Does anyone know how to determine the number of sq feet required for fitness facilities? That is to say, what is the ratio of members to sq feet - and how are those sq feet best parced?
Answers (7)
A standing person is considered to be occupying 3 sq ft.
I would think that 7-10 sq ft min. However, it really depends on the amount of fixed equipment, code requirements, etc.
Anthony L also suggests this expert on this topic:
The following are occupant load factors from NFPA 101, Table 7.3.1.2 for the space that you asked about:
Exercise Rooms with Equipment require 50 sq.ft. per person
Exercise Rooms without Equipment require 15 sq.ft. per person
This really comes down the equipment sizes and activity types. In my experience this is subject to a lot of variability depending on exercise trends. For selectorized equipment, bikes, etc., your best bet is to work with the manufacturer to determine the clearances for the machines and spacing requirements. Other fitness areas will need to be determined by class size - talk to the instructors about what they'll be doing. For Code, yes, 50SF per person is the number used to determine occupancy loads for egress, etc. I don't think it's a good rule of thumb for deciding how much SF per person a facility will need, however. My egress numbers always end up much higher than the expected actual occupancy.
All of the other answers have merit - also you must consider the fire regulations with regard to the actual premisies - very often these limit the use of the space rather than the amount of equipment etc - it all comes down to emergency ingress and egress from the space in question..........
Gerard L
Principal, Gerard Lee Architects
Best Answers in: Green Business (2), Certification and Licenses (1), Energy and Development (1), Green Products (1)
There's a big difference between programming a space for it's particular use and using building code definitions to calculate egress width requirements.
They are not the same.
What type of fitness facility is this?
Is it just a facility that utilizes certain types of equipment? Free weights? Aerobics, yoga, etc? Does it have a treatment center? On staff chiropractor or fitness technician.
Will it have a running track, a pool, a sauna, spa? Does it have basketball courts indoor or out? Does it have racquetball courts? Is there a general or multi use facility? Administration offices, child care, lockers, towel service, laundry services, storage, etc. All have different requirements.
Work out your program first. Understand what type of fitness facility this is going to be. What type of services or facilities you are going to provide to your members.
Once you develop your program you can choose to sit down with an architect to help do some space planning based on the building or facility program. You can also look for the "Architects studio companion" which some use as a guide to rough out area requirements based on usage.
To just use a rule of thumb of square footage per members may not work out the way you want. Depending on what you intend to provide to your members, you can already see that different uses require far more square footage than others. I.e Indoor basketball court vs aerobic room.
There are so many variables that can be applied to your fitness center that you would be better off understanding what type of fitness center you would like to have. Then create a budget, do a reality check, trim some fat and then reassess your area requirements again.
I have added a link which has a description of the book listed above. Remember though that's it's only used as a guide by trained architects.
Links:
You have some very good answers by others experts here. In addition, I would also ask that you check the membership strength, square footage and pricing options at a YMCA or other fitness centers in your locality.
Subhas C B
Management Consultant
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (22), Staffing and Recruiting (12), Career Management (10), Change Management (4), Organizational Development (3), Education and Schools (2), Job Search (2), Mentoring (2), Offshoring and Outsourcing (2), Guerrilla Marketing (2), Public Relations (2), Writing and Editing (2), Professional Books and Resources (2), Ethics (2), Professional Networking (2), Purchasing (1), Business Dining and Entertainment (1), Certification and Licenses (1), Freelancing and Contracting (1), Occupational Training (1), Conference Venues (1), Accounting (1), Budgeting (1), IPO (1), Venture Capital and Private Equity (1), Economics (1), Risk Management (1), Personnel Policies (1), Internationalization and Localization (1), Internet Marketing (1), Business Development (1), Labor Relations (1), Planning (1), Option Markets (1), Non-profit Management (1), Quality Management and Standards (1), Supply Chain Management (1), Personal Investing (1), Personal Real Estate (1), Market Research and Definition (1), Pricing (1), Business Plans (1), Small Business (1), Green Business (1), E-Commerce (1), Computers and Software (1), Telecommunications (1), Web Development (1)
To add spice and diversity, please accept the reality that people of different shape and size will visit to pound the floor and test the machines.
Allow the tolerances as possibly one in three visitors will be wearing extra large dress to cover up high BMI structure.
Besides this elderly people will gradually replace the younger population due to their renewed vigor and belief in maintaining fitness. Footfalls of younger generation will be reduced as many young people have the gadgets at home or at workplace and also due to their reluctance to move out of home or workplace.
So review the standard dimensions accordingly.
