How to check stand rules at Australian convention centres

One stand can tour every capital, but the rules change at each venue. Height limits, who hangs your sign, when plans are due and how big a sample can be all differ between ICC Sydney (International Convention Centre Sydney), MCEC in Melbourne, BCEC in Brisbane, PCEC in Perth, the Adelaide Convention Centre and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC).

We've read each venue's published manual or guidelines and pulled out the rules that most often shape a stand design. Venues update these documents, and your organiser's manual can add rules of its own, so check both before you sign off a design.

The venue documents we checked

All of these could be downloaded from the venues' own websites on 4 October 2026:

ICC Sydney: Exhibition Manual (release date 15 December 2023), the online Custom Stand permit and the Food and Beverage Sampling permit (June 2026), all from the Organiser Toolkit.
MCEC: Operations Manual (edition dated 01/09/26) and Exhibitor Guide (29/04/25), from Event planning resources.
BCEC: Event Safety & Design Guidelines, Version 6, 25 May 2026, from Event resources.
PCEC: Exhibitor Manual V2.3, 25 May 2023, from Manuals and inductions.
Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC): Exhibition Handbook 2026/2027 V2.0, updated 28 April 2026, from Impactful exhibitions.
GCCEC: Event Planning & Safety Guidelines V2.2 2025-2027, from Manuals, conditions and policies.

The rules side by side

Venue	Stand height	Custom stand plans	Who rigs	Sample size limits
ICC Sydney	5 m in Halls 1 to 4, 4 m in The Gallery	Permit due 14 days before the hiring period	ICC Sydney installs all primary points	50 g food; 100 ml non-alcoholic, 50 ml wine or beer, 20 ml spirits
MCEC	3.5 m in the Main Foyer and Melbourne Rooms, 3.2 m in the Level 1 and 2 Foyers; none stated for the Exhibition Centre	Need MCEC approval	An MCEC-accredited rigging company	50 g or 50 ml; 10 ml spirits, 30 ml wine, beer or cider
BCEC	Engineer certification over 2.4 m where people have access	Two-storey stands need BCEC approval	BCEC riggers, or under their supervision	30 ml non-alcoholic drinks; food served bite-sized
PCEC	Engineer approval for multi-storey stands over 2.4 m	20 business days before the commencement date, for engineered stands	The venue's exclusive in-house rigger	Considered case by case
Adelaide	Not set in the handbook; you state it on the appraisal form	Appraisal due 14 days before the event	ACC only	50 g or 50 ml; 10 ml spirits, 50 ml wine, beer or cider
GCCEC	Over 2.4 m checked for sprinkler clearance	Due 21 days before the event	A GCCEC licensed rigger installs top points	Request forms due 21 days out

Stand height and custom stand approval

Tall custom exhibition structure of timber beams fanning out from a central column above a round platform, with visitors on the show floor

ICC Sydney. The Custom Stand permit says "Maximum build height in Halls 1 - 4 is 5m", with 4 m in The Gallery and 3 m in the Parkside Ballroom. For other spaces, ask your event manager. The Exhibition Manual adds that structures in the upper halls can go above 5 m with approval. Send the permit and a detailed plan no later than 14 days before the hiring period.
MCEC. The Operations Manual's height limits cover exhibitions in the Convention Centre only: "exhibits in the Main Foyer and Melbourne Rooms must not exceed 3.5 metres" and "exhibits in the Level 1 and Level 2 Foyers must not exceed 3.2 metres". Its Exhibition Centre section sets no height cap, but requires an engineer's certification for occupied stands of two storeys or more (any occupied floor more than 1.5 m above ground counts) and for steel structures. Custom stand plans go to MCEC for approval, with a safe work method statement (SWMS) and "Detailed, professional drawings (no hand sketches) with side elevations".
BCEC. The guidelines set no single height limit. Instead, "All structures over 2.4 metres in height where a person, either staff or guests, have access, must be certified by an engineer". Two-storey stands also need BCEC approval.
PCEC. A structural engineer's approval is needed for a multi-storey stand over 2.4 m, or one with a roof or ceiling over 18 m². Full drawings are due at least 20 business days before the commencement date, and "Artist's impressions are not acceptable."
Adelaide. Custom-built and two-storey stands need ACC approval. The Custom Stand Design Appraisal asks for the stand's maximum height plus a dimensioned floorplan and elevations, at least 14 days before the event.
GCCEC. Build plans for custom stands are due 21 days before the event. Structures over 2.4 m are checked for clearance of "500mm (50cm) from any sprinkler head".

