Stand Build Regulations

Below you will find stand build regulations which must be applied to your Space Only stand design. We have highlighted various general regulations which you may find helpful when designing your stand however please note that this is not a definitive list of regulations. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor and their contractor to ensure their stand design complies with all applicable stand build regulations detailed in the venue technical regulations.

Failure to comply with the regulations laid out below may lead to your Permission to Build being revoked and changes to the stand build being undertaken onsite or complete removal of the stand.

The eGuide can be downloaded here.

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The height limit for the event is 2.5m. No complex builds over 2.5m will be permitted. 

If you are unsure or require any further information, please email the Operations Team.

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Please note that chipboard, particleboard and low-density fibreboard (LDF) are not suitable for construction and in particular of weight bearing structures. The H&S Manager and Structural Engineer will identify stands which do not comply during the build process and all necessary remedial work must be completed before the stand will be permitted to open.

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Complex Structures are not permitted at BCB London.

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Compressed Gas is not permitted at Tobacco Dock. If you require compressed gas please contact the Operations Team. 

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As part of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 all space only stands, or shell scheme stands with construction, are deemed their own construction sites and the Construction & Dismantle Phase Plan (CDPP) is a compulsory document which needs to be submitted along with you stand plans, risk assessments and method statement. 

• A CDPP template can be found here.
  
• Guidance on completing the CDPP can be found here.

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Demonstrations on stands during the event must be safe and without risks to health and safety and where necessary covered by a risk assessment. Any demonstration or presentation should be set back by a minimum of 0.5m from the edge of the stand to discourage queueing in aisles. Areas likely to interest groups of 10 or more people must be located towards the centre of the stand and clearly shown on stand drawings, and if they cause obstruction within the gangway and/or nuisance to any other exhibitor, we reserve the right to cancel the presentation/demonstration or restrict the frequency.

Please click here for details of what demonstations are and are not permitted at the event.

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The maximum height for dividing walls of single-storey stands is 2.5m.

Please note build over 2.5m is not permitted.

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Where doors are present on your stand they must follow the below guidance;

• The required minimum effective clear width of a door is 800mm.
• Doors must have a vision panel with a zone of visibility spanning from 500mm to 1500mm above the floor. The exception to this is doors to small storerooms, where a small panel may suffice.
• Emergency exit doors must open outwards in the direction of escape.
• Doors must be recessed where they open on to public circulation areas, e.g. they must not open directly on to a gangway.
• Sliding doors are not acceptable as emergency exit doors.

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There is zero tolerance on dust-creating activities in the halls to avoid additional hazards from coughing and reducing cleaning requirements. All dust must be extracted at source by mechanical means. MDF and chipboard must not be machined on site, as the dust produced is hazardous to health. 

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Under no circumstances is late working allowed on any day of the buildup or breakdown schedule as per the hours in the Exhibition Timetable. If you have appointed a stand contractor to build your space only stand, you must be assured that the design of the stand is such that it can be built within the specified times as stated in this manual. Late working outside of the published build up and breakdown timetable will not be permitted. 

Please click here to view the Exhibition Timetable.

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Exhibitors and contractors must comply with The Electricity at Work Regulations, the IEE Wiring Regulations, the EVA Electrical Regulations and the venue's electrical regulations.

All work must be carried out by competent and qualified electricians and all temporary installations must be protected by an RCD and inspected before power is supplied to the stand. All electrical installations should be carried out by the official contractor. During the build up and breakdown power must only be taken from the temporary supplies provided by the official electrical contractor and not from cleaners, sockets or other hall sockets. Please contact the electrical contractor to arrange a temporary power supply.

Power will be switched off 30 minutes following show close on each day, particularly on the last day of show and power will not be re-connected after this time.

There should be sufficient correctly installed and rated power sockets to preclude the use of extension leads and long trailing flexes. If essential, extension leads must be correctly fused and limited to one per socket. Multi-sockets must not be used.

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The official contractor, Full Circle Events, must carry out all electrical work. Please note that when ordering electrics you need to complete the electrical grid form to ensure that the electrics are fitted as per your requirements. Should a grid not be submitted, the items will be positioned at the discretion of the contractor and charges may be levied for onsite changes.

