UK Exhibition Stand Regulations: What To Expect

Imagine you’ve finally got your exhibition stand proposal ready after hours of hard work on the design. You submit your proposal and go about your day, content and mentally ready to seize the day when the exhibition hall doors open in a few weeks’ time. Then, you open your emails and your world comes crashing down: your proposal was rejected for not complying with the event’s exhibition stand regulations.

We all like to think this could never happen to us, but a small lapse in focus is all it takes to run afoul of exhibition stand regulations for your UK event. From height restrictions and safety-compliant materials to specific paint allocations, you’d be surprised how easy it is to get caught out. That the UK doesn’t have the same regulatory booth framework as the United States adds to the complexity and increases your chances of getting it wrong.

With years of experience in UK exhibition stand design, we at Booth Exhibits™ are determined to keep you and your stand on the right side of the rules. In this article, we’ll explore what exhibition stand regulations are and how the UK regulations situation differs from that of the US.

What Are Exhibition Stand Regulations?

Exhibition Stand Regulations are a set of rules that regulate what you can and can’t do when designing your exhibition stand for a trade show. They are usually presented in a single document, and cover several dimensions you need to consider when designing your exhibition stand.

Safety Regulations

Safety regulations for exhibition stands contain all the relevant protocols to keep your booth compliant with existing safety legislation and maintain a high level of exhibitor health and safety. Remember that it is the exhibitor’s responsibility to keep your staff and other exhibitors safe by complying with relevant safety standards during booth construction.

Some common stand design safety regulations you can expect to find in the world of B2B trade shows include:

• Use flame-proof and non-toxic construction materials
• Take precautions to protect exposed edges.
• Store electrical equipment safely when not in use.
• Secure all electrical cables and cords.
• Clear potential tripping hazards.
• Overhead glazing elements should be made out of wired or laminated glass
• Comply with all other health regulations as per British standards.

Sizing Regulations

Exhibitions and trade shows take place across a variety of venues around the country; a few are quite small, while others like the NEC Birmingham are huge. Each venue hall has a specific size and capacity, making it a real challenge for organisers to assemble exhibitors and visitors together. If every exhibitor chooses to build their stand as big as possible, there won’t be enough space left for people to walk around freely. Hence the need for sizing restrictions on your stand and stand space, which can cover height, width, and length.

An exhibition stand builder needs access to the sizing restrictions before they begin designing your trade show masterpiece. Remember that while smaller stands are cheaper to build, they can still win you big business!

Construction Regulations

There are also a variety of construction regulations you can expect to encounter when exhibiting at a trade show. These are put in place to protect workers assembling your stand and the other exhibitors around you. Some of the common construction regulations are:

• Ensure all staff wear personal protective equipment during stand build-up and disassembly.
• Install your stand outside of exhibition hours only.
• Perform electrical installations safely.
• Construction tools and other such equipment should be removed for the exhibition period.
• Dismantle your stand only when the exhibition period is over.
• Submit your stand drawings on time and ensure they comply with the organiser’s standards.
• Restrict or remove any flashing lights as per the organisers’ directions.
• Do not attach anything to, nor suspend anything from, the venue roof without permission.

How Do UK Expo Stand Regulations Differ From The US?

In the US, minimum exhibition stand requirements are regulated according to the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE); these apply to almost all US exhibitions, from Florida to California. The regulations clarify what types of exhibition stands can be displayed, along with the basic safety, construction, and sizing regulations exhibitor’s stands must abide by.

Unlike the US, exhibitions in the UK still tend to set their own individual stand regulations, so it becomes the exhibitor’s responsibility to ensure your booth meets the requirements. You can often find these on the event’s website or contact the organisers to get a rundown.

Navigate UK Trade Show Stand Regulations With Booth Exhibits™

Exhibition stand construction in the UK can be a headache with different regulations for each show, but we’re here to simplify that for you. As an experienced London exhibition stand builder operating throughout the country, we guarantee that your stand will comply with all requirements and stuns attendees on your special exhibition day.