Sports & Dance Floors
We now live in a world which is forever conscious of both physical fitness and performance. Every day of our lives we are advised to improve fitness and stamina, what we should and should not be doing with our bodies.
A growing number of people are returning to sports in an effort to conform to the demands of society. New and improved fitness equipment and a technological awareness to the bodies strengths and weaknesses endeavour to make our recreational activities both enjoyable and safe.
However when you enter a gym how much attention do you pay to safety. You may well check that the machinery is working properly. Maybe you will check for trip hazards and other noticeable causes of injury. However have you ever thought of the floor you are standing on as being a hazard.
There are several injuries which can be caused by overwork, poor warming up and warming down, poor machinery, muscular injuries or maybe physical contact injuries. Yet there is one more type of injury, that caused by stress.
Stress injuries are commonly caused by impact. Impact vibrations travel up the body when we jump, run or even walk on surfaces that do not flex. Now, let’s take a look at that floor again.
Sports floors are designed to cushion the impact caused when participating in recreational activity. The impact vibrations are channelled through the floor and away from the body.
How does this work?
Well the answer is simple…… Sprung / resilient floor coverings.
There are many different types of sprung floor available. These vary from the most common batten systems to the more complex multipurpose activity floors. City Wood Floors Limited recognise that each project and customer have varying needs and requirements.
How do we know which floor to specify?
Well the answer to the question lays in the activity and use intended. We need to know the following:
- What will be the main activity?
- Will the floor be for specialist use?
- Will there be contact sport?
- How many other activities will take place?
- Will there be heavy machinery?
- Will there be bleacher seating?
There are also other things we need to know about the both the project budget and environment:
- Will there be underfloor heating?
- Is the floor to be line marked?
- Will access to cabling or pipe work be required?
- The type of building
- Budget
We also need to be aware that standards are met in accordance with either BS 7044 part 4 or the German DIN standard 18032 part 2. Some sports councils also carry their own recommendations which must be adhered to, such as the Squash Rackets Association.
Once we have the answers to the above we can determine the best floor system to meet with the project requirements.
City Wood Floors prides itself both on the service and technical knowledge offered to deliver you the perfect, but most importantly right floor system.
See pictures of our recently installed Maple dance floor at the Worthing Dome, West Sussex, in the Photo Gallery.
For more information or to book a specialist consultation, please contact Simon.
