Gym Design and Social

Distancing

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Precor is an organisation guided by a set of principles and core values known as The Precor Creed. As most of us are facing immediate challenges, both professional and personal, there are two lines of our creed that are particularly relevant today, and that give us hope for tomorrow.

We believe in the power of the human spirit.We believe that tomorrow will be even better because of our actions today.

We have been inspired by many communities and organisations across the globe that have rallied to provide quick and innovative solutions to help protect us all. We are also doing our part to ensure that we have a positive impact on the communities we serve.

We heard an urgent call that our medical professionals were in great need of personal protective equipment (PPE) that included masks, gowns, and additional items that would lower the risk of the spread of Covid-19. Precor responded to that call for assistance swiftly. Our manufacturing operation in Whitsett, North Carolina, is using the world-class skills of our talented upholstery team to produce PPE and deliver it to locations in need. This is just one example of how Precor and Amer Sports have helped to flatten the curve.

As we are now seeing some early indicators that our collective efforts may be paying off and as communities work to re-open and ease movement restrictions, you may wonder what the new normal could look like for your business. While we can’t predict the future, Precor is open, and we're here as your trusted fitness partner to help you succeed and welcome your members back. We win when you win, and we have quickly shifted our focus toward helping our communities, customers, and coworkers Bounce Back Faster.

We gained valuable insight by speaking with customers, owners, operators, trainers, exercisers, and industry experts. In the interest of partnership, we're passing that insight along to you. Our team has constructed this outline of considerations for you to thumb through as you build your plan for re-opening. It's part of our solution to help you Bounce Back Faster.

For more information or helpful tips, you can visit us at Precor.com/en-gb/BounceBackFaster or contact your Precor Sales Representative to let us know how you're doing. We're here to help.

You’re already great. But with Precor, you’re even better.The following document is focused on gym design and the impact of social distancing on the movement and flow of space in your facility.

Section 1 Movement & Flow

Section 2 Entering the Gym Space

Section 3 Cardiovascular

Section 4 Resistance / Cable Units

Section 5 Free Weights

Section 6 Functional / HIIT / Studio

Section 7 Before and After

Section 8 Links

M O V E M E N T A N D F L O W

How will social distancing affect your layout?The current usage of space in your facility will likely conform to providing your customer with a great engaging fitness experience combined with achieving your business objects. Once your facility is able to re-open the landscape in which it operates will be very different with new challenges to face. The fact will remain that your members will still have the same requirements.

All areas of the gym floor will be affected. In areas such as cardio and resistance consider placing signs or moving/removing machines. Social distancing may be more of a challenge in areas such as free weights and functional that have a more fluid movement.

Be aware of equipment usage to ensure that you are providing a facility that meets your members needs. Use data from your Preva system to help identify high usage machines and consider rotating these with less used machines.

Where possible use visual cues to help guide members within the facility

• Place navigation markers on the floor and at eye level to guide members around the facility and highlight any challenges/obstacles

• Where possible create a 1-way system around the facility – this may prove more challenging if your facility has a galley style layout with equipment running around the walls and the walkway positioned centrally.

• Consider using large/bulky items such as screens to block access to areas that members should not be accessing, or areas that may cause members to cross paths at a reduced distance.

• Highlight any areas that people may congregate and where possible restrict access and control the flow of people with relevant markings and/or screens.

Overall the changes you will need to adopt will provide you with a more open space that can help to create a stimulating atmosphere

Consider removing items that may be hard to clean or hold risk of contamination

*Please ensure you take note of your local requirements to ensure you meet all operational requirements relating to social distancing.

E N T E R I N G T H E G Y M S PA C E

E N T E R I N G T H E G Y M S PA C E

As members enter the gym this is the ideal location to highlight key messages around the changes to the facility and its layout.

Signage

• Good signage should be clear in its presentation and its message.

• It should always be easy to understand and clearly visible.

• This applies especially to exterior signs and health and safety notices.

*Please ensure you take note of your local requirements to ensure you meet all operational requirements relating to social distancing.

Policy information

• This is also a chance to remind them of cleaning and hygiene policies within your facility.

• Close water stations and place signs to remind members to bring their own water.

E N T E R I N G T H E G Y M S PA C E

A clear access route around the facility is key. This must be balanced with the usability of equipment. Your current layout will strike a balance between access and functionality. Once your facility is able to re-open the distance between members will without a doubt need to be greater.

