Running Laps in the Lunch Room?
Discover the best flooring options for schools with limited space—durable, safe, and easy-to-clean sports floors for cafeteria-gym combos.
“Do more with less.” We’ve all heard that challenge before. It shows up a lot in the construction industry because resources are always limited. Do more with less space, less money, less time, etc. You can look at finite resources in one of two ways. You can wave the white flag and accept a less functional space or you can exercise your creative skills to the max. At Abacus Sports, we ponder the same question. What sports floors can we provide that meet the practical challenge of “doing more with less?”
Here’s an example of creative functional design at work. Have you ever heard of a “cafenasium?” What about a “gymneteria”? These are fun ways we refer to school facilities that combines the gym with the cafeteria. It’s a brilliant practical solution for limited space and budget, but the only way you can pull it off is with the right sports floor.
There are lots of multi-use sports floors on the market, but Abacus Sports has put thought and effort into providing the surfaces we know will work in this sort of application. We have two solutions that have the best track record in the cafeteria/gymnasium: Tarkett Sports’ Omnisports and Abacus’ Padenpor.
What makes these sports floors work better than others in multi-use spaces? Here is a list of properties that are essential and how Omnisports and Padenpor meet those criteria.
Sports Performance: It should be a prerequisite for any multipurpose area that the floor performs as a proper athletic surface first. That means having adequate shock absorption, surface friction, ball rebound, and vertical deformation properties per ASTM F2772 or other relevant DIN or EN standards. If you think carpet or VCT is acceptable, consider the negative effects these hard surfaces can have on safety.
VCT offers no shock absorption, which can lead to shin splints and joint pain. Carpet doesn’t have the right amount of surface friction, which can cause stumbles and falls. Potential injuries should always be considered before any other factors in a gym. Both Omnisports and Padenpor meet the ASTM F2772 standard for sports performance.
Indentation Resistance: If, and only if, a floor clears the sport performance hurdle, can we consider the properties that make it suitable for other purposes. In many multipurpose areas, floors will be required to accommodate tables and chairs. It’s important to keep in mind that all resilient sports floors have indentations when weight is applied; it’s an essential part of the shock absorption they provide. Omnisports has one of the fastest indentation recovery times of any sports floor on the market. In many cases, indentations become barely visible within a matter of hours. Other floors can take days. It’s also important to consult with your flooring provider about what types of furniture feet or caster wheels work best with the floor. Success can depend on the right pairing of flooring and equipment.
Cleaning Time: By nature, a gym that doubles as a cafeteria is going to require quick transitions and cleaning. A floor’s surface texture plays a big role in how quickly and easily it can be cleaned and converted to a different purpose. Padenpor has a smooth texture and Omnisports has a nonlinear “hammered” finish. Both textures offer minimal resistance when swept, allowing dust and dirt to make a quick exit. The cleaning process is not one to be overlooked, as it can affect gameplay and safety. Dust creates a particulate layer between the floor surface and an athlete’s feet. This increases the danger of slipping and falling.
Stain Resistance: Wherever or whenever food is served, some invariably finds its way to the floor. Items like ketchup, mustard, fruit juice, and soda can present a challenge because they are more likely to stain the floor. However, if your floor has built-in stain protection, like Omnisports for example, you can have more peace of mind. Both sports floors are thoroughly tested to insure a high degree of stain resistance, which is essential for a multi-use gym/cafeteria.
Of course, there are other factors to consider when planning a multipurpose area. To make your project successful, the best advice we can give is maintaining an open line of communication with your flooring provider. After all, brainstorming is a key part of creativity. Contact Abacus Sports for a consultation on your next “cafenasium.”