Stand Connections; during build up, initial connections to stands are made as early as possible but in some cases this could mean opening morning if the stand is not complete.

The power to all stands will be switched off 30 minutes after close of the show each day. Please also remember to order 24hr power supply for the open period if required i.e fridges on stands. On the breakdown power will be switched off 30 minutes after show close and will not be reinstated. If you require power during this time please ensure that you order this through Full Circle.

Please contact Full Circle to arrange mains connection.

Email: [email protected]

Temporary Power

Space only exhibitors and their contractors are advised to contact Full Circle Events to arrange a temporary power supply for actual construction of stands if required.

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The inclusion of large enclosed areas within a stand should always be avoided & can only be permitted with the organisers’ prior written permission.  

Additionally, Long runs of walling must be avoided especially along open perimeters of the stand. If walling exceeds 50% of any perimeter side, then the entire wall must be stepped in by 0.5m or alternatively be changed to half height walling or broken up with transparent panels. 

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It is the exhibitors responsibility to remove all barriers to service and make their stand accessible to wheelchair users to comply with The Equality Act. Where exhibitors have a platform on a stand over 50mm a reasonable adjustment is to incorporate a ramp into the platform within the stand area. Whatever the content of the stand is it needs to be accessible to all. Please note the following when designing your stand:

• Stands with platforms that exceed 50mm must include ramp access in order to comply with current accessibility and safety regulations.
• Stands that are 20sqm or over with platforms that exceed 5cm should incorporate a ramp into their stand design. The access ramp must not exceed the limits of the stand area.
• Stands less than 20sqm with a platform that exceeds 5cm should also provide access to the stand via a ramp, however it is permitted for these stands to use a portable ramp if there is not sufficient space to incorporate within the limits of the stand area.
• Level landings shall be provided at the top and bottom of ramps and any intermediate position where exit doors open on to them.
• The minimum width of the ramp should be 1m.
• In accordance with DB-SUA 1, the ramps will have a maximum slope of 10% when their length is less than 3m, 8% when their length is less than 6m and 6% in all other cases.
• Serving counters should have a low access point no higher than 760mm or a lap tray should be provided for the convenience of disabled person.

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There are strict rules governing what materials can be used to build stands and these will be covered by the venue’s regulations. Exhibitors and contractors must ensure that they are followed. In general, you are not permitted to build your stand with anything that is flammable or non-flame resistant unless it has been treated.

All stand construction and displays must be made from fireproofed materials and installed to the satisfaction of the authorities.

Any goods attached to your stand will constitute part of your stand and will be subject to these regulations.

Timber Used in Stand Construction & Displays

• All timber under 25mm thick must be impregnated (pressure process) to Class 1 Standard. Treated materials will have BS 476 - PART 7 - CLASS 1 marked on them.
• Boards, plywood, chipboard etc must be treated in the same way if they are under 18mm thick. The exception to this is MDF, which is acceptable for use due to its density. MDF and chipboard must not be machined on site, as the dust produced is hazardous to health.

Plastics / Stand Dressing

• All plastics must conform to BS 476 - PART 7 - CLASS 1. Polucarbonate materials such as Lexan and Macralon are acceptable. PERSPEX MUST NOT BE USED.
• Artificial plants and flowers which are combustible and give off toxic fumes must not be used for stand dressing. Silk type flowers are acceptable providing they have been fireproofed to BS 476 PART 7 and are marked as such. Plastic security night-sheets must also conform to the above standard.

Fabrics Used in Displays

• Drapes, curtains, hangings etc. must be inherently or durably flame-proofed. Otherwise they may be treated with a proprietary flame retardant. Test certificates must be available for inspection for any materials intended to be used.
• Fabrics used for interior stand decoration must be fixed taut and/or in tight pleats (not loosely draped) to a solid backing, secured above floor level and not touching light fittings.
• Curtains on exit routes should hang 75mm clear of the floor, be parted in the centre and not conceal any exit signs.

Glazing

• All glazing used in the construction of stands must consist of laminated safety glass with a minimum thickness of 6mm. Areas of glazing within 800mm of floor level and over 0.5m², where the smaller dimension of the pane is greater than 250mm, must conform to the thicknesses shown below:

Nominal Thickness                    Maximum pane size dimensions

8mm                                               1100mm x 1100mm

10mm                                             2250mm x 2250mm

12mm                                             4500mm x 4500mm 

15mm or thicker                           No limits

Combustible waste must be safely disposed of. Please do not store boxes, packaging or large amounts of literature on your stand.

