Inside Exhibition
TR/EN
Articles· 12

Decision point: planning stand design, technical approval, shipping and vehicle access according to the rules of the exhibition grounds

Messe Frankfurt Exhibition Grounds: Exhibitor and Visitor Guide

At the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds, stand construction is governed by the Technical Guidelines and by event-specific rules. Plans for stands larger than 100 m², two-storey stands and special structures are sent to Messe Frankfurt at least six weeks before build-up. Every vehicle entering the grounds during build-up and dismantling is registered online in advance. Suspension from the hall ceiling is carried out only by Messe Frankfurt and its contracted companies (stand builder portal, Technical Guidelines).

The Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds are at Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main. Parking and traffic regulations are published separately for Buchmesse, Formnext and Heimtextil (traffic management); ISH and Light + Building are also held on the grounds (ISH exhibitor FAQ, Light + Building traffic page). The stand builder portal applies to all events on the grounds; some events have different Technical Guidelines, so the event's own information page is also consulted.

Article date: 11 October 2026. Fair dates and price lists for services are not included; links to the official pages are given instead.

How are the grounds and halls laid out?

The grounds are entered through the West, North, East and South gates and through Gates 8 and 9; the entrances are City/Festhalle, Galleria and Portalhaus (arrival page). The Torhaus is the administration and service building at the centre of the grounds, at the Frankfurt (Main) Messe S-Bahn station. The halls are numbered 1 to 12; Hall 2 is the Festhalle, and there is also the Forum (suspensions factsheet).

The places most useful to a build-up crew are these (general information):

  • Trade fair management (during the fair) and restaurants: Torhaus, Level 2.
  • Lost and found: Torhaus, Level 0.
  • Fire station and police: OSC in Hall 4.0, on the west side of the grounds.
  • First aid: Hall 2 (Festhalle), the OSC in Hall 4.0, and Hall 8.0.
  • Fairshop: foyer of Hall 4.1, on the east side.
  • Canteen (Cucina): in the Dependance next to Halls 3 and 4, on the 2nd floor. During build-up and dismantling it is open on weekdays from 07:00 to 14:30; meals are paid for with a card, which is issued by machines in the canteen foyer.

The portal describes the grounds with three maps: car parks and gates, services on the grounds, and the locations of the goods lifts.

How do you get to the grounds, and where do you stay?

From the airport, take the S8 or S9 to Hauptbahnhof, then the S3, S4, S5 or S6 to the second stop, Frankfurt (Main) Messe station; from the station, go to the Torhaus entrance. From the airport to the grounds it is about 15 minutes by car or taxi. The Hauptbahnhof is a few hundred metres from the grounds, about a 10-minute walk (arrival page).

For accommodation, Messe Frankfurt points to its own Hotel Guide, which covers every category from basic guesthouses to five-star hotels. Rooms can also be booked through Frankfurt Tourism, through Messe Frankfurt's partner booking.com, and, for groups, through a group booking service (general information).

What are the build-up, dismantling and vehicle access rules?

Build-up and delivery of exhibits may begin five calendar days before the fair opens, at the earliest. During the general build-up and dismantling periods, work in the halls may go on around the clock; normally no work is done after 3 p.m. on the last days of build-up, although other hours may be announced for an event. Dismantling ends by the second calendar day after the fair closes. On fair days the halls open one hour before opening and close one hour after closing; working outside these hours requires a written permit from Messe Frankfurt (Technical Guidelines, section 1.2).

During build-up and dismantling, material may be left in the aisle for a short time, only in a strip of at most 0.9 m along the stand boundary, and a passage of at least 1.2 m stays open (Technical Guidelines, section 2.2.2). On these days, every assistant working on the grounds has a personal pass made out in their name. The exhibitor sends the blank pass as a PDF to the stand builder, who prints the required number and writes in the assistants' names. Spot checks are made at the entrance (general information).

