Frame Tents vs. Clear Span Tents: Which Is Better?

When it comes to purchasing or renting a tent, you must do your due diligence, so when it comes to frame tents vs. clear span tents, which is better?

There are many different varieties of tents on the market – and choosing the wrong one could have serious consequences. For instance, tents on college campuses are quite common. And, Purdue University is no exception. When rough weather – a derecho – made its way through the Midwest states earlier this year, it left a clear path of destruction. And, a few of the tents at the university collapsed while others remained standing.

So, why did some tents withstand the rough weather associated with the derecho while the others did not? Well, some were frame tents and others are clearspan tents.

Pole Tents

For years, pole tents were the go-to tents for those having an event. These tents were designed with poles that act as support beams throughout the tent, keeping the fabric up and helping the tent stay grounded. Along the outside, another 5 to 10 feet were required to allow for stakes and guy lines that would work to keep the tent in place. Although pole tents are rather durable, there is still the issue of a center pole support in the middle of the tent. There are many pros and cons of pole tents:

Pros

• Tool-less Setup and removal (usually clips, ropes, & ratchets
• Super fast setup and removal
• Festive Appearance

Cons

• Guy wires require large amount of space outside poles
• Guy wires create tension for fabric support
• Poles around perimeter
• Center poles
• Width Restricted

Frame Tents

As temporary tents develop, a challenge arises: how can we remove the middle pole support of a pole tent while maintaining durability?

Enter frame tents.

These tents were designed with a frame rather than poles. This means that the entire weight of the tent itself relies on the frame to hold it in form – without the need for poles throughout the inside of the tent to carry the weight. There are no high peaks, either, with these tents. And, due to their being no obstructions (no poles or beams) throughout the area underneath the frame, you can see clearly and maneuver through it without any issue.

Plain and simply put, this open area gives you the most efficient use of the space.

However, frame tents also require stakes and ratchets for anchoring. Unlike pole tents, these ratchets can be installed closer to the legs as the frame better supports the fabric, but anchoring is still required to produce down force and keep the tent from blowing away. All in all, the stable frame tent is a decent choice for a short term tent rental. However, you will want to keep reading to learn about clear span tents.

Before we move on, let’s break down the pros and cons of frame tents.

Pros

• There are no poles or internal beams required to stabilize the tent. Just wide-open space.
• Tool-less setup and removal (usually cotter pin inserts)
• Frame supports fabric (no interior poles)
• More Elegant Appearance
• You generally can create your floor plan any way you want it when it comes to these tents.
• Stakes or guy lines can be installed closer to the legs of the tent.
• Can be constructed on any surface as they require less ballasting.
• Look nice, professional, and aesthetically pleasing.

Cons

• Increased Installation and Removal time (compared to pole tents)
• Guy wires require area outside frame (although smaller than pole tents)
• Poles around perimeter
• Width restricted: Limit to the size of the tent, with a maximum of 40 feet in width

Clear Span Structures

Clear Span tents are created much like frame tents in the sense that they rely on an outer shell (frame) to hold the weight of the tent. They are aesthetically pleasing on both the inside and the outside, giving a professional appearance to your tent. They are erected in a clear organized manner – and can be installed just about anywhere. How? Unlike both pole and frame tents, clear span structures do not require any guy lines. Rather, their stakes are driven through a “base plate”.

Remember how we said that one of the cons of frame tents was its intricate construction? Well, one of the benefits of clear span tents is that they are created with a modular design. From inception, these tents are designed in a way that would allow for the extension or reduction in the size of the tents. You can add or remove the 10-foot side panels to meet your size requirements. And, it does not take away from the integrity of the tent. It is also worth noting that frame tents cannot extend past 40-feet in width. This is one of their downfalls. Clear span tents can range from 10-feet wide to 162-feet wide. That gives you much more space – and many more options – then you will find with a frame tent.

