Growing demand for access to modern fitness facilities is driving developers to include them in more multi-use buildings, where they often share an address – and walls – with neighboring offices, residential units or commercial spaces. To ensure that all building occupants and athletes remain productive and undisturbed, the acoustics of an athletic facility must be considered and appropriate flooring made a top priority. A new whitepaper from Ecore, a company that transforms reclaimed materials into unique surfacing, addresses why flooring is an integral component of athletic equipment – especially when it comes to acoustics.
Titled “The Impact of Flooring on Acoustics in Athletics Facilities,” the whitepaper explores how the intense sounds created in fitness settings can affect nearby spaces, potentially disrupting businesses or households, if left unchecked. Developers of modern fitness facilities understand the importance of sound management and are investing in the right surface technologies and materials that offer noise-reducing qualities while enhancing athletic performance and physical safety.
“Stand-alone gyms are no longer the norm, and the success of today’s fitness centers are greatly influenced by their ability to control sound levels within and around the facilities,” said Sharon Paley, INCE, acoustic engineer for Ecore, who authored the paper. “Our whitepaper dives into the transmission and effects of sound along with innovative flooring solutions that can be used to mitigate noise without sacrificing safety or functionality in athletic spaces.”
“The Impact of Flooring on Acoustics in Athletics Facilities” whitepaper provides a brief background on sound and how waves are reflected, absorbed or transmitted by different materials. The piece also defines the different ratings used to measure sound that can be applied when selecting a flooring material that will best enhance performance and acoustics in a given space. Additionally, expert tips are provided for how to select and optimize different flooring materials – from hardwood to synthetic turf – for various athletic activities.
About Ecore
Since 1871, Ecore has been transforming reclaimed materials into performance surfaces that make people’s lives better. What started with simple cork closures has evolved into a diverse portfolio of products solving complex problems in applications ranging from playgrounds, weight rooms, and turf fields to hospitals, hotels, and retail environments. Ecore is driven everyday by a simple question, “Can a floor do more?” YES. At Ecore, we create products based on the simple notion that floors should elevate beyond current expectations. Ecore’s energy is focused on the interaction between people and the surface. As a result, we engineer performance well beyond industry standards related to acoustics, ergonomics, and safety. Harvesting the unique power from a myriad of waste streams, Ecore creates products that align–substantial force reduction with a balanced amount of energy return to create dynamic surfaces that are catered to the individual and the application.
