The images used in this manual are from the FasTival, but the set-up is similar for the Arko.

Step 1: Releasing safety cable


Roll the structure to the designated place (for this: unlock the brake of the wheels) and loosen the long safety cable (which is around the structure)

Step 2: First opening of the structure


Pull the structure open with 2 (or with 4) persons. Open the structure as far as you can, until the structure is half open in a stable position.

Step 3: Attaching the membrane, initial positioning


To hang the membrane with the velcro bands, start from the middle where you see 4 velcro bands next to each other (yellow in the picture) and align that part with the middle of the structure (where the joint is the highest).

Step 4: Attaching the membrane with velcro bands


Attach the velcro bands to the beams – 2 left and 2 right from the joints. Don’t tension them too much: fold the end part of the velcro back over the buckle until the stitched line.

Step 4 attention point: Don't attach the velcro bands at the edge


Attach all the connection points, except those at the edges. There are three velcro straps per edge, so 6 x 3 in total that should still be loose.

Verification stage


At this stage, the structure and membrane should look similar to this picture.

Step 5: Where to open the structure


Position the team of 4 people exactly like in this picture: two persons at each side, one person per joint, being the third joint starting from the sides.

Step 6: Full opening of the structure


Push the structure upwards with 4 people along the arch side: first push the structure up (at the starting joints) and then go to the lower joint next to you to pull the structure inwards. It’s a combination of keeping the center of the structure high enough and pulling the sides inwards.
Keep in mind that you need a larger space to deploy and open the structure than the ultimate span of the structure in open state (in total 10m for the FasTival, a bit less for the Arko’s)!

Step 7: Connecting safety cable


Connect the safety cable between the two middle ground joints, at the eye bolts with the carabiner hooks. If the span of the structure is too big for the safety cable, you should push the sides of the structure more inwards, until the safety cable fits.

While someone is installing the safety cable, make sure that two other persons hold the structure in place so that it cannot close back down.

Step 8: Removing the wheels


Remove the wheels on the ground joints.

Verification stage for the keder rails


(if you want to connect a backdrop or a second membrane, otherwise go to step 13)

The keder rails should slide over the circular keder profile at the edge of the membrane. Start with a short rail (1), then the long one (or two times a long one if you have 4 keders) (2), to end with a short one again (1). Make sure you use the correct side to start sliding.

Step 9: Installing the keder rails


Slide the keder rails over the circular keder profile at the edge of the membrane: one per one, and use the next one to push the previous one into place.

Step 10: Installing the backdrop/connection membrane


Once all keder rails are installed (over the full edge length of the membrane), slide the keder profile of the backdrop or the connection membrane into the rail. Do this with two persons: one person helping at the bottom to slide the membrane into the rail and the other one pulling from the other end.

Step 11: Installing the connection pieces


(if you want to connect a second structure, e.g. in the case of a FasTival L, otherwise go to step 13)

First set up both structures separately and bring them as close together as possible. In the best scenario (first picture) the fins of the joints are (almost) touching each other. Sometimes this may not be possible (see second picture). Then attach the connection pieces by connecting the fins of the two joints concerned. For the FasTival, do this at 5 locations on the structure (so not at the level of the two ground joints).

Make sure you connect the pieces in the right way as shown in the picture.

Step 12: Sliding the connection membrane


When the two structures are connected by the 5 connection pieces at the joints, you can slide the connecting strip into the keder rails. Make sure that you choose the right side to start with (without the metal closing piece).

Step 13: Connecting the last joints


Attach the last 3×6 velcro bands of the membrane with the beams (the lowest velcro band should be attached to the bottom beam).

Step 14: Attaching the locking cables


(if you want to remove the safety cable and/or if you expect high winds)

Attach all locking cables (at both sides of the structure). If they seem too short, then push the lower joint upwards to reduce the distance. Use a ladder where necessary.

Step 15: Installing the feet plates


Place the ground joints on the feet plates (there are 6 plates). One person should lift the structure a bit while the other one can install the foot plate by positioning the joints over the holes. Move the joint to find a corresponding hole and fix it with the clevis bolt and pin.

If you have the version with the position pins, you can tighten the pins in the bolts. The ballast weights are placed over these position pins to block the lateral movement and position of the weights.

Step 16: Removing the safety cable


Only remove the safety cable when it hampers the passage underneath the structure. Only do this when the locking cables and the feet are secured!

Step 17: Installing ballast weights or anchors


Anchor the structure by putting the necessary ballast weights on the feet (when the structure is on hard underground). If the structure is on grass or soil, you can additionally use ground anchors through the big holes of the feet plates.
The total amount of ballast weight depends on the expected wind speed and extra loading of the structure: follow the instructions of the provided load bearing sheet.


Closing the structure

Step: Follow all the previous 17 steps in exact the opposite order


Make sure that the brake of the wheels are loose once you want to fold the structure back in its fully folded state.

Additional information: removing the backdrop


One person should pull the backdrop from the inside out the keder rails, while another person pushes to make it easy to slide.

DANGER: Be aware of the position of the hands! (from arch to half open)


Keep the hands at the outside to prevent them getting squeezed in between the beams when you close the structure from arch position to half open position.

DANGER: Be aware of the position of the hands! (from half open to fully closed)


Keep the hands at the outside of the top joints when closing the structure fully.