Top 10 Questions our Customers Ask About Retractable Seating

Our Marketing Manager, Nina Parmenter, answers the questions which our customers ask us the most...

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The other day, we were discussing whether it would be possible to produce an all-encompassing specification guide to retractable seating for our customers. Probably not, we concluded; our retractable systems are so bespoke that the possible variations and combinations would be mind-boggling!

From the discussion however, it did become clear that there are a few questions that come up again and again – to which we’ve compiled some brief answers below.

However, if you’d like more detailed answers to these or any other questions about retractable seating, needless to say, please just get in touch. It is, after all, our favourite subject…  

1. What IS retractable seating?

In many years of trying to explain the concept, I’ve found that the fastest verbal explanation of retractable seating is “tiers of seating that close away like a chest of drawers”! However, the very best way to understand retractable seating is to forget the words and watch a short video. Take a look at our YouTube channel for a variety of retractable seating systems in action.

2. How many seats can I fit in my space?

If you’d like to do a quick estimate, you can measure your space and use our handy Dimensions and Capacity Guide which you can download from the Datasheets section of our Resources page.

However we’re more than happy to save you the time, and help you with this free of charge. We can either give you a quick seat count and visualisation based on your measurements, or a detailed CAD layout drawing based on a site visit and survey.

We’re experienced in spotting particular features in spaces – sloped ceilings, inconvenient doorways and the like – and suggesting solutions, so it's always worth getting us in to take a look.

3. What type of floor do I need?

Floor compatibility is a topic which can make specifiers nervous, but we’ve provided retractable seating for spaces with a wide variety of floors. Below are the most common floor types we come across:

Hard floors – these are ideal for retractable seating but we still need to check the smoothness and tolerance. We look for a tolerance of ±2mm over 2m to ensure a smooth-running system.

Sports Floors – Sprung sports floors are no problem, but we do ask for them to be reinforced just along the wheel runs. Please ask us for more information.

Carpet - We don’t recommend running a retractable system over a carpeted area, but if unavoidable, we can provide custom made running boards to lay in front of your system before opening to prevent damage to the carpet.

Parquet – It’s possible (although not ideal) to operate retractable seating successfully over parquet, but we do recommend a thorough check of your floor tiles prior to the seating being installed to ensure no damage is caused.

Marmoleum – Marmoleum floors are acceptable but the marmoleum must be fully bonded to the substrate.

Please do ask us if your floor is any other construction - we can also provide floor loading diagrams on request.

4. What standards apply to retractable seating in the UK?

It’s a tricky one! Retractable seating often falls between a number of definitions – it’s not a structural part of a building, it’s not a staircase, and it’s not furniture.

• The standard BS EN provides good guidance for the design of a spectator viewing area, and part 5 in particular (“Telescopic Stands”) specifically covers retractable seating.
• Fire safety requirements, including aisle widths and safe numbers of seats to include in a row, are included in BS – Fire Safety in Buildings.
• Our UK industry association BASES also publishes a thorough guide to the design of a seating area. This is being updated at present, but the current version can be downloaded from the BASES website. 
• The “Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds” (Known as “The Green Guide”), which is published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport also contains some useful guidance, but this is primarily written with outdoor sports venues in mind.
• The chairs themselves are covered by BS EN – the strength test for ranked seating. A chair which enjoys heavy usage, for example in an arena or lecture theatre, should ideally comply with the highest level of the standard, grade 4. There are also lower grades for lighter usage.
• CE Marking regulations also effect retractable seating, and you should always check that any retractable seating specified carries this mark.
• Finally, the required load bearing capacity for safety rails is detailed in BS EN Part 5.

If you need further guidance about standards, please just ask us. And don't forget, we can also manufacture seating to comply with international standards.

5. Does retractable seating need servicing?

Be extremely wary of anyone who tells you a retractable system does not need servicing. They all require at least a yearly inspection, no matter how sturdily built. For one thing, it’s required in the UK under PUWER regulations, which state that working equipment must be inspected annually by a competent person and that records must be kept of those inspections. But there are many other good reasons too.

During a service call, our engineers will subtly adjust platforms every year to ensure smooth running – poor adjustment can cause wear, which can lead in the long term to more serious and costly damage. They’ll also lubricate the system and replace any small parts or fixings showing signs of wear. In addition, our experienced engineers will also spot any signs of damage, which can be caused by all manner of events, from rubbish under the wheels, to incorrect operation by untrained personnel, to heavy objects being stored on the closed system. As with any mechanical system, investing in servicing will save you money in the years to come!

We service all makes of retractable seating, so if you'd like to arrange a seating service, please call our aftersales team.

6. What is the difference between a bolted retractable system and a welded one?

Whereas a bolted system such as ours would be delivered to your venue as what we like to describe as a “mechano set” and bolted together on site, a welded system will arrive as large subassemblies. While these unwieldy assemblies do slightly reduce time on site, there are multiple issues to overcome with logistics and manual handling – not to mention getting them into the building!

The other reason we recommend a bolted structure is that over the lifetime of the system, a bolted system can be adjusted with far more accuracy and finesse. These small adjustments, which our engineers perform as part of your annual service, are essential to the long-term reliability and smooth running of the system. They also prevent any more serious damage, wear and even breakdowns in the long term.  

Also please note that although “welded” may sound stronger than bolted, in actual fact the small amounts of “give” built into bolted systems help them to manage loads more effectively than a welded system.  

7. Aren’t retractable systems noisy?

Not all retractable systems are noisy! But some are.

