FAQs
GYM & SPA FAQS
Installing a new gym in your home or office could feel like a daunting task if you didn’t have an expert team on your side. In our experience there are some questions that nearly all customers ask. We’ve compiled this list of gym & spa FAQs to help answer some of the most common questions, and for those more technical questions, we’d love you to get in touch.
This all depends on the number of people using the gym and the demographic of those users.
As a general point, it is never good approach to fill a gym full of equipment. There is a lot of value in empty space, whether it’s for occasional classes, a stretching area, for weights, or just not to make the place feel cluttered.
For a corporate gym, listening to the demands of your employees will give a good estimate for what equipment is needed.
This question does not apply to private gyms, as you would just use your normal shower at home.
Residential gyms that have a swimming pool, steam room or a sauna will need a shower facility.
Showers in an office gym are essential. Leaving out shower facilities from a corporate gym creates a usage barrier. Employees will only be able to use the gym after working hours, which will create a traffic jam of people working out before going home to shower.
It may also result in falling office gym membership, as staff may find another local gym to go to before work/during lunch that has shower facilities.
We supply a specific solution called USOL. This is our preferred product for cleaning gym equipment. You could use an extremely diluted solution of soapy water, but no more than a thumb nail measurement of soap. Sweat contains salt, and salt-based dirt and dust does not need much encouragement to remove. Excess soap can cause smearing and other problems to gym floors, mirrors and equipment.
This depends on how often it is used. The recommended schedule for servicing equipment is once a quarter. The maximum amount of time should be once a year.
Depending on the order, delivery time is typically between 2 -8 weeks.
A gym with a swimming pool must be staffed.
It is recommended that dry gyms have at least part-time staff for inductions, demonstrations and classes. In our post on how to make money from your corporate gym we recommend that the gym is staffed during the most popular hours.
This depends on how regularly the spa/sauna/ steam room is used.
A busy residential gym should be checked once every 30 minutes with a fuller service once per week.
There are no rules for colour or shape of lighting, but they must be safe. Lighting must not be too bright, and must be spaced evenly to avoid disorientating gym users.
Another reason for avoiding very bright lighting is that it can make a gym space feel quite clinical, and not a relaxing environment.
Yes. See our answer to the question about flooring for more details.
We work with several specialist contractors during a gym fit-out, including an acoustician. Getting the right acoustics in a gym are an essential part of the buil
A good gym is always built with user comfort in mind. For this reason, we always recommend at least one water machine.
A mains-fed water machine is better than the bubble water machines, as the water supply to these need to be replaced regularly.
There are a number of clever ways of tidily storing equipment in a gym. Wall racks and cupboards are a must for any equipment items that can be left out on the gym floor causing potential trip hazards. Cupboards are used for the larger items, like spin bikes, and racks are always useful for storing kettle bells, dumbbells, bars etc.
Modern top of the range equipment is internet ready. A mains supply and coaxial aerial point is needed for these.
2.6 meters – this is for any gym with treadmills, cross trainers, steppers. These are the tallest types of equipment.
A gym for just stretching, weights and classes could be a lower height of 2.4 meters, but it is all about what will feel a comfortable space to workout in.
Each gym-build requires the work of different specialisms. Work with several specialists and contractors for heating, lighting, cooling.
Any AV (audio visual) equipment that is high quality will always encourage members to use the gym. Focus on quality so that members feel they get the most from their subscription.
Each gym floor is specifically tailored to the demands of the gym. Gym floor areas are divided into zones depending on the type of activity. This determines their thickness, grip, amount of acoustic protection etc.
When choosing the flooring for an office gym, consider who is above and below. Treadmills are some of the loudest pieces of equipment in a gym. It is essential to ensure that people working around the gym are taken into consideration. Excessive noise pollution from a corporate gym is less than ideal and can lead to problems.
Always make sure that a floor is easy to clean and does not wear quickly.
From an aesthetic point – don’t use carpet.
INDUCTION FAQS
A key part of our fitness service is delivering inductions across our unmanned residential gym sites. We’ve compiled this list of gym induction FAQs to help answer some of the most common questions, but if there is anything further you need to know, we’d love you to get in touch.
