Booth Descriptions and Regulations
Booth height and configuration limitations vary according to the size and location of the exhibit space rented. If you have questions regarding these regulations and restrictions, please contact Amy Reddington at 508-663-1500 x247, wfxservices@ehpub.com.
General Regulations
- For safety reasons, all booths must be completely carpeted or floored at the exhibitor's expense, with no concrete visible.
- Booth displays and equipment shall not extend into the aisles. This includes all signs, banners, lighting, etc. Fire Marshal regulations prohibit demonstrations to be held in the aisles. Refer to the booth regulations in this section for design restrictions.
- Booth personnel (exhibitors), including models, hostesses, and any other hired help are not allowed to distribute promotional materials of any kind outside of their contracted exhibit space, unless previously arranged through WFX Event Marketing.
- All exhibitors must also abide by the regulations of the Dallas Convention Center which can be found at http://www.cobbgalleria.com/PDF/Guidelines2009.pdf.
- All food and beverage is provided exclusively by Centerplate. Please contact Louise Larby-Johnson for additional information regarding these services at 214-743-2405 or email her at louise.larbyjohnson@centerplate.com. Also, see the order form located with the Service Order Forms.
- Booth displays must be fully constructed and occupied by Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 10 AM
Island Booth
Definition: An island booth has all four sides exposed to aisles.
Booth Approval: All 20’x20’ booths and larger must submit a booth approval form with drawings indicating structure heights and dimensions. See Booth Variance Approval Form.
Booth Design: There is no 8 foot draping provided for island booths. Walls may be installed in any portion of the booth. Walls must be finished on both sides so as not to be unsightly to neighboring exhibitors and attendees. Covered booths are permitted; however, you must notify WFX Show Management in advance and you must adhere to all Dallas Convention Center Rules and Regulations (see following pages for details). The entire cubic content of the space may be used up to the maximum allowable height of 20’. We recommend that you design your booth to allow for a 3 foot clearance from the aisle to accommodate interaction with products. See Booth Approval Form.
Hanging Signs/Structures: Are permitted over any island booth 20’x20’ or larger, provided it is not objectionable and there are no physical constraints in the facility restricting the hanging of the sign. All hanging signs must be set back 10’ from the adjacent booths. The maximum height to hang a banner from floor to ceiling is 20’H”. There must be a 3’ clearance between the bottom of any hanging signs and the top of any booth structure.
Peninsula Booth
Definition: A peninsula booth is any exhibit 20' x 20' or larger with a depth from the common back wall to the aisle of at least 20' and with aisles on three sides.
Booth Approval: All 20’x20’ booths and larger must submit a booth approval form with drawings indicating structure heights and dimensions. See Booth Approval Form.
Booth Design: We recommend that you design your booth to allow for a 3 foot clearance from the aisle to accommodate interaction with products. There is no 8 foot draping provided for peninsula booths. For all peninsula booths, the exterior of the shared back wall must be plainly finished and may not contain booth identification, logos or advertisements. Walls may be installed in any portion of the booth; however, walls must be finished on both sides so as not to be unsightly to neighboring exhibitors and attendees. Covered booths are permitted; however, you must notify WFX Show Management for approval in advance and you must adhere to all Dallas Convention Center Rules and Regulations. For a peninsula booth backed by a row of standard/linear booths, the back wall may be no higher than 4’ for a distance of 3' from either side aisle and 20' high in the center of the back wall. These height restrictions must be maintained for a distance of 10' from the back wall. Where two (2) peninsula booths share a common back wall with no linear booths in between (also referred to as a"Split Island"), the maximum height may be 20' in all areas of the booth, including the entire back wall.
Hanging Signs/Structures: Are permitted over any peninsula booth 20 feet by 20 feet or larger, provided it is not objectionable and there are no physical constraints in the facility restricting the hanging of the sign. All hanging signs must be set back 10’ from the adjacent booths. The maximum height to hang a banner from floor to ceiling is 20’H”. There must be a 3’ clearance between the bottom of any hanging signs and the top of any booth structure. Show management written approval must be obtained for all hanging banners. See Hanging Sign Approval Form.
Linear Booth
Definition: One or more standard booths (10x10) in a straight line. (8' high back drape is included) All linear booths have a maximum dimension of 10 feet in depth and a minimum of 10 feet in length.
Booth Approval: Show management written approval must be obtained for all structures over 8 feet high. This applies to all displays including light-blocking canopies.
Displays & Side Panels: All side panels and displays higher than 4 feet shall not extend more than 7 feet from the back wall. The remaining 3 feet of your side panel or display shall not be higher than 4 feet. This is to ensure that the line of sight into your linear booth is not obstructed by your neighbor. In addition, all signs and graphics over 8' high and placed within 3 feet from the back wall of your booth, must not display logos or any corporate signage on their back side. This is to ensure that the exhibitor who shares your backwall does not have their company logo positioned directly over the back of your booth.
Height: No structure (including fixutres and signs) shall be higher than 10 feet in linear booths or 12' if your booth is against a facility wall. These apply to all displays including light-blocking canopies.
