How do I choose the right event flooring?

The priorities when choosing event flooring depend on the venue and the way the event will run. First establish whether it will take place at an indoor event venue, such as a hall or function room, in a marquee or outdoors. Then define how the event space will be used. A standing audience, dancing and catering impose different demands, while stages and trusses concentrate loads on small areas.

Fire performance is governed by the approvals and conditions for the individual event. Floor coverings in corridors and foyers used as escape routes must achieve at least Class Cfl-s1. In stair enclosures forming part of an escape route, they must achieve Class A1fl or A2fl. Those classifications apply to the main event area only when the relevant conditions require them. For a marquee, the required fire class for the marquee floor is given in the approval documentation for the temporary structure. At an exhibition, it is set out in the organiser's technical regulations.

Slip resistance must remain sufficient when the event floor is wet. Rain and spilled drinks are part of normal event use, so the chosen event tiles should allow water to seep vertically through them instead of collecting on the event area. Positional stability matters just as much. The laid event surface must not move, either wholly or in sections, while it is in use. Perimeter details and entrance transitions should be formed without trip points and must not reduce the prescribed width of any escape route.

Furniture and stage equipment add to the loads created by the audience. Poseur tables, chairs and bar counters transfer their weight through small contact points. The compressive strength data indicate how the event tiles respond to these point loads. Legs beneath stages, stage decks and trusses require load distribution plates, together with a substrate capable of carrying the resulting load. An elastic event floor is not a substitute for a load-bearing foundation. Walking comfort is another practical consideration for event staff and guests who remain on their feet for hours. Resilient event flooring deflects slightly with each step and can reduce fatigue during prolonged standing.

Once the event has ended, the occupied event space should be returned in the condition in which it was received. A loose-laid event floor can be lifted without leaving adhesive residue or screw holes in the substrate. The degree of protection afforded to the substrate depends on its condition and construction. Hardstanding and existing hall floors are usually straightforward in this respect. On grass, the permitted occupation period remains limited because the turf receives no light beneath the event flooring.