Booth Design & Display Guidelines

The type of booth you have contracted for will determine the allowable height for your exhibit. Please see the Booth Display Specifications for illustrations and additional details.

Standard 10ft Deep Booth (linear or inline)

• Definition: One or more 10ft x 10ft (3.05m by 3.05m) units in a straight line.
• Height: 8ft (2.44m) throughout the entirety of the booth space (exhibit fixtures, components and identification signs).
• Intent: Each exhibitor is entitled to utilize the full width and depth of their booth space while maintaining the booth elements within the drape line to avoid visibility from the adjacent booths behind.

Perimeter Wall Booth

• Definition: One or more 10ft x 10ft (3.05m by 3.05m) units in a straight line that back up against the perimeter walls of the exhibit hall.
• Height: 12ft (3.66m) throughout the entirety of the booth space (exhibit fixtures, components and identification signs).
• Intent: Because the outer perimeter booths do not back up against another exhibitor’s booth, display back walls and materials will not interfere with or distract from any other exhibitor booth.

Peninsula Booth

• Definition: Open on three sides and sharing a common wall with 2 other linear booths on the fourth side.
• Height: Exhibit fixtures and components are permitted to a maximum height of 20ft (6.10m). Double-sided signs, logos, and graphics higher than 8ft (2.43m) must be set back 10ft (3.05m) from adjacent booths. 

Split Island Booth

• Definition: A Peninsula Booth that shares a common back-wall with another Peninsula Booth.
• Height: Exhibit fixtures and components are permitted to a maximum height of 20ft (6.10m). Double-sided signs, logos, and graphics higher than 8ft (2.43m) must be set back 5ft (1.52m) from adjacent booths.

Island Booth

• Definition: Four or more 10ft x 10ft (3.05m by 3.05m) units, with a minimum side dimension of 20ft (6.10m), one or more display levels, and aisles on all four sides.
• Height: Exhibit fixtures and components are permitted to a maximum height of 20ft (6.10m).

In all cases where display heights are permitted above the provided show booth drape, it is the exhibitor’s responsibility to make sure that all walls are finished, neutral, and devoid of copy (including exhibitor graphics). 

IAAPA reserves the right in its sole judgment to prohibit or close any demonstration or activity by any exhibitor that results in obstruction of booth line-of-sight and/or access to a nearby exhibitor’s booth by either attendee/buyers or exhibitors.

All exhibitors must complete the Booth Layout Form by Sept. 12. If your booth is 20ft x 20ft (6.10m by 6.10m) or larger, displaying Inflatables, and/or you are requesting a variance to the display guidelines, you must ALSO submit a drawing of the proposed booth layout to IAAPA for approval. Drawings must include a top, front, and side view of the exhibit and indicate all dimensions. Any exhibitor attempting to build a booth greater than 20ft x 20ft without IAAPA approval will not be permitted to set-up or will be forced to close their space until the design has been approved. In addition, late design drawing submissions are subject to a fine and/or loss of seniority as outlined here. 

Please provide IAAPA ten (10) working days to review/approve your booth layout. Confirmation will be sent to the email provided on the form with approval or notating any corrections required. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or if you do not receive a confirmation of approval. 

Exhibitors may request a height variance for their product by submitting a complete rendering of the proposed exhibit and display components through the online Booth Layout Form. Variances are reviewed and approved for product that extends beyond the height limit from the floor, as long as neighboring site lines aren’t blocked. Product height variances are based on the height of the product placed on the ground. Variances are not approved for products elevated with tables or truss, etc. 

Please provide IAAPA at least ten (10) working days for review and approval. 

Submission of a variance request does not guarantee that a variance will be approved. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Variances given for previous shows do not imply approval for IAAPA Expo 2025. It is the exhibitors’ responsibility to verify whether a display meets all IAAPA rules and regulations. Decisions made by IAAPA Show Management are final. 

Exhibitors in Linear Booths are not authorized to have hanging banners, signs, or equipment.

Exhibitors in an Island, Peninsula or Split Island booth, 400 square feet and larger, can hang a banner or sign over their booth with the following rules:

• All signage must be contained within the contracted booth space.
• For Peninsula Booths, double-sided hanging signage must be set back at least 10ft (3.05m) from adjacent booths. For Island Booths, double-sided hanging signage must be set back at least 5ft (1.52m) from adjacent booths.
• Rigging (installation) of signs will be completed by the Orange County Convention Center.
• A drawing or blueprint of the proposed banner, sign, or equipment must be sent to OCCC with your aerial rigging order.
• The maximum combined vertical height between any ground supported structure and hanging sign, at their highest dimensions when viewed perpendicular to the floor from any point on any side, may not exceed a maximum of 20ft (6.10m).

