Report:AEV eGuide Working Group -11 May

The AEV eGuide Working Group met for the first time this year at Olympia London, on Wednesday May 11 with Siân Richards of Olympia serving as temporary chair. With the meeting open, Rachel Parker, AEV director, thanked Olympia London for hosting the meeting, before the group got underway with the apologies, announcing the new members and approving the minutes of the last meeting.

The group then began discussion of the topics currently with the eGuide sub-committee and the changes to the next eGuide awaiting approval, including stages and stage height regulations, the regulation of creches, aerial equipment and demonstrations, water features & water waste.

After discussing the topics in front of the sub-committee and approving or proposing changes to the eGuide, the group moved on to the discussion topics, starting with a brief review of how members felt the eGuide was working for them. The consensus was broadly positive, but it was noted that where existing legislation is incorporated into the guide, it needs to be reviewed to ensure it is correct and up-to-date.

Following this assessment of the eGuide's current performance, the group turned its attention to battery safety in the light of an incident at the e-cigarette event, Vape Jam UK, and the eGuide's advice on suspended structures. It was noted that on the subject of suspended structures, the eGuide was already very clear on the level of certification and sign off required and no change to the existing recommendations was necessary.

Battery safety had been a concern at Vape Jam UK after a customer had incorrectly inserted a non-CE marked battery to charge, and it had exploded. Matt Constance of ExCeL London commented that the event had dealt with the incident promptly and sensibly. The event had immediately set up a special charging area away from the public and put posters up around the show stating that visitors were not permitted to charge or change batteries within the event.

The group agreed that some text needed to be included in the 'Product Demonstrations/Activities on Stands' section of the eGuide, to the effect of requiring all products on display to be CE marked.

Round table discussion and general venue updates came next, including news of a new glass display system and a discussion of how these might fare under the current eGuide.

Richards concluded the meeting by announcing the date and venue for the next meeting as Thursday October 20 at the Yorkshire Event Centre.