Mastertent® Canopy Fabrics | High Performance Canopy Tent Materials

Q: Water Resistance

The Problem: "My canopy tent roof is sagging and collecting water." "Water is leaking through the tent fabric." "I have leaks at the seam of my canopy tent." "My tent frame collapsed from the weight of water pooling on the tent roof." The Solution: Step one to a waterproof canopy tent is a waterproof fabric - not just 'water-repellent' or 'water-resistant'. Canopy tent fabric is classified as waterproof through a measurement called the hydrostatic head or water column: a test to see how much pressure (and by extension water) a material can endure. Applied water sealants and the use of impregnated thread (both standard in Mastertent fabrics) aid in keeping water out - especially at the tent seams. Tent construction also plays a significant role in tent water performance. Roof shape, tensioning, stitching, and support all help (or hinder) water roll-off to prevent water from pooling on your tent roof. A robust tent structure literally sets the framework for your tent roof to perform its best.

Q: Color Fastness

The Problem: "My tent roof faded in the sun." "My tent printing is cracking and chipping." The Solution: Color fading is a natural result of sun exposure, but it can be prevented through tent use, color selection, and material quality. Dark colors and warm tones like black and red absorb the most ultraviolet (UV) rays and fade more quickly than canopy tent colors like white. However, you don't need to limit your fabric color selection. Mastertent fabrics are designed for improved light fastness. Our Pirontex fabric is specifically designed with dyed yarn - meaning the fabric color starts at the individual fibers rather than being dyed after the fabric is constructed. This more complex production process means the fabric color extends to the 'root' of the fabric offering a longer-lasting color. Cracking or chipping canopy tent printing is a common issue with lower-quality printing methods like digital printing. This happens because the print is only applied to the surface of the fabric, making the design more prone to wear and tear as the tent fabric folds and is exposed to the elements. Our canopy tents use dye-sublimation printing to embed the inks into the tent fabric before a curing process — not only resulting in a more saturated and vibrant design but also creating a longer-lasting print.

Q: Fire Certifications

The Problem: "I can't use my canopy tent at events because it didn't pass compliance." The Solution: Event venues, fire marshalls, and safety standards, more often than not, require that canopy tents be certified fire-retardant, not fire-resistant. Mastertent fabrics are tested and certified under: NFPA 701 CPAI‐84 Sec. 6 CAN/ULC‐S109 EN 13501 ‐ 1:2007. Each Mastertent roof or sidewall contains a tag featuring the product fire certifications for on-the-go inspection coverage.

Canopy Tent Fabrics

Our professional-grade canopy tents are more than their all-aluminum, robust frame construction. Equally important to a pop-up tent's performance is the quality and material of the canopy tent fabrics.

Our product research and development team keeps abreast of customer needs and technological developments in the industry to seek out innovations in outdoor tent fabrics — like our newest Pirontex fabric collection.

Explore what it takes to have a high-functioning canopy tent fabric ready for sun, wind, and rain.

Solving Common Canopy Tent Fabric Issues

Water Resistance

The Problem:

"My canopy tent roof is sagging and collecting water."
"Water is leaking through the tent fabric."
"I have leaks at the seam of my canopy tent."
"My tent frame collapsed from the weight of water pooling on the tent roof."

The Solution:

Step one to a waterproof canopy tent is a waterproof fabric - not just 'water-repellent' or 'water-resistant'.

Canopy tent fabric is classified as waterproof through a measurement called the hydrostatic head or water column: a test to see how much pressure (and by extension water) a material can endure.

Applied water sealants and the use of impregnated thread (both standard in Mastertent fabrics) aid in keeping water out - especially at the tent seams.

Tent construction also plays a significant role in tent water performance. Roof shape, tensioning, stitching, and support all help (or hinder) water roll-off to prevent water from pooling on your tent roof. A robust tent structure literally sets the framework for your tent roof to perform its best.

