The Essential Guide to Weight Blocks

Securing Temporary Structures

When it comes to setting up temporary structures like marquees, inflatable tents, or event spaces, ensuring the stability and safety of the structure is crucial. Whether you’re planning a wedding, corporate event, or a community gathering, having the right weight blocks in place to anchor your setup is essential to prevent accidents caused by wind or instability.

Explore the different types of weights used for this purpose, including marquee weights, anchor blocks, and ballast blocks, and how they help in securing your event structures.

What Are Marquee Weights?

Marquee weights are designed specifically to hold down large tents or marquees. Typically made from concrete or heavy-duty materials, these weights are placed at key points around the marquee to ensure it stays firmly anchored to the ground. They are particularly useful in situations where you cannot stake the marquee into the ground, such as on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt.

• Ideal For: Weddings, festivals, and outdoor events on hardstanding surfaces.
• Materials: Often made from concrete, steel, or heavy plastic filled with sand or water.
• Weight Range: Depending on the size of the marquee, marquee weights can range from 20kg to over 100kg.

Anchor Weights

Anchor blocks serve the same purpose as marquee weights but are often designed with multiple securing points to attach guy ropes or straps. These are essential when setting up inflatable structures, which can easily shift or become airborne in windy conditions. Anchor weights provide stability for inflatables like bouncy castles, large outdoor projections, or inflatable tents.

• Ideal For: Inflatables, large tents, and stages.
• Key Feature: Built-in handles or fastening points for easy attachment of ropes or straps.
• Versatility: Can be used for tethering structures like stages, pop-up shops, and more

Ballast Weights

Ballast blocks are commonly used in construction or industrial settings, but they also play a critical role in event setups. These heavy concrete blocks are often referred to as counterweights or kentledge blocks in some industries. Ballast weights provide support and stability for larger installations like staging, lighting rigs, and even cranes. They are essential when heavy equipment or large temporary structures require substantial stabilization.

• Ideal For: Large-scale events, cranes, stages, and hoisting equipment.
• Heavy Duty: Typically, ballast weights weigh upwards of 500kg, depending on the application.
• Common Uses: Supporting large lighting rigs, scaffolding, and other high-risk structures.

Choosing the Right Weight Blocks for Your Event

Selecting the correct block type—whether it’s a marquee weight, anchor block, or ballast block—depends on the specific needs of your event and the size of the structure you’re securing. Here’s how to decide:

• For Marquees or Tents on Hard Ground: Opt for marquee weights. These provide strong and reliable support where traditional stakes can’t be used.
• For Inflatables or Structures with Guy Ropes: Choose anchor weights with multiple attachment points to tether the ropes securely.
• For Large Installations Requiring Extra Stability: Ballast weights are your best option. They are built for heavy-duty support, making them ideal for large stages or outdoor rigging.

How Many Weights Do You Need?

The number of weights required depends on several factors, including:

1. Size and Type of Structure: Larger structures will require more or heavier weights.
2. Weather Conditions: Windy conditions may necessitate additional weights for added security.
3. Surface Type: Hard surfaces often require heavier weights since you can’t drive stakes into the ground.

Find out more about weighting guide table or get in touch with us directly to consult our experts for your specific marquee, tent, or inflatable to determine the recommended weight per anchor point.

Why You Can’t Compromise on Safety

Improperly securing a marquee, tent, or inflatable structure can lead to accidents or damage, especially in adverse weather. High winds can cause structures to shift, potentially endangering guests and damaging equipment. Anchor weights, marquee blocks, and ballast blocks ensure that your event remains safe and secure, no matter the conditions.

Don’t Skimp on Stability

Whether you’re organising an outdoor wedding, a corporate event, or setting up a temporary inflatable structure, using the right weights is essential for ensuring stability and safety. Marquee weights, anchor weights, and ballast weights each have their place, depending on the type of structure and the environment. By selecting the appropriate weights and ensuring they’re correctly installed, you can prevent accidents and keep your event running smoothly.

If you’re unsure which type of weight is best for your next project or event, feel free to reach out to our team of experts. We offer a range of concrete and specialised weights to meet all your needs.