• There must be an empty space that is a minimum of 5ft (1.52m) between the highest point of the ground supported structure and the lowest point of your hanging sign. The empty space must be continuous throughout the entire cubic feet of the booth.
• Hanging banner/signs may extend to a maximum height of 25ft (7.62m), from the floor to the top of the banner.
• Hanging signs/banners must be sent to the GES Advance Warehouse by Nov. 10. Please print and use the labels specific to hanging sign shipping found in the Print Address Labels section of the GES Expresso site.

Signs that are supported from below (not hanging) must comply with all ordinary use-of-space requirements: the highest point of any supported sign should not exceed the maximum allowable height for the booth type: Peninsula, Split Island, and Island Booths 20ft (6.10m).

Canopies for Linear or Perimeter Booths should comply with maximum height requirements. The bottom of the canopy should not be lower than 7ft (2.13m) from the floor within 5ft (1.52m) of any aisle. Canopy supports should be no wider than 3in (.08m).

The design for multi-level exhibits, no matter the size, or covered exhibit booths, including theaters, must include:

• Flame-retardant materials
• A smoke detector
• A hand-held fire extinguisher. 

ALL multi-level exhibits and covered booths with over 300 sq ft (total space) covered require a Fire Watch. More information is available on the Orange County Convention Center's Exhibitor Guidelines & Information page. Please be sure to review the Multi-Level & Covered Booth Conditions and the Fire Marshal Regulations and submit the OCCC's Multi-Level and Covered Booth Application with support materials by Oct. 17.

Raised flooring in an exhibit booths must comply with the raised flooring regulations. Exhibitors will be required to modify their booths on-site if the flooring does not comply.

A Fire Watch is a detail performed by Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR) Department personnel who are specifically trained for special events and trade shows. Those exhibits requiring Fire Watch personnel will be determined by the OCFR Department. If your booth requires Fire Watch personnel to be on duty, they will be in the area of your booth beginning one half hour prior to show opening and ending one half hour following show close on all show days.

Fire Watch expenses will be paid for by IAAPA provided exhibitors submit for the Fire Watch directly to the Orange County Convention Center using either the Multi-Level and Covered Booth Application or the Gas/Cooking/Open Flame/Heat Producing Device Agreement found on the Orange County Convention Center's Exhibitor Guidelines & Information page by Friday, Oct. 17. Please be sure to also review the Fire Marshal Regulations and, if submitting for a multi-level or covered booth, to review the Multi-Level & Covered Booth Conditions. For any exhibitors that meet the requirements to need a Fire Watch and do not submit to OCCC by Oct. 17, IAAPA will bill those exhibitors after the show.

A Fire Watch is required by the OCFR Department for the following types of exhibits and activities:

• Covered booth over 300 sq. ft. in an area without automatic suppression
• All multi-level booths without automatic suppression
• Cooking without a flue connection
• Cooking appliances without automatic suppression
• Movement of a vehicle during a show or event
• Battery terminals connected to a vehicle during a show or event
• Open flames
• Pyrotechnic displays
• Tents in accordance with OCFR Standard #6000
• Use of nominal 5 lb. containers of liquid petroleum
• Lasers
• Aircraft

Please contact Orange County Convention Center Exhibitor Services with any Fire Watch requirement questions at [email protected].

Exhibitor product that produces fumes, gases or waste such as fog, confetti or bubbles, etc., must keep these emissions and products contained within their booth! This means that all emissions need to be vented, trapped, or collected so as not to impact on any neighboring booths or aisle. Non-compliance will lead to your product being turned off and/or having your booth closed. IAAPA reserves the right in its sole judgment to prohibit or close any display or activity because of noise, odors, or other disturbing features, or which may be offensive to other exhibitors or attendees.

All indoor exhibitors, including inflatables, may only utilize 75% of contracted space leaving 25% of the footprint of their booth space free and clear and most of this open space should be open on the side of the closest or adjoining exhibitors.

Due to the size and number of inflatable companies, exhibitors in this market should expect to be placed in similar positions or near competition on the show floor.

Exhibitors displaying inflatables or inflatable products that require a blower must be within the Inflatable Pavilion or in the outside exhibit space. Non-compliance will lead to your product being turned off and/or having your booth closed.

Any inflatable product that is for display only must have ALL access points blocked off with netting and/or caution tape, as well as signage.

All exhibitors displaying inflatable products MUST provide a diagram of their booth space, no later than Friday, Sept. 12. See the Booth Layout Form for instructions.

All blowers (inside and outside) must be turned off nightly after the daily trade show hours, including move-in, show hours, and move-out. If it is left on, it will be shut off after show floor hours by IAAPA safety inspectors immediately, without notice. IAAPA will not be responsible for any damage that may occur.