When it comes to rough weather, such as the weather found in a derecho, many outdoor tented structures will fall victim. This is not true with clear span tents. They can stand up against fierce winds, heavy rain, and other inclement weather. They also deflect some of the sun’s harmful rays during those dry, hot days – and they can maintain ambient temperature inside on some of the coldest days.

Unlike frame tents, clear span tents are designed for long-term use. You don’t have to use them for extended periods, but the option is there for you if you need it. Many individuals in the warehouse and construction field use clear span tents because they are reliable yet more affordable than a brick and mortar structure.

Like we did for frame tents, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of clear span tents.

Pros

• Wind Engineered from 88 – 130 mph*
• No guy wires for stakes
• Extruded Aluminum frame supports fabric (no interior poles)
• Professional and Industrial Appearance
• Widths up to 164’ wide and unlimited length
• Consistent ceiling height
• The ability to prevent updraft and resist shear pressures – all thanks to their bolted weight.
• The versatility and varying dimensions of the extruded legs and beams allow the structure to maintain large width sizes.
• Sizes grow as the structure width grows, maintaining engineered wind loads.
• Offer great modularity and flexibility in sizing.
• Manufactured with aluminum and steel framework for more strength.
• Allows for an extremely wide variety of accessories such as flooring, lighting, door options, stage options and more.
• Engineered to meet building codes.
• Freestanding structures that don’t require guy lines.
• Look nice, professional, and aesthetically pleasing.
• Allows for the use of sidewall openings up to 16.5′ wide.

Cons

• May appear costly upfront but prove to bring great value and reliability to your tent needs.
• Increased Installation and Removal time*
• Poles around perimeter, but at 16.5’ intervals

* It takes more time to install depending on the width, but the result is more square footage

Clear Span Tent Profile and Frames

Clear span structures are often Losberger tents, with the P8 and P7 series being the most comparable to the size of frame tents. The P8 series is a 100mm profile (100mmx48mm) while the P7 series is a 120mm profile (120mm x 48mm). These sizes grow as the structure width can grow – maintaining the engineered wind loads. 

Frame tent legs are roughly 1/16” of an inch thick while extruded frame for a clearspan is at least 4x thicker, meaning that clear span tents can offer much more strength and durability. In a frame tent, often the same small 2” diameter “leg” is still used and there are added supports in the ceiling – cables strung across thereby reducing the actual ceiling clearance to help keep it supported. With a clear span tent, the legs and beams for the arches change sizes to maintain the engineering of the structure.

One of the greatest benefits of utilizing a clear span structure over a frame or pole tent is the versatility of dimensions. As mentioned, the P8 and P7 series are smaller mid-size structures that can be compared to the average size of a frame tent. However, there are unlimited options when it comes to clear span tents. For example, the Losberger P1 Maxiflex series has a truss profile of 300mm x 120mm. This series can attain widths of 164′ wide and unlimited lengths in 5m (16.5′) increments which allows for unmatched flexibility and customization. Common sizes include: 66′, 82′, 100′, 116′, 132′, and the widest at 164′ wide! This is the go to series for all construction industry and temporary warehouse storage needs.

Pole vs. Frame vs. Clear Span

Matrix	Pole	Frame	Clearspan
Engineered to meet IBC 2018			x
Consistent Ceiling Height			x
Open Floor Plan		x	x
Leg Heights over 10′			x
Widths over 40′			x
Unlimited Length	x	x	x
Constructed on any Surface	x	x	x
General Events	x	x	x
Professional		x	x
Commercial / Industrial / Athletics			x

Conclusion

There you have it – all the perks and drawbacks of frame tents and clear span tents. Are you still wondering which tents were left standing after the derecho? Well, it was the clearspan tents, of course!

The next time you need a tent, whether it is for use at college sport field cover, temporary warehouse storage, breakroom tent, temporary business expansion, or even for a huge construction project, consider the impact the weather can have on your tent – and choose wisely. Choose a clear span tent.