Fire patrols will be present throughout all phases of the event. Firefighting equipment is provided in the halls and fire extinguishers of approved pattern and capacity will be provided.

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Floor loadings - 450kg per point of load, anything beyond this will need to be approved on a case by case basis and therefore please contact the Operations Team.

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As a grade 1 listed building Tobacco Dock requires you to be extra careful when positioning and moving items around the venue. Any stand build done in communal areas must have a protective matting put down in order to protect the York Stone. If you are unsure if you need to do this please contact the Operations Team..

Any damage to the venue floor will be charged back to the exhibitor

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If you plan to have a hazardous substance on your stand please confirm the details in writing to the Organisers so that written approval can be given.

Hazardous substances are not to be brought into the halls unless essential. The use of hazardous substances must be subject to a COSHH assessment. Exhibitors must declare the use or display of hazardous substances as a special risk. 

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Hot working is not permitted at BCB London.

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Pre packaged food is permitted at Tobacco Dock. If you require stand catering please contact Tobacco Dock Food who will be happy to assist you. This means kitchens should not be required on your stand. 

If you have any concerns please contact the Operations Team..

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See the Badges & Passes section for full information on what is permitted this year.

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In the interests of the Exhibition as a whole, it may be necessary to remove or alter anything in - or forming part of - any stand. If we feel this action must be taken this would have to be at the expense of the Exhibitor concerned.

The exhibition floorplan is subject to change at the discretion of the event Organiser. Please contact the organiser to obtain the latest version of the exhibition floorplan.

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There are pillars and coolers within the venue and therefore it is the exhibitors responsibility to check the location and size of these and distance from your stand. Please contact the Operations Team for a detailed stand plot.

The Organiser will take care to indicate the exact dimensions of such elements as accurately as possible on the plans submitted to the Exhibitors, however, the Organiser cannot be held responsible for any slight differences, which may exist between the dimensions indicated and the real dimensions of the site.

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Pop-up stands may not be used to form dividing walls on space only sites. If you are considering a Pop-up stand display, a Shell Scheme Stand must be purchased or dividing walls constructed. For further information, please contact the Sales Team. 

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All Space Only stands with a platform greater than 5cm must include ramp access in order to comply with current accessibility and safety regulations. Access ramps must follow the below regulations; 

• Stands that are 20sqm or over with platforms that exceed 5cm should incorporate a ramp into their stand design. The access rampmust not exceed the limits of the stand area.
• Stands less than 20sqm with a platform that exceeds 5cm should also provide access to the stand via a ramp, however it is permitted for these stands to use a portable ramp if there is not sufficient space to incorporate within the limits of the stand area.
• Level landings shall be provided at the top and bottom of ramps and any intermediate position where exit doors open on to them.
• The minimum width of the ramp should be 1m.
• In accordance with DB-SUA 1, the ramps will have a maximum slope of 10% when their length is less than 3m, 8% when their length is less than 6m and 6% in all other cases.

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All rigging must be done by the venues official rigging supplier.

No custom rigging is permitted at BCB London i.e construction or suspended exhibit.

All rigging is subject to the organisers approval.

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All space only stands, or shell scheme stands with construction are required to submit a full risk assessment and method statement for the design, construction and arrangement of their stand with both documents being submitted along with stand plans.

• Risk Assessment Guidance
  
• Risk Assessment Template
• Method Statement Guidance
• Method Statement Template

For further information please contact the Operations Team.

Exhibitors are also required to have a risk assessment for any stand activities taking place on their stand during show open and may also be required to produce a method statement for certain activites at the Organiser's discretion. These do not need to be submitted to the Organisers unless requested, but a copy of these documents must be available onsite should they be required.

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Signage and graphics are not permitted to overlook other stands where there is a dividing wall. Where illuminated fascia boards are used on stands, the lighting of them must be of sufficient power to light the fascia board only, and must not cause any spill of light onto neighbouring stands. No flashing lights will be permitted. The Organisers reserve the right to disconnect the electrical supply to any illuminated fascia which, in our opinion, is causing a nuisance to any other Exhibitor.

