Ten Guidelines for the Right Multi - Purpose Floor
By: Robin Traum
Are you looking for a floor for your school's gymnasium/multi-purpose room? Here are some suggestions to make the task less daunting. These 10 guidelines will help you learn about the most important aspects of a new multi-purpose floor and give you a solid foundation for selecting the right flooring for those physical education, athletic, recreational and instructional programs.
1. Comfort
The desire to have a comfortable surface is easily understood, but there is more to it. You need a floor that is comfortable for standing, running, jumping and falling. You require a floor that lets a student recover quickly and completely from an unexpected tumble or dive. Make sure you fully understand the types of programs and activities and the age groups who will use the designated space.
2. Shock Absorption
Shock absorption refers to how much of an impact a student feels while playing on the floor. It's critical the floor absorb much of the force with which a child jumps, runs or falls. This allows the athlete to compete or practice longer with less chance of injury.
3. Simplified Maintenance
Simpler maintenance means less staff time and lower cleaning costs. Floor product treatments can ease maintenance requirements plus provide antibacterial and fungicidal protection and prevent stains from food spills. Find out exactly what maintenance is required daily, quarterly and after over a period of five to 10 years.
4. Life Cycle Costs
To get a true understanding of the cost of the flooring over 15 or 20 years you need to conduct a life cycle cost analysis. Life cycle costs include the purchase and installation price, annual maintenance expense and periodic major maintenance procedures including equipment, labor and supplies. The formula to determine the overall price tag of flooring is: cost to install plus the maintenance cost for the expected life of the floor divided by the life expectancy of the floor = life cycle costs.
5. No Vibration
It's important for a student standing several feet away from a classmate who falls should not feel the floor vibrate. He should be able to continue playing without being distracted by vibration and the risk of shin splints and stress fractures.
6. Coefficient of Friction
An athlete will be able to control her movements on a floor with the correct coefficient of friction. Without it, the player might slide while trying to turn or stop or may find she can't turn as quickly as necessary. If the floor has the right COF, a player who falls should not get a friction burn. If the floor has the wrong COF for the sport, it can result in injuries or negatively affect the level of play.
7. Consistency
The surface of the floor has to be exactly the same all across the room. The entire floor has to be the same thickness, and players should experience the same ball bounce (no dead spots), comfort, shock absorption and coefficient of friction wherever they are in the room.
8. Versatility
The flooring selected should not limit the events you want to schedule. Its design should provide the support necessary for active sports programs. Its surface should be able to withstand tables and chairs and people walking across in all different types of footwear without damage. A surface that doesn't require the extra time or cost of a floor cover is beneficial.
10. Environmental Considerations
Find out what the floor's environmental impact is and whether it has recycled material content or is composed of sustainable materials. Consider the benefits of low volatile organic compounds on the school's air quality. Insist upon low VOC installation accessories such as adhesives, game line paint and cleaning products. Find out how much natural resources, water and energy, are required for cleaning. Ask if the manufacturer has received ISO 14001 environmental certification.
Follow all these steps and you'll play an active role in determining the specifications so that your facility winds up with the best possible floor for the scope of programs using it.
Robin Traum is the public relations consultant for Taraflex Sports Flooring by Gerflor.
