House and Ground Regulations of Koelnmesse for the Cologne Trade Fair Grounds

1. The House and Grounds Regulations shall apply to all areas of the trade fair grounds in Cologne, i.e. to all halls, the outdoor area as well as to all buildings and land areas that have been temporarily or indefinitely licensed to Koelnmesse. These Regulations shall apply to all persons entering or staying on the trade fair grounds in Cologne in the aforementioned sense.

2. Koelnmesse exercises domiciliary rights within the area of the trade fair grounds in Cologne, through its employees and/or employees of security companies commissioned by Koelnmesse. Instructions by security personnel must be followed.

3. Koelnmesse shall be entitled to govern access to the trade fair grounds – and to the halls in particular – for exhibitors, visitors and other third parties, e.g. to grant admission to trade visitors only, and to monitor compliance with the conditions of admission. The trade fair grounds may only be entered with a valid admission ticket. This ticket must be presented on request. Staying on the trade fair grounds is only permitted during the specified opening hours. Varying admission rules – specifically for exhibitors and Koelnmesse service partners – shall remain unaffected by this.

4. For children and adolescents up to the age of 16 admission during the events shall be subject to adult accompaniment. Teenagers 16 years of age or older shall have the same, unlimited admission as adult visitors. Any regulations deviating from this will be announced separately, e.g. on the respective event homepage. Event-based special arrangements, e.g. ‘for trade visitors only’, shall remain unaffected by this. Admission during set-up and dismantling shall not be permitted for children or adolescents up to the age of 16 unless a training relationship with a company operating on trade fair grounds during set-up and dismantling can be demonstrated.

5. Employees of Koelnmesse, or of the security companies commissioned by Koelnmesse, who can identify themselves as such, shall be enti?tled to perform ID checks on the trade fair grounds. Persons encountered who are not in possession of a valid admission ticket, who are unable to prove some other right of admission, or who are otherwise not authorised to be on trade fair grounds, shall leave the trade fair grounds immediately.

6. The trade fair grounds are under video surveillance for general security reasons.

7. Koelnmesse shall be entitled to prohibit the carrying of bags and other containers on trade fair grounds. For reasons of general security and theft prevention, bags and other containers that individuals carry with them are subject to spot checks or comprehensive checks at the entrances and exits of the trade fair grounds. By entering the trade fair grounds, those who carry bags or other containers with them give their consent to have these bags and containers checked.

8. Koelnmesse shall be liable for damages – regardless of the legal grounds on which they are based – for intentional and grossly negligent acts. In the case of simple negligence, Koelnmesse shall be liable only:

• for damages resulting from injury to life, body or health,
• for damage caused through a significant breach of material contractual obligation (obligation upon the fulfilment of which execution of the Agreement is possible to begin with and on fulfilment of which the Contracting Party regularly does and may rely); in this case, however, the liability of Koelnmesse shall be limited to compensation for such damage as is foreseeably and typically incurred. Liability for indirect or consequential damages that are not typical for this Agreement are hereby precluded.

Koelnmesse accepts no liability for the loss of or damage to objects brought onto the trade fair grounds by exhibitors, visitors or other third parties. Moreover, Koelnmesse does not accept liability for damage resulting from force majeure.

9. A valid entry permit is required to enter the trade fair grounds with a vehicle. Separate regulations may apply to parking areas. Entering and driving within the trade fair grounds are at the visitor’s own risk. Koelnmesse assumes no liability within the framework of applicable statutory provisions. The German Road Traffic Act (StVO) shall apply. Unless traffic conditions require walking speed, the maximum speed shall be 30 km/h. Koelnmesse shall be entitled to restrict, completely prohibit or otherwise regulate times and areas for entry to/driving within the trade fair grounds. Driving into the exhibition halls shall only take place in exceptional cases and only with prior permission. Instructions by guidance personnel must be followed. Koelnmesse reserves the right to check vehicles at the entrance and exit in the event of a suspected violation or criminal offence for reasons of general security and theft prevention.

