by Brianna Crandall — May 4, 2018 — Growing demand for access to modern fitness facilities is driving developers to include them in more multi-use buildings, where they often share an address — and walls — with neighboring offices, residential units or commercial spaces. To ensure that all building occupants and athletes remain productive and undisturbed, the acoustics of an athletic facility must be considered and appropriate flooring made a top priority, advises Ecore, a company that transforms reclaimed materials into unique surfacing.
To ensure that all building occupants remain productive and undisturbed, the acoustics of a fitness center must be considered, and appropriate flooring made a top priority.
A new Ecore white paper addresses why flooring is an integral component of athletic equipment, especially when it comes to acoustics. The company also just announced a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) that highlight trends in fitness flooring, and the importance of customizing your surface based on your specific needs, such as acoustics, safety and performance.
White paper
Titled “The Impact of Flooring on Acoustics in Athletics Facilities,” Ecore’s white paper explores how the intense sounds created in fitness settings can affect nearby spaces, potentially disrupting businesses or households, if left unchecked. Developers of modern fitness facilities understand the importance of sound management and are investing in the right surface technologies and materials that offer noise-reducing qualities while enhancing athletic performance and physical safety, says Ecore.
Sharon Paley, INCE, acoustic engineer for Ecore, who authored the paper, stated:
Stand-alone gyms are no longer the norm, and the success of today’s fitness centers are greatly influenced by their ability to control sound levels within and around the facilities. Our white paper dives into the transmission and effects of sound along with innovative flooring solutions that can be used to mitigate noise without sacrificing safety or functionality in athletic spaces.
“The Impact of Flooring on Acoustics in Athletics Facilities” white paper provides a brief background on sound and how waves are reflected, absorbed or transmitted by different materials. The piece also defines the different ratings used to measure sound that can be applied when selecting a flooring material that will best enhance performance and acoustics in a given space. Additionally, expert tips are provided for how to select and optimize different flooring materials — from hardwood to synthetic turf — for various athletic activities.
For more information about sound management in athletic facilities, download Ecore’s “The Impact of Flooring on Acoustics in Athletics Facilities” white paper from the company’s website.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
Ecore’s new Continuing Education Unit (CEU) addresses the trend toward functional training and flooring performance characteristics and trends. The CEU program, titled Fitness for Purpose, is designed to increase attendees’ knowledge of flooring technology, whether for an educational or recreational facility or within a residential, hospitality, office or other building.
The Fitness for Purpose course focuses on the importance of selecting the right flooring for each specialized space in an athletic or fitness facility, from traditional fitness to functional training, specialized training for elite athletes and state-of-the-art sports medicine.
According to Troy Kelley, director of sales for Ecore Athletic:
Surfacing has a direct impact on the people using it, not only their feet, back and joints but also their ability to perform their best and avoid injury. Different activities require different balances of force reduction, energy restitution and acoustic capabilities. This course is designed to highlight trends in fitness flooring, and the importance of customizing your surface, based on your specific needs, such as acoustics, safety and performance.
Upon completing this CEU, attendees will be able to identify new trends in fitness; select the appropriate athletic or fitness surfaces, based on their needs; compare different types of flooring for force reduction and energy restitution; and evaluate product quality for durability, maintenance, sustainability and design flexibility.
Ecore is a registered provider with The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Systems (CES). Credit earned upon completion of this program will be reported to CES records for AIA members. Certificates of completion for non-AIA members are available upon request.
To learn more about Ecore’s Continued Education Unit and Ecore Athletic products, visit the company’s website.
