Tent Installers Raising the Standard for Training

American Rental Association Launches Safe Tenting Standard

MOLINE, Ill., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- There are more than 1 million tented private events in the United States every year according to the American Rental Association (ARA). The workforce behind these events includes more than 20,000 tent installers. As the magnitude of events and tent structures increases, the ARA is launching the Safe Tenting Standard, a program focusing on the safety and training of this labor force.

"ARA has been building safety and training resources for the event industry for decades but now we are doubling down on our efforts. The Safe Tenting Standard is an unrivaled program," says ARA CEO Tony Conant. "What tent installers do is a craft, a trade, and it is our job to protect them."

At a press conference held August 28th at Party Reflections in Charlotte, N.C., the ARA outlined the rationale for the Safe Tenting Standard program, the research that was put in to developing it, and many different pieces of the program. Tent rental operators and tent manufacturers were in attendance to support the initiative.

As far as what the program means for the industry, Allan Elium, project manager for Party Reflections' Greensboro, N.C. location, said the biggest positive is "bringing our two worlds together so we're not constantly butting heads. We want to do a safe event, the fire marshals want us to set up a safe event. The more we show that we are trying to do it the right way, the more they will trust our expertise."

The Safe Tenting Standard includes ballasting calculators, ground testing tools, emergency evacuation plans, site assessment forms, online and hands-on training and more to ensure that tent crews are operating safely and precisely for their safety and the safety of customers and communities. The program is intended to be a self-regulation standard for the tent industry.

"Our livelihoods as event rental businesses are dependent on people gathering safely," says ARA President-Elect and Owner of L&A Tents, Brian Richardson. "The industry was transformed in the last 30 years. What we're doing today is light years beyond the tents we were putting up in 1985. It's serious work that requires serious training and attention to detail. We all know that any event where there is a tent failure is a reflection on all of us, so I'm urging everyone in our industry to operate by the Safe Tenting Standard."

During the press conference, James Meyers, Charlotte Fire Department's Chief Fire Marshal, discussed the importance of partnership between first responders and event rental companies for public safety, Party Reflections President and former ARA President, Dan Hooks, talked about why he puts his staff through the Safe Tenting Standard training. ARA's proprietary Ground Testing Tool also was demonstrated.

For more information on the Safe Tenting Standard, visit www.safetenting.com.

About ARA: The American Rental Association is an international trade association for owners of equipment and event rental businesses and the manufacturers and suppliers of construction/industrial, general tool, and event rental equipment. ARA members, which include more than 14,000 rental businesses and more than 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers, are located in every U.S. state, every Canadian province, and more than 40 countries worldwide. Founded in 1955, ARA is the source for information, advocacy, education, networking, and marketplace opportunities for the equipment and event rental industry throughout the world.

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SOURCE American Rental Association