10. The parking of vehicles and the placement of other objects of any type shall be confined to the designated areas. Escape routes and areas for the fire brigade (bypasses, set-up and movement areas) must be kept clear at all times. When placing swap-bodies, containers, etc., suitable measures shall be taken to keep them from sinking into the road surface. The owner/keeper shall be liable for damage without proof of fault. Vehicles, containers, etc., that have been parked unlawfully shall be moved or towed at the expense of the owner/keeper or source of the interference. In such cases, Koelnmesse reserves the right to subsequently charge parking fees.

11. Any conduct shall be prohibited if it is likely to disrupt the proper execution of an event or of set-up and dismantling, or that violates the interests of Koelnmesse in any other way, in particular – any unauthorised commercial activity on the trade fair grounds, particularly the offer of all manner of goods and services, whether for remuneration or free of charge;

• the unauthorised distribution or display of leaflets, promotional literature, posters, magazines, etc., as well as the affixing of stickers of all kinds; the same shall apply if the aforementioned publications are distributed by post or in a comparable manner by Deutsche Post AG or similar companies and institutions;
• the presence of animals (with the exception of guide and assistance dogs required for medical reasons; suitable medical evidence must be presented on request);
• soiling of the hall or outdoor space, the uncontrolled disposal of waste, the bringing of waste onto the trade fair grounds, and any behaviour likely to pollute or endanger the environment;
• the unauthorised entry of vehicles into the trade fair grounds as well as the unauthorised use of vehicles on the trade fair grounds;
• the use of scooters, Segways, kickboards, roller skates, inline skates, skateboards and comparable means of transportation with or with?out motors anywhere on the trade fair grounds;
• the use of bicycles with or without motors in the exhibition halls, in the exhibition boulevard, in the other buildings and connecting walkways;
• any manner of unauthorised assemblies and processions;
• the carrying of weapons and other objects subject to registration in accordance with the Weapons Act (WaffG) (firearms, simulated weapons, etc.), the carrying of other mock weapons (including cosplay props) and other dangerous objects that are not subject to the Weapons Act;
• the carrying of fireworks, pyrotechnics and explosives;
• the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (e.g. drones);
• the direct sale or purchase as well as the exchange of exhibits and other items;
• the use of drugs and the excessive consumption of alcohol;
• smoking, including e-cigarettes, outside the designated smoking areas

If applicable, any rules varying from this will be announced separately.

12. Photographing, filming, the making of video recordings, drawing, painting, etc., for commercial purposes shall be subject to the prior, written consent of Koelnmesse and – where exhibition stands or products of exhibitors or other third parties or persons are concerned – the prior, written consent of the owner of the rights in question. Koelnmesse shall be entitled to issue further regulations for this purpose.

13. Insofar as photographs, film and/or video recordings are made by employees of Koelnmesse, or by companies or persons commissioned by Koelnmesse, in the area of the trade fair grounds in Cologne, for reporting or promotional purposes, this recording activity must not be hindered or otherwise impaired. All persons entering or staying on trade fair grounds are hereby advised of the provisions of the House and Grounds Regulations governing the making of photographs, films and videos in the area of the trade fair grounds in Cologne. By entering the trade fair grounds, those individuals who are recognisable in such recordings consent to use of these recordings for both reporting and promotional purposes.

14. Surveys, statistical polls and similar events shall be permitted only subject to the prior, written approval of Koelnmesse.

15. Koelnmesse shall be entitled to impose restrictions on the operation and volume of instruments and electro-acoustic systems on the trade fair grounds.

16. Goods for display, stand inventory or parts of stand equipment, as well as similar objects, may only be transported within the exhibition halls or transported outside of trade fair grounds upon proof of authorisation through presentation of a written confirmation on the part of the owner/holder.

17. Items found within trade fair grounds are to be handed in to the Lost and Found Office at Messewache (Security Office) North or East. Lost items can be retrieved there.

18. Concluding provisions: In the event of violations of the House Rules or other provisions of Koelnmesse, Koelnmesse shall be entitled to expel the individual(s) involved from the trade fair grounds, or to issue a temporary or permanent ban on their use of the grounds. Violations of the General Conditions of Participation may result in exclusion from participation in the event currently in progress, or from participation in future events. The measures as set forth in these House Rules shall not be construed in such a way as to preclude criminal prosecution.

As of 1 May 2024