Rules & Regulations

Access to Safety Equipment and Signage

• Exit door lighting, fire signage and safety equipment signs must not be obstructed unless permission has been given by the Organiser and alternative arrangements made.
• Stands must be set out in such a way that they do not interfere with access to any firefighting devices.
• If firefighting devices are located inside the stand perimeter, they must always remain visible and accessible.
• Venue firefighting equipment, including fire alarm buttons, fire hoses and fire extinguishers, must remain fully visible and immediately accessible at all times.
• Firefighting equipment must not be concealed behind custom-built cupboards, doors or other stand construction.
• In exceptional circumstances only, the Organisers may permit a cupboard or access door to be installed in front of firefighting equipment. An exception must not be assumed, and the stand design must not rely on an exception being granted.
• Where an exception is permitted, all the following conditions apply:
  • The firefighting equipment must remain immediately and easily accessible.
  • The cupboard or access door must open easily and must not be fitted with a lock or require a key, tool or special action to open.
  • Access to fire hoses must allow the existing glass door to open fully and the hose to be withdrawn from its cabinet without obstruction.
  • The location and type of firefighting equipment must be clearly identified using the applicable standardised safety signage.
  • The signage must remain clearly visible at all times.
  • The installation must not obstruct or interfere with the operation of any firefighting equipment.

Please note, these regulations apply for all periods, build-up, event days and dismantling.

Please click here to view the Pillars and Wall Services section for further information.

Capacity of Exits

• The number, capacity and distribution of exits must be sufficient to allow visitors safe access and egress to ensure effective means of escape in the event of an emergency.
• The exits must always be kept available and unobstructed and should generally be arranged so that there are alternative escape routes from any point within the event.
• The capacity of exits is subject to the specifications under Spanish build regulations CTE (Código Técnico de la Edificación). Please click here to view the Spanish CTE (Código Técnico de la Edificación).

Emergency Exit Doors

All Emergency Exit Doors must comply with the following:

• Doors must be non-lockable, for example with a anti panic push bar.
• Doors must have a system of easy and fast opening accessibility, on the side from which an evacuation would occur.
• Doors must open in the direction of the evacuation.
• Doors cannot invade hall aisles.

Escape Routes

Stands over 150m2 require minimum two emergency exits on opposite sides of the stand on the ground level.

Escape routes within a stand perimeter must comply with the following lengths and widths:

• Stands up to 100m2: 1m width minimum.
• Stands over 100m2: 1.5m width minimum.
• The maximum length of an escape route on a stand is 15m until an open area is reached.
• Should the escape route be longer than 15m a 2m width minimum or an alternative escape route must be created, leading to the opposite side of the stand.
• If the above cannot be achieved due to the large size of the stand, the stand should be designed in such way to ensure the shortest possible escape route. All layouts must be checked individually by the stand plan inspection agencies and are subject to onsite inspection. Please read through the Stand Plan Submission section for further information.

All emergency signs must be visible and always illuminated. As standard practice Exhibitors should review the area where the emergency sign is situated in order to decide if the sign can be photoluminescent or if additional lights must be installed. For example:

Photoluminescent

A sign which is automatically charged by surrounding lights, hall lights or a strong source of natural light. Sufficient ambient lighting needs to be available to charge the sign.

Illuminated

If a sign is located in a theatre, sufficient light to charge a photoluminescent charge will not be present, therefore attendees will not be able to see a photoluminescent sign.

Areas which do not provide additional lights to charge a photoluminescent sign must use an illuminated sign. Spanish regulations state that all signs must always be visible even when there is a blackout.

Please read through the Stand Plan Submission section for stands over 500m2.