During build-up and dismantling, every vehicle that will enter the grounds is registered online in advance (vehicle registration). The registration asks for the plate number, the driver's name and mobile number, the forwarder, and the hall and stand number. With the confirmation print-out, you go to the check-in from the F-Rebstock motorway exit (navigation address: Bruno-Poelke-Strasse); staff check whether a loading zone is free and issue an authorisation form naming the gate. A vehicle without the form does not enter, and waiting times are possible at busy times (traffic management).

Parking and traffic regulations are event-specific and are published as a separate PDF for each fair; separate documents exist for Buchmesse 2026, Formnext 2026 and Heimtextil 2027 (traffic management).

What are the stand approval and technical rules?

The Technical Guidelines are binding for everyone on the grounds; they were drawn up with a classification shared by nine fair companies and may differ from site to site because of local building codes. What follows is according to the version of September 2025 published on the portal (Technical Guidelines).

Which stands need approval?

For single-storey stands that are not special structures, do not exceed 100 m² and do not exceed 4.00 m, no plans are needed. Approval is required for stands larger than 100 m², outdoor, temporary, mobile and two-storey stands, and special structures. Special structures are heights above 4 m, closed ceilings, podiums higher than 0.20 m, glass structures, moving parts and floor-ceiling connections (section 4.2; general information).

Scaled plans (for example 1:100), floor plans and, where appropriate, sections and perspectives, labelled in German or English, are sent as PDFs to Technical Project Management at least six weeks before build-up begins. Construction may not begin without the approval stamp.

For special structures, two-storey, outdoor and temporary structures, the following are also required: structural calculations complying with German standards (checked by a second independent engineer), a building description of the materials, a ceiling plan with the dimensions of closed ceilings, and an escape route plan. A type certificate replaces the structural calculation. If the engineer's check is not submitted, Messe Frankfurt commissions an engineering firm and invoices it separately (section 4.2.1). The portal's approval check shows with a few questions whether approval is needed.

How is stand height determined?

An annex to the guidelines tables the permitted height by hall and by stand size (up to 30 m², larger); the differences between halls are large. The table binds only Messe Frankfurt's own fairs; for guest fairs the limit comes from the organiser. For the current limit, ask the event's technical project management (Technical Guidelines, section 4.3 and annex).

The clear height inside a structure is at least 2.30 m. The back of a wall facing a neighbouring stand is kept smooth and white from 2.50 m upwards; the annex asks for a neutral colour (for example white or light grey) on these surfaces. Advertising and logos stay at least 1 m from the neighbouring stand boundary (Technical Guidelines, section 4.3).

What limits apply to ceilings and closed ceilings?

The halls have sprinklers, so a stand stays open at the top to keep the sprinklers effective. The limits (Technical Guidelines, section 4.4):

  • What counts as an open ceiling: a ceiling counts as open if at most 30 per cent of the area is covered.
  • Fabric ceilings: a taut, horizontal, single-layer fabric with a mesh of at least 4 x 4 mm when stretched, class B1 and non-dripping, also counts as open; it is permitted without struts up to 30 m².
  • Closed ceiling up to 30 m²: a stand's contiguous closed ceiling needs no further measures as long as it does not exceed 30 m² or half the stand area. The ceiling stays at least 1.50 m from the stand edge.
  • Several closed areas: each may be up to 30 m²; at least 3.00 m remains between them.
  • Closed ceiling over 30 m²: it needs a permit; plans go to Technical Event Management at least six weeks before build-up. Up to 100 m² an automatic fire alarm is required, above 100 m² wall hydrants as well, and from 401 m² sprinklers.
  • Who installs the measures: companies authorised by Messe Frankfurt install them, for a fee.
  • Foyers: closed ceilings are not possible.
  • Distance to sprinklers: exhibits and decoration stay at least 1.0 m from sprinkler heads.

What is required for a two-storey structure?

