How to choose your fitness/gym flooring
Consider your main use and the level of use
When choosing the correct solution for your fitness space or gym there are a plethora of options available. This quickly becomes a distraction from your goal of selecting the best suited system that meets your specific needs. We advise focusing on your intended use and the level of impact as this determines the format and thickness of rubber you require. Please see a basic guide as follows:-
Activities
From 4mm - Cardio Activities, Spinning, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Subfloor Protection
From 6mm - General Fitness, Aerobics,
From 8mm - General Fitness, Functional Training, Martial Arts
From 10mm - General Fitness, Indoor Golf
From 15mm - Cardio & Strength, Functional Training, Free Weights (Max 110kg)
From 20mm - Cardio & Strength, Functional Training, Free Weights (Max 140kg), Crossfit
From 30mm - Cardio & Strength, Functional Training, Free Weights (Max 200kg), Crossfit
From 40mm - Cardio & Strength, Functional Training, Free Weights (Max 250kg), Crossfit, Weightlifting
From 50mm & 60mm - Cardio & Strength, Functional Training, Free Weights (Max 300kg), Crossfit, Weightlifting
Rolls or Tiles?
This is a common dilemma among our customers as they decide on what is the best option for their specific space. The answer is, they are both suitable for all types of spaces and it is really down to personal preference in terms of aesthetics, method of fitting, time and cost. Rolls are cost-efficient and most suited to larger areas for protecting the subfloor with equipment and machines or for lighter, general fitness. Our tile format tends to come in higher thicknesses to withstand zones where there is heavier weight use and high impact training for increased shock absorption. Both options are simple to install and do not require a specialist fitter.
What is the best for safety and performance?
All of our tiles and rolls hold the deliverables to guarantee safety and maximise performance. The most important characteristics of a rubber gym floor are shock absorption, resilience, resistance to heavy loads, water and slippage, friction, durability and sound insulation. Sprung ® ensures that our HD rubber solutions equally make the grade whether you have a small, low impact exercise studio or a high traffic, multi purpose sports facility.
Choosing the right seal material can be difficult. That’s why in this blog TRP Polymer Solutions covers how to select the correct rubber seal, as well as what to take into account when selecting polymer materials.
When choosing your seal material, it is vital that you consider all factors to ensure you receive the correct seal for your specific application. There are three main things to take into account when selecting polymer materials: environment, service conditions and temperature.
After you have thought about which of these is most important to your application requirements, you should consider physical properties, such as, hardness, tensile strength and tear strength. FFKM O-rings for example, have a high chemical and thermal resistance so are suitable for severe applications. However, these properties would have to be related to the application. So, for instance, if you were using a roller, you would need abrasion resistance; for belts, you would want tensile strength; and for diaphragms, you would be interested in flex life.
First, we select the base polymer and then design the ingredients to be added to the polymer to create the finished rubber. The finished rubber will then determine the hardness, compression set, tensile elongation and all the physical properties for that formulation. When making your seal material selection, it is important to carefully consider all the factors that may affect your application. You can utilise our handy polymer selection guide to assist you in choosing the right seal material for you.
As mentioned above, choosing the correct polymer is very important. However, sometimes it is not necessarily straightforward. Whether it is for oil or gas, nuclear or aerospace applications, TRP Polymer Solutions can assist with your mechanical seal material selection, helping you to select the ideal polymer properties for your application. We have created a polymer properties table that you can use as a reference to determine what polymer will suit your needs.
This article is intended for reference only. For specific advice about your application or rubber seal, please contact us via our enquiry form or email us directly at sales@trp.co.uk. This is particularly important when the application involves the interaction of more than one chemical or fluid. To speak to our sales team please call +44 (0) 1432 268899.