• Exhibitors displaying a non-inflatable product but using a blower must use no more than 3/4 horsepower and include a noise cancelling device if displayed outside the Inflatable Pavilion, inside the show floor. Inflatables or inflatable products that require a blower must be within the Inflatable Pavilion or in the outside exhibit space. Non-compliance will lead to your product being turned off and/or having your booth closed.
• All blowers used at any time must be clearly labeled as UL or ETL approved or carry a comparable acceptable designation. All blowers must have a built-in thermal overload protection. (IAAPA will have final decision rights on acceptance of comparable designations).
• All blowers are to be checked periodically throughout the day by the exhibitor.
• As per most manufacturer handbooks, blowers need to be plugged in to a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets can be rented on the Electrical order form.
• IAAPA’s trade show safety inspectors will be inspecting blowers daily to make sure there is adequate ventilation area around the blowers. All blowers must be kept free and clear of displays, boxes and anything that could restrict or impede the flow of air to the blower. No flammable material is to be under or next to a blower.
• Any box or device used to dampen the sound of the blower must have been designed and manufactured for this purpose and have adequate space and ventilation for the blower and must be free of anything else inside the case. No extension cords can be stored in the box. IAAPA safety inspectors have the right to reject any of these boxes or devices.

If you wish to request a variance to operate your blower(s) all night, please contact IAAPA by Friday, Sept. 12 at [email protected].

All indoor exhibits must have carpet or some form of floor covering over their booth space with no exposed flooring. Order Carpet through GES. Any flooring higher than 1/4in (6.4mm) comply with the raised flooring regulations. 

For an exhibiting company to cover an aisle with their own choice of carpet, or to cross over the aisle with a sign, archway or any other structure, the exhibitor must occupy three adjacent islands that together total more than 3,000 net sq. ft.  Additionally, only the aisles that are between the islands, and that border the side of each island and have the greatest dimension may be crossed. There may be opportunities for an exhibitor to purchase aisle space between two adjacent booths to provide signage over the aisle, but the aisle must stay free of any booth elements. However, main aisles that are 20-30ft wide would not be allowed. These requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please contact [email protected].

Any exhibitor intending to utilize balloons or other lighter than air objects, is required to obtain approval from the Orange County Convention Center. Helium balloons may not be used as giveaways. A Retrieval Fee will be charged for any escaped lighter-than-air objects. Please see the OCCC's Balloons & Lighter-than-Air Objects Agreement on the Orange County Convention Center's Exhibitor Guidelines & Information page. 

All exhibitors displaying or demonstrating fireworks, pyrotechnics, lasers or other special effects, must submit the OCCC's Gas/Cooking/Open Flame/Heat Producing Device Agreement found on the Orange County Convention Center's Exhibitor Guidelines & Information page form by Oct. 17. A permit may be required by the Orange County Fire Rescue. Please contact the OCCC at [email protected] with any questions. Please be sure to review the Fire Marshal Regulations and submit the OCCC's Gas/Cooking/Open Flame/Heat Producing Device Agreement with support materials by Oct. 17. Additional information is available on the Orange County Convention Center's Exhibitor Guidelines & Information page. 

No nails, bolts, tack, screws, or holes shall be drilled, cored, or punched into any surface of the Orange County Convention Center including walls, columns, or flooring (inside and out). Drilling/staking into the outside parking lot is not permitted under any circumstance. 

Outdoor exhibit booths have different requirements from booths located inside the building. Outdoor booths:

• Are not required to provide carpeting/floor covering over the booth space.
• Are not required to submit a booth design unless your booth has an inflatable. If you do not have an inflatable, select “No” for the question, “Is your contracted booth 20ft x 20ft or larger?” in the Booth Layout Form.
• Can have product over more than 75% of the contract booth space, but booth staff and all display components must be within the contracted booth space. Exhibitors that cannot fit all their product within their space will receive a Violation on-site (fine and loss of seniority) as well will be required to pay for the additional exhibit space (should that be an option) or be required to remove the display component(s).
• If you plan to include a tent covering partial or all the booth greater than 900 sq ft, you must apply for a permit with the Orange County Fire Rescue Department. More information on tents can be found in the Multi-Level & Covered Booth Conditions on the Orange County Convention Center's Exhibitor Guidelines & Information page. The OCCC's Multi-Level and Covered Booth Application must be completed and sent to the OCCC with support materials by Oct. 17.
• Are not permitted to drill, attach, or stake into the surface of the parking lot under any circumstances.
• Have limited access to water and drain service. Any drainage cannot impact other booths. No compressed air is available in the outdoor exhibit space.
• Must not place items on top of any drain grates within the booth space. If a drain grate is within your booth space, one side must have open access to the aisle to allow for rainwater to flow to the drain unobstructed and all booth items must be set at least 1' from each of the other three sides of the drain grate.