• We currently recommend 4sqm which as a box would measure 2 metres by 2 metres.

• This will allow for social distancing of over 6ft (1.82m) on each side of a member.*

• The box shown can be used to indicate multi directional travel which helps to prevent having a fixed one way route around your facility.

• This also provides your members with a “safe zone”. It shows clearly where they can workout and where others should move around to avoid them. It promotes a positive message that you have considered their safety at your facility.

*Please ensure you take note of your local requirements to ensure you meet all operational requirements relating to social distancing.

E N T E R I N G T H E G Y M S PA C E

As members’ enter the gym this is the ideal location to highlight key messages around the changes to the facility and its layout. This is an opportunity to promote and create excitement.

*Please ensure you take note of your local requirements to ensure you meet all operational requirements relating to social distancing.

Floor Markings

• Creating an overall flooring movement plan of your equipment layout is an important task.

• This approach ensures that individual members space and walkways work together in a coherent way. A visual aid will help to ensure that members maintain the correct direction of travel and distance.

• Use wording that creates a positive tone rather than a negative one. For example “Stay Safe” and use “please” and “thank you” where possible.

E N T E R I N G T H E G Y M S PA C E

*Please ensure you take note of your local requirements to ensure you meet all operational requirements relating to social distancing.

• Direction of travel will need be a key consideration.

• Most facilities will require a single route of directional travel around the facility which will need to stop and start at the entrance.

• The entrance will need to have double the walkway to allow ease of travel along without any pinch points.

• If this is not possible then clear markings indicting stop start at each end of the pinch point is an effective way to ensure there is no crossover.

• Also consider how moving equipment will impact not only its usability but also the ability to move around it and how it may effect any defined walkway.

C A R D I O VA S C U L A R

C A R D I O VA S C U L A R

• If you have space, you might think about re-locating your cardio equipment to adhere to your local social distancing requirements.

• However the location of power and data may limit how you can re-locate your equipment. You will want to consider this in your relocation plan.

• Get creative with your space. If there is a group exercise room that is not being used within your facility due to social distancing, consider moving cardio or strength equipment into that area.

• Note that the flooring in a studio / group exercise room may be different to that found on the main gym floor, some types of flooring will not be suitable for heavy pieces of equipment.

• When measuring the distance ensure you measure from the centre of the machine or the saddle to create the correct gap between people rather than machines.

Within most facilities the cardio section is often the most centrally located. Some of the key factors you will need to consider in this are:

Please ensure if you require any unit to be dismantled you contact your equipment provider to support to ensure your warranty is not affected.

C A R D I O VA S C U L A R

• If you do not have space to relocate you may want to consider having every other unit or potentially every third unit in use. We recommend covering the consoles or unplugging the units that are not in use.

• Use Preva® Business Suite to monitor equipment usage. Rotate units every few weeks to balance the usage. This process will reduce wear and tear on half your units during this period. As your facility becomes busier, you may wish to rotate more often.

• Preva® Business Suite is also a good way to monitor the status of your machines, checking for performance and errors without having to physically check the machine. This will mean your staff can remain at a safe distance from exercisers.

• Images and signs indicating a direction of travel and highlighting which machines need to be switched off to maintain a safe distance will be useful to guide your exercisers through the facility.

Please ensure if you require any unit to be dismantled you contact your equipment provider to support to ensure your warranty is not affected.

C A R D I O VA S C U L A R

• Although machines have been removed this has allowed us to keep more stations than shown on the previous image. Instead of losing 4 treadmills by removing 2 and spacing we have been able to keep 6 on the floor.

• Equipment spaced 2m centre of machine to centre of machine.

• Ensure fixed direction of travel not only within the cardiovascular area but also as part of the larger fitness space.

• Please note that this layout may lead to cables trailing and this will need to be identified and made secure for safe operation within the facility.

When we consider all aspects of the space and plan correctly, we can achieve a greater usage of the space.

R E S I S TA N C E / C A B L E U N I T S

R E S I S TA N C E / C A B L E U N I T S

The strength section is often situated in a quieter space with less people circulating. Some key factors to consider:

• You will need to consider each unit from how it is accessed to how it moves when in use and the impact this will have on space.

• Consider the layout of your strength section: strength machines and cable units will need to be moved to a safe social distance between exercisers.

• Are there any duplicate machines or machines that perform the same exercise that can be removed or taken out of use?

