Key standards and regulations for temporary event structures

Organising a successful event is a serious challenge. You want everything to run smoothly and your guests to be safe and happy. Temporary structures — tents, stages, pavilions — play a central role here. They have to look the part, but above all they need to be stable and fully compliant with the rules. That is especially important now, with new and updated standards taking effect from 2025 that directly affect your obligations as an organiser or contractor.

Building regulations and formalities — what you need to know in 2025

Let’s start with the formalities. 2025 brings updates to the rules covering temporary structures. The changes are aimed primarily at improving event safety and streamlining the procedures. That is why it is so important to stay current with amendments to the Building Act and the related regulations, especially those covering fire protection.

The key distinction remains: does your structure require a building notification or a full building permit? In general, if the structure will be in place for less than 180 days, a notification to the local authority is enough. But there are exceptions — structures with specific parameters or longer planned use may require a full permit. Either way, you need to prepare a documentation pack. Typically that includes:

• A statement of the right to use the land for construction.

• A technical description of the structure and a site plan.

• Test certificates and approvals confirming the quality of the materials used.

Remember that, as the investor or contractor, you bear the responsibility for completing all formalities. Technical documentation from the structure manufacturer is invaluable here. Our advice: always make sure you have a complete, up-to-date documentation pack that complies with the 2025 rules. Working with an experienced supplier who knows the regulations will save you a lot of time and stress. At Abastran we understand these challenges very well — we offer support at every stage and help our clients put the necessary documents together.

Key technical standards for your structure

The safety of your guests is the absolute priority. That is exactly why the technical standards governing the design and construction of temporary event structures exist. The most important one to remember is EN 13782. It applies to tents larger than 50 m² and sets out detailed requirements for stability, wind and snow load resistance, and material quality.

In addition to EN 13782, you should pay attention to the Eurocodes. These European design standards specify exactly how to calculate loads (wind, snow, suspended equipment) and how to design steel and aluminium components. Compliance with the Eurocodes is your guarantee that the structure has been engineered to the highest standards and will withstand even challenging conditions.

What does that mean in practice? Your structure has to be stable and resistant to the natural forces present at the event location. It has to support not just its own weight, but also wind pressure, snow load and sometimes additional loads from suspended stage equipment. Every material — from the structural profiles to the membrane fabric — has to come with valid test certificates and approvals confirming its quality. Our advice: always require your supplier to provide complete design documentation with structural calculations (compliant with EN 13782 and the Eurocodes) and certificates for the key components. That is the foundation of a safe event. We make sure that every structure designed and produced by Abastran meets these strict standards, delivering a safe product with a complete documentation pack.

Fire safety — new regulations you need to know

Fire safety is critical, especially in temporary structures where large numbers of people gather. The relevant rules are getting stricter, and from 2025 you can expect further tightening — for example through amendments to fire-protection regulations. Your job is to ensure safe evacuation conditions and to minimise the risk of fire.

You need to make sure there is a sufficient number of clearly marked emergency exits that remain unobstructed. The width of the escape routes must match the number of attendees at your event. Depending on the scale of the event, you may need to install an alarm system or a voice evacuation system, plus an appropriate number of working fire extinguishers.

Pay special attention to the materials your structure is built from — particularly the membrane envelope and any finishing elements. They must come with certificates confirming their reaction-to-fire class (typically B-s1, d0 for flame-retardant fabrics, or A2-s1, d0 for non-combustible PTFE). It is often essential to work with a certified fire-protection consultant, who will assess your project, recommend any additional safety measures, and help you obtain the required approvals. Our advice: bring the fire-protection consultant in at the planning stage. That way you avoid expensive late changes and you can be confident that you meet the latest legal requirements.

If you have any additional questions about standards, need help choosing the right structure, or want to discuss your project, get in touch with us. The Abastran team is happy to share what we know and our years of experience.