Tents, Canopies and Membrane Structures

The following definitions are provided to facilitate the consistent application of these guidelines:

• Air-Inflated Structure – A building where the shape of the structure is maintained by air pressurization of cells or tubes to form a barrel vault over the usable Occupants of such a structure do not occupy the pressurized areas used to support the structure.
• Air-Supported Structure – A structure wherein the shape of the structure is attained by air pressure and occupants of the structure are within the elevated pressure area.
• Membrane Structure – An air-inflated, air-supported cable or frame covered structure as defined by the California Building Code and not otherwise defined as a tent.
• Tent – A structure, enclosure, or shelter, with or without sidewalls or drops, constructed of fabric or pliable materials supported by any manner except by air or the contents that it protects.
• Canopy – A structure or architectural projection of rigid construction over which a covering is attached that provides weather protection, identity or decoration, and may be structurally independent or supported by attachment to a building on one end and by not less than one stanchion on the outer end.

The requirements that follow are intended for the temporary use of tents in which 10 or more persons may gather for any purpose, with the exception of:

• Tensioned membrane roof materials supported by rigid frames or installed on a mast and cable system provided such structures conform to adopted construction requirements.

Tents erected for a period of more than 180 days within a 12-month period, on a single premise, are considered to be permanent. All Permanent use of tents (and temporary use), require a permit and approval by UC San Diego EHS-Campus Fire Marshal office.

Surge tents and similar temporary structures utilized by hospitals, health care facilities, and health departments to accommodate surgery on demand shall comply with the regulatory requirements of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).

Location

Tents must not be located within 20 feet of property lines, buildings, other tents, parked vehicles, or internal combustion engines. For the purpose of determining required distances, support ropes and guy wires must be considered as part of the tent. For the purpose of determining required distances, support ropes and guy wires must be considered as part of the tent. 

1. Separation distance between tents not used for cooking is not required when the aggregate floor area does not exceed 15,000 square
2. Tents need not be separated from buildings when all the following conditions are met:
   1. The aggregate floor area of the membrane structure or tent must not exceed 10,000 square feet.
   2. The aggregate floor area of the building and tent must not exceed the allowable floor area including increases as indicated in the California Building Code.
   3. Required means of egress provisions are provided for the building and the tent including travel distance. 
   4. Fire apparatus access roads are provided.

Occupant Load

• Calculating Occupant Load – In areas with fixed seating, calculate the occupant load at one person per seat. In areas where fixed seating is not provided, the number of occupants must be computed at the rate of one person per unit of area:
  • Standing space (e.g., queueing and waiting areas) 5 sq.ft. Concentrated seating (e.g., non-fixed chairs only, dance floors)  7 sq.ft. Unconcentrated seating (e.g., tables and chairs) 15 sq.ft.* 

Note: Occupant Load must meet all applicable campus policies for COVID-19 social distancing. When County health and campus COVID-19 policies are no longer in effect, then CFC and Title-19 requirements will apply. 

• Posting of Occupant Load – Every tent must have the occupant load posted in a conspicuous location.* 

Egress

• Exit Quantity and Location – Exits must be spaced at approximately equal intervals around the perimeter of the tent or membrane structure, and must be located such that all points are within 100 feet from an exit.

• Exit Openings – Exit openings must remain open unless covered by a flame-resistant curtain.
  • Curtains must be free sliding on a metal support that is a minimum of 80 inches above the floor.
  • The curtains must be arranged so that, when open, no part of the curtain obstructs the exit.
  • Curtains must be of a color, or colors, that contrast with the color of the tent.
• Exit Signs – Exit signs must be installed when occupant load is in excess of 20 people and be of an approved self-luminous type or internally or externally illuminated by lights supplied in the following manner:
  • Two separate circuits, one of which must be separated from all other circuits, for occupant loads of 300 or less; or
  • Two separate sources of power, one of which must be an approved emergency system, must be provided when the occupant load exceeds 300. Emergency systems must be supplied from storage batteries or from the on-site generator set and system must be installed in accordance with the California Electrical Code.*

Note: Electrical work must be approved and completed by FM staff, or contractor approved by Facility Maintenance Staff.

