The floor in the gym is exposed to special loads. Heavy fitness equipment with corresponding vibration during operation, dumbbells that sometimes fall down and, last but not least, the many feet that stress the floor every day quickly leave their mark. Depending on the area, the sports floor is exposed to completely different requirements. Certain courses require a resilient floor, while other areas call for shock- and impact-absorbing properties. Still other areas require safe fall protection, while other areas are more likely to need good noise dampening and vibration reduction. We have summarized the advantages of rubber floor coverings and the areas in which they can be used.
Positive characteristics of rubber floor mat
Rubber sports floors are characterized by a high density. This makes them extra noise absorbent and therefore ideal for use in free weight areas. Of course, even the best rubber floor plate or mat can't serve as a substitute for a decent deadlift platform or jerk blocks - but a dumbbell that slips out of your hand is always well dampened by a suitably robust rubber floor. Rubber floor tiles are also characterized by their high slip resistance - perfect for all areas where exercisers move around a lot. The ease of cleaning the rubber surface is a big plus. The elasticity of rubber floor mats also ensures that minor unevenness in the floor is not even noticeable. Another plus is the simple, very quick installation of this flooring. The vast majority of rubber floors can be easily cut to size with a carpet or installation knife, and full-surfacegluing is usually notnecessary. The high dead weight and the good, anti-slip properties ensure sufficient stabilization of the rubber sports floor when laid over the entire surface. However, it is also possible to glue the joints - double-sided adhesive tape and corresponding PU adhesives are available in stores.
Jigsaw puzzle board, rubber floor tile, or even a flat rubber floor mat?
Rubber flooring is available in a wide variety of designs - the choice is often difficult. The individual products differ primarily in their thickness and density.
Rubber floor mat
is usually the least thick and usually has the lowest density. That is why it is particularly easy to roll out, larger areas can be easily laid out. The lower thickness and density is usually also reflected in the price: rubber floor mat is often significantly cheaper than rubber or puzzle boards. The disadvantage is the somewhat lower load-bearing capacity of rubber floor mat. Rollable mats are therefore ideally suited for the equipment area. They effectively dampen the vibrations that occur during the operation of cardio equipment and also very efficiently protect the floor under power equipment. They also prevent the equipment from slipping and provide a pleasant noise reduction.Rubber floor plates
are available in thicknesses of 8 - 20mm as a perfect sports floor for the free weight area, and in thicknesses of 20 - 100mm, rubber floor plates are also an ideal fall protection. The practical plates are usually made of a rubber granulate, which allows a particularly high density of the material. The shock-absorbing effect is therefore particularly high, as is the noise-dampening effect.At training stations where fall protection is required, rubber floor tiles with a greater thickness must be used. Depending on the area, certified rubber floor tiles according to the Din EN 1176 and 1177 standards are suitable here. Fall protection mats
are ideal for Ninja Warrior training, Spartan Training and various types of functional training.Puzzle plates are characterized by the interlocking between the individual floor plates. In principle, puzzle plates are characterized by the same properties as rubber floor plates, the big difference are the edges. Smooth edges of rubber floor tiles are suitable for fixed installation, glued in strategic places. Puzzle tiles with suitable finishing edges are always good when the sports floor is not needed permanently in a specific place. Puzzle mats form ideal competition floors in gymnastics, dance and martial arts. Due to the interlocking edges, the puzzle tiles form a solid unit and cannot slip against each other. Of course, puzzle plates can also be laid permanently - thanks to the interlocking, laying is possible even by laymen completely without gaps.
Choosing the right flooring for the gym
Conclusion
Depending on the area of use, it is worthwhile to use different rubber floor coverings. In the equipment area, rubber mats are useful, while puzzle plates and rubber floor tiles are particularly suitable for the free weight area and all other areas where the floor must be particularly shock-resistant, cushioning and noise-reducing. Puzzle tiles are suitable for both temporary and permanent installation while rubber floor tiles should only be used for permanent installation.
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Editorial fitnessmarkt.de (DG)
Picture credits: #AdobeStock_92576429_WavebreakMediaMicro
Published on: 22 January 2020