Chapter 24: Facility and Equipment Layout and Maintenance Flashcards
Predesign Phase
The committee conducts a needs analysis and a feasibility study. (NSCA CPT, pg. 622)
Design Phase
May take several months, and the final result should be a detailed blueprint of the new facility. (NSCA CPT, pg. 622)
Construction Phase
Takes the majority of the time. Throughout the construction phase, the facility design committee should monitor to ensure that the master plan and project deadlines are being fulfilled in a timely manner and also oversee the construction. (NSCA CPT, pg. 622)
Preoperation Phase
Staffing and staff development for a facility are the focus of the preoperation phase. (NSCA CPT, pg. 622)
SWOT Analysis
An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. (NSCA CPT, pg. 622)
Phase 1 of Selecting Exercise Equipment
Phase 1: Develop Functional Criteria for the Equipment (NSCA CPT, pg. 625)
Phase 2 of Selecting Exercise Equipment
Phase 2: Evaluate Specifications and Effectiveness of the Equipment (NSCA CPT, pg. 626)
Phase 3 of Selecting Exercise Equipment
Phase 3: Evaluate Manufacturers’ Business Practices (NSCA CPT, pg. 627)
User Space
Appropriate spacing of equipment improves the personal trainer’s supervisory ability and provides sufficient room for clients to perform each exercise safely. (NSCA CPT, pg. 628)
Safety Space Cushion
Proper spacing should also facilitate access between each piece of equipment. (NSCA CPT, pg. 628)
AED
Automated External Defibrillator for first aid situations. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Passageways Guidelines
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passageway width must be at least 36 inches (91 cm) to accommodate wheelchairs. Hallways and circulation passages need to be at least 60 inches (152 cm) in width. The floor should remain level through door entrances. If the threshold exceeds 0.5 inches (1.3 cm), the facility must have a ramp or lift with a slope of 1 foot (30 cm) for every inch (2.5 cm) of elevation change to accommodate access to the facility. Emergency exit signage must be free of obstructions and have clear visibility. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Natural Lighting and Windows Guidelines
Natural lighting tends to increase an exerciser’s motivation, so it is desirable to locate cardiovascular machines next to or facing windows. An open feeling and natural lighting are positives for people doing aerobic exercise. However, if higher windows or skylights are installed, it is essential to carefully evaluate their location. If glare is a problem, it can be significantly reduced by window tinting, shades, or blinds. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Repair and Maintenance Guidelines
It is desirable to locate a repair and maintenance shop adjacent to or near a fitness room for convenience when large, heavy equipment needs to be transferred to the shop. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Water Fountain Guidelines
The recommendation is to have a water fountain installed close to the entrance of the main fitness rooms or other convenient locations for the users to access. However, it should not be located where it could be a distraction to clients or block the flow of traffic. The ADA requires that
all water fountains be installed at a height that can be reached by a person in a wheelchair. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Emergency First Aid and AED Guidelines
It is desirable to install an emergency–first aid kit, as well as an AED, within or near fitness rooms for immediate access. The AEDs in a facility should be located within a 1.5-minute walk of a potential incident site. The ADA requires all AED devices to be at a height that can be reached by a person in a wheelchair. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Background Music and Noise Guidelines
It is recommended that health and fitness facilities be designed to maintain background noise levels below 70 decibels and never exceed 90 decibels. In addition, the recommended time-weighted average exposure for occupational noise is 85 decibels per 8-hour time period. An exposure at or above this level is considered hazardous. To provide balanced sound distribution for music, speakers should be installed high in all corners of the rooms. When a room has a high ceiling and noise disturbance is prominent, sound panel installation to reduce this problem may be considered. In the resistance training room, another source of noise is the weights themselves. Urethane-coated free weights are more expensive than metal weights but may significantly reduce the noise. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Electrical Requirement Guidelines
It is generally recommended that a fitness facility have both 110- and 220-volt outlets because some types of cardio- vascular equipment require 220-volt outlets. To ensure meeting the electrical requirements, planners must consult with manufacturing companies before making a final decision on the equipment to purchase. Additional outlets around fitness rooms would be convenient for vacuuming, scrubbing, and other purposes. In addition, ground-fault circuit interrupters are essential safety devices for automatically shutting down power in the event of an electrical short due to water or insulation problems. (NSCA CPT, pg. 623)
Signage Guidelines
Should be installed to clearly display operational policies, facility rules, safety guidelines, entrances, exits, rest rooms, and so on. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Communication Board Guidelines
Communication boards or display monitors can be used to dis- play information on upcoming events, announce- ments, and educational materials. These should be located near the front entrance of the facility where people can view them without blocking the flow of traffic. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Telephone Guidelines
Telephones should be located in the supervisor’s office for emergency purposes. Additional phones may be installed at the front entrance and should be mounted at a maximum height of 4 feet (1.2 m) to accommodate persons in a wheelchair. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Suggestion Box Guidelines
A comment and suggestion box may be placed near the main entrance of a health and fitness facility. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Location of the Resistance Training Room Guidelines
An ideal location of a resistance training room is on the ground floor near locker rooms and a service entrance so that delivery of equipment to and from the resistance training room is convenient. It is desirable to locate a resistance training room away from areas that require privacy and minimal noise, such as classrooms, laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, or hotel guest rooms. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Space for Supervisors Guidelines
A supervisor’s office is ideally located in the resistance training room so that the supervisor can view the entire room, or at least in the proximity of the resistance training room so that he or she is easily accessible. If the supervisor’s office is located in the resistance training room, large windows with an unobstructed view are recommended. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Staff-to-client Guidelines
The recommended ratio between fitness staff and exercisers in a resistance training room is around 1:10. It is recommended that middle school strength and condition- ing facilities not exceed a 1:10 staff-to-athlete ratio, secondary school facilities should not exceed a 1:15 ratio, and facilities that serve athletes or clients older than secondary school should not exceed a 1:20 ratio. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Ceiling Height Guidelines
The desirable ceiling height for a resistance training room ranges from 12 to 14 feet or 3.7 to 4.3 m. A common mistake when selecting a ceiling height for a resistance training room is not allowing sufficient space for heating and cooling air ducts, light fixtures, utility cables, wires, and plumbing structures. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Window Guidelines
Windows in the resistance training room should be a minimum of 20 inches (51 cm) above the floor. This will help to decrease the chance of breakage from a rolling barbell plate or dumbbell. If possible, it is best to avoid placing windows where spotters or exercisers would be likely to lean against them. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Doors Guidelines
It is desirable to have double doors with removable center posts for more convenient transfer of large, heavy exercise equipment in a resistance training room. In addition, when a major deep cleaning is scheduled the large opening to the resistance training room facilitates moving cleaning and exercise equipment in and out from the resistance training room. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Lighting Guidelines
It is desirable for lighting to be brighter than would be required for a classroom or office in a resistance training room. The recommendation for lighting in the resistance training room is 75 to 100 foot-candles or 807 to 1,076 lux. The ADA requires all light switches to be at a height accessible by a person in a wheelchair. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Storage Area Guidelines
A resistance training room requires more storage space than one might expect. Storage may be needed for cleaning supplies and equipment, staff apparel, towels, small equipment, and exercise equipment accessories. (NSCA CPT, pg. 624)
Ground-fault Circuit Interrupter
A fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second. (NSCA CPT, pg. 631)