For the sake of the hall's overall appearance and for safety, Messe Frankfurt may refuse approval of a two-storey structure at its own discretion. The request is made in the same process as plan approval, at least six weeks before build-up. If the upper storey covers 30 m² or more of the stand area, that area must have an automatic fire alarm. The exhibitor orders the necessary measures from Technical Event Management; Messe Frankfurt installs them and invoices the exhibitor (Technical Guidelines, section 4.9).

Who carries out suspensions and rigging, and with what information?

Suspension from the hall ceiling is carried out only by Messe Frankfurt and its contracted companies; every suspension needs approval (section 4.7.5). A light-load suspension carries at most 50 kg per point; heavy-load suspension is possible on request only in certain halls (suspensions factsheet, last updated 1 March 2026). The lowest suspension point is 2.30 m above the floor; no suspension is made outside the stand area without permission, and the truss is also subject to the height limit.

A dimensioned sketch showing the suspension points (with the stand's position and orientation), the load on each point, for complex systems a load plan, and the transfer height are sent to Messe Frankfurt Venue GmbH, Infrastructure Services, at least six weeks before the fair begins. The order deadline is given for each event in the Shop for Exhibitor Services; for some products, orders placed fewer than 22 calendar days before the event carry a 25 per cent express surcharge (suspension terms).

If the load plan is incomplete or wrong, the customer placing the order pays for any extra measures taken on site. If information from third parties such as joint stand participants, stand constructors or designers is incomplete or wrong, the stand owner is responsible. Spotlights and speakers are fixed with a second, independent safety; spring-loaded carabiners and plastic cable ties are prohibited. Current dates and deadlines are given per event in the Shop.

What are the floor, electricity, water, material and fire rules?

No drilling, nails, screws, paint or glue on the floor, walls and columns; no anchors in the floor; coverings are fixed with PE/PP double-sided tape that leaves no residue (Technical Guidelines, sections 4.7.3, 4.7.4).

Electrical outlets and water and drain connections are installed only by Messe Frankfurt's contract partners, for a fee. No part of a stand may be supplied with power from batteries or generation systems brought to the stand (Technical Guidelines, sections 5.3, 5.4). The services are ordered from the Shop for Exhibitor Services.

Materials and decoration are at least B1 under DIN 4102 or C s2 d2 under EN 13501-1, and non-dripping C s2 d0 for ceilings and overhead parts; polystyrene (styrofoam) may not be used, and classification certificates are kept at the stand. Smoking and open flames are prohibited in the halls. Every storey has at least one extinguisher, with one more for each further 200 m² (section 4.4; general information).

How do the stand builder portal and the exhibitor portal work?

In Frankfurt the arrangement rests on the Messe-Login. Exhibitor services are ordered from the Shop for Exhibitor Services; access details are sent to the exhibitor's contact person about six months before the event. A stand builder who orders on the exhibitor's account takes the stand code from the exhibitor and enters with its own Messe-Login (general information).

According to Inside's experience on site, the portal asks the exhibitor for an image and the general technical dimensions of the stand, the amount of electricity requested, and the details of the company and team that will build the stand. If water plumbing and a sink are to be used, this is also reported for preparation and invoicing; extra needs are invoiced to the exhibitor. Part of this information is received by the technical office affiliated with the organiser and by the exhibition centre team; work planning, collection of extra charges, area control and project control rest on it.

How do products reach the grounds, and how is an ATA Carnet obtained?

Shipments to a stand are addressed as follows: company name; "Stand: Hall / Level / Aisle / Stand no. / Event" (example: 8.0 D 25 Ambiente); Messe Frankfurt GmbH, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Because events are short, a package with an incomplete address may not be delivered at all (general information).

Forklifts and cranes are rented from Messe Frankfurt Logistics Services and ordered through the Shop. For elevated work platforms and lifting platforms, the logistics partner is DSV Solutions GmbH (Cargo Center Messe Frankfurt). Boels Rental delivers tools and small machines to the hall. The locations of the goods lifts are shown on the map in the stand builder portal (general information).

