Stand types & guidelines for stands

To help inform exhibitors on the various stand types that are common, this annex sums up the general types of stands with their specific features in RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre and access guidelines to make a stand accessible for visitors with a disability.

Stand type

• Island stands
  

  Island stands are open to gangways on all sides. They must be designed in such a way as to minimise any obstruction of the view of other stands and of the exhibition as a whole. The maximum construction height is 275 cm, and no walls may be erected on the building line. Any requests for exemption should be submitted together with the stand design. Island stands may have ceilings. Free-hanging ceilings (i.e. ceilings suspended entirely from the roof of the building) are permitted after the approval has been obtained of the relevant RAI department and the RAI’s designated supplier which must attach the suspension wires (see also the Rigging Manual, Annex 3).

  All exhibition halls are fitted with air-conditioning to improve climate control in the summer. The cooled air is blown into the hall at a high level by jet flows (the rings at the top of the inlet pipes) and then drifts downwards evenly distributed across the area of the hall. This may mean that the cooling does not function optimally in stands fitted with a ceiling.

• Open stands
  

  Open stands (without walls) are only to be found at certain exhibitions (see the conditions of participation in the event concerned).

• End stands
  

  End stands are open to gangways on three sides. Such stands should have a back wall. Maximum construction height, including wooden platform: 275 cm.

• Corner stands
  

  Corner stands are open to gangways on two sides. They should have a back wall and one side wall. Maximum construction height, including wooden platform: 275 cm.

• Wall stands
  

  Wall stands have one side open to a gangway. They must have a back wall and side walls. Maximum construction height, including wooden platform: 275 cm.

• Stands under the balconies of Hall 1
  

  The height of the walls of stands under the balconies beside the staircases may not exceed 275 cm, as ventilation grilles are located above this height. When the balconies in Hall 1 are in use, the upper side of the stand ceilings in this hall must also be finished to a proper standard.

• Stands on the balconies
  

  The guidelines for end, corner and walls stands also apply to stands on the balconies in Hall 1. In order to maintain the view across the exhibition, walls (including back walls) may not be placed against the railings (height of 90 cm), unless otherwise stated by the Hirer/Organiser of the event.

• Stands in the Passage and the walkway to Hall 8
  

  The maximum height of walls of stands in the Passage is 200 cm and of stands in the walkway leading to Hall 8 is either 275 cm or 245 cm (further information can be obtained from the Event Management Department through eventmanagement@rai.nl). No water or compressed air connections can be provided at these stands.

• Two-wall stands
  

  Two-wall stands may have only side walls. Maximum construction height, including wooden platform: 275 cm.

Stand guidelines

Stand guidelines to improve accessibility for people with a disability.

Stand floors, which are higher than 10cm are not access-friendly to visitors with a disability. To enhance the accessibility to stands for persons with a disability, such as people in a wheelchair or with a walker, people who have difficulty walking or people who are blind or partially sighted, the following guidelines have been developed for stand floors, which are at the same level of aisles:

• raised stand floors should have an outer edge/trim in a matte colour which contrasts with the colour of the aisle and any ramp.;
• should the height of the stand floor be less than 5 cm from the aisle, a sloped edge of at least one metre wide will suffice for wheelchairs and walkers. The sloped edge should be realised in a matte colour that contrasts with the other floor edges;
• stand floors with a height difference of 20cm from the aisle require a ramp of at least one metre wide for visitors with a disability.
  • height up to 10 cm: at least 1x1 m;
  • height up to 20 cm: at least 1x2 m.
• if a stand floor has a height difference of more than 22 cm all main entrance locations require stairs. It is desirable to mark the first and last stair tread with a contrasting line or contrasting dots (diameter approx. 50 mm);
• a handrail for ramps is not required if the stand floor is less than 20cm higher than the aisle. If a rail is placed, it should be situated at a height of 80-100cm from the ramp and follow the angle of the ramp. The rail has to be ergonomically practical (round or oval) and preferably have a light matte colour that contrasts with dark backdrops. The rail end should not be floating, and single rails should be installed on the wall side;
• the edges around a ramp should not have any sharp sides. Floor connections should have a smooth transition (no high thresholds). If a ramp is placed in the corner of a stand, a protection strip (raised edge) of around 4 cm should be placed in the longitudinal direction;
• floor heights over 60cm are seen as a platform and requires a licence.

MTj/270818