- For health and safety reasons the ceilings of the balcony suites are not allowed to be completely covered and must allow adequate ventilation - see Ceiling Coverage Rules & Regulations below.
- No sliding doors unless there is a second door, this can be either an entry door or an emergency exit door.
- Exhibitors are generally permitted to build to 2.5 metres. An exception may be granted for exhibitors to build to 3 metres maximum (please liaise with your IBC Account Manager for approval).
- Floor criteria is the same as on the show floor, 100mm maximum over 40mm a disabled ramp facility is required. This can be a temporary ramp facility which will be checked onsite.
- All power must be ordered via the RAI Webshop. There will be an early bird rate for electricity orders received before 11 August.
- Internet must be ordered via the RAI Webshop. There will be an early bird rate for internet orders received before 11 August. The final internet ordering deadline is 19 August.
IMPORTANT: Fire shutters located within the Balcony Suites must be easily accessible at all times to ensure any incidents are isolated. Please note that these will be closed nightly during the exhibition and build.
STAND PLAN SUBMISSION - SPACE ONLY BALCONY SUITES
ALL Space Only Balcony Suite exhibitors will need to send their design plans for approval to our appointed Stand Plan Inspection agency Abraxys via the Stand Plan Submission form by 24 June to obtain 'Permission to Build’ certificate. The Stand Plan Inspection (SPI) fee of GBP 175 (+ 20% VAT) will apply. For late stand plan submissions after 24 June, the SPI fee will increase to GBP 300 (+20% VAT). ALL Bespoke Balcony Suite designs, including straight repeat designs from previous years, will incur an inspection fee. Payment of the SPI fee can be made via the secure Abraxys retail site in either GBP or EUR:
Abraxys Ltd
Tel: +44 20 8747 2045
Email: ibc@abraxys.com
EARLY ACCESS - SPACE ONLY BALCONY SUITES
All Balcony Suite Exhibitors requiring extra build-up days prior to Wednesday 7 September, are allowed to move into the Balcony Suites at 08:00 on required days at a charge of £15 + VAT per square metre of rented space, per day. Early access must be requested via the Early Access for Build-up - Balcony Suites form which must be submitted by 29 July to allow IBC to plan the Balcony Suite build-up schedule accordingly. Please ensure to include the number of days (and dates) required prior to Wednesday 8 September. If this is not included, we will presume you only require one extra build-up day of Tuesday 6 September. There are significant advantages in applying for early access as unloading is easier and more efficient.
CEILING COVERAGE RULES & REGULATIONS
In order to ensure a quick response in a state of emergency the smoke and fire alarms in the venue ceiling need to function and be accessible. Balcony and Meeting Suite ceilings are not permitted to be completely covered and must allow adequate ventilation.
There are three options / ways there can be ceilings:
- A full ceiling in textile material, i.e. Muslin which must include a central gap in the ceiling of at least 50cm x 50cm
- A full solid ceiling, must have after every 1m a gap of 2cm
- A full solid celling of ceiling tiles. Every third tile must be a vent style tile with a 5mm gap throughout the tile.
In order for the venue to quickly identify possible fire or smoke emission, it is important that balcony and meeting suite ceilings allow smoke through easily so that there is no, or a very short, delay in smoke reaching the smoke detector. To ensure stand-construction meets health and safety guidelines, it is necessary that, when using a fabric ceiling, the stand builder presents the fabric to the RAI Amsterdam fire prevention officer, to check the density of the fabric. Please liaise with our stand plan approval company, Abraxys in order to send materials to the RAI Amsterdam first officer.
When using a ceiling with a hard type of material i.e. hard-board or panels, the ceiling needs to have some openings and must allow adequate ventilation. Depending on the size of the suite and the ceiling, the permeability of the fabric is important and how the fabric is woven. There needs to be 10% - 15% open ceiling. This can be through slots or round holes on the ceiling panels. Abraxys and the RAI Amsterdam fire prevention officer will help review your stand plans and approve the construction of the ceiling.
