# Check Your Venue Clear Height Before Design Safety & Technical Planning Compare measured building space with an equipment envelope and the project-specific clearance specified by your design team. 3 min tool + practical guideReviewed 2026-10-22 [Read the guide]() [Discuss your project]() Planning notes ## Survey the lowest obstruction Use a common reference level and mark changes in ceiling height across the whole proposed footprint. - Record soffit or beam levels, ducts, cable trays, sprinklers and other overhead services. - Measure service drops from the same soffit reference; avoid subtracting them again if your measurement already ends at the lowest obstruction. - Record floor build-up above the surveyed floor reference. Planning notes ## Use the complete equipment envelope Ask the design team for the highest required point and its project-specific clearance. Do not substitute a generic number of play levels. - Include structures, nets, supports and activity movement where relevant. - Confirm installation access and maintenance access requirements. - Discuss fire services, escape routes and building constraints separately. Planning notes ## Review the remaining allowance Available height equals surveyed soffit height minus service drop and new floor build-up. The remaining allowance subtracts equipment height and the specified clearance. - A negative allowance means the entered concept exceeds the measured space. - A non-negative allowance only means the entered vertical dimensions fit arithmetically. - Send a marked plan, sections and site photos for engineering review before committing to a layout. Put it into practice ## Your project preparation checklist - Survey reference level is recorded. - Lowest beams and services are marked on the plan. - Floor build-up is included once. - Equipment envelope and specified clearance are documented. - Horizontal zones and building constraints will be reviewed separately. ## Questions & answers I measured directly to the lowest duct. What service drop should I enter? Use that measured height as the first input and enter zero for the service drop, so the obstruction is not deducted twice. Does a positive allowance approve the equipment? No. It only compares the entered vertical dimensions. The project team still needs to verify activity movement, access and building constraints. Your next step ## Turn your planning notes into a project brief Share the site, target users and open questions with our team. Keep your assumptions and supporting documents together for a more useful discussion. [Discuss your project]() --- Source: [Check Your Venue Clear Height Before Design]()