Are you interested in learning more about Folding Theater Seats? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

The worst-case systems rest open with the front beam of one platform resting on the rear beam of the platform below. This reliance on metal-to-metal contact makes the systems noisy and prone to wear and distortion. Our platforms make contact at seven discrete points; at each point a nylon pad or roller cushions the contact. Along with our rigid deck construction, this reduces noise when opening, closing or walking across the platforms.

8. What holds a retractable system safely in place once open?

Most (but not all) retractable systems have some kind of mechanism for holding the rows safely in place once open. Many are gravity operated. Our row locks are gravity operated, but with the additional backing of a spring and an extremely sturdy construction. This ensures safe and secure locking, even in earthquake prone zones such as New Zealand and California.  

9. What if the chairs fold down by accident?

Before or during the closure of a retractable system, each row of chairs has to fold down onto its platform - allowing the chairs to be stored inside the closed platforms.

It’s almost impossible for Audience Systems’ chairs to be folded down by a member of the public – either deliberately or by accident. Beware, however, of chairs which are folded via a highly visible foot release pedal. These can easily be released by accident - or indeed by curious children.  

10. Can I upgrade my seating after installation?

It is, of course, most economical to get your specification right when you purchase the system, but circumstances change and all things are possible!

We've retrofitted many operational upgrades to retractable systems, including the power operation and partial opening functionality.

Existing systems which are showing their age can also be refurbished – so if your seating platforms are working well, but decks, chairs, trims, fascias and/or rails are looking tired, a complete replacement is not always necessary.

There are also a few options for increasing your seating capacity, whether through adding an extra row of seating, or purchasing matching seating which can be laid out on the floor in front of the retractable platforms.

There’s a lot to consider when planning an auditorium, and seating is a big part of that process. When you’re working with your seating provider to determine the right chairs for the space, there’s several terms that are helpful to know in order to understand the experience different seats will offer your patrons.

Below, we’ve compiled ten seating terms and why they’re important dimensions and measurements when selecting seating for your auditorium.

The chair envelope is the front to back dimension of an unoccupied chair. In chairs with self-rising seats, the envelope is measured with the seat in the “up” position, as shown here. Accessories like cupholders can impact this dimension, as the forward location is typically whichever component of the chair extends the most into the row.

Back-to-back spacing, also called row spacing, is the total space allocated for each row of chairs. It is the distance between the back of a chair to the back of the chair in front of it, and it’s the sum of the chair envelope and clear passage. Typically, this space is three feet (3.0’), but additional space may be necessary depending on accessories, the number of chairs per row, and access to aisles.

Back pitch is the angle of recline of the back of the chair. The back pitch is measured in degrees from vertical, and generally ranges from 16° to 24° but the purpose of the space or position of the chair can impact the angle. For example, the back pitch would need to be greater than 24° in a planetarium where patrons are looking upwards. On the other hand, the back might be less than 16° for chairs in a high balcony of a performing arts theater.

Generally, the layout engineer will designate the back pitch for each chair section in the layout drawing. The layout engineer will give their accommodations during the layout process and then design row spacing to that accommodation. Since the chair back and standard come separately, the back pitch can be adjusted on site by the installer, if needed.

Back height is the height from the floor to the top of the chair back. Traditionally, back height is 32 inches, however backs may be as high as 44 inches, depending on the needs of the space. For seating mounted on treads and risers, the back height is considered a rail by some code authorities.

Back height impacts the overall back-to-back spacing as a higher back requires additional space. Back height also impacts sight lines, as a higher back can obstruct patron view if the chairs aren’t staggered properly.

Chair size is the distance from center-of-arm to center-of-arm, which is the full width of the chair. The most common chair sizes range from 19 to 22 inches, but they may be narrower or wider depending on the chair. For example, a stadium chair may be 18 inches in width, but premium chair models, like a cinema recliner, could be up to 26 inches wide. At Irwin Seating, our most popular chairs have sizes between 19 and 24 inches.

Finding the right balance between capacity and comfort is important for the experience patrons have in your space. With your patrons in mind, try to remember that small chair sizes will give your space maximum capacity, but they could negatively affect comfort and will come with their own accessory restrictions. Your chair manufacturer can help you find the right balance and keep you informed with any restrictions you could face.

The chair size line is a consistent point on the chair that is used by the draftsperson laying out the space. This point, measured along the run of a row, is then used by installation crews to determine the proper location of that row with in the space. Other chair measurement points can be used in similar ways, the most common being:

• Back edge of standard foot
• Drill holes in the mount
• The seat pivot

The chair size line is also commonly used to measure row spacing, clearances, clear spaces, and other dimensions within the layout. Look for these dimensions as they can indicate some key information about your project. For Irwin Seating, this dimensions can be located on the right hand side of the drawing and are clearly labeled.

Row length is the sum of the chair sizes plus an additional 2 - 6 inches of aisle end allowances. Accessories like cup holders on the armrests can add to this dimension.

Row length is closely tied to clear passage in building code. The more chairs per row, and therefore the greater row length, the more clear passage that is required.

The most important thing to know about the space you’re designing is its intended purpose. The purpose of the space plays a big role in the experience patrons will expect, and therefore an important aspect when determining seating choices and layout. One aspect of designing a space to match the patron experience is gaining a full understanding of the chairs filling the space. The layout engineers at your seat manufacturer are ready to answer all your questions about our chairs to make sure you have the right chair and layout for your space.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of waiting benches for sale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.