Understanding Athletic Flooring
By: Mike Niese and Ken Thomas

From the surface, most athletic flooring systems look alike. But, like the old saying goes, “Beauty is only skin deep.” In order to make an informed decision, it is important to consider everything below the surface of a floor system to best understand its structural and athletic performance characteristics as well as its longevity of performance.  

Many component configurations comprise the system structure, and there are a multitude of system designs on the market. The quality of any system depends greatly upon the quality of each individual system component, the quality and integrity of the total system design, and the quality of installation. In the best designs, the strengths of all components are integrated in such a way that the strength of the total system is greater that the sum of all the parts. 

The key point is that there is a wide variety of available flooring systems specifically designed to meet various needs, and they are not all created equally.

Have you ever been involved or do you know of someone who has been involved in the selection and purchasing process of an athletic floor system? If so, did the installed flooring system meet your expectations in quality and performance? Was the installed flooring system exactly what you specified? If not, what happened? Were things left to chance when the low-price bid process was followed?

Identifying Your Needs
As many experienced buyers already know, selecting proper athletic floors requires a full understanding of the activities that will be conducted on each floor. Regardless of facility, the selection process should begin with a complete Facility Use Plan, which includes a detailed evaluation of current and future needs. 

It is important to include the views and needs of all user groups in the development of this plan to ensure the best overall value. A good Facility Use Plan will undoubtedly be the single most important thing you can do to set the stage for a successful highly desirable facility. This plan will actually serve as the basis for all future steps in the procurement process. 

At first glance, the development of a Facility Use Plan may seem rather simple if venues are viewed based on activities only. This evaluation process becomes much more involved as other criteria are considered:

* Is the floor sport-specific or multi-purpose?
* Is the floor for competition or intramural activities?
* What is the number of participants?
* What is the expected number of spectators?
* Will special equipment will be used (bleachers, sound stages, lifts, etc.)? 
* What is the desired life expectancy of the floor?
* For how many hours per day and days per year will the facility be used?

Generally speaking, those responsible for investigating and selecting the menu of sport floor options should consider finding a surface that:

* Provides a safe, multi-purpose floor for indoor sports providing proper surface friction required for the intended usage and/or sport
* Provides a sports floor with ample shock absorption to reduce the incidence of injury.
* Provides a floor at a reasonable investment for the owner with added Life Cycle Cost benefits
* Provides a floor that exhibits a track record for longevity and has a documented history of success in similar applications
* Is manufactured by a reputable company with a documented history of standing behind their product
* Can and will be installed by factory-trained professionals using workmen certified to install the floor being purchased

There are several other factors one should consider when choosing the proper sport surface. For basketball, consistent ball bounce is critical to the game.

The floor should be consistent in its behavior during seasonal changes and/or be installed with proper spacing for anticipated changes.

The floor should have the ability to withstand the anticipated load requirements for the intended space and demonstrate no evidence of damage or deterioration under such loads.

The company should offer the owner a floor meeting all local and federal codes.

The floor should be manufactured using raw materials and techniques that minimize waste and will maximize good stewardship of our natural resources.

Any floor meeting all of the needs outlined above will perform to the owner’s expectations and, provided it is maintained properly, will perform well for the life of the building. 

It is often prudent to consult a professional who specializes in facility use planning, due to focus and volume of details involved. This can improve your chances of obtaining the best athletic floor system for your participants at the lowest total cost of ownership. 

Learning Product Options
Once you have defined your needs in a Facility Use Plan, it is time to explore all the various product options available in today’s market. Fortunately, there are choices available to fit virtually all budget and performance needs. Unfortunately, there are so many choices that the selection process can seem overwhelming; choosing the right floor for your facility has never been more difficult. 

With literally thousands of choices, making the right choice can be a challenging task even for seasoned professionals. This is especially true when considering new product innovations and sifting through all the offerings in the market. 

So, where does one begin? What criteria are available to assist decision makers?

Decisions begin with knowledge. Gathering product information from all potential sources is vital. Information can be sourced via flooring manufacturers, flooring installation companies, industry associations, neighboring facilities, various Web sites and other reliable industry contacts.

When learning about products, look for validation of claims. And, take all selected flooring systems for a test drive. Get your users on the floors that are being considered.  

Once you determine the key characteristics that make sense for your athletes and facility, prioritize them in order importance based on the value they bring to your athletes and institution. Obviously, some of these items relate more closely to athletes and performers, while others relate more closely to financial value or total cost of ownership to your organization. The criteria you select will help keep you focused as you proceed with investigating potential products for your facility. 

