Pipe and drape is a freestanding system of poles and fabric panels used to create a wall, backdrop or partition quickly, without drilling into floors or walls. It is widely used as a stage backdrop, photo or press wall, exhibition booth, a way to hide storage and technical equipment, and to divide a large hall into smaller areas. Because it is fully demountable and stands on weighted bases, it can be used anywhere — including listed buildings where nothing may be fixed to the structure. Set-up is fast: a wall of several metres is usually standing within half an hour.

The system has four parts: a weighted baseplate, a telescopic upright, a telescopic crossbar, and the drape itself. Uprights adjust steplessly in height, with sizes ranging from around one metre to over five metres; crossbars extend as well, so each bay can be set to the exact width required. Drapes slide onto the crossbar via a hook-and-loop or pocket top and are fully interchangeable, so the same structure takes on a completely different look with another colour or fabric. Since everything connects by push-fit, no tools are needed for assembly.

Molton is the most commonly used: matt, heavy and highly light-absorbing, so it does not reflect and recedes neatly into the background, ideal as a backdrop or for screening things off. Velvet has a deeper, more luxurious appearance and absorbs even more light, making it suitable for theatre and prestige settings. Satin and similar sheen fabrics deliberately reflect light and colour, and are used as decorative back walls or at celebratory events. There are also pre-pleated curtains that hold a crisp, regular fold by themselves, which reads calmly in photographs.

That depends on the look required. A flat, taut panel is the most economical option and works well for projection or an applied logo, but appears flatter and shows seams more readily. For a full, luxurious drape, allow roughly one and a half to two times the width of the wall in fabric. It is also wise to allow a little extra height: a drape that just rests on the floor looks more finished than one hanging ten centimetres above it.

Fabrics hung in public spaces must be flame retardant; in the Netherlands and Germany this usually means class B1 to DIN 4102-1, while NFPA 701 is often requested internationally. Exhibition organisers, conference venues and local authorities regularly ask to see the corresponding certificate, so it pays to have it on hand in advance. Note that washing or dry cleaning can degrade the flame-retardant treatment on some fabrics,  inherently flame-retardant materials keep the property. Drapes must never cover escape routes, emergency exits or emergency lighting, and outdoor use is only advisable in light wind, since a fabric wall acts like a sail.