Hall height and rigging permission differences

8 stand types

rigging rules can narrow the choice of type

Stand types

1–10 days

build time; rigging happens in its first hours

Stand types

Two separate rules

Height and rigging look similar but are two separate rules. The height limit governs how high the stand’s own structure may go and usually depends on the plot type, often lower for in-line stands and higher for islands. Rigging permission concerns elements carried from the roof and runs through an entirely separate application.

At some venues going above a stated level needs additional approval; at others, extra rules apply to the treatment of surfaces facing a neighbour. All of these distinctions are defined in the technical manual.

The effect on the design is large. A tall fascia or a hanging sign makes the stand visible from far down the aisle; without that option, visibility is built with horizontal surfaces and lighting instead. We describe the difference on the stand types page. Both rules have to be confirmed again for every fair. Having rigged at the same venue last edition does not mean you can this time; the hall may have changed, the roof may be under maintenance, or the rule may have been revised. Last year’s practice is a reminder, not a reference.

The application

The rigging application usually runs separately from the stand approval file and closes earlier. The information required is similar: weight, dimensions, the number and position of fixing points, structural calculations and who will install it. Weight is the figure that moves most during design, so it is fixed before the application goes in.

Installation is carried out by the approved supplier at most venues and charged by the hour. It is a line in both the budget and the build schedule: rigging normally happens in the first hours, before any other structure rises in the hall.

If the application is refused, the alternative has to be ready. That is why a free-standing version of the hanging element is drawn alongside it at the design stage. The application has a budget side too. Rigging is charged on the number of fixing points and the weight, so every point added in the design shows up in that line. Choosing lighter material and reducing the number of points lowers the cost noticeably without weakening the visual effect.

Visibility without rigging

In a hall where rigging is not possible, visibility does not disappear; it moves. The first tool is height: a structure taken up to the permitted level, a free-standing sign or a tower creates a similar effect. The second is lighting; a well-lit surface reads from a distance in a dim hall.

The third is the floor. A coloured or textured platform draws the boundary of the stand and defines the space even when the visitor is looking down.

The fourth is typography. Text meant to be read from a distance has to be short, heavy and contrasted; a long sentence squeezed onto a hanging sign does less work than one short word at standing height. The visibility decision comes out of all four together. They need not all be used; doing two of them well beats doing four of them adequately. Choose according to the character of the hall: in a dark, tall hall lighting carries the stand, while in a bright, low one the floor and the colour do more of the work.

Who submits the rigging application?

Usually the stand contractor, on the exhibitor’s behalf. Installation is left to the approved supplier at most venues.

Is the height limit the same on every plot?

No. It can vary with plot type, hall and neighbouring stands. Confirm it from the manual for that show.