Surface Friction
Surface friction is possibly the single most important performance aspect of any indoor sport surface. Regardless of the activity, the surface has to provide a consistent balance of slide versus traction.  n many ways, the surface is the “silent partner” of all performers.  The ability to run full speed on the court requires firm footing at the moment of acceleration. Conversely, to stop and instantly change direction requires the surface to react to those forces and allow the player’s foot to slide or pivot. 

An unsafe surface grips the shoe and prevents its release from the surface. This failure to release during the turn leads to numerous injuries in the lower extremities and can cause the player to fall unexpectedly and suffer upper body and/or head injury as well. 

It is not uncommon to see the majority of these injuries take place on floors that have been improperly maintained or the coatings are worn to the point of uselessness. Great, time-tested surfaces allow the owner to recoat or refurbish the floor to restore the original condition. The best bet is to invest in a floor that allows refurbishment in lieu of replacement and protect the original investment of the owner. 

Shock Absorption and Deflection
Much has been written about the need for floors to be shock absorbing and safe. While there is no objective evidence to prove that a shock-absorbing floor prevents injury, it is a widespread belief that providing a proper floor with ample shock absorption can reduce the incidence and even the severity of injury, should one occur. 

The interaction between the athlete, the shoe and the surface all combine with the specific activity on that surface to dictate the nature and severity of the injury.  It is not practical to assume that you can affect or change the physical condition of the player. Nor can you control the type of shoe or the age/condition of the shoes he chooses to wear. However, there does exist an opportunity to choose the proper sport surface on which he or she will be practicing and playing.  

Choosing the proper surface will not eliminate sports injury, but it will reduce the incidence of injury by eliminating one potential cause found in this complex interaction of variables.

Ball Rebound
Consistent ball bounce is critical to games like basketball. No player wants the distraction of worrying if the ball will return off the floor and back into his control. Ball handling skills are enhanced by proper ball bounce and proper sound.

Loading
It is vital for an athletic floor to have the ability to withstand anticipated loads for the intended space and demonstrate no evidence of damage or deterioration under such loads.

Many multi-purpose facilities today see constant program changes in the venue. This requires a multitude of equipment and seating configuration changes. The floor in these facilities must hold up to the varied demands. In addition, portable backstops, their wheel configuration, and their counter-balance ballast must be considered when selecting a floor.

Whenever possible, involve the flooring contractor and manufacturer in the planning process and determine the maximum load requirements necessary for the floor to withstand. Some designs will handle heavier loads than others. Many systems can be modified to handle larger than normal loads, provided the anticipated loads are known prior to installation of the flooring system. Otherwise, temporary floor covers may be necessary for protecting the surface coatings on the floor when equipment and portable seating is scheduled for use.

Total Cost of Ownership/ Life-Cycle Cost
Understanding total cost of ownership and life-cycle cost is important in differentiating products based on overall best value of your total investment. Unfortunately, this topic is far too involved to be able to adequately cover all the details within the context of this article, so only the key points of consideration will be mentioned. 

Essentially, total cost of ownership equates to all costs related to owning a product through its expected useful life. This is very different from the typical way floors are valued (value equals low bid price). In the real world, there are numerous items of cost that are not part of the purchase price of the floor but are a normal part of owning a floor.  These include things like daily maintenance, periodic/annual maintenance, refinishing/recoating costs, specialized equipment (vacuums, scrubbers, etc.), specialized coatings or chemicals, etc. Most of these items have both a material and labor cost component. 

Another key factor is the life expectancy of the floor. It is very important to understand the parameters of expected life of the floor. Do the parameters include the aesthetics of the floor? The point is some products don’t really wear out they just “ugly out” or they may require very high levels of maintenance to keep them looking good. 

All these factors need to be considered when computing the total cost of ownership. All too often, products are selected based on low price on bid day rather than on the lowest total cost of ownership. Another way to look at this is if you choose to go with the better flooring choice, your additional cost is only the difference between the cheap floor and the better floor. If you go with the cheaper floor and find it must be replaced in a few years, you have wasted the entire purchase price amount.

When comparing the real costs of owning an athletic floor ask yourself these questions:   

* What is the life expectancy of the floor being considered without any consideration for replacement or refurbishment?
* Where has the floor been installed for this same period of time? (Get references information for verification.)
* Can the floor be totally refurbished to a “like new” condition?
* What is involved in the refurbishment and what does it cost today to perform such a service?
* How long will your facility be out of service?
* What local companies are equipped to perform this work?
* What is the cost of maintaining the floor on daily/monthly/annual basis?
* Are there hidden costs associated with owning or maintaining this floor?
* Is this product a recent look-alike, having no documented history? 