More about Waterproof Canopy Tents Construction Details

Color Fastness

The Problem:

"My tent roof faded in the sun."
"My tent printing is cracking and chipping."

The Solution:

Color fading is a natural result of sun exposure, but it can be prevented through tent use, color selection, and material quality.

Dark colors and warm tones like black and red absorb the most ultraviolet (UV) rays and fade more quickly than canopy tent colors like white. However, you don't need to limit your fabric color selection. Mastertent fabrics are designed for improved light fastness.

Our Pirontex fabric is specifically designed with dyed yarn - meaning the fabric color starts at the individual fibers rather than being dyed after the fabric is constructed. This more complex production process means the fabric color extends to the 'root' of the fabric offering a longer-lasting color.

Cracking or chipping canopy tent printing is a common issue with lower-quality printing methods like digital printing. This happens because the print is only applied to the surface of the fabric, making the design more prone to wear and tear as the tent fabric folds and is exposed to the elements.

Our canopy tents use dye-sublimation printing to embed the inks into the tent fabric before a curing process — not only resulting in a more saturated and vibrant design but also creating a longer-lasting print.

Canopy Tent Colors Canopy Tent Printing

Fire Certifications

The Problem:

"I can't use my canopy tent at events because it didn't pass compliance."

The Solution:

Event venues, fire marshalls, and safety standards, more often than not, require that canopy tents be certified fire-retardant, not fire-resistant.

Mastertent fabrics are tested and certified under:

NFPA 701
CPAI‐84 Sec. 6
CAN/ULC‐S109
EN 13501 ‐ 1:2007.

Each Mastertent roof or sidewall contains a tag featuring the product fire certifications for on-the-go inspection coverage.

Tent Fire Certifications

NEW: Pirontex®

Pirontex® is a unique, innovative, and sustainable tent fabric. The newest fabric in our lineup, Pirontex® is designed to outperform in a number of ways:

High Color-Fade Resistance
Improved Production Sustainability
Increased Durability and Elasticity
Sleek, Matte Fabric Finish
330% Waterproof Rating

Double-Weave Oxford Polyester Fabric

Mastertent's oxford weave polyester is a high-quality fabric that meets the North American and European standards for waterproofness and fire-retardancy.

We use a durable, tear-resistant Oxford Weave 500D fabric for our canopy tent roofs, while the thinner yet equally durable Oxford 250D fabric is used for the sidewalls. Both fabrics offer excellent waterproofing, UV protection, and fire resistance.

What is Oxford Weave fabric?

A type of woven fabric characterized by its distinctive basket-weave structure. This structure involves multiple weft threads crossing over an equal number of warp threads, creating a durable and breathable fabric. The double weave creates a highly durable fabric, doubling the effective fabric denier, taking 500D to a functional 1,000D performance.

What is a fabric denier?

Denier is a unit of measurement used to show the thickness or density of a fabric's individual threads.

Refractory Fiberglass

Extreme Fire Rating

Our tactical fiberglass fabric is a refractory material, allowing for extremely high temperatures without fabric damage or deformation. This makes our fiberglass fabric a 'fireproof' material—a material that prevents or limits combustion. It is ideal for cooking tents or work tents using heat and power tools.

Available in grey/white two-tone coloring. Printable with spot logos and designs.

Heavy-Duty PVC

Robust Performance

When used as a canopy tent material, PVC is usually used in combination with other types of fabrics for special supplies such as the Rescue Package. All the windows of the sidewalls are made of transparent PVC as well. On request we also produce canopy tents entirely made of PVC, completely transparent!

Available in our 12 standard fabric colors and printable with spot logos and designs.

Rustic Loden Tent Covers

Alpine Flair

The loden fabric, made from raw wool, takes inspiration from the traditions of historic South Tyrol. Loden fabrics are used for aesthetic tent roof and wall covers for hotels and resorts looking for an alpine appeal.

Available in 5 colors.

Printed Canopy Tent Fabrics