



Pipe and drape hire systems guide
Setting up our pipe and drape hire systems couldn’t be easier and you won’t need any specialist tools either. We use telescopic poles called Uprights and Crossbars, which make up the frame and by choosing from a range sizes you can construct a frame to work in virtually any room size. We have in our range of Uprights poles from 4ft in height up to a whopping 20ft. If its walls, backdrops, booths, concealment or dividers Pipe & Drape is the ideal solution because it is lightweight, easy to store, easy to transport and easy to setup.
If you're unfamiliar with pipe and drape, the Cover It Up easy guide to pipe and drape hire systems will guide you through pipe and drape components and set-ups. The first and most important thing to understand is that there are only 4 components parts to a pipe and drape backdrop:
- Uprights - the aluminum vertical pipe sets the height of your display.
- Bases - the steel plate that goes underneath each upright to provide overall stability and support.
- Drape Support Rod - the adjustable horizontal pipe that sets with of your display and from which the drapes are hung.
- Drape Panels - the fabric that hangs from the drape support rod and completes the look of your backdrop.
With our pipe & drape hire systems you can create an endless variety of set-ups!
The first thing to look at is the height that you'll need. We have many upright sizes that determine the overall height of your display, so knowing your height requirement is very useful. (Tip: make sure it will clear the ceiling height! If you order an 8 foot tall upright and the ceiling is only 7 feet 10 inches high, your uprights won't work in that space.) Next measure the width of the area that you need to cover. To figure out the number of pieces that you'll need, you want to have a solid idea of the width that you are covering with pipe and drape. Lets start with something easy - You need to create a backdrop, perhaps this would be on a stage or at a corporate event. You will need to measure the height and width of the area you are covering, then you will need your bases, your uprights and your vertical pipes which will slot together, you can then hang your drape. Now you have your pipe and drape backdrop, lets say you want to divide it through the middle to create a “T” shape , thats easy, you just need another set of upright and down pipes that will slot into the middle section. The back section and the middle dividing section of this “T” shape can go on indefinitely and if you take away one of the end portions of the “T” shape you would then be left with an “L” shape portion which could be used to cover a back wall and then turn at a right angle to continue covering a side wall. Don’t forget these are just simple examples of how pipe and drape hire systems can work for you. There are endless ways to configure pipe and drape to suit your specific requirements.
Pipe drape hire can:
- Create booths
- Dressing rooms
- Backdrops for product launches
- Music and live stage events
- Corporate product launches
- Corridors
- Mask unsightly walls
Helpful tips for pipe and drape hire:
- Every upright needs a base underneath it so you should always have the same amount of bases as you do uprights.
- Each end of the drape support rod needs an upright to hold it up.
- The amount of drape panels you need depends on the fabric, as our various fabrics have different panel widths.
- Don’t forget, pipe and drape is intended as a temporary display, not a permanent structure; it is not bolted to a wall or the floor. Never use it in an unsafe manner.
- The examples we talk about in this guide are only a few of the ways that pipe and drape hire systems can be constructed. The possibilities really are endless!