Rules concerning the loading and unloading of materials at Feria Valencia for the exhibition of machinery on level 3 of pavilion 4 during the Cevisama trade fair in 2022

         This set of rules is intended to:

• • Avoid placing loads on the floor slabs above their carrying capacity
  • Avoid deterioration of the floor slabs due to their misuse.
  • Safeguarding the safety of people and property during assembly, the event and dismantling.

1.- Confirmation that the exhibitor has been informed and that they undertake to comply with and enforce these technical conditions.

The exhibitor shall sign a form to this effect.

2.- Maximum permissible weights. Load-bearing sketches.

• • Floor slab overload: 1,250 kg/m2. As a general rule, this usage overload must not be exceeded. The area enclosed by the polygon whose vertices are defined by the supporting points of the machine or package shall be used to calculate this live overload, not just the total length and width of the machine. The mass of the machine or package divided by such surface must be less than the live overload of the slab, 1250 kg/m2.
  • A basic load sketch shall be provided for each stand, showing machines to scale, their position, and the impact of their weight on the slab in kg/m2 for each device, which must be less than 1,250 kg/m2.

3.- Maximum dimensions and weights of transport vehicles and loading/unloading devices.

• • Access to level 3 of pavilions 1 to 4 is via a ramp with a maximum height of 4.10 metres. Therefore, cranes, trucks and vehicles must have a height lower than 4.10 meters.
  • The maximum weight of trucks, cranes and vehicles must be less than 30,000 kg. We refer to the vehicle’s unladen weight plus the weight of the load it is carrying at that moment.
  • Before accessing level 3, trucks and vehicles will be weighed on a scale that is available on level 2 of the fairgrounds. The total weight (kerb weight plus load) may not exceed 30,000 kg.
  • Suppose the weight of 30,000 kg is exceeded. In that case, the exhibitor must, before accessing the loading ramp, unload the truck sufficiently to reduce the weight to less than 30,000 kg, using his own means and at his own expense, and the lorry must be weighed again to check the weight reduction.
  • Before accessing level 3, the vehicle driver must sign a document acknowledging that he is informed that the maximum weight for trucks, cranes, vehicles and trailers on level 3 is 30,000 kgs (tare weight plus load). This document will be signed both at the event’s assembly and disassembly, as it is not possible to weigh the vehicles on level 3 once they have been loaded at the disassembly.
  • The weight of elements such as cranes that, due to their characteristics or any other reason, cannot be weighed on the scales shall be accredited by presenting the corresponding documentation and technical datasheet.

4.- Characteristics of the vehicles to be used for loading/unloading tasks

• The maximum unladen weight of forklift trucks (colloquially called “toritos” here) used for loading and unloading shall be 5,000 kilos. We refer to the forklift truck’s weight when unladen, not the weight it can lift. Such distinction is fundamental, as the lifting capacity of this type of machinery is often confused with the weight of the forklift itself. For example, a 5000 kg forklift truck can usually lift a maximum of half its own weight, i.e. it can unload a package weighing a maximum of 2,500 kg.
• We do not recommend using truck cranes (but jib cranes) for handling loads above 5 tons. And here are the reasons why:
  • a) Truck cranes allow the lifting of relatively small loads in relation to their total weight.
  • b) Truck cranes transfer loads to the floor slabs in a not very efficient and uniform way.
  • c) Jib cranes generally allow a much better load distribution, as they open the outriggers wider (the area enclosed by the outriggers is much larger) and can also be shimmed with sleepers much more efficiently than truck cranes.

Machinery and packages that, due to their heavyweight, cannot be unloaded and placed with the forklift trucks of less than 5,000 kg kerb weight unladen as mentioned in the previous point.

             Such elements must be adapted at origin (factory) to be unloaded, handled and placed in their final location using cranes whenever they do not have the possibility of unloading by crane at the origin. Otherwise, the methods and tools necessary to unload them with a crane will have been previously agreed upon with the transport- and loading/unloading company.

6.- General rules for the location of vehicles during loading/unloading and arrangement of the machines on the stand.

. As a general rule, the minimum separation distance between the trucks and the cranes unloading them is 4 metres (see attached diagram).

– The axles of the vehicle to be unloaded must not be aligned with those of the crane or its support/anchor points, and they must be at least 3 metres apart, as shown in the attached diagram.

– Vehicles and loads should preferably be arranged so that the broadest span between their supports is aligned with the longest axis of the pavilion.

– No loads or vehicles shall ever be placed or pass over the ground utility holes, nor shall crane legs or stabilisers be placed over the utility holes or within 2 metres of them.

– The cranes must be arranged with their outriggers fully deployed to achieve a weight distribution of less than 1,250 kg/m2 in the area enclosed by such outriggers, calculated as explained in point 2 of this document.  On each support or outrigger, wooden sleepers (support shims) must be used with a surface area of no less than 6.000 cm2 (approx. 80 x 80 cm) and a height of not less than 15 cm. Such sleepers may be made of any other material with the same performance to avoid excessive punching loads on the slabs.

7.- Characteristics of machine or load supports

We recommend that the points of support of the machines or loads on the slab form a grid of 2 x 1.50 metres or less. In general, the support plates are made of steel, with a minimum thickness of 8 mm and minimum dimensions of 20 x 20 cm.

8.- Calendars for assembly and disassembly.

             An essential rule when handling loads with cranes or forklift trucks is that it is forbidden for any person to remain under the suspended load, not even the crane operator or the person in charge of the manoeuvre. “

            Since the consequences of an accident, such as a heavy machine or package falling on the slab during assembly and disassembly work, can be very serious, we must first and foremost avoid this risk. Remember that Cevisama also occupies the next level down, level 2 pavilion 4.

            The only way to install machinery on level 3 and protect personnel working on level 2 hall 4 from the consequences of an accident, as described, is to install all machinery on level 3 hall 4 before starting assembly of level 2 hall 4.  Also to use those time slots that exist during the official assembly period of hall 4 level 2, for example on weekends off.“

Once all elements and machinery on level 3 and hall 4 that are dangerous to handle have been unloaded and placed in position, the assembly can proceed normally on both levels.

Something similar would have to be done for dismantling.  Machinery from level 3 of hall 4 could not be removed until level 2 of hall 4 had been dismantled and emptied.

In terms of minimising risks, besides the usual precautions for loading and unloading work (delimitation of the work area, etc.), it seems appropriate that only one loading and unloading logistics company is responsible for carrying out this work on the whole hall 4 on level 3. This would ensure that you understand the rules and is committed to applying them.

If the loading and unloading company were a single company, it would also facilitate the entire loading and unloading operation. A single company would be responsible for all the coordination and the drawing up of timetables.

 9.- Other considerations

 On level 3, we only have compressed air intakes on the perimeter of the hall. Due to this, Feria has to carry out previous work for bringing the connections to the necessary points from level 2 to level 3.  To do that, Feria Valencia needs to have the number and location of compressed air intakes necessary. Such work must be done even before the unloading of machinery on level 3 and the assembly on level 2 starts.