Maximum recommended wind speeds for DIY Marquees

No formal wind speed calculations have been undertaken for any DIY Marquee nor any similar structure. The following is based on our many years of experience.

Wind is usually referenced using the Beaufort scale:

Beaufort Number	Wind including gusts	Land observations
0,1,2	0-7mph	Calm or very light wind, leaves rustle, wind felt on exposed skin
3,4	8-18mph	Leaves and smaller twigs in constant motion. Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches begin to move.
5	19-24	Branches of a moderate size move. Small trees begin to sway.
6	25-31	Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in overhead wires. Umbrella use becomes difficult.
7	32	Whole trees in motion. Effort needed to walk against the wind. Twigs breaking off trees

Factors that can influence the maximum wind resistance of a marquee include:

• the model/make of marquee
• the quality, positioning and type of anchoring used
• How open the area is. An open field will be more prone to gusts than a sheltered location.
• An obstacle (a building for example) that is only partially sheltering the marquee may accelerate the wind towards the unprotected part of the marquee, especially if the building is angled towards the unsheltered section of the marquee. A real life example of this may be erecting a marquee between two houses.
• Enclosed spaces (stadiums for eg) can be subject to vortexes which increase wind speed.
• Rain sodden or flooded ground will reduce the load-bearing capacity of any ground anchor (stakes)
• Orientation of the marquee. The pitched side of a marquee is usually more wind resistant than the flat gable end.
• Length of time in position, a marquee left up for longer than a few days should be inspected and maintained regularly. It also becomes more likely that it will experience greater wind speeds or may be compromised by sustained wind lower than specified above.
• The side configuration – a marquee with all sides removed is like anchoring down a large umbrella. Sides should not be removed 'to let the wind through' – please see this article (https://diymarquees.co.uk/should-i-remove-the-sides-of-my-marquee-in-strong-winds.php).
• The condition of the bungee loops (https://diymarquees.co.uk/large-bungee-loops.php) – these should be replaced regularly to ensure they remain effective

All marquees should be anchored down by some means at all times. Additional measures should be taken in strong winds.

Additional measures can include:

• Additional anchoring of the marquee, this can be additional tie downs and/or anchoring of the footplates directly.
• Securing the roof down in addition to the bungee loops. This would usually take the form of over straps or similar strapping down using a strap that passes all the way over the marquee in several places.
• Wind breaks – reducing the impact of any wind by placing wind breaks between the marquee and strong wind, high sided vehicles are an example of a good wind break

The wind resistance of each range can be described (subject to the above influencing factors) as:

Classic, Premium and Traditional (including Deluxe traditional)ranges: Up to Beaufort 4 using tie downs or similar. Up to Beaufort 5 using additional measures. Not recommend for 5+.

Our Classic and Premium ranges have become the industry standard and are good quality marquees however they are not as wind resistant as our other ranges due to the large single piece end panels (standard throughout the industry) and lack of additional metal bracing. Our Commercial, Professional and Deluxe ranges are much stronger than the industry standard as they feature individual end panels (more wind resistant than one larger panel) as well as additional roof/eave/leg braces.

Commercial DIY Marquees, Professional DIY Marquees & Deluxe (excluding Deluxe Traditional) DIY Marquees: Up to Beaufort 4 using tie downs or similar, Up to Beaufort 6 using additional measures. Not recommended for 6+

The above is intended as guidance only and each site should be evaluated on its own merit. We have had customers who have had their DIY Marquees up in far stronger winds than those specified above. We have also had customers whos marquees have failed in some way (usually through insufficient anchoring of leaving the sides off).

An element of common sense should always be applied. Even if a marquee could withstand 40-50mph winds would guests actually want to venture outside and use it? Might it be hit by flying debris from elsewhere? In the writers experience (20+ years experience in the marquee industry) it is better and more enjoyable to postpone the event to a time when the weather has calmed down a little.

We at DIY Marquees try to be fair and transparent at all times. We have designed very very good quality marquees, marquees that are generally seen as market leaders in the industry and used mainly by marquee hire companies. The above list is designed to add realism to expectations rather than over promise.

Why is this important?

None of these were DIY Marquees and we would like that record to continue!:

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

With all of our marquees we supply a downloadable copy of our wind management guidance notes to assist hire companies/venues in completing their own wind management plan.