Images:

Show before and after highlighting amended spacing

Updated layout showing relevant spacing and items removed that are hard to clean ( Stretch Mats) and items such as plants.

Current layout

F R E E W E I G H T S

F R E E W E I G H T S

The free weights section is often situated further away from the entrance and will experience a more fluid movement in and around the space. Some key factors to consider:

• Consider marking the floor with boxes to define areas members can safely exercise within.

• By doing this you can create safe workout zones for each person and help define where equipment must remain.

• Signs to explain that equipment like a bench must remain in the box is key here.

• This will also help aid you in identifying how many members can be accommodated in this area.

Original layout

• Spread out benches, racks, platforms, dumbbell racks machines to create a safe social distance between members.

• Within this area you will often find members moving benches around, this will need to stop to ensure safe distancing.

F R E E W E I G H T S

Key things to remember for your free weights area:

• Remove excess machines from this area.

• By removing units from this area you could implement a rotation which allows you to swap benches in and out of the area and to perform regular cleaning of these items.

• By rotating items you can also reduce wear and tear over time.

• Ensure how you expect exercisers to use this area and the equipment within it is clearly displayed. This area is usually very flexible with the movement of both people and machines so changing habits here will require reminders.

• Also remind members of the multiple touch points of equipment such as benches; these include handles to adjust and move the bench as well as the pads. This is to ensure they clean everything thoroughly.

• You may also wish to consider time limits on equipment in this area to ensure all your members get the chance to workout here.

Please ensure if you require any unit to be dismantled you contact your equipment provider to support to ensure your warranty is not affected.

F U N C T I O N A L / H I I T / S T U D I O

F U N C T I O N A L / H I I T / S T U D I O

The type and nature of group exercise classes will have to be reduced to help preserve the importance of distancing between the people taking part. This is assuming such classes can take place.

General guidance indicates that:• The 2m physical distance rule must be applied, and any maximum number stated under national restrictions must also be respected.

• The teacher/trainer/instructor should be physically isolated from any of the people taking part by at least 2m.

• Markings should be taped on the floor to indicate the area for each user.

• Keep in mind that there can be no congregating before and after the class due to social distancing

• Users must bring their own mat if required for the class.

• For Spinning and similar activities, the amount of equipment must be reduced and in most countries a maximum of 5 people can partake in group exercise but please ensure you check your local requirements.

Amended layout with fixed exercise points.

F U N C T I O N A L / H I I T / S T U D I O

The functional/HIIT area will experience a more fluid movement in and around the space. Some key factors to consider:

Images:

Show equipment under a Queenax

Current Layout

If you are able to keep this area active during this time:

• Ensure the number of people in this area is limited. Consider floor markings to define this or if you have staffing capacity ensure someone is working in this area to manage numbers.

• Consider what equipment is really needed and remove all other items. You could rotate items in this area to create variety in people’s workouts and an opportunity to deep clean items.

• All equipment should be cleaned after use. If an item is going to be difficult to clean, for example a yoga mat, then consider removing these completely.

• Consider limiting exercises that require touching the floor and ensure that the surfaces in this area of your facility are regularly deep cleaned.

F U N C T I O N A L / H I I T / S T U D I O

If you are unable to keep this area active during this time consider relocating other machines temporarily into this space to help ease the pressure on other areas:

• Consider moving equipment that does not require power first, as this will reduce the potential for visible wires and safety hazards.

• When moving equipment from one area to another consider the flooring of the new location and its suitability for the new machines.

• If moving machines requires dismantling into parts, for example to get through a doorway or up stairs, then you will require your equipment provider to do this for you to protect your warranty.

• When moving machines on wheels consider the tilting angle. There is potential for catching the floor which could mark the machine and/or floor. If in doubt contact your equipment supplier for advice.

Amended layout with fixed exercise points.

B E F O R E A N D A F T E R L AYO U T S

Current Layout before adopting post COVID layout suggestions.

B E F O R E A N D A F T E R L AYO U T S

Revised layout with equipment moved or removed as required to adopt social distancing.Any items that are not required have been removed from the space.

Links

Use our Space Planner to help plan your facility

Further tools & resources can be found in our Bounce Back Faster Guide

Alternatively contact your local sales representative for assistance

Precor UK, Theta Building, Lyon Way, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 7ER01276 404900info@precor.comwww.precor.com/en-gb

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