Hanging Signs/Structures: Are permitted in linear booths 200 square feet or larger. Their maximum height is 2 feet, and their maximum width is 30% of the total length of the booth. i.e. a 10x30 booth's maximum banner size is 2'x10', and a 10x20's maximum banner size is 2'x 6.5'. All hanging banners over linear booths will be hung over the center of their booth, 16' from the floor to the top of the banner. Show management written approval must be obtained for all hanging banners. See Hanging Sign Approval Form.
Towers, Covered Booths and Multi-Story Booths
Towers: A Tower is a freestanding exhibit component separate from the main exhibit fixture. The height restriction is the same as that wich applies to the appropriate exhibit configuration being used. Towers in excess of eight feet (8’) should have drawings available for inspection. Fire and safety regulations strictly govern the use of towers. A building permit may be required.
Canopies and Ceilings: Canopies, including ceilings, umbrellas, and canopy frames, can be either decorative or funtional (such as to shade computer monitors from ambient light or for hanging products. Canopies for Linear Booths should comply with line of sight requirements (see “Linear Booth” on previous page). The base of the Canopy should not be lower than seven feet (7’) from the floor within three feet (3’) of any aisle. Canopy supports should be no wider than three inches (3”). This applies to any booth configuration that has a sightline restriction, such as a Linear Booth. Fire and saftey regulations strictly govern the use of canopies, ceilings, and other similar coverings. Please contact Amy Reddington (508-663-1500 x247, wfxservices@ehpub.com), for approval of your canopy or ceiling.
Multi-Story Exhibit: A multi-story exhibit is a booth where the dispay fixtures exceed twelve feet (12’), including double-decker and triple- decker booths. A multi-storied exhibitor requires prior approval by the exhibit facility and/or relevant local government agency because it is deemed to be a “structure” for building purposes. The city building department must issue a building permit based on an application and drawings prepared and submitted by a licensed achitect or engineer. Exhibitors should obtain local building regulations early on to ensure that all time constraints are met.
Structural Integrity: All exhibit displays should be designed and erected in a manner that will withstand normal contact or vibration caused by neighboring exhibitors, hall laborers, or installation/ dimantling equipment such as fork lifts. Displays should also be able to withstand moderate wind effects that may occur in the exhibit hall when freight doors are open. Refer to local building codes that regulate temporary structures. Exhibitors should ensure that any display fixtures such as tables, racks, or shelves are designed and installed properly to support the product or marketing materials to be displayed upon them.
Please be sure to also read the Dallas Convention Center Rules and Regulations!
Flammable and Toxic Materials
All materials used in display construction or decorating should be made of fire retardant materials and certified as flame retardant. Samples should also be available for testing. Materials that cannot be treated to meet the requirements should not be used. A flameproofing certificate should be available for inspection. Exhibitors should dispose of any waste products they generate during the exhibition in accordance with guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the facility.
Lighting
- Exhibitors must adhere to the following suggested minimum guidelines when determining booth lighting:
- No lighting fixtures or lighting trusses are allowed outside the boundaries of your exhibit space. Exhibitors intending to use hanginglight systems should submit drawings to Show Management for approval.
- Lighting should not project onto other exhibits.
- Upon Show Management approval, generic lighting or WFX Logos may be displayed on ceilings or exhibit hall walls to display your product.
- Specific Company logos or branding outside your both space is not permitted at any time.
- Lighting which is potentially harmful, such as lasers or ultraviolet lighting, should comply with facility rules and be approved in writing by Show Management.
- Lighting that spins, rotates, pulsates and other specialized lighting effects should be in good taste and not interfere with neighboring exhibitors or otherwise detract from the general atmosphere of the event.
- Lighting should be directed to the inner confines of the booth space. Lighting should not project onto other exhibits, walls, ceiling or show aisles.
Sound / Music
In general, exhibitors may use sound equipment in their booths so long as the noise level does not disrupt the activities of neighboring exhibitors. Speakers and other sound devices should be positioned so as to direct sound into the booth rather than into the aisle. Exhibitors who disregard this regulation will be required to cease sound demonstrations. If show management needs to ask more than three times to lower the volume of your demonstration, power may be cut to your booth.
Exhibitors should be aware that music played in their booths, whether live or recorded, may be subject to laws governing the use of copyrighted compositions. ASCAP, BMI and SESAC are three authorized licensing organizations that collect copyright fees on behalf of composers and publishers of music. Per your exhibit space contract, each exhibitor is responsible for obtaining appropriate licenses for music played in their booth.
Vehicles
Vehicles are allowed on the exhibit hall floor. A vehicle can be defined as “a conveyance moving on wheels, runners, tracks, or the like, as a cart, sled, automobile, or tractor.” Show Management requires an approval form be submitted with a diagram of placement in the exhibitor’s booth. Please refer to the pages in this section for restrictions regarding the Dallas Convention Center Rules and Regulations and Vehicle Display.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
All exhibiting companies are required to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are encouraged to be sensitive, and as reasonably accomodating as possible, to attendees wtih disabilities. Information regarding ADA compliance is available from the U.S. Department of Justice ADA Information Line (800-514-0301) and from website www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/infoline.htm.
