Moving away from disposable stands together.
Your stand design
To make your commitment to Better Stands and contribute to a more sustainable event, we request that your Space Only design be comprised of the following list of re-usable materials:
- Stand Structure: framework of the stand, walls, panels for meeting rooms, and backdrop
- Platform or Raised Flooring: Structure of flooring (excluding surface covering)
- Furniture and Equipment: Showcases, counters, chairs, tables, sofa, coffee table, and cabinet
- Lighting: All kinds of lighting in the stand and within showcases
If you are working for an exhibitor as the nominated contractor, you will be responsible for:
- Preparing a custom stand design
- Organizing the onsite build and breakdown
- Work together with others to ensure health and safety
The essential areas to assist you are listed within this section to help plan and organize the job without unnecessary risk.
Better Stands - Reducing Carbon Footprint
Like all industries, we are looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and the amount of waste our events produce.
Disposable, single use stands, which make up the bulk of a typical show floor, have a detrimental impact on the environment, both during construction and removal. Better Stands will target disposable stands replacing them with higher-quality reusable structures made with sustainable materials. To reduce environmental impact, mitigate health and safety risks and maximize build and breakdown times new regulations shall review proposed materials as part of the stand design process. This will be prior to permission to build acceptance and subject to onsite checks.
Major breaches of the regulations will result in a formal written notification, together with continual improvement actions and the potential for financial penalties for repeat offenders.
Building Works & Fixing
- No paint, adhesives, fixings, attachments to/ or penetration of the fabric, structure or floors of the venue shall be affected.
- In case there’s a damage to the venue, a fine will be imposed as per the quote that Informa Connect receives from the venue.
Complex/ Non-Complex Build
Non-complex designs are defined as:
- Under 4m in height from the hall floor
- Single-storey stands
- Light Exhibits/ Pop-up structure
All ‘non-complex’ defined stands shall provide:
- Accurate 3D views showing all sides, top view and angles
- Detailed technical drawings with clear dimensions, sectional views and support details
- Risk Assessment and Method Statement
- Contractor Public Insurance to the value of USD2,000,000
- Better Stand Survey you will find this in the Action/Links below
Proposed stand materials and fire protection measures. All drawings must be ‘to scale’ and the scale clearly marked.
The scale should not be smaller than 1:50.
All nominated contractors must submit public liability insurance to the value of USD2,000,000.
Complex Designs are defined as one or more of the following items:
- 4m and above (from the hall floor – do not forget to include the floor element).
- Double Decker
- Modular or custom rigging
- Other flown items e.g. lighting or sound rigs.
- Platforms and stages over 600mm
- Ramps and/or staircase
- Glass constructions
Complex stand technical plans shall be provided in addition to the non-complex documentation:
- Structural calculations stamped by an Engineer/ Company; with author of the calculations, title and date of drawing & full contact details
- Floor load per m²
- Structural drawings showing connections, base plate sizes, ramp, handrail and staircase details
- Hanging structure: rigging points layout with material, weight and support details
- Platforms and stages; stability and support details, step raiser and load calculations
- Details about the maximum horizontal impact strength of any walling or handrail element (should be minimum1kN perm)
You will need to submit your Stand Design for Permission to Build before 1 Oct. 2024.
- Stand plan submission shall be completed through BLG and the Operations Team.
NOTE: Late submissions may incur additional fees and failure to meet more multiple deadline requests may result in permission to build a custom Space Only stand being removed, and alternative stand options mandated, removing the need for your services.
Double Decker
Double Storey/ Decker stand plans shall provide the following information in addition to the complex documentation:
- Plans showing all steel work details.
- Ground and upper story plan views (if applicable) showing clearly all dimensions, walling and major exhibits plus walkways, details of staircases, means of escape and areas of public access.
- Details about the load transmission of pillars to the exhibition floor of any upper decks.
- Proper structural calculations of the mezzanine structure.
- Hall floors may NOT be drilled into, suitable anchorage/ platform must be installed with prior permission received from the organizer and the venue. Please note that only a minimum of 400mm x 400mm x 12mm mild steel base plates will be accepted by the venue.