Rigging and hanging signs

Round fabric banner suspended above an exhibition stand with a white counter, two plinths and two portrait digital screens

ICC Sydney. "All primary (top point) rigging including banner points within the exhibition halls are exclusive and are coordinated and installed by ICC Sydney." Rigging requirements go to your ICC Sydney AV project manager no less than 21 days before your tenancy starts.
MCEC. Rigging "must be carried out by an MCEC-accredited rigging company". Rigging plans are due 10 days before the event, with final changes three business days before bump-in. Ceiling eye bolts in Bays 1 to 20 take 25 kg each.
BCEC. All rigging is done by BCEC riggers or under their direct supervision. Overhead plans are due 14 days before bump-in, and every hanging item needs at least 2.5 m clear from the floor to its lowest edge.
PCEC. The venue's in-house rigger does all primary rigging. Other riggers may do secondary rigging with prior written approval, and "Exhibitors may hang banners only within the boundaries of their stand."
Adelaide. ACC has exclusive rigging rights. Book 14 days before the event. Changes made within three days of the event may cost extra.
GCCEC. You can bring your own licensed rigger with venue approval, but top points are installed by a GCCEC licensed rigger. Rigging plots are due 21 days before the event.

Test and tag and power

Every venue requires electrical equipment to be tested and tagged. The details differ:

ICC Sydney may reject untagged items, or inspect them for a charge, where no electrical contractor is appointed.
MCEC: "All electrical leads (including brand new leads) need to be tagged and tested in accordance with Australian Standards prior to use onsite."
BCEC follows AS/NZS 3760:2010. New equipment must still carry a tag showing its re-test date.
PCEC wants items tested and tagged "prior to entering The Centre".
Adelaide treats detachable leads, extension leads and power boards as separate items that need their own test. ACC offers on-site tagging at $11.50 per item.
GCCEC bans double adaptors.

Food and drink sampling

ICC Sydney: sampling permit due 14 days before the hiring period. Anyone serving alcohol needs an NSW RSA card.
MCEC: approval from both the organiser and MCEC, no later than 7 business days before the event.
BCEC: written approval from the organiser and BCEC. Food requests are due 7 days before bump-in, and liquor requests 35 days before.
PCEC: each request "will be considered on its merits".
Adelaide: request form due 14 days before the event. An External Supply Charge of $455.00 may apply if samples fall outside the guidelines.
GCCEC: food and beverage sampling forms are due 21 days before the event.

Loading docks and deliveries

ICC Sydney needs a booked vehicle time slot unless you book through the show's freight forwarder, MCEC and the GCCEC set a 30-minute drop-off limit, and ACC turns away deliveries without a booking. See how to handle shipping and logistics for your exhibition.

Checklist for a national stand

Get the organiser's manual for every show, as well as the venue document.
Design to the strictest venue on your list. At BCEC, any structure over 2.4 m that people can access needs an engineer's certificate. At PCEC, so does any multi-storey stand over 2.4 m, and in MCEC's Level 1 and Level 2 Foyers exhibits stop at 3.2 m.
Diary the earliest deadline. PCEC wants drawings for engineered stands 20 business days before the commencement date, and GCCEC wants plans and rigging plots 21 days out.
Plan hanging signs to clear 2.5 m (BCEC's minimum) and book the venue's rigger early.
Test and tag everything, new items included.
Check sample sizes and book dock times or delivery labels at each venue.

How we help

Our team works at the major venues in every capital, and we plan each design around the venue's height limits and rigging rules. Our custom exhibition stands can be stored and reused between shows, and our installation and pack-down team liaises with organisers for you. Heading to Sydney? Read our guide to exhibiting at ICC Sydney, or see our Brisbane exhibition stands for BCEC and Gold Coast shows.

Send us your show list and floor plans, or call 1300 240 250, and we'll build each venue's rules into your stand design.