Camp Layouts

A camp layout is a diagram that serves several key purposes:

  • It will help you design and build your camp
  • It will help the Placement team choose where and how to integrate your camp into a cohesive and harmonious neighborhood
  • It allows safety and logistical guidelines to be reviewed early in the process, reducing the risk of having to make big, last-minute changes on the playa

Please prepare your camp layout prior to starting your Placement Questionnaire and follow the guidelines listed on this page. Camp layouts are submitted as file uploads into the questionnaire. The deadline for the Placement Questionnaire is explicitly stated on the BRC participation forms page. You can find more tips about camp layouts in the Camp Resource Guide.

If you are looking for information on creating a hub layout, please go to the HUBS page. Remember, your camp needs an individual camp layout as well.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Example Layouts
Creating a Layout
Layout Template
Layout Requirements: fire lanes, service access, BRC storage, Fuel Program
File Requirements
Fire and Service Access Lane Requirements
Layout Dos and Don’ts
Fuel and Safety: generators, fire extinguishers

Example Layouts

Take a look at these mock layouts:

Creating a Layout

  1. Layout must be a single page with portrait orientation.
  2. Camp dimensions must use 50 foot increments. For example, your camp’s dimensions should be 100‘ x 150’ or 200‘ x 250’ and not 110’ x 215’.
  3. Include your camp name, first and last name, playa name (optional), email, phone number, and date with version on your camp layout.
  4. Camp layouts must be an overhead/birds-eye view of your camp.
  5. Include parcel dimensions in feet. Frontage (the parts of your camp that are intended for public interactivity, including signs and other visual attractions) should be outlined, highlighted, or otherwise distinguished from private areas.
  6. Size: Use standard printer paper, 8.5 x 11-inch. Color is welcome, so long as the diagram is completely readable when printed in black and white — avoid dark, cluttered backgrounds, use large text for major labels such as your camp name and dimensions, and ensure the resolution of your layout is high enough that other text is also readable. (We know they’re cool, but please do not use satellite photos of previous years.)
  7. Call out significant features and each project within your camp area:
    • Where is the camp entrance?
    • Where is the main structure or area for the participant interactions?
    • Where are vehicles parked?
      • All vehicles (Mutant Vehicles, trucks, RVs, trailers, buses, cars, etc) associated with your camp must be within your camp’s boundaries and accounted for on this layout. There is no additional parking available in Black Rock City.
    • Where is your public bike parking and have you reserved ample space for bikes, especially if you expect large crowds?
    • Where are generators?
    • Have you complied with the safe fuel storage guidelines for BRC?
    • If you need a fire lane (see requirements below), where is the path of travel for fire and emergency vehicles?
    • If you are storing fuel, mark its location and draw two to three circles around it: one showing there are no combustible materials or sources of ignition (cars, trailers, etc.) within 10’ of the fuel storage area, one showing the 20’ between liquid fuel and propane storage areas, and one showing 50’ from another designated fuel storage area.

Layout Template

Want a template to help create a to-scale of your camp? This Adobe Illustrator file can help you get started or this Figma Community file can help you get started. You are not required to use these templates, and we happily accept other layouts if they include what’s requested above (including hand drawn ones — make sure they’re legible!)

File Requirements

    • Accepted file types: .jpg .jpeg .pjpeg .png (NOT .pdf)
    • Maximum file size is approximately 10 MB. 
    • Be sure the file name for your layout is your unique or abbreviated camp name and include the day and month. (NOT the generic “camp layout” or “layout plan”)
    • Filename must not have spaces, please place underscores (_) between words.
    • Limit file name to 20 characters or less.
    • The file extension (i.e., .jpg) must be include
    • File format example: camp_name_mm.dd.jpg

