POP display and equipment:
Safety and compliance

500 words
#RetailSafety #PublicSpaces #POPdesign #DesignForSafety
Dec 2025 — bh

Unstable display materials, detached components, structural failures, sharp edges, falling products, risks of slipping or tripping… visitors to retail spaces are not immune to minor or major incidents, and point-of-purchase equipment is no exception.

European, national and local regulations — including police and fire safety ordinances — require Publicly Accessible Premises to take appropriate precautionary measures, based on visitor numbers, in order to ensure public safety.

Retail stores are also considered publicly accessible premises. As such, they are required to provide a safe environment for both visitors and staff. This principle is general in nature and therefore applies not only to the products and services they sell, but also to aspects such as fire safety, circulation and obstacles.

Presentation and communication materials, as well as retail shelving, must be designed, manufactured and installed in such a way that they do not pose a risk to the public. Responsibility lies with the retailer to ensure that these elements do not create hazards.

According to a study conducted by the French Ministry of the Economy, more than 7% of in-store accidents are linked to unstable or poorly secured equipment, such as POP materials.

Beyond physical risks, unstable display materials or unsafe product presentation will also — and above all — undermine consumer trust in retail chains and have a negative impact on brand image. In a world where customer experience is fundamental, the perceived safety of a retail environment plays a crucial role in the overall experience.

Ultimately, retailers and brands will hold the equipment supplier accountable. For our technical engineers, design is never left to chance. Every solution must meet strict stability and safety requirements, posing no risk of tipping, falling, or injury—even under heavy foot traffic or unintended interaction.

As a professional display manufacturer, we systematically integrate the accepted rules of the trade from the design phase onward:

• the selection of reliable materials and mechanical assemblies;
• virtual load testing and testing under real-life conditions;
• compliance with applicable standards, or those specific to a retail chain: stability, electrical components and fire safety;
• the development of merchandising solutions that ensure product stability;
• assembly and installation according to provided instructions, or by specialized teams;
• although not always mandatory, certain standard dimensions exist for practical reasons;

Thanks to our proactive approach, we deliver reliable POP solutions that reassure our clients and fully comply with the specifications and safety strategies of the retail chains that deploy them in-store.