There is one piece of a gym’s equipment that’s used in more exercises than any other: the flooring, having a huge impact on the exercise experience. That includes exercises involving standing, jumping, running, squatting, lifting etc. – every workout is done on it.
That makes a proper floor as important as the rest of a gym’s equipment – if not the most important part of a gym.
There are many different aspects to take into consideration when choosing the right gym floor for your own individual needs. This guide is going to help you decide which one meets your personal requirements.
Must-have properties of gym flooring
It’s a fact that gym flooring takes a beating from members and equipment alike. A strong & durable surface which has the ability to support heavy machinery and equipment – these are the requirements a gym floor has to accomplish.
It’s important to check how well the gym flooring provides impact shock absorption for joints, muscles and tendons. Gym flooring should provide grip for the athlete, but still allowing some degree of sliding so the body can move naturally.
Ensuring sufficient grip, installing the right flooring will prevent unnecessary injuries since unintentional movements of machinery and equipment will be suppressed.
An additional important factor is hygiene: Gyms are sweaty and the floor is no exception. Having an easy-clean floor surface therefore offers a high benefit.
Visual impact of flooring
Flooring can create a strong first impression. When walking into the gym, you want to feel comfortable and welcomed. The colors should contribute to a mind-set which gets you ready to exercise.
Gyms can be transformed with a simple change of flooring – from bleak, dreary spaces to vibrant, welcoming ones.
Which material?
Some of the highest ratings in durability, cleanliness & resilience out of any flooring material availible is achieved by recycled rubber flooring.
Easy cleaning, bacteria and mildew resistance are some of the great advantages. In addition, this flooring type withstands the impact of intense workouts & dropped weights easily and tirelessly. This is unlike some other floors which show signs of wear or get damaged.
Recycled rubber also improves traction, offers excellent shock absorption and allows for quicker acceleration. With these properties athletes can push to their max without fearing injuries.
Which thickness?
Gym flooring comes in various thicknesses and should be chosen depending on its area of application. In general the thicker the better because the stronger and tougher it’ll be.
This overview gives a rough indication:
- plate load or cardio areas: 6 – 12 mm
- Functional training: at least 10 mm
- Dumbell/barbell area: at least 15 mm
- Cross Training: at least 15 mm
- Rig areas: at least 25 mm
- Rack areas: 40 mm
- Weightlifting: at least 40 mm
It’s possible to either have one type of flooring throughout or mixing different rubber floors for different areas.
Which density?
Good quality material is (amongst others) reflected in its density. For rubber mats it should be at least 900 kg/m³. The higher the density, the more resistant and durable the flooring.
Be careful: Unfortunately there are lots of providers at the market who offer low prices, but also low quality. Therefore it is recommended to purchase samples of the rubber floor to convince oneself of its quality. Reliable companies won’t deny that!
Considering noise and vibration reducing flooring?
Another benefit of our tough rubber tiles is the absorbing of noise. When gyms take up various floors in a building or are located around residential or other business properties, noise and vibration reducing flooring should be considered. Energetic workout routines and the dropping of heavy weights can produce loud noises in surrounding rooms.
Is a fire protection certificate necessary?
There are a number of standards which classify the fire behaviour of flooring. The EU standard DIN EN 13501-1 evaluates flammability, smoke emission and the production of flaming droplets or particles.
For the commission of public gyms, fire protection regulations have to be observed. Our product range also includes low flammable rubber flooring. During examination of the material’s characteristics it is exposed to excessive heat. Afterwards it can be classified, f.ex. A1-fl – s1, d1.
The abbreviation fl stands for flooring, indicating that the certificate concerns the floor.
The first letter describes the flammability and how the flooring contributes to fire. A1 and A2 are not combustible, materials certified from B to F are flammable in ascending order. B and C flooring have limited contribution to fire, whereas D and E are considered as normal combustible. F flooring is easily inflammable and doesn’t contribute to fire protection.
The additional classifications describe the emission of smoke (letter s) and the production of flaming droplets or particles (letter d).
| Class | Level definition | ||
| smoke emission during combustion | s | 1 | quantity/speed of emission absent or weak |
| 2 | quantity/speed of emission of average intensity | ||
| 3 | quantity/speed of emission of high intensity | ||
| production of flaming droplets/particles | d | 0 | no dripping |
| 1 | slow dripping | ||
| 2 | high dripping | ||
Even if fire protection is not required, a flooring with fire protection certificate should be considered to prevent damages of equipment and people caused by fire.
The protection against fire spread reduces the costs of damages in the event of a fire. It is especially recommended for rooms used frequently.
