The two numbers that matter
Lane sizing starts with arrival rate and service time. Everything else — post count, belt length, turn radius, where the sign holders go — follows from those two figures. Get them from operations rather than from a drawing: the peak that matters is the fifteen-minute peak, not the hourly average, and service time should be measured at the desk during that window.
With both in hand, the queue length you must physically hold is the number of people waiting at the peak, multiplied by the depth each person occupies. We plan on 0.6 m of lane depth per standing person for general public spaces, and 0.9 m where travellers carry luggage or push trolleys.
Fewer posts, without a lane people duck under
A retractable belt is a tension member. Extend it to its full length and it sags in the middle; the practical guidance is to run a belt at roughly 80 per cent of its rated extension, which keeps the top edge near hip height along the whole span. Longer belts mean fewer posts and a lower unit cost, but they also mean more sag and a lane that is easier to duck under.
In practice a 3.9 m dual-line belt covers a 3.1 m span comfortably, so a 20 m run lands on seven posts instead of nine. Fewer posts, a faster install, and a lane that still reads as a boundary from across the hall.
Working the footprint
Serpentine lanes buy depth at the cost of width. Each turn consumes a post and about 1.2 m of clear space so a trolley can round it without catching the belt.
Mark the fixed constraints first — fire routes, accessible paths, door swings — then set an entry that is visible from the approach and an exit that points at the desks without crossing it. Fold the run into what is left at 1.2 m lane width, and place signage last.
What to specify
Once the geometry is fixed, the schedule writes itself: post count, base type by floor finish, webbing length and line count, finish, and the number of sign holders. Send that list rather than a product name — it survives a change of supplier and it tells the installer what the lane is for.
Common questions
How many posts do I need for a given queue?
Divide the total lane length by the working span of your webbing, add one for the far termination, then add a post for every turn. Send us the floor area and your peak arrival rate and we will return the count.
Can a lane be reconfigured after installation?
Yes, on removable, magnetic or rubber bases. Surface-fixed and super-heavy bases are for lanes that stay put — choose them where the layout is permanent.
Which finish suits a customer-facing space?
Brushed stainless hides handling marks better than polished and reads as premium in retail and hospitality. Powder-coated black is the quieter option where the barrier should recede.
Do you supply layout drawings?
We do. Share a floor plan and the arrival figures and you get a marked-up layout with a full schedule of posts, bases, webbing and signage.
Get the next one in your inbox
Layout guidance, finishes and figures from live deployments — once a month, no product announcements.