Layout Requirements

Fire and Service Access Lane Requirements

  • Camps 100’x100’ or smaller are not required to have a fire lane.
  • Camps are required to have a 20-ft. wide fire/service access lane only if:
    • They have a depth greater than 125 ft. from any frontage on a street,
    • OR They are being serviced by an OSS Vendor for water delivery or pumpouts,
    • OR They are part of the BRC Fuel Program and require servicing of a generator/fuel tank that is further than 20 ft. from the street or are within 20 ft. but have obstructed access.
  • Service access lanes must not include any sharp turns, trucks must be able to drive straight through to the street, and provide a clear and visible path. The lane should provide direct access to enter and exit your camp from a street that DO NOT require trucks to turn around or back out. This entrance should be unobstructed at all times and not blocked by vehicles or bikes. For more information: BRC Fuel Program.
  • If you have no services and only need a fire lane, the fire lane can dead end in your camp as long as it is unobstructed at all times from entry to termination point and from the termination point a fire hose can reach 125 ft. to every border of your camp.
    • Signage and caution tape can be used to designate the fire lane. Participants should keep in mind the fire exposure issue with hard-sided structures lined up side-by-side. We recommend that hard-sided structures have at least 5′ between them to mitigate fire hazards.

Requirements for Camps with BRC Storage Containers

  • Include the PC number (ex: PC666)
  • Distance in WHOLE FEET (no inches) from your camp border to the short side of the container. Choose the side with the shortest distance to a camp border.
  • Distance in WHOLE FEET from a 2nd camp border to the long side of the container. Same thing with the shortest distance measurement.
  • DIRECTION of the DOORS to open.

Requirements for Camps with PETROL Delivery

  • If the camp has been placed on a Placement designated Service Alley, generators receiving fuel delivery must be within 20 ft. of the Service Alley.
  • If your camp is not on a Service Alley, generators can also be placed along access roads you design internally so they are placed further within the block. Your access road must be 20-ft. wide and kept clear of obstruction.
  • If your access road dead ends and does not allow the fuel truck to pull all the way through and back out to the street, it will not be used. The fuel trucks will not back up out of your access roads, it’s dangerous.
  • For camps receiving propane deliveries, the tanks/cylinders must be located within 50 ft. of the road (fire/service lanes or Service Alleys do not count as a road) and have clear access and safety perimeters.

Layout Dos and Don’ts

Frontage and Parking


Service Access and Frontage

Any turns in a service lane, must include minimum allowances for the trucks. For any 90-degree turn, you must create turn allowances (curves) starting 20’ from the inner corner. Use this diagram showing an extra triangle with 20’ legs to help your planning. Clearly indicate the allowances on your camp layout.

 

Don’t

Do
  • Don’t put your generator on your neighbors border.
  • Don’t put private portos and RVs with generators exhausting on your neighbors.
  • Don’t assume you can split your fire/access lane with your neighbor. Only camps with a depth greater than 125’ require a fire lane.
  • Don’t use an aerial photo of last year as this year’s layout submission. It’s hard to read, especially when printed in black & white.
  • Don’t isolate anything that needs to be serviced: RV’s, graywater tanks, etc. need clear access paths the width of a fire lane.
  • Don’t group your liquid fuels and liquefied propane gas storage together. 
  • Don’t place anything that is flammable next to your generator such as trash receptacles or fuel.
  • Don’t build shade over liquid fuel storage areas. (Shade may be constructed over propane storage areas.)
  • Do indicate large immovable objects or any kind of pyro / fire. This includes items that absolutely must be faced a certain direction, or that would prevent camp rotation.
  • Do clearly mark where interactivity will be & what will be private camp space. 
  • Do use feet as the standard unit of measurement. 
  • Do include your fire lane. 
  • Do include your fuel storage, your generator(s), and your fire extinguishers.
  • Do include 20′ zone around flame effects which must be kept free of all combustible or flammable materials, and nothing should overhang this zone.
  • Do place your generator no more than 20’ away from your frontage street or fire/access lane with a straight and unobstructed access for the fuel hose to reach it from the road. 
  • Do protect your neighbors from the sound of your generator that is 20’ from an access road with an RV, container, or build a baffle box for it.
  • Do include which side you consider your frontage; if you are a village, be sure to include the frontages for the camps in your village.
  • Do show where neighbor camps would optimally be placed to facilitate resource sharing.
  • Do, if you are on the Esplanade or 10 & 2, create a diagram of how you are going to utilize the space across the Avenue/Esplanade including how you are planning to power / light up anything you are putting there.
  • Do include sufficient space for bike parking if the camp will be hosting events that will attract crowds; don’t leave it up to your guests to invent a place to park.
  • If you have an activity for ‘mature audiences only,’ DO clearly mark where that will be taking place.
  • Do include your Burning Man PC container with the number indicated. Include dimensions from the borders of the camp to the PC, also include where the door goes.

