What flooring is suitable for an exhibition stand?
The choice depends on how often the stand will be assembled, how long staff and visitors will be standing on it, and how level the surface beneath it is. Irrespective of these factors, the organiser’s technical regulations specify the required fire classification, usually Cfl-s1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1. Evidence of compliance should be available before the flooring is ordered.
Exhibition carpet is the most widely used and least expensive option. Cord carpet, needle-punch carpet and velour carpet are available in many colours and are normally fixed with double-sided tape that can be removed without leaving residue. After the event, the covering is usually discarded. Carpet tiles, by contrast, can be loose laid without tape and reused. Thin carpet offers limited walking comfort, while irregularities in the subfloor may remain visible through the covering.
PVC floor coverings, generally sold as vinyl flooring, are wear-resistant, easy to clean and available in many decorative finishes. Click vinyl can be installed without adhesive. These coverings require a clean, level surface and remain firm rather than yielding underfoot. Where the hall floor is uneven or cables need to be concealed, a raised exhibition floor can be installed and finished with laminate, carpet or vinyl flooring. This requires a substructure, additional installation time and edge ramps.
Interlocking rubber tiles made from polyurethane-bound rubber granules can be laid directly on the exhibition hall floor without adhesive or a substructure. Outdoors, they can also be installed on hardstanding, gravel or natural ground. At WARCO, dovetail-shaped teeth along the edges interlock to join the tiles into a continuous surface without tools. The elastic structure gives slightly during walking and prolonged standing, a characteristic that becomes noticeable over several exhibition days. As the tiles are water-permeable and weather-resistant, they can also be used for outdoor stands. After the event, they can be lifted by hand and retained for the next exhibition. Versions with an EPDM wearing layer are classified as Cfl-s1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1.
For a stand needed for a single exhibition, exhibition carpet remains the straightforward choice. Interlocking rubber tiles are more practical when the stand is rebuilt several times a year, used outdoors, or occupied for long periods by staff and visitors.