Burning Man folks on Reddit dug up a set of real-world playa tests and a practical thread about how to anchor large shade structures — useful reading if you’re mounting a 50×50 canopy and don’t trust a single lag screw to hold the load.
The thread starts with a build-owner asking for a pointer to tests they remembered: people who used tripods, load gauges and ratchet straps to measure the holding power of lag screws and rebar in playa soil. A commenter pointed to an ePlaya report (and an accompanying YouTube test) showing a 10″ lag screw that took roughly 450 lbs of direct upward force in a single pull test.
That number isn’t a magic safety margin — it’s a data point. The community responses were full of practical, experienced advice that matters more than any single stat:
– Don’t rely on one fastener. Use multiple anchors and spread the load. A welded steel plate with several lag screws and an eyebolt is a popular solution because the load gets distributed across screws and a larger surface area.
– Size and depth matter. People recommended 1/2″ shaft lags at >14″ when possible; others report reasonable performance with 3/8″ x 12″ or 1/2″ x 18″–24″ depending on soil and application. Longer penetration and bigger diameter increase pullout resistance.
– Think about hardware weak points. In storms, shade cloth becomes a sail and hardware like chain links, rated straps, and conduit frames often fail before the anchors pull out. EMT conduit will bend long before a properly set lag pulls.
– Design for teardown. The fastest way to survive playa storms is making shade easy and quick to take down. Less sail = less load on anchors.
– Redundancy and inspection. Use plenty of washers, rated straps, and inspect welds/eyelets. Redundant anchor lines at different angles reduce single-point failures.
If you’re the one building the 16′ canopy over a dance floor, the community consensus is clear: over-engineer the anchor points, distribute forces, use beefy hardware, and make teardown uncomplicated. A little extra planning and a few more anchors will save a lot of headaches (and gear) when the wind shows up.
If you want to dig deeper, the thread includes links to an ePlaya post and a YouTube test video — handy if you’re comparing specific screw lengths and diameters. Stay safe out there and build smart.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1p5vqj6/lag_screws_in_playa_test_results_know_its/