Once you have completed the task of selecting, specifying and putting your project out to bid, your work is not complete. If your project is structured as a “low bid wins” project, many things can happen through the bidding and contracting process that result in you not getting the floor you chose. Bids are often placed that do not comply with the project specifications. If particular attention is not given to holding the specification, your floor can easily become the floor based on installed price only. It takes great effort and coordination between the owner and architect to assure specifications are held. 

Here are some other things to consider.

Warranties, guarantees and promises of ongoing service are only as good as the company backing them. There are several examples that exist today of companies that have been sold to new owners and investors that do not understand the nature of sport floor construction or installation.

Choose the best floor with best manufacturer that will stand behind their products. Insist on getting historical facts of the ownership and the people working there. Manufacturers offering installation references both recent and dating back is a good choice. 

Look for companies that have been the flagships of the industry that have been and continue to be innovation leaders. Capital investments indicate the desire of a company to be in business for the long haul. 

Look for installation companies with a reputation for quality and ones that have factory-trained professionals using workmen certified to install the floor being purchased.

Carefully examine all proposals for inclusion of peripheral items required on turnkey projects. Some proposals may appear to be good value until the installing contractor or manufacturer asks for change orders. It’s not unusual for the price to increase after the bid is let for items that were originally assumed to be in the original bid: disconnecting and re-connecting telescopic bleachers, height adjustments of basketball backstops, graphics, ADA ramps, state and local taxes, etc.

Remember that long after the construction fences are pulled down and the trailers have disappeared, and long after the architect has turned over the keys and maintenance manuals, you will be living with the results of the procurement process. Your staff and players will benefit from the time and effort spent in investigating and choosing the best floor you can afford.

Mike Niese is the vice president of technology & research for Robbins, Inc., www.robbinsfloor.com, and Ken Thomas is the vice president of marketing for Robbins, Inc.
                                                                          
Product Roundup

COURTCLEAN
COURTCLEAN damp mop system is the industry’s newest tool that is “sweeping” the nation. COURTCLEAN:
* Is fast and effective
* Produces a clean surface, causing traction to be at its highest level
* Prevents the “sanding” of finished surfaces caused by dirt between shoes and the floor by eliminating nearly 100 percent of unwanted debris and dust particles
www.courtclean.net

Multi-Play Sports Flooring
Multi-Play sports flooring can turn almost any surface into a court ready for play overnight. That’s because the unique post and lock system makes for a quick, easy, and secure installation in less than one day over virtually any type of existing surface. It features:
* Resilience
* Traction
* Ball bounce
* Durability
* Affordability
Multi-Play is available in a solid tile or gridded tile in a number of attractive colors.
www.multiplayfloor.com

Electra Tarp’s Awana Game Floor
Current trends show valued space is often required to serve for numerous functions. Electra Tarp’s custom Awana game floor offers:
* Versatility to turn your space into a multipurpose facility
* Flexibility of using this game floor on any surface
* Durable reinforced vinyl with painted Awana game circle
Remove the game floor by simply folding and storing away. Whether your space is large or small, a game floor can be constructed to fit your needs.
www.electratarp.com

COVERMATE II
Covermaster Inc. has introduced a second-generation, custom-engineered version of their highly regarded gym floor cover handling system. Marketed as COVERMATE II, the system represents a breakthrough in handling safety. Central to this new, custom engineered system are the retractable safety outriggers, which:
* Virtually eliminate the risk of tipping when the cover sections are pulled off the rack
* Are extended while being moved and during installation or take-up of the cover
* Slide out and are secured in place with a special, spring loaded locking pin
Since the outriggers are fitted with their own casters, COVERMATE II can be moved about the gym with the outriggers in extended position.
www.covermaster.com

Taraflex Evolution System
The innovative Taraflex Evolution System combines a wood substructure and a durable, multipurpose surface for a versatile sports floor. The Taraflex Evolution System brings together a DIN-certified sub floor made of wood with a comfortable, easy maintenance, resilient vinyl surface layer to deliver outstanding:
* Shock absorption
* Comfort
* Superior performance
The system combines the best features of two flooring types: point-elastic and area-elastic. 
www.gerflortaraflex.com

Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association
The Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) is the authoritative source of innovative technical and general information for maple flooring and related sports flooring systems. The MFMA has combined all their information in one easy place: the MFMA Sourcebook. The MFMA Sourcebook has:
* Expanded listings of all members
* Library of technical information
* MFMA position statements
* Order forms
* Information on MFMA’s Inspection Services
www.maplefloor.org

Centaur’s SportWeave Fitness Flooring
Centaur Floor Systems presents SportWeave Fitness Flooring. SportWeave features:
* The look and feel of carpet
* The durability of polypropylene fiber
* The ability to withstand moisture and stains
* A seven-year abrasive wear warranty
SportWeave is perfect for a variety of areas within your church. 
www.centaurfloors.com.