Material Fire Reaction
This is the requirement that halts the most stands during the approval phase. Materials used for walls, coverings, draperies, and carpets must have documented fire reaction classification (in Europe, according to EN 13501-1), and the documentation must be available on-site, not just in the office.
- Certificates or declarations for materials, associated with the batch used.
- Fire-retardant treatments with a declaration of correct application, where required.
- Copy of documentation in the stand file, available for inspection during controls.
Venue Technical Regulations
Maximum heights, distances from stand boundaries, enclosed areas, suspended loads from hall structures, assigned electrical power: these parameters are all set by the individual venue and vary significantly between Milano, Bologna, Frankfurt, and Paris.
In Germany, technical regulations are particularly prescriptive regarding structural stability and escape routes; in France, fire safety regulations for materials are paramount. Designing a structure from the outset to be compliant in multiple venues allows for reuse without reconstruction.
Exhibition Site Safety
The assembly phase is effectively a temporary construction site: it requires worker documentation, PPE, operational plans, coordination with the venue, and named passes. Double-decker stands also require signed structural calculations and load checks.
Documentation to be Provided to the Exhibitor
Upon completion of assembly, the exhibitor should receive a comprehensive file. If the stand builder does not provide it spontaneously, it should be requested during the contractual phase.
- Declaration of conformity for the electrical system.
- Material fire reaction certificates.
- As-built drawings of the stand.
- Any structural calculations and verifications.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is responsible for the stand's compliance?
- The exhibitor is responsible to the venue, but in practice, it is the stand builder who produces and signs the technical documentation. This should be stipulated in the contract.
- Do regulations change annually?
- Venues periodically update their technical regulations: they should be re-downloaded for each edition, especially concerning electrical power and suspended loads.
Translated from the Italian original. Contact us for the official version.