There are strict venue rules governing what materials can be used to build stands which all Exhibitors and Contractors must adhere to. Flammable or non-flame-resistant materials cannot be used unless these have been treated. For stand construction etc. only non-flammable materials or the materials listed in sections 1 to 8 below, may be used provided these satisfy the Netherlands or European standards and regulations. Material test certificates and the required characteristics must be supplied upon request. Certain materials are extremely dangerous due to their flammability and as such their use is prohibited. The specification of materials is quite explicit as to their classification and usage. Any materials used shall not contribute to the production of large volumes of smoke.
Onsite, the RAI Amsterdam Health & Safety Manager will check that all stands have used permissible stand building materials. If necessary, the Health & Safety Manager will require the stand builder to provide a sample of the material for testing. This is to make sure that the material meets the fire regulations as stated in NEN 6065 Class I or I and BS EN 13501. If you would like to check if your stand building material meets the below regulations, please have your stand builder contact the RAI Amsterdam Health & Safety department on safety@rai.nl.
1. SOFTBOARD/FABRICS AND DECORATIVE MATERIALS
All surfaces must be coated with an approved fire-retardant paint or enamel or must have been flame-proofed by the manufacturer with each sheet clearly marked as such. Material samples or documentary evidence shall be presented upon request. Materials may be tested onsite to ensure compliance. Untreated wallpaper and similar thin surface finishes, not exceeding 1mm thickness, may be accepted provided they are firmly fixed with an approved adhesive to a flame-proofed surface. Artificial plants and flowers are combustible and give off toxic fumes and must not be used for stand dressing. Silk type flowers are acceptable providing they have been fireproofed and are marked as such or provided with supporting documentation. Netherlands NEN 6065 Class I or II or European Standards BS EN 13501.
2. HARDBOARD, PLYWOOD, MULTI-PLY, CHIP BOARD
These materials should be at least 3.5 mm thick and be flame-proofed as stipulated in Netherlands NEN 6065 Class I or II or European Standards BS EN 13501. The exception to this is MDF, which is acceptable for use due to its density.
3. GLASS
All glazing must comply with the European Standards BS EN 12600. For outer walls and partitions - only safety glass or reinforced glass with embedded cross-wire reinforcement, laminated, toughened or otherwise protected from shattering shall be permitted. Documentary evidence or labelling is required. All glass walls or partitions to have logos or graphics on them - any uninterrupted large areas of clear glazing, especially glazed doors, shall be indicated so as to be readily apparent (e.g. by warning stripes, dots or logos) to ensure that people do not injure themselves by inadvertently walking into the glass.
4. PAINT AND SURFACE TREATMENTS
Only water-based paints may be used on site. Nitrocellulose based paints are prohibited. Protective measures must be taken to ensure that no paint is spilt or sprayed on to the fabric of the building. Fabrics and materials treated with fire resistant solutions should not be over painted with water-based paints.
5. TEXTILES USED VERTICALLY (HANGING FREE)
Non-flammable fabric - care should be taken that a fabric has not been made inflammable as a result of treatment for special purposes. Flammable fabric - the fabric must be made as fire- proof as possible by flame-proofing or by gluing it to a base of non-flammable material or to one of the materials mentioned in paragraphs 1 to 3. In-flammability must be demonstrated when tested. Should either fabric come into contact with fire or high temperatures, it must not give off irritating or noxious gases or fumes, nor may it drip or melt.
6. TEXTILES USED HORIZONTALLY (VELLUM)
Non-flammable natural and man-made fibres must be braced by metal wires at intervals of 350mm or by cross-wires with a mesh size of 700mm. In contact with fire or at high temperatures, the fabric may not give off irritating or noxious gases or fumes, nor may it drip or melt. Flammable natural fibre must be flame-proofed and braced by metal wires as described above.
7. BALES OF STRAW, CARDBOARD, RUSH AND STRAW MATS
Material must be made as near fire-proof as possible by being immersed for at least 24 hours in a fire-retardant medium and must be able to pass an on-the-spot test.
8. SYNTHETICS / PLASTICS
Plastics must conform to the requirements of Netherlands NEN 6065 Class I or Class II or European Standards BS EN 13501. Plastic plants, trees, floating decorations etc. must also conform to this standard.