• Means of Egress Illumination – Emergency lighting must be provided at 20 or more persons. The means of egress must be illuminated with light having an intensity of not less than 1 foot- candle at floor level while the structure is occupied. Fixtures required for means of egress illumination must be supplied from a separate circuit or source of power.
• Seating Arrangement – Where seating rows have 14 or fewer seats, the minimum clear aisle access-way width must not be less than 12 inches measured as the clear horizontal distance from the back of the row ahead and the nearest projection of the row Where any chair in the row does not have an automatic or self-rising seat, the measurements must be made with the seat in the down position.

Note: Seating arrangements must meet all applicable UC San Diego policies for COVID-19 social distancing. When County Health and UC San Diego Policies are no longer in effect, then CFC and Title-19 requirements will apply. 

• Aisles – The width of aisles in areas without fixed seating must be in accordance with the following:
  • In areas serving employees only, the minimum aisle width must be 24 inches but not less than the width required by the number of employees served.
  • In public areas, smooth-surfaced, unobstructed aisles having a minimum width of not less than 44 inches must be provided from seating areas, and aisles must be progressively increased in width to provide, at the points, not less than 1 foot of aisle width of each 50 persons served by such aisle at that point.
• Seats per row
  • Dual Access: For rows of seating served by aisles or doorways at both ends, there must not be more than 100 seats per row. The minimum clear width of 12 inches between rows must increased by 3 inch for every additional seat beyond 14 seats, but the minimum clear width is not required to exceed 22 inches.
  • Single Access: For rows of seating served by an aisle or doorway at only one end of the row, the minimum clear width of 12 inches between rows must be increased by 0.6 inch for every additional seat beyond seven seats, but the minimum clear width is not required to exceed 22 inches. Distance is measured as the clear horizontal distance from the back of the row ahead and the nearest projection of the row behind.*

Note: Seating arrangements must meet all applicable UC San Diego policy for COVID-19 social distancing. When County Health and campus Policies are no longer in effect, then CFC and Title-19 requirements will apply.  

• Doors – Exit doors must swing in the direction of exit travel. To avoid hazardous air and pressure loss in air-supported membrane structures, such doors must be automatic closing against operating pressures. Opening force at the door edge must not exceed 15 pounds. 

• Maintenance of Means of Egress – For all tents; the required width of exits, aisles, and passageways must be maintained at all times to a public way. Guy wires, guy ropes, and other support members must not cross a means of egress at a height of less than 8 feet. The surface of means of egress must be maintained in an approved manner.

Hazards: Safety And Mitigation

• Fire Extinguishers – One minimum 2-A:10-B:C fire extinguisher must be provided every 75 feet of travel distance; or one extinguisher for each group of small tents (e.g. four, 10 x 10 tents grouped together). The top of the portable fire extinguisher must be mounted approximately 5 feet above the floor or ground level. Extinguisher mounting brackets must be attached to pole of tent, with extinguisher hanging on bracket (indicate fire extinguisher locations on site plan).
• Flame and Heat Sources – Open flame or other devices emitting flame, fire, sparks, or heat or any other unapproved devices must not be permitted inside or located within 20 feet of any tent.  
• Smoking – Smoking must not be permitted in tents or membrane Approved “NO SMOKING” signs must be conspicuously posted throughout the structure. Provide a minimum of two signs per tent, (or one sign per four smaller tents grouped together) mounted in a visible location.*   

Note: Although the campus has a no smoking policy campus-wide, signs are required by CA. Fire Code and CCR, Title-19.

