From the business plan to financing, the business concept to the location - anyone who wants to open their own gym has a lot to consider. But that is by no means everything. Building regulations for fitness studios also need to be considered. These include, for example, the ventilation system in the gym and adequate fire protection. What else plays a role in this area, you will learn in the following!
Optimal use of space
If you want to open a gym, you can either have the building built first or do an interior build-out of an existing facility. In either case, you will incur construction costs for the gym. Although there are few building codes for gyms, you should make sure to make the most of the space when building. It is common for many people to be in a gym at the same time working out, sharing the locker room areas and sauna, or clustering around the bar. Despite this increased volume of people, there should be no impression of overcrowding or hectic . The planning of the construction should therefore take full advantage of the spatial possibilities and optimally place the equipment and other furnishings. This guarantees that all processes run smoothly even at peak times. For example, many equipment manufacturers offer help with space planning using 3D gym planners. This gives you an exact idea of how your gym will look later on. Learn more!
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Ventilation system in the gym
The ventilation system is one of the building regulations for gyms. A ventilation system in the gym ensures that outside air enters the rooms and stale air gets out. This is very important and makes the ventilation system in the gym very important, because especially in such facilities there are enormous requirements for the indoor climate. This is because many people sweat there at the same time, so a large amount of oxygen is needed. The training areas must therefore be adequately air-conditioned and also supplied with fresh air. However, drafts should be avoided. In other rooms of the studio, such as the seminar rooms, the office or the shower areas, heat is needed at the same time. The showers also need a hot water supply.
You should be guided by the following values regarding the ventilation system in the gym:
Air exchange
- Fitness area: two to three times air exchange per hour
- Cardio area: five to six times air exchange per hour
- Course area: nine to eleven times air exchange per hour
- Locker room, showers and sauna area: nine to eleven air changes per hour
Room temperatures
- Fitness and cardio area: 19 degrees
- Course and group training: 18 degrees
- Women's locker rooms: 22 to 23 degrees
- Men's locker rooms: 20 to 21 degrees
- Wellness and sauna area: 22 to 23 degrees
Fire protection
Fire protection is also one of the building regulations for fitness centers. Section 14 of the MBO (Model Building Code) sets out the basic requirements for fire protection:
"Structural facilities must be arranged, erected, altered and maintained in such a way that the development of fire and the spread of fire and smoke (fire spread) are prevented and, in the event of fire, the rescue of people and animals and effective extinguishing operations are possible."
There is an increased risk of fire especially in fitness and wellness facilities. The most common cause of fire is sauna ovens and solariums. When it comes to fire protection, it is essential that you adhere to the building regulations for fitness studios, because fires can cause considerable economic damage to a studio - and personal injury is also possible. This makes it all the more important to have a tailor-made fire protection concept that is geared to protection goals and should definitely be observed as part of the building regulations for fitness studios. Structural measures can include, for example, separating the sauna and solarium area from the rest of the studio by fire-resistant partition walls and installing a sprinkler system.
Escape and rescue routes
In addition to fire protection, escape and rescue routes also play an important role in the area of building regulations for fitness studios. These must be designed so that people cannot get injured or lost, even if the routes are smoky due to a fire. The minimum dimensions of escape routes depend on the type and use of the building and are subject to regulations, standards and guidelines that must be urgently observed during the construction of the building.
FAQ: Questions and answers about building codes
What do I need to open a gym?
If you want to open your own fitness studio, you don't have to meet any specific legal requirements at first. Commercial know-how as well as a high affinity to sports and a healthy lifestyle are of course desirable. In addition, a sound business plan that includes financing and convinces potential financiers. Just as important are a suitable location and appropriate premises that meet the building regulations for fitness studios. This concerns the space required for equipment, the ventilation system or even the sanitary facilities. A 3D gym planner can help to make full use of all spatial possibilities.
How much space does a gym need?
How much space a gym needs in total depends on various factors: Approximately how many members should it have? What equipment should be installed? What group size should be assumed in the class room? Experience shows that 4.5 to 5 m2 per piece of equipment and 1 m2 per person is a good guideline when planning the area of a fitness studio. The ceiling height should be 4 meters at best, but at least 3 meters to ensure enough freedom of movement for exercisers during their workout.
What is the minimum size of a gym?
A good guideline when planning the area of a gym is 4.5 to 5 m2 per piece of equipment. A 40 m² room is sufficient for classes with a maximum of 10 people. Accordingly, a gym for 30 people needs a minimum size of 120 m².
The following calculation can help with planning:
- As a rule of thumb for under 500 members , number of machines = number of members * 4 percent.
- As a rule of thumb for 500 to 1,000 members : Number of machines = number of members * 3 percent
- Rule of thumb for 1,000 members or more: number of devices = number of members * 2.5 percent
An example: Based on 100 members, 100 * 4 percent = 4 devices. With 5 m² of space for each piece of equipment, this results in the following space requirement: 5 m² * 4 = 20 m² in the fitness room. In addition, there is a counter with a drinks bar, changing rooms, sanitary facilities, gymnastics area and a space requirement for the free weights area.
Are fitness studios air-conditioned?
One of the few existing building regulations for fitness studios is a high-performance ventilation system. This ensures a constant exchange of air in the premises: It transports the stale air outside and lets fresh outside air flow in. As a rule, this also regulates the temperatures accordingly so that a good indoor climate prevails.
How warm does it have to be in the gym?
People sweat in the fitness rooms, so it shouldn't be too warm. On the other hand, other areas such as the changing rooms require considerably more heat. Accordingly, different heating and ventilation should be provided in the various rooms, adapted to the respective needs.
The following room temperatures result in the gym:
- Fitness and cardio area: 19 degrees
- Course and group training: 18 degrees
- Women's locker rooms: 22 to 23 degrees
- Men's locker rooms: 20 to 21 degrees
- Wellness and sauna area: 22 to 23 degrees
At what temperature to train?
In the fitness and cardio area, it's all about sweating and the room temperatures and humidity are automatically somewhat higher. For this reason, additional heating should not be used. Room temperatures of around 19 degrees are ideal. This way you can do your work-out without freezing.
Are showers mandatory in the gym?
In the end it is not obligatory, but it should be explicitly stated in the contract whether the use of the wet rooms is included. In fact, according to statistics, few members even use the on-site showers, preferring to shower at home instead. If showers are planned for, however, there should be at least 4 for women and 4 for men.
How many restrooms does a gym need?
Of course, restrooms are mandatory in gyms. Exactly how many there need to be depends on the number of members. In the case of multi-story gyms, it is also advisable to distribute the restrooms on different levels. There are no reliable regulations from the authorities. However, experience shows that, assuming 1,000 members and 4 visits per month, there should be 3 toilets for women and 3 toilets for men, or 2 toilets and 3 urinals. When in doubt, it is always better to provide more toilets than too few. This also applies to separately designated employee toilets.
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Editors fitnessmarkt.de (EA)
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Published on: 17 September 2019