Film and foil (with or without textile backing) must be affixed to a base of non-flammable material or to one of the materials listed under numbers 1 to 3 above, in order to render it as near fire-proof as possible. On contact with fire or at high temperatures the material should not give off irritating or noxious gases or fumes, nor should it drip or melt and it must be able to pass an on-the-spot test to this effect. Sheeting must be made as near fire-proof as possible; on contact with fire, or at high temperatures, the material should not give off irritating or noxious gases or fumes nor should it drip or melt. For Foam Plastic and Rubber (e.g. for lettering), the same rules apply as for sheeting unless there is no more than 2 cu. dm. (cubic decimetres) per m2 of stand surface area.
9. WALLPAPER, CREPE PAPER, PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER
The paper must be entirely glued to a base of non-flammable material or to one of the materials listed in numbers 1 to 3 above or have been fireproofed.
10. INFLAMMABLE DRINKING CUPS
These are permitted provided there are sufficient flame-dousing metal litter bins available; these bins must be regularly emptied outside the building.
11. LIGHTING (for specific guidelines on electrics and electrical equipment, see Electrical Safety)
Ornamental fittings with light bulbs are permitted if:
- they are made of non-flammable material or of a near fire-proof synthetic which does not start to drip when heated and if the brackets are of a type generally available.
- the installation is stable and the source of light is placed at a distance of at least 150mm from any inflammable material, or the reflected rays cannot fall on inflammable material within a 300mm radius of the reflector
Fluorescent tube fittings (plastic) are permitted if:
- the light aperture is made of a self-extinguishing material which, in case of combustion, does not give off irritating or noxious fumes and is of a type generally available
- the distance between fittings and the outer walls of the stand is at least 500mm
- the total surface of a number of inter-connected fittings is no greater than 3.5m2; the distance between two such groups of fittings is at least 1m
- the material used to hang the fittings is metal or at least wood with a thickness of 10mm
Neon Appliances:
Neon appliances and equipment must meet the provisions of articles 211.3/274.5.3 and 773 of NEN 1010 (Netherlands Standard).
Notwithstanding the above, the following regulations apply to the connections and/or switches:
- Maximum of two neon appliances (which must meet the provisions of NEN 1010, art 773 par. 3.2) may be connected by way of a plug, which must be within reach.
- Where several neon appliances are mounted alongside one another, they must be fitted with one (1) central fire emergency switch.
- Neon appliances and equipment which are difficult to reach or are part of the stand construction must be fitted with a fire emergency switch.
- Neon appliances and equipment which do not meet the requirements of art. 773 par 3.2 of NEN 1010, must always be fitted with a fire emergency switch.
12. FITTED FLOOR COVERINGS
Fitted carpets, matting, crumb cloths and other textiles floor coverings and under-lays must comply with the standards below supported by documentary evidence or labelling. Floor coverings shall be secured and maintained so that they will not cause a hazard. Mats shall be sunk, so they are flush with the floor of the stand. Fixing of floor coverings may only be done with the industry standard tape. Other forms of fixing such as cable clips, nails and bolts are strictly prohibited. The exhibitor will incur a charge for any tape not removed by the end of the show tenancy, or damage caused to the hall floor. Fitted carpets, mats and other textile floor coverings and underlays must be supported by documentary evidence or labelling according to Netherlands Standard 1775 or European Standards BS EN 13501.
FLAMEPROOFING OF STAND MATERIALS
Exhibitors may be required to have stand materials flame-proofed on the spot. In such cases, exhibitors or their contractor should contact Bolderdijk Brandpreventie (+31 (0) 20 549 13 13). During build-up Bolderdijk Brandpreventie staff will generally be present in the building.
COMBUSTIBLE WASTE
Combustible waste must be safely disposed of, and boxes and packaging must not be stored on the stand. It is prohibited to put chemical waste in refuse bags or containers. Please contact RAI Exhibitor Services if you have any chemical waste. Waste containers can be ordered via the RAI Webshop.
CHEMICAL WASTE
It is strictly prohibited to put chemical waste in refuse bags or containers. Please contact RAI Exhibitor Services if you have any chemical waste.