4 Steps to Compute Your Stanchion Needs

When you need retractable stanchions to control or direct a crowd at an event, it's important to get the right amount. Too much and you've wasted valuable funds; too little and your crowd can get out of control. If this is your first time to be in charge of a particular event, then you may have very little information to influence your purchase. These steps will guide you through the process of getting as accurate of a measurement as possible, then you can buy exactly what you need.

Make a Sketch Layout

Think about how your event will look. At this stage, you don't need to be thinking about exact measurements, but if you leave space you can add them in later. It's important to include where you'll need retractable stanchions, but also chairs, tables and other furniture or electronics. When you include everything in your layout, you may notice areas you want a retractable belt stanchion that you hadn't thought about before, such as around a display table or to keep people away from delicate equipment. For very large events, this stage should have a few people involved to double-check everything.

Visit (and Mark) the Site

Visiting the actual event site is important if you are running this particular event for the first time or you have recently moved venues. Seeing the actual space may help you notice early problems or changes that need to be made, such as noting the location of outlets and moving equipment closer to them. While there, if you have the time and tools, you may want to mark out possible locations for each retractable belt stanchion with duct tape or other removable marking tools. This added step can point out problems much quicker than just a walkthrough or sketch.

Take Measurements

At the site, take measurements of the room dimensions, any cut-away locations or interior walls and note down windows, doors, outlets and other important features. If you can't do this at the actual location, see if there's a conference room of similar size where you can do some visualization. Keep all your measurements organized, either in the space you made on your sketch or in table format. A spreadsheet is also a good way to record measurements if you will be using this layout again in the future.

Compute for Varying Lengths of Belts

After you have computed all the measurements for the retractable stanchions you'll need, it's time to decide how many belt lengths you need. It's important to look at the variety of sizes available in the style of barrier you want. For example, if you can choose between lengths of 6 or 10 feet, then it can be cheaper to handle a 24-foot area with one 6-foot belt and two 10-foot belts instead of three 10-foot belts.

Retractable stanchions are a good option for crowd control at your next event. If you are new to event planning, then these steps can help you get the right amount of barriers for your needs. Start with a sketch, visit the location, take measurements and determine how many belts you need; this way you'll get the most accurate order possible.