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The back of your stand must be dressed down fully. Due to the nature of Tobacco Dock having clear windows you must dress the back of your stand - or purchase a graphic for the window.

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All reception counters, bars and product displays need to be set back by 0.5m from the edge of the stand to discourage meetings, sampling and queuing in aisles. All conversations, meetings, and stand activities such as sampling should happen within your stand space and not overspill into the aisles. Please click here for updated guidance around ‘sampling areas’ and how these must be factored into your stand layout.

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A stand number panel must be displayed on every open side of the stand to aid visitor navigation. This is the responsibility of the Space Only Stand Exhibitors.

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Vehicles are not permitted inside Tobacco Dock.

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All work must be carried out in compliance with the regulations of the Venue and Local Authority. If an exhibitor erects a stand which does not conform fully and in all respects to the requirements of the organiser, Venue and Local Authorities, the organisers reserve the right to alter, demolish or reconstruct the stand at the exhibitors expense and to make it conform to the regulations and requirements. Local Authority decisions are final.

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In some areas within Tobacco Dock it will not be possible to have water and waste. Please contact our official supplier directly to find out whether this will be possible for your stand.

The filling and draining of water features and exhibits must be carried out by the venue's official contractor for piped services. Fire hoses must not be used for this purpose. Under no circumstances may water be discharged onto the floors, into ducts or any other unauthorised part of the premises, as serious damage may be caused to the electrical mains and services.

Written permission must be obtained from the Organisers and Venue for the use of water in any stand display or exhibit and must be the subject of a separate Risk Assessment detailing how the risk is controlled through water treatment and testing. The approved code of practice "Legionnaires Disease: The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems" must be complied with.

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Exhibitors and contractors have duties under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) to ensure that all tools are fit for purpose and safe to use. All dangerous moving parts such as circular saws must be guarded with controls to prevent unauthorised use. The use of battery powered tools is strongly encouraged to reduce trailing cables and risk of electrical hazards. Power tools are to take power from the 110v centre tapped earths provided and not from cleaner’s sockets which are 240v. Those using mains powered tools must ensure that cables are not trailed across aisles. All portable electrical equipment must be subject to a suitable portable equipment testing regime.

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Working at Height is a high risk activity and close attention will be taken on working practices during the build and dismantling of stands. Where possible working at height should be avoided and if unavoidable should use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur. Working at height is to be in accordance with LOLER and the Working at Heights Regulations. As such, all working at height is subject to risk assessment.

General Guidance:

• All rigging is to be carried out by the official Rigging Contractor.
• All working platforms are to have a guardrail, mid rail and toe board. Tools are to be kept on lanyards so far as is reasonably practicable.
• Static and mobile access working platforms must be fit for purpose (see Working Platforms)
• A Live Edge Working Policy will be enforced for the construction and dismantling phases where live edges are present.
• Separate risk assessments are required for working on a live edge (before rails are in place). In such cases fall arrest equipment must always be used.
• Operatives working at height other than on a static working platform designed for that purpose (e.g. Scaffold) must be clipped on.
• Operatives working at height must have suitable head protection e.g. bump caps.
• Ground access to areas in the vicinity must be controlled to prevent persons accidentally walking directly under high works. Ground workers in the vicinity must not work directly under high works and wear suitable head protection e.g. hard hats.

For further advice on working at height safety, please click here. You can also visit the Stop the Drop website or contact the Operations Team.

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All Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPS) must comply with LOLER and have had a Thorough Inspection (TI) in the previous 6 months. All working platforms are to have a guardrail, mid rail and toe board. Mobile access towers must be correctly constructed. Mobile access towers must be fit for purpose. Outriggers are to be used correctly with the correct height to width ratio (3.5 x shortest base width indoors and 3 x shortest base width outdoors). Mobile access towers may not be moved whilst in use and wheels must be locked off. Ladders must be footed or tied off and used in accordance with Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations. The use of domestic ladders and steps is strictly forbidden. All of the above are a summarised guide. For full details on any particular aspect you must seek professional advice for instance look on the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk or feel free to seek advice from the Operations Team.

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