• Vegetation Removal – Combustible vegetation must be removed from the area occupied by a tent or membrane structure and from areas within 30 feet of such structures.
• Waste Material – The floor surface inside tents or membrane structures and the ground outside and within a 30-foot perimeter must be kept clear of combustible Such waste must be stored in approved containers until removed from the premises.
• Combustible Materials – Hay, straw, shavings, or similar combustible materials must not be located within the tent or membrane structure.  
• Spot Lighting – Spot or effect lighting must only be by electricity, and all combustible construction located within 6 feet of such equipment must be protected with approved noncombustible insulation not less than 9.25 inches thick. 
• Safety Film – Motion pictures must not be displayed in structures unless the motion picture film is safety film.
• Clearance – There must be a minimum clearance of at least 3 feet between the fabric envelope and all contents located inside the tent or membrane structure. 

Additional Requirements For Temporary Air-Supported And Air-Inflated Membrane Structures

• Door Operation – During high winds of 50 miles per hour or more, the use of doors in air-supported structures must be controlled to avoid excessive air loss. Doors must not be left
• Fabric Envelope Design and Construction – Air supported and air-inflated structures must have the design and construction of the fabric envelope and the method of anchoring be in accordance with Architectural Fabric Structures Institute ASI 77.
• Blowers – An air-supported structure used as a place of assembly must be furnished with not less than 2 blowers, each of which has adequate capacity to maintain full inflation pressure with normal leakage. The design of the blower must be so as to provide integral limiting pressure at the design pressure specified by the manufacturer. 

All tents or canopies installed on and off-campus, for use by UC San Diego staff and students, require a Fire Special Event Permit from the Campus Fire Marshal’s office. (UC San Diego Health must follow the Health Fire Marshal requirements. See the Health EH&S Fire page for more information.)

Please submit the following information for any Tent or Canopy proposed for use on Campus. For adequate permit review, the following information shall be provided:  

Exterior Plans

Include the following on the site plan:

• Location of all tents
• Dimensions and area of each tent or grouping of tents
• Distance between tents and from tents to buildings, property lines, on-site parking areas, also generators supplying power to tent; and any cooking areas/food trucks (when applicable)
• Location and width of Fire Lane.*

Note: The campus has many fire lanes that must be maintained, and cannot be obstructed by tents. Fire lanes are located throughout campus; adjacent to and in-between buildings, courtyard areas and include drivable sidewalks (such as Ridgewalk). Please ensure the site plan includes the location and width of fire lanes. A minimum 20-foot-wide fire lane is required; tents and support wires or cables should not encroach into the required width. Exceptions for reduced width may be considered on a case by case basis and must be approved by the Fire Marshal.   

Interior Plans

Include a plan of the tent interior showing the following:

• Placement of fire extinguishers
• Location and width of sidewalls (if any)
• Location and width of exit doors/openings located in sidewalls
• Location of all illuminated Exit signs, No Smoking, and other signage
• Location of emergency lighting fixtures and their power source (battery, generator)
• Location, size, and height of stages and platforms (if any)
• Tables and seating layout, including width of aisles between tables/seating areas
• Location of cable runs and extension cords for any electrical power, A/V, Internet, etc.

Other Information

• Provide California State Fire Marshal fire retardant certificates (Certificates of Flame Resistance) for the tent material; these can be obtained from the tent company
• Indicate the maximum number of people occupying the tent at any one time
• Floor coverings and Decorative materials that are not fire-resistant are prohibited in tents. Submit fire retardant certificates or similar documentation (that complies with NFPA 701 or CFC, CBC, Chapter 8 for interior finish) for any draperies, paper/plastic/fabric wall coverings, artificial grass, or other decorative materials that will be used.* 

Note: In general, combustible decorations and furnishings shall not be placed in tents.

Size Considerations 

• Tents over 400 square feet with one or more sidewalls; tents with sidewalls that are not separated by at least 20 feet, shall be considered a single tent for determination of area
• Tents over 700 square feet without sidewalls; tents without sidewalls that are not separated by at least 12 feet shall be considered a single tent for determination of area.
• A permit is only required for tents and air-inflated/supported structures that exceed 400 square feet or more in size; for EZ-Ups, when multiple EZ-Ups are joined together in groups that meet or exceed 400 square feet in total size, and are not separated by a minimum distance of 5 feet or more; for canopies, any time several smaller canopies are grouped together to equal or exceed 400 sq. feet.