- You may be asked for further information, depending on the nature of your stand construction and exhibits e.g. details of any moving parts, together with how they will be guarded to prevent any harm.
- The lower floor of any double-deck stand must maintain a clear 70m headroom under the structure above throughout. The side of the upper floor adjacent to the neighboring stand must be completely walled off in a way that there is absolutely no visibility from the upper floor into the neighboring stand.
- The surface of the double-deck stand (excluding the access stairs) may not exceed 50% of that of the stand nor a total of 200 m2, irrespective of the area of the stand.
- The maximum height of the double-deck stand should not exceed 5m (this also includes rigging).
- The floor resting surface of the double-story stand must be calculated according to the load capacity of the floor of the venue.
- The areas beneath the raised platform and the access stairways must have the proper safety and emergency lighting and must be kept open.
Damage
- Any and all damage caused by contractors/ exhibitors or their agents on the exhibition grounds, in its buildings, or to their equipment or furnishings shall be remedied by the Organizer at their expense following the close of the event involved.
Dividing Walls
- On divided sites, you are responsible for erecting and decorating side and back walls facing onto your stand areas to a height of 2.5m. Walls above this height must be clad and decorated on both sides, with the reverse side being decorated from 2.4m upwards by the exhibitor who has them erected. Such walls overlooking adjoining stands must be finished in a neutral plain colour only.
- The minimum height for dividing walls is 2.5m.
Height Limits
- The maximum height allowed for any form of single-storey stand build, including floor platforms, is 4m.
- For double-storey stands, the maximum height allowed is 6m. Please contact the Operations Team if you have concerns regarding the maximum height allowed.
Walling in on Open Sides
Long runs of walling along open perimeters of stands are not permitted.
Only 50% of any open side is permitted to be a solid wall. Where long runs of walling are present along open sides they must be relieved by display items and not left in plain colours. If perimeter walling is more than 1m high, it must not occupy more than 50% of any one side. If long runs of walling are essential and are over 50% of the length of the stand, they must be recessed by 0.5m from the perimeter of the stand and will be subject to written approval by the Organisers.
Informa Connect have the right to reject any stand plan submissions that deem to be:
- Structurally unsafe
- Does not conform to the online exhibitor manual stand plan criteria
- Causes impact to surrounding stands
- Non-technical, hand drawn sketches and/or photograph images
NOTE:
- Stands should not be prefabricated without receiving the ‘Permission to Build’ acceptance confirmation from Informa Connect or assigned health and safety consultancy.
- Please note also, that receipt of a Permission to Build is only an authorization to start building the stand - regular checks will be made on each stand to ensure the appropriate use of materials, and structural integrity.
- If our safety advisors are concerned about the above in any way, we reserve absolute right to terminate any stand build.
- Structural builds must be constructed to the permitted design ONLY and any deviation will require a new stand design review and associated fees will be imposed.
Stand Build Regulations
- Minimum area required for a Space Only stands: 21m²
Refer to individual sections for specific stand build regulations e.g. Height Limits, Ceiling, Walling/ Doors/ Windows etc.
Stand Plan Submission/ Approval Process
- Submit stand design and documentation on the online portal by 1st Oct 2024.
- We will then submit the design into the DWTC Portal for venue approval.
- Wait for stand approval or stand revision comments from DWTC.
- Pay the stand submission fees of your stand. If you have not paid this via the stand booking form then you will need to pay directly to us or the outstanding payment for the double deck.
Stand Submission Fees
- Stand Evaluation (Single Decker Stand) - USD250
- Double Deck stand submission fee - USD300
- Country Pavilions - USD300
Stand designs must be submitted in a timely manner, in order for them to be reviewed and approved by Informa Connect and DWTC prior to build.
Submittal of the proposed Stand Design is required by deadline - 1 Oct 2024. For any queries relating to stand design submission contact Operations on sarah.dunne@informa.com
Informa may reject any stand design deemed to be:
• Structurally unsafe
• Does not confirm the specifications listed in the full Contractor Space Only Regulations
• Causes obstruction to neighboring stands