A gym induction is required at most sites because the gym is essentially unmanned and, to cover their health and safety requirements, the Estate Management require all residents to be shown how to safely use the gym. motive8 is hired to deliver this service on behalf of the development’s managing agents.
· Signing of PARQ- Health Questionnaire Form and Disclaimer Forms
· Covering the use of cardio equipment in the gym
· Covering the key features of the strength equipment
· Covering the use and safety of using free weights
· Showing any other equipment and training areas such as stretching spaces and smaller resistance training items – mats, medicine balls and Swiss balls
· Housekeeping and Health & Safety – Fire Exits, Cleaning Stations, Air Conditioning and Audio Visual Controls, Water Stations, Etiquette Signage
· Answering any questions that a resident might have surrounding training in the gym, further services and how to report issues
The meeting point will vary across sites, however you will be informed of this over the phone at the time of your booking. The Concierge Team should be able to direct you to the gym if you are unsure of where it is located, however outside the gym is a common meeting point, or outside the main door to the gym .
When a new site launches, some inductions are paid for by the Estate Management and are therefore free to residents, but these are usually only for new gyms and only on a set number of specified dates and agreed periods during the initial launch phase. Outside of these dates and sessions, or if the Estate Management does not chose to offer free inductions, the following fees will apply.
Gym inductions cost £35.00* per person if part of a pre-scheduled group session. Inductions are set and paid for on a per person basis, therefore each resident will be required to pay for their induction individually, even if residing in the same property as another person wishing to use the gym.
If a 1-2-1 induction is requested at an alternative time to the pre-scheduled group sessions, there is a £15.00 surcharge. The resident will therefore have to pay £50.00** for a 1-2-1 induction at an alternative time to be organised with a motive8 trainer.
At some sites, where inductions are not compulsory, you can still opt to have one at a cost of £50.00 per person. If two or more people from the same apartment want to book an induction that is not at the time of a scheduled group induction, a fee of £35.00 per person will apply and payment must be completed at the same time.
At the time of booking we will ask you if you are an owner or a tenant. We need to know this information because, at some sites, property owners do not pay for their inductions directly – this is paid for by the estate management company or property developer.
* There are some site specific variances in the price for gym inductions; this will be made clear to you at the time of booking.
** The surcharge will always be £15, but the overall price for a 1-2-1 induction will be relative to the initial group cost as set by the relevant Estate Management.
For most gyms, there is no ongoing monthly membership fee. The cost of the induction is a one off payment, payable at the time of booking.
Some specified sites do have a membership fee; however this arrangement is between you, as a property owner or tenant, and the estate management company, not with motive8.
motive8 is hired as a contractor to deliver gym inductions on behalf of your Estate Management. The fee for the induction covers the cost of the trainer to deliver your induction and also the booking and administration to organise the induction. Your service charge does not cover the cost of an induction and motive8 does not take a share of your service charge for the purpose of gym inductions.
We have to cover the cost and time to book the personal trainer to visit your location at a more convenient time.
Training kit is not a requirement for an induction as we understand that you may be coming along straight from work. Whilst it is useful to come prepared to try machines out during an induction, this will not be an opportunity to look closely at your technique and form in detail due to the group setting of the inductions.
Our Personal Trainer will issue you with an Induction Confirmation Receipt. This should be taken to the concierge along with your fob where they will be able to programme the fob to access the gym area.
At some sites you will be given a code for the gym area following the gym induction.
If payment has not been received by motive8, we will not be able to issue access to the gym until payment has been confirmed as received.
The gym is 24/7 unless specified; however specific sites have differing open and close times. Your key fob will often control access times anyway.
We advise that children do not attend gym inductions or the gym at any time. The induction is an opportunity for all residents to listen to information surrounding health and safety and distraction from children should be avoided.
The gym is not deemed a safe place for children to be left to their own devices whilst you work out. In addition, residents should be able to enjoy the facility without the disturbance or worry that children are within their proximity.
We advise that you speak directly to your estate management team should you feel the need to bring your child to the gym as they will be able to offer further advice specific to your facility.
