retro fit gym wood floor

[Examiner]

Given:

Gym does not have a recess for a wood floor system. The sports floor was to be a membrane system.

Quest:

To provide a wood floor system without removing concrete slab:

How would you comply with ADA and the 3-inch change in height?

Issues I see.

A 3” drop cannot occur as a step. The minimum step per Code is 4” in height. Then there is the tripping hazard as one step. Also the occupancy is an Assembly where I think you have to be over 21-inches to use steps as I recall. Will do code research anyway but have not looked it up yet.

Ramping all perimeter sides of the court will have issues of the cross slope exceeding 2% when people walk perpendicular to the ramped sides of the court.

Ramping down at the EXIT or Exit Access Doors will require a level landing area on either side of the door.

Using a threshold over ½” high at the door is an issue with ADA and Code landing requirements.

A vendor claims his retro fit gym wood floor system complies with ADA. I cannot wait to see his solution.

Any of you have any experience with these retrofit gym wood floors.

Oh, this is to be a change order to the job under construction so at this time it is not an exactly an existing building. Love it when owners change their mind in the middle of construction. Slab is already poured and roof is on. Job is well into interior finishes.

 

[steveray]

A ramp in one or two particular areas should do it I imagine....

Ohhhh.....it is the entire floor of the building......I see now.......that would be problematic....I guess ramps and landings at all doors might be possible....

 

[brudgers]

Just hire Jack.

 

[Glennman CBO]

Is "Hammer" Jack's last name?

 

[Yikes]

The newer systems of membrane floors have great performance. I'm not endorsing a particular product here, but for informational purposes try Gerflor Taraflex systems (about 7 to 9 mm thick), whcih would solve your ADA problem. ThGarageflex reps will make an informational pesentation to your clients that will impress them on the benefits (safer, lower impact, mroe consistent surface characteristics, etc.) This stuff has been approved by major international sports organizations (including I believe the Olympic committee).

http://www.gerflorusa.com/us/sport/product/p1121-taraflex-sport-performance.html?page_menu=2144

Be sure to follow the newer ASTM F 2772-09 standard for sports floors.

 

[peach]

Hi Jack... why can't they just build what's specified? *sheesh*

 

[Examiner]

Owner's Construction Manager (Contractor) playing Architect. Trying to get brownie points.

 

[Yikes]

Owner's Construction Manager (Contractor) playing Architect. Trying to get brownie points.

1. Thank him for the suggestion.

2. Show him the ASTM F 2772-09 and demonstrate how your specificied system complies (or propose an alternate that does comply but does not require ripping out the slab.

3. Ask the contractor to prepare an estime for both alternatives, both in terms of cost and schedule impact.

FYI, I am very doubtful that a single-layer sleeper, shallow wood floor system will comply. I think that part of ASTM F 2772-09 is consistent playing surface, and (for example) a basketball will bounce very differently on a floor when it hits directly over a single sleeper vs. over an open span.

 

[Architect1281]

Raise the floor throughout

and lift the doors 3"

makes the CM still look like hero! NOT

 

[Examiner]

I sent the PDF file on the product to the Access Board. They said that the system would comply with accessibility. The only problem with the current GYM; there is not enough room to get the court floor, the required side boundary in and the ramp. The ramp along all sides would require the 60-inch landing at the bottom of the ramp and then there is the flat area at the exit access doors that also need clearances. In the PDF file their examples all had ample room. The Access Board agreed that a small gym would present accessible issues with the system. Will not get any of that discussion in writing but I have my ammo for the fight.

 

[MarkRandall]

They want to raise the court floor and slope all the way around the perimeter??? Sounds like an extremely bad idea. First kid running off the court and breaking an ankle stepping on the sloped surface, is going to sue the school/designer. Unless you're in a stadium size building, about the only way to make this work is raise the floor throughout the whole room and ramp up at each entry point.

 

[peach]

so, why aren't they building to the approved plans?

But, then, how many wheelchair bound athletes are competing?

Granted, there are wheelchair events (plenty of them.. good for those athletes).. you pick a proper forum for the event.

Still, I'd require what's on the plans.. or the alternative (and associated cost) belongs to the designer or owner. NOT YOUR PROBLEM.. don't let it become yours

 

[Examiner]

Good old boy politics at work here. The firm is steering clear of any professional role as to review of shop drawings, suggesting the system, approving the system and it will not be part of the construction contract. The change the Construction Manager is presenting to the owner will have to be in some way out of the realm of Architectural Services. Maybe the Building Official or Fire Marshall will disallow the system to go in and it has already started going in. Highly unlikely that will happen around here. The Company putting the floor system in is saying it is a retro fit to the existing Gym and they have done this in other existing gyms and it has been acceptable. It seems to me just because it is a retro fit; sloping the ramp all the way to the EXIT door’s interior faces does not comply with either the Building Code or ADA. There is to be a landing at the bottom and top of ramps no matter how much rise the ramp has. Remember slopes over 5% are ramps. Then there is the landing requirement in the building code to be on either side of the door and accessibility requirements for a level area on either side of the door. The argument that it is the best we can do to make it accessible and still have code violations and ADA violations is absurd.