Stanchions are simple yet effective crowd control tools. Elegant and portable, they can be placed wherever crowds need to be organized into a line. Most stanchion heads can be fitted with sign holders to place information regarding the nature of the roped area, while those with two belt lines per post keep children in line and discourage "line cutters" from disregarding common courtesy rules.

Crowd control, as a general rule, is a science. As a businessperson, you want to be able to provide a reasonable and cohesive order to the terrible task of keeping people in line. With attractive stanchions, any crowd can be shown where to stand or, alternatively, where not to congregate.

The classic stanchion look is the velvet rope-and-post style. These nostalgic, beautiful tools can grace a hotel lobby, museum, mall display, or restaurant entrance as an extra elegant touch. However, retractable-belt stanchions made of metal and plastic are lighter, easier to set up, and extremely simple to re-arrange in a more effective, useful configuration.

Stanchions that Take the Disabled Into Consideration

One unique type of stanchion is that which is compliant with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). The act's 4.4.1 requirements demand that a stanchion leave no more than 27 inches of space from the bottom of the belt to the floor. This is to allow people who are visually impaired to detect the potentially hazardous beltway.