connected to Rainier’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), so orders placed go directly into production without any additional order entry. This saves time in order processing, accelerates delivery, and minimizes errors.
Visit the new online store at: www.rainiertent.com. The site features the industry’s first dynamic product configurator, where complete custom-built tents can be ordered online, with a visual of the tent being configured. The store includes complete tent kits, parts and accessories, as well as Baytex Liners, which we are the exclusive distributor of in North America.
We’ve launched similar order processing systems for some of our other business units, to great success. “Our customers enjoy the ease of ordering online and receive their orders more quickly. Since we don’t have to transpose their orders into our operations system, errors are down and customers are happier. It’s a win-win!” said COO David Traub.
The tent configurator will be demonstrated at The Rental Show in New Orleans at booth #317, on February 19th, 20th, and 21st. In addition, we’ll host two 30 minute webinars on February 13th and February 27th at 1:00pm EST/10:00am PST. Contact marketing@rainier.com to register.
Visit Us at The Rental Show
The Rental Show opens on February 19th – stop by booth #317 to take advantage of these show only specials!
The Rental Show Specials:
- 2% off orders up to $9,999
- 3% off orders of $10,000 to $24,999
- 4% off orders of $25,000 to $34,999
- 5% off orders of $35,000 or more
(Discounts offered are in addition to standard volume discount)
Confirm by March 15, 2018 with 50% deposit & delivery by May 1
We’ll also be demonstrating our new online ordering system, featuring the industry’s first dynamic configurator, and our new Rainier Clouds! We’ll see you in New Orleans!
Meet Our New East Coast Tent Customer Service Rep
To bolster our commitment to providing outstanding customer service, we are very happy to welcome Ashley Durant to our team! Ashley works out of our location in Statesville, NC, supporting our tent dealers on the east coast.
Ashley brings with her experience in technical and manufacturing industries. She is eager to learn the tent business and provide the complete customer satisfaction you have come to expect from us. She shares Rainier’s dedication to safety, and will be a great asset to our dealers on the east coast as you grow your business.
We’ve also added a dedicated line for customer service on the east coast – that number is (844) 731-8096. Feel free to reach out to Ashley with questions!
New Additions to the Sales Team
Rainier Tents is happy to welcome Chris Whitesell to our sales team, covering the southeast portion of the US. Chris is a graduate of Wingate University with a degree in Business Management. He attended Wingate under the Presidential Scholarship along with the American Rental Association’s (ARA) National Scholarship and the ARA of North Carolina Scholarship program for individuals working in the rental industry.
In addition, Rainier has added B & S Sales into the fold as our first independent sales rep. Bridget Baresel, of B & S, brings an extensive experience in the rental industry. Bridget’s focus will be in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Contact us to schedule a meeting or call with Chris or Bridget. We’re so happy to have these new additions to our tent team, to continue to provide you the same great quality service you’ve come to expect from Rainier.
Barbara Friesen Retires
Rainier Tents recently bid farewell to Barbara Friesen, and wished her a happy retirement!
Barbara has been an integral part of Rainier’s tent division since 2012, when the company acquired the Portland-based SEC Group. She met Spencer Etzel, founder of the SEC Group, in the early 1990s, when the bank where she worked sponsored a hot air balloon event and he was there as a Balloonmeister.
She and her husband were running a marketing company called TEAM Inc. (for Training, Events, Advertising, and Marketing), creating industry specific tradeshows, small business advertising programs, and OSHA safety compliance confined space training. She began providing sales support to Etzel’s company and eventually became a full time employee, fully immersed in the special events industry.
In her time at Rainier, she was a champion for the implementation of the ERP management system, a valued representative at tradeshows, and her dedication to customer satisfaction made her a respected member of the team. Her colleagues and clients in the industry will miss her great, “get it done” attitude.
Congratulations, Barbara, and enjoy your retirement!
Michael Tharpe Takes New Position as Sales Manager, Shelter Division
Michael Tharpe recently stepped into a new position as sales manager of Rainier Industries’ shelter division. In his new role, Michael is charged with expanding the availability of Rainier tent and tent liner products across the U.S. He will continue to provide support to existing dealers with installation training, tradeshow assistance, and coaching as needed.
Michael has more than 20 years of experience in the tent industry. He joined the Rainier team in 2015, tasked with growing sales on the East coast. In his new position, Michael will leverage his extensive knowledge and experience to make Rainier the go-to for technical and difficult tent projects, and set the standard for safe tent installation.
Rainier’s tent division manufactures quality tent products, and is the exclusive distributor of Baytex tent liners in North America.
Founded in 1896, Rainier Industries began providing tents and supplies to prospectors in the Alaskan Gold Rush. Today, it has evolved into a diverse manufacturer of a variety of products including yurts, tents, awning & screen systems, industrial fabric products as well as sports, retail and trade show graphics to regional, national and Fortune 500 companies.
Rain got you down?
Add a gutter system to your tent. Click on the image to download this handy TechTip PDF.
Or if you need other technical information click here.
Winter Tent Top Savings
Replace or Upgrade
Your Kedered Top Inventory
Winter Savings – Sale ENDS November 30th.
Purchase 2 pieces – 12% off!
Purchase 3 pieces – 15% off!
Purchase 4 or more pieces – 20% off!
Call us at: 800-621-2495
Discounts apply to Maximizer White Catenary Slide-In Tops, 10x to 50x
