Pipe and drape

Pipe and Drape refers to pipe (aluminum or steel), fixed or adjustable telescoping vertical uprights supported by a weighted steel base, and adjustable telescopic or fixed horizontals that provide a drape support frame with removable drape panels. Pipe and Drape is used to divide, hide, and/or decorate a space temporarily. It is the least costly way to surround booth space at an exhibition. When the system is used for exhibition purposes and used instead of the traditional shell scheme option build time and breakdown time is significantly reduced. Pipe and drape is a great way of adding colour to what would normally be a relatively plain backdrop.

Often used as trade show booths, in tents, in large banquet halls and on stage; pipe and drape covers up the distracting features of the less appealing wall or window behind it. Pipe and drape is freestanding so ideal as room dividers, exhibition curtain backdrape, stage theatrical backdrop, catering aisle drape and drape partitions.

Pipe and drape is used frequently with home staging, weddings, fashion shows, concerts, interior design, and in the theatre and on-set on television programs and movies.

Drape must be "pleated" or installed with folds for a finished look. Typically 1.5-ft to 2.0 ft of drape is used for each running foot to be covered. The industry standard fabric for trade show drapery is Banjo. Banjo is a dobby-weave fabric made from a medium-sheen polyester yarn. It is inherently flame resistant and machine washable. Inherent flame resistance means the flame retardant characteristics will not fade with washing. Booths require two different sizes of drape: 8’ long drape which hangs between 8’ high uprights and 3’ long drape which hangs between 3’ uprights and the 3’ slot on 8’ uprights.

The industry standard for trade show drapery is for the drapes to be two inches shorter than the height of the upright. A typical 8’ Banjo drape is actually 94” in finished height with 4” pockets on top and bottom. This prevents the drape from hanging on the floor and allows the panel to be flipped over when the bottom is soiled or damaged.

The simplest and most common method of hanging drape panels is using a pipe pocket where the drape is simply sleeved over the pipe.

...
Wikipedia