An exhibitor who wants to take out small items right after the fair closes can obtain a special dismantling vehicle pass for vehicles with a gross weight of up to 3.5 t; the pass is valid for 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on the fair. It is issued against the exhibitor ID and customer number at the Central Information Desk on Level 02 of the Torhaus; it cannot be ordered in advance, and at most 400 are issued. If the vehicle does not leave within the time on the pass, a charge of 250 euros is added to the ancillary costs invoice (general information).

An ATA Carnet is issued by one of the chambers authorised to distribute carnets (authorised chambers). A list showing the type of the goods, their brand and numbers if any, weight, quantity and value is attached to the application (TOBB).

As a general rule the guarantee is half of the total value of the goods. For goods taken to European Union countries under customs tariff headings 71.13, 71.08 or 71.06, the rate is 30 per cent if the guarantee is given in foreign currency. The guarantee is given in cash, as a bank guarantee letter or as a blocked bank deposit, and the subject line of the letter must contain the words "ATA Karnesi Kapsamı Eşya" (TOBB).

Is an appointment needed for a German fair visa?

According to the German Embassy in Ankara, fair visitors must always make an appointment. For exhibitors there is an appointment-free option, the details of which are given on another page of the Embassy's website. Stand-building staff need an appointment; the consulate accepts the application at an interview on the appointment date. Registration on the "business" waiting list through iDATA is requested for the visa (fair visa page).

From exhibitors, the exhibitor pass, the invoice showing the stand rent has been paid, and the list of participants or a letter from the organiser are requested. From stand-building staff, the contract between the company exhibiting the products and the company that builds the stand, and the same documents, are requested. For exhibitors and stand-building staff, the visa fee exemption applies only to visas issued for the duration of the fair; a long-stay visa is charged. The conditions for appointment-free applications are given on an exporters' association website that quotes a Ministry of Trade letter (quotation).

Does the Ministry of Trade give support, and what is the difference between organised and individual participation?

Under Article 7 of Decision No. 5973, the Ministry supports participation with a stand in fairs abroad (fair support); the covered fairs are in the support lists. The Circular defines two routes:

  • Fair organisation abroad: the Ministry's General Directorate of Exports sets the reviewing authority. The Circular uses "national participation organisation" for fairs where the General Secretariats of the exporters' associations (İBGS) are the organiser.
  • Individual participation: the İBGS the exhibitor belongs to concludes the application; if membership is not required, any İBGS.

On both routes the application is made through the Support Management System (DYS) within 3 months after the end of the fair; if the deadline is missed, the application file is not evaluated (Circular, Article 7). The ceilings change every year, so they are not given here.

Which tasks does Inside Exhibition carry out on the exhibitor's behalf at Frankfurt?

Inside Exhibition is an Istanbul-based company focused on the design, technical documentation and build of custom-designed exhibition stands. At fairs abroad, Inside carries out the organiser-side procedures for the stand infrastructure on the exhibitor's behalf, and its team is on site throughout the fair. What follows is its general way of working; rules specific to Frankfurt are noted in the relevant sections. Build-up teams work on long-stay visas; the visas of the team assigned to each project are checked, and renewals are started in advance according to expiry dates. For unplanned situations, support comes from subcontractors abroad.

Receiving products at the grounds

If the exhibitor's products reach the grounds one day before the fair, the Inside team receives the delivery on site, so the exhibitor's representative does not need to be at the grounds a day early just for this. Inside does not act as a carrier in this arrangement; the carrier's liability and any transport agreements with the organiser rest with the carrier and the exhibitor. For the ATA Carnet and temporary import of the exhibitor's own products, Inside is not the contractor; its shipping and transfer process covers the stand materials of its own project.

Handing products to the carrier after the fair

If the exhibitor asks, the Inside team hands the products remaining at the end of the fair to the carrier the exhibitor works with. The handover paperwork is collected and the handover is photographed; the documents reach Inside and are passed on to the exhibitor. This way, the exhibitor's representatives do not need to wait on the grounds after the fair closes.