Fuel Safety Features for Camps

  • All camps must be equipped with fire extinguishers in key locations (e.g., kitchens, near burn bins, fuel storage, and other hazards) located on a post, in full view, close enough but not right next to fire hazards, and indicated on the layout diagram.
  • Fuel containers must be stored in secondary containers (e.g., bins, kiddie pools) large enough to hold 110% of the largest container stored within it. Fuel containers (even little ones) should not be filled more than 80% of capacity to allow for heat expansion.
  • A 20-ft. zone around the flame effects must be kept free of all combustible or flammable materials, and nothing should overhang this zone (including access lanes). An appropriate audience safety perimeter (and performer’s safety zone if applicable) shall be established well in advance of flame effects operation, and must be approved by FAST. 
  • For camps receiving propane deliveries, the tanks/cylinders must be located within 50 ft. of the road and have clear access and safety perimeters. Delivery is available to registered flame effects on the Esplanade, 2:00, and 10:00 roads for cylinders of 100 lb. or greater capacity, and tanks of 25 gal. or greater capacity. Other locations available for delivery may include the outermost street on the 9:00 side, and some of the Keyholes going into the B Street Plazas.
  • Fuel containers must be stored in secondary containers (e.g., bins, kiddie pools) large enough to hold 110% of the largest container stored within it. Fuel containers (even little ones) should not be filled more than 80% of capacity to allow for heat expansion.
  • All camps storing or using combustible fuels must educate themselves about and comply with appropriate practices for storing and handling these materials. Not only is this essential for safety, but it is also required as part of our event permit stipulations with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Please refer to the FUEL AND HAZMAT STORAGE website for compliance information and a quick reference guide for required fuel storage distances.

Generator Placement

  • Best placement for generators is just off the street so that the fuel trucks don’t have to turn down access lanes to reach it. This can also help you save on space otherwise used for fire access lanes (unless you have fuel storage in camp — see above).
  • Generators located close to the street can still remain hidden behind a structure, such as a container, so long as the fuel truck hose can reach it from the street (20’ length with relatively straight access and no obstructions to the walking path)
  • Generators can also be placed along access roads so they are placed further within the block. Your access road must be 20’ wide and kept clear of obstruction.
    • If your access road dead ends and does not allow the fuel truck to pull all the way through and back out to the street, it will not be used. The fuel trucks will not back up out of your access roads, it’s dangerous.
  • Try to aggregate your generators where possible, the more stops the fuel trucks make the longer the routes (and the less likely to complete the route that day which can impact your delivery the following day). 
    • The BRC Fuel Program will only make two stops per group.
  • Keep in mind that when you have long cable runs, you will start seeing Line Loss (aka voltage drop) at 250’ cable length away from the generator. You will burn more fuel for less power output.
  • While the Fuel team would like to see LESS generators, we know that having one LARGE generator is not necessarily the answer. Consider a smaller generator for the build and strike timeframe if your event generator will be underloaded with a small population, which can cause maintenance issues and cause it to burn fuel inefficiently.

Fire Extinguishers

  • Avoid using ABC extinguishers in kitchens (serious contaminants) – recommend damp towels as 1st use in a kitchen fire.
  • At least one hand-held portable extinguisher with a 40-B rating is required for any fuel storage area. 
  • Laminate a “HOW TO USE” tag on each extinguisher (PASS)