Barriers

Our ropes and posts for hire are one of the essentials of event hire along with our tensabarriers. They’re useful for all kinds of situations, are easy to set up and take down.

What kinds of barrier hire are there?

There are many different styles of barrier hire, which work for a number of different spaces and setups. We have three main types available which are ropes and posts, tensabarriers and picket fences.

Ropes and posts are often used for events where a VIP space needs to be sectioned off, for example a red carpet entrance area. While the ropes and posts cordon off space, they are more for decorative value than any kind of security.

We offer rope barrier hire in a multitude of colours, as well as both chrome and gold-coloured metal posts. Ropes have a clip at each end to allow them to be attached to posts. These clips can also be in chrome and gold-coloured configurations.

Tensabarriers don’t have quite the same VIP look like ropes and posts do but are a bit more secure and are great for constructing queueing areas. Each tensabarrier post comes with a 2m retractable tape which can be attached to another tensabarrier, which can quickly be put together to section off space.

Our picket fences for hire are a great decorative way of sectioning space into areas and are particularly useful for big festivals and exhibitions. Our fences are painted white and are free-standing in supplied “feet” but cannot be linked to each other.

How do I work out how much barrier hire I need?

While easy to set up, knowing how many ropes and posts needed is a little bit more of an art form. For a straight line, there is always one more post needed than ropes; more complex arrangements will differ and it’s always worth drawing out first to make sure you’ve got it right. Sizing is important to understand too; while ropes are 1.5m long it’s de rigueur to allow them to “sag” a little, so you should allow 1.2m for each rope.

Tensabarriers are a bit easier to deal with. They come with a post and one stretchy piece of fabric which recoils into the post when not clipped to another post. Simply measure the distance needed to block off, and divide by 2m to get the number of posts needed. Up to three posts can be attached to one tensabarrier post, allowing multiple sections to be created easily.

Picket fences are 6ft (1.83m) long and do not interconnect. They're designed more for decorative purposes than security, and as such one should allow for a little bit of space between them. To work out how many picket fences are needed, simply take the dimensions of the space that you wish to encircle and divided by 2m for each picket fence, remembering to leave a bigger gap for your entrance / exit.

How does delivery of rope and post hire work?

All ropes, posts and barriers are checked and cleaned prior to dispatch. They’re very easy to set up, and can be ready to go in minutes.

Working out delivery costs is easy with Expo Hire. On the home page of this website is our carriage calculator; tap your postcode into that and our website will confirm not only whether we cover that postcode or not, but also which of our 11 branches is closest to you and the cost for delivery from that branch, as well as the list of possible extra charges.

Once you have filled your basket and confirmed your delivery dates and postcode in the checkout, we will show you an itemised cost for delivery so you know exactly what you’re paying for before you place your order.

Want to know when your delivery is coming? You can track your driver using our real time maps on the day of delivery and collection. Simply tap the link in the automated text we send you and you can find out where they are - no need to call for updates.