Site team for product assembly

For the assembly of the displayed products, Inside has a team it has formed itself, present on site for special jobs and requests.

Who carries out the correspondence and portal applications?

Inside carries out the correspondence concerning the stand infrastructure on the exhibitor's behalf. Once the agreement is signed, the portal registrations and approval procedures on the organiser's side begin; Inside carries these out on the exhibitor's behalf as well. In Frankfurt, for structures that need approval, the plan is sent at least six weeks before build-up begins (general information). The team's documents, the technical dimensions of the stand and the applications are submitted to the technical office affiliated with the organiser and to the occupational safety offices; the documents and applications on the exhibitor portal are followed up. This work is completed before build-up and possible problems are followed in advance; the aim is to reduce the workload on the exhibitor's side.

What is done for an exhibitor who wants a ceiling construction?

Ceiling constructions are not used in Turkey, but in Germany, for example, they can be used within the weight and area information given by the organiser. If the exhibitor wishes, Inside designs and delivers a suspended ceiling and graphic area with this information. In Frankfurt, the information given by the organiser is the rules above: suspension from the hall ceiling is carried out only by Messe Frankfurt and its contracted companies, a suspension point carries at most 50 kg (suspensions factsheet), and a closed ceiling over 30 m² needs a permit and measures (Technical Guidelines, section 4.4). Inside works through these limits at the design stage, before the build begins.

What does a visitor need?

Tickets and the site plan are on each event's own website (event search). Event admission tickets bearing the RMV symbol (except vouchers and complimentary tickets) are also valid on public transport in the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund area to and from the event. The online ticket is used on public transport together with a valid ID card or passport; a one-day ticket bought at the ticket office is valid only on the return journey from the fair (arrival page).

Cycling is not permitted on the grounds during event times; bicycle parking is at the City entrance, at the Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage entrance, at the Portalhaus entrance and at the Messeturm (arrival page). Information on barrier-free access is on a separate page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the address of Messe Frankfurt?

Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main (general information).

How do you get from Frankfurt Airport to the exhibition grounds?

By the S8 or S9 to Hauptbahnhof, then the S3, S4, S5 or S6 to Frankfurt (Main) Messe station; by car it is about 15 minutes (arrival page).

Where do you find the Messe Frankfurt hall plan?

On the three maps in the stand builder portal: car parks and gates, services on the grounds, goods lifts (general information).

Where do you find a hotel for Messe Frankfurt?

Messe Frankfurt's Hotel Guide gives an overview by category; rooms can also be booked through Frankfurt Tourism, booking.com and, for groups, a group booking service (general information).

When is stand approval needed at Messe Frankfurt?

For stands over 100 m², two-storey stands, stands outdoors and special structures; plans are sent at least six weeks before build-up (general information).

How high may a stand be at Messe Frankfurt?

It depends on the hall and the stand size; the limits are in an annex to the Technical Guidelines, and for guest fairs they come from the organiser (Technical Guidelines).

How does a lorry or vehicle enter Messe Frankfurt?

The vehicle is registered online in advance and an authorisation form is collected at check-in; a vehicle without it does not enter (vehicle registration).

Is an appointment needed for a German fair visa?

According to the Embassy, for visitors yes; for exhibitors there is an appointment-free option (fair visa page). Stand-building staff need an appointment; the consulate accepts the application at an interview on the appointment date. Where do you find the other exhibition grounds in Germany and the dates of the fairs held in Frankfurt? For other grounds in Germany see the Messe Düsseldorf guide and the Hannover Messe guide; the dates of fairs held in Frankfurt are in the trade fair calendar.

For other grounds in Germany see the Messe Köln guide, the Messe Düsseldorf guide, the Messe Nürnberg guide, the Messe München guide, the Messe Stuttgart guide and the Hannover Messe guide.

Sources