A lack of oil repellency for non-PFAS finishes could lead to flammability hazards for firefighters’ gear if exposed to substances such as diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid, NC State researchers have found in tests comparing PFAS-treated and untreated turnout gear. Future work will explore how much oil repellency firefighters need in the field. Image: NC State University/Bryan Ormond Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of several thousand fluorinated organic compounds. Because of their unique physical and chemical properties, PFAS have been widely used in everything from consum ..read more

Changing buying habits over the last couple of decades have spurred shopping centers to evolve as well. Many have been reimagined and reborn, such as the continuing transformation of the former Chesterfield, Mo., outlet mall into The District. The entertainment hot spot is now anchored by restaurants, a brewery, special events space, concert venue, fitness center, and recreational golf and bowling. It’s capped off by the Hub STL, a 700-person-capacity, $4 million, 40,000-square-foot outdoor area designed for fun and games, summertime concerts and events, and even a drive-in. Guests stay cool ..read more

Changes to the International Building Code® text for the 2024 edition involve temporary structures, many of which needed to be set up for more than the previous maximum of 180 days during the pandemic. The limit for a temporary structure in the U.S. is now up to a year. Pictured: An inflatable COVID-19 testing and vaccination structure. Image: Giant Inflatables Industrial Every three years the International Code Council® (ICC®) publishes a new set of International Codes®. These include the International Building Code® (IBC®) and the International Fire Code® (IFC®). The latest edition year of t ..read more

In October 2023, Rick Collins, ATA’s IT director, conducted a series of experiments with Midjourney to explore its potential. Using GPT-4, he created descriptions to feed to Midjourney, instructing the latter to generate images of the ideal event tent for hosting 200 attendees Although computers have been working with large amounts of data since their inception, they can’t learn or reason like humans. They follow code instructions to perform a task. Artificial intelligence (AI) computing differs from rote programming in that the algorithms are training the computer to learn from data presente ..read more

Photography by © 2023 Mark Skalny Photography Tony Ehrbar, owner and CEO of American Tent LLC, in Green Bay, Wis., didn’t realize he wanted to be an entrepreneur until he was 32. Burned out from years of consulting work and dissatisfied with corporate life, he was inspired to take on a new professional challenge after watching an episode of Shark Tank one night. While browsing businesses for sale on Craigslist, an ad for a tent rental company in his hometown of Green Bay felt like the right fit—a sentiment that persists more than a decade later. Ehrbar bought the business but was living in Chi ..read more

This 55-foot-by-103-foot clearspan structure from Warner Shelter Systems Limited (WSSL) served as the mess hall and headquarters for Canada’s Department of National Defence. WSSL also manufactures pole tents and both types have been deployed for disaster-response purposes and utilized as command posts and mess halls and for storage and warehousing. Image: Warner Shelter Systems Limited Used for wedding celebrations, birthday parties, graduations, festivals and other events, fabric structures and tents serve a variety of lighthearted purposes. But these products also have a serious side, such a ..read more

Apex, a non-PVC architectural membrane, offers unparalleled strength and durability comparable to PES-PVC fabrics, but is 35% lighter. Apex, a non-PVC architectural membrane, offers unparalleled strength and durability comparable to PES-PVC fabrics, but is 35% lighter. Ideal for tents and tension structures, its superior strength-to-weight ratio, remarkable performance, and patented NEOCLEAN self-cleaning technology ensure long-lasting cleanliness. Fully recyclable, the textile is designed to withstand extreme conditions, making it an excellent choice for architectural applications. GALE Comme ..read more

Former IFAI (now ATA) chairman Donald “Don” Michael Reinbolt of Temperance, MI, died at age 77 on Saturday, January 13, 2024. He was born on June 11, 1946, in Toledo, Ohio, and was the son of Charles M. and Mary Katherine (Hartley) Reinbolt.  He married his high school sweetheart from Woodward High School, Suzanne Loemker, on August 6, 1966. Reinbolt went on to Bowling Green State University and graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Business degree. He owned and operated Toledo Tarp Service, Wilcox Awning and Sign, and IFS Innovative Fabric Solutions LLC, continuing ..read more

Despite the threat of high winds, severe thunderstorms and dangerous tornados causing some delays with tent installations, Tent Expo 2024 kicked off on January 9 in Daytona, Fla. Over 550 attendees and exhibitors came from as far away as China, Poland and even the United Arab Emirates.  “It was an incredible gathering of tent professionals,” says Nick Deninno, vice chairman of the Tent Rental Division (TRD) Steering Committee and owner of B&R Innovations. “Facing challenging weather while setting up the Tent Expo was tough, especially losing a day of setup. However, after the storm ..read more

Visitors to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx looking for a brief respite to refuel and recharge have been doing so for the past few years under canopies that now can be called award-winning. Last fall Pvilion received recognition in the BLT Built Design Awards in one of the Landscape Architecture categories for this project. Strategically located near the botanical garden’s food truck area, the eight shade canopies have solar cells integrated into the fabric. The New York Botanical Garden was the launch site for the company’s solar-powered canopy structures. The lightweight, turnkey ..read more