2026 - Island Exhibit Design Approval

Island Booth Design Approval Form

All exhibitors with an island booth (400 sq. ft. and larger) are required to submit a scaled floor plan and elevation diagram to AAOS for approval by January 8, 2026. These floor plans must be drawn to scale, include all exhibit components and their dimensions and all hanging signs and rigging components. The scale utilized for each floor plan should accompany that floor plan.

Booth #:*

Company Name:*

Contact Name:*

E-mail:*

Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

EAC Company Name

EAC Contact Name

Maximum Height of Exhibit:*

Maximum height for Island Booths is 25 feet

Dimensions of Exhibit:*

Does Your Exhibit Have Multi-Levels or Is Covered?*

YesNo

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has established requirements regarding acceptable booth configurations from a safety standpoint.

All exhibit construction and decoration materials must be flame retardant.
All island booths with enclosed areas (closets, offices, etc.) need to be equipped with an UL approved battery-operated smoke detector and at least one 2A10BC Fire Extinguisher.
Ceilings are not allowed on the topmost level.
All multi-level exhibits must have one 2A10BC-type fire extinguisher on each level of the display, easily available and unobstructed from view.
All areas under multi-level booths must be equipped with a UL approved battery-operated smoke detector attached to the ceiling or understructure.
All booths shall have one stairway exit directly to the outside of the booth. Stairs cannot exit into an enclosed room.
All stairways must be at least three feet in width and must be equipped with a handrail on at least one side.
Decks designed to hold over 10 people require a second staircase for emergency evacuations.
Any deck with occupancy on the upper deck needs a Louisiana structure engineering stamped floor plan and needs to be approved by the fire marshal.
No multi-level exhibit or exhibit covered with a ceiling shall be greater than 300 square feet unless it is protected by an automatic sprinkler system as per NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code).
All single level covered exhibits or multi-level exhibits which are not protected by an automatic sprinkler system, shall in addition to the previous stated requirements, also provide a NOFD fire watch when the exhibits are greater than 300 square feet. The number of fire watch personnel shall be determined by the New Orleans Fire Department for each show.
In addition to the requirements enumerated above, all exhibits must adhere to National Fire Protection Association 101 (2003 Life Safety Code), Section 12.7.4.3 and all other applicable codes and standards related to exhibits.

By January 8, 2026, exhibitors with a single-level covered or multi-level exhibit are required to submit professional structural engineer stamped floor plans to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center:

Erika Hamm
Assistant Director of Safety & Emergency Management
900 Convention Center Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-582-3020
Email: ehamm@mccno.com

And:

Derrick Dean
Assistant Manager – Emergency Management
900 Convention Center Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-582-3020
Email: ddean@mccno.com

Does Your Exhibit Include a Hanging Sign?*

YesNo

Hanging signs/banners may not exceed the perimeter of assigned booth space. The suspended height limit when measured from the floor up to the top of the sign is 25 feet.

Does Your Hanging Sign Require Electricity? *

YesNo

Does Your Exhibit Have an Elevated Floor? *

YesNo

How High is this Elevated Floor?*

Raised floors must be ADA compliant, include ramps to access the booth space, and not extend into the aisle. Raised areas that are not ramped must be clearly marked or lit around the perimeter.

A standard wheelchair ramp should have a grade no steeper than 1:12. This means that for every inch of rise (change in height), there should be 12 inches of run (change in length). Ramps should have a minimum width of 36 inches. Further information regarding ADA compliance is available at https://www.ada.gov/2010_regs.htm.

Does your Exhibit Have a Ramp so that Attendees Can Access the Booth? *

YesNo

Does your Exhibit Have Counters?*

YesNo

Are All Your Counters Placed a Minimum of One Foot from All Aisles?*

YesNo

Does Your Exhibit Have a Presentation Area? *

YesNo

Is this Presentation Area a Minimum of 5 ft. from All Aisles? *

YesNo

Will Your Booth Structure Have a Door that Faces an Aisle? *

YesNo

Will Your Door Be Set Back Far Enough to Allow Clearance to Open Without Entering the Aisle?*

YesNo

Will Your Booth Have Hanging Lights? *

YesNo

Lights hung from an overhead truss system or facility overhead catwalks and/or beams must be placed within the perimeter of the exhibitor’s booth space. Will all your lights be placed with the perimeter of your booth?*

YesNo

Island booth exhibitors that wish to have facility lights turned off that are within the confines of their booth space must submit requests to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center by January 8, 2026. No requests will be granted to turn off lights that project over aisle space or other exhibitors’ booths. Island exhibits that include lights hung from an overhead truss system or facility overhead catwalks and/ or beams must be placed within the perimeter of the exhibitor’s booth space.

The exhibitor of an island booth is responsible for any costs related to lighting installation and dismantle, including any lights which may be denied approval on site due to infringing on AAOS aisles, or other areas outside the exhibitor’s booth space.

The following schedule lists when the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will go to “show level lighting and power” in Halls B – F:

Sunday, March 1 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Monday, March 2 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Please attach your island booth design file(s) here:*

Select File

Please combine files into a single PDF for upload to avoid multiple submissions

If you have any questions, please contact us at exhibits@aaos.org.