Transcript Making School Gyms Safer Using Alternatives to VCT Flooring

Improving Gym Safety
Using Alternatives
to VCT Flooring
AIA/CES Program # 252525
Copyright 2005, Connor Sport Court International
This program is registered with the AIA/CES for
continuing professional education. As such, it does
not include content that may be deemed or construed
to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction of any method or manner
of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any
material or product. Questions related to specific
materials, methods, and services will be addressed
at the conclusion of this presentation.
Learning Objectives
• Understand the characteristics of Vinyl Composition
Tile (VCT)
• Identify critical safety concerns when considering
VCT for use in a school gymnasium environment
• Learn the importance of specifying alternatives to
VCT flooring in the gym
UNDERSTAND
Resilient: (ri-zil-yent)
Characterized or marked by resilience as:
• a: capable of withstanding shock without
permanent deformation or rupture
• b: tending to recover from or adjust
easily to misfortune or change
Synonym: see Elastic
Source: http://www.m-w.com (Merriam-Webster)
UNDERSTAND
Resilient Flooring Defined
“Resilient flooring refers to flooring
materials which have a relatively firm
surface, yet characteristically have “give”
and “bounce back” to their original surface
profile from the weight of objects that
compress its surface.”
Source: Resilient Floor Coverings Institute website http://www.rfci.com/materials.htm
UNDERSTAND
Resilient Flooring Defined
“Ceramic and stone are hard, cold and tough
on the things which get dropped.”
“Resilient is warm, comfortable, forgiving and
very easy to maintain.”
Source: Flooring Magazine June/July 2004 issue –
“Resilient: What's New & How to Sell It” article by Janine Nunes, editor
UNDERSTAND
What is Vinyl Composition Tile?
• 15% consists of “fillers”
• Typically 1/8” thick (3.2 mm) 12” x 12” glued down squares
• Suitable for numerous applications including hallways,
classrooms, and many stores...
• Never intended to provide
cushioning or shock absorption
85% natural limestone
UNDERSTAND
VCT History
“Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) hard surface flooring
is the successor to VAT (Vinyl Asbestos Tile) –
a hard-surface, durable flooring.”
“With concerns over asbestos, VAT was replaced
by VCT which is frequently specified because it
generally costs less at installation than the other
flooring choices.”
Sources: August 2002 ISSUETRAK “From the Ground Up: Floor Covering
Recommendations From an IAQ Consortium” by David Frank; According to a brief from the
Council of Educational Facilities Planners International (CEFPI)
UNDERSTAND
“There is great concern within the educational
community about the ergonomic failings of VCT.
VCT’s hard surface is prone to glare, slips and
falls, and noise escalation.”
IDENTIFY
VCT in Other Applications
• According to National Floor Safety Institute,
grocery stores spend $450 million annually to
defend slip-and-fall claims
• Many install rubber mats/surfacing in
moisture-prone produce departments to
avoid slip-and-fall injuries and lawsuits
IDENTIFY
Child Safety and VCT
Consumer Product Safety Alert
• More than 23,000 children ages 14
and under are treated annually for
injuries related to shopping carts
• Seventy-four percent of these injuries
are to the head and neck – resulting
from falls to the
non-forgiving surface below
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
IDENTIFY
VCT in the School Gymnasium
“Due to budget and space limitations, most middle
and elementary schools resort to using VCT in their
gymnasiums… (which) creates safety hazards...
There may not be an injury right away from playing
basketball on a hard surface, but eventually there’s
going to be a problem.”
Source: Recreation Management online; “Kids’ Flooring Choices: Poor to Middling?” Sandy Kate, Partner with Fanning / Howey Associates Inc.
IDENTIFY
Multi-Purposing of School
Gyms
• Elementary/middle school
gyms often double as
cafeterias
• Maintenance staff are
challenged to keep floor
completely clean of food and
spills as P.E. classes enter
after lunch, increasing the
likelihood of slip-and-fall
accidents
IDENTIFY
Activities Played
• Relay races
• Volleyball
• Cheerleading
• Kickball
• Dodgeball
• Running laps
• Fitness/exercising
• Jumping/rope
IDENTIFY
Activities Played
• Ropes/rock walls
• Floor hockey
• Dancing
• Tag
• After school programs
• Basketball
• Gymnastics/tumbling
IDENTIFY
Video: Demonstrating Resiliency
IDENTIFY
VCT: Not Meant
for Active Play
“Playing on a hard or
inappropriate surface
causes knee, shin,
and ankle problems
especially tendonitis
and stress fractures.”
- Eric Small, MD
Eric Small, MD, Author of “Kids & Sports: Everything you and
your child need to know about Sports, Physical Activity,
Nutrition, and Good Health”
IDENTIFY
VCT: Not Meant for Active Play
Stress fractures can result from
participation in many activities and
sports, especially those requiring
running and jumping.
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
IDENTIFY
“Because (a) child's bones are still growing,
he is vulnerable to an additional type of fracture
that does not occur in adults. This involves damage
to the growth plates at the ends of the bones
(which) regulate future growth.”
IDENTIFY
Friction (Traction)
is Also Important
• A gym floor must have enough
surface friction to prevent
premature and uncontrollable
sliding, while at the same time
allowing some sliding if an
extreme force is exerted¹
• Too little or too much friction
can be a safety hazard
• Due to its 85% limestone content, VCT tends to be dangerously
slick, especially after polishing and buffing
¹Source: http://www.woodfloorsonline.com/sportfloors/sportsfloors.html
IDENTIFY
School Injuries
• More than 53 million children spend one-fourth of their
total waking hours in or on school property
• An estimated 2.2 million children ages 14 and under
sustain school-related injuries each year
• Approximately 715,000 sports or recreation related
injuries occur in and around schools each year
Source: www.safekids.org
IDENTIFY
School Injuries
• School-age children are nine times more likely to
sustain an unintentional injury (everyday accidents)
than to be a victim of an intentional injury (i.e. fights)
while at school
• The most frequent causes of school-related injuries
requiring hospitalization are falls (43%) and sports
related activities (34%)
Source: www.safekids.org
IDENTIFY
Without proper protection, a fall of as little
as two feet can result in a skull fracture
or other traumatic brain injury.
IDENTIFY
The Evolution of the Playground
• Asphalt & concrete were once considered appropriate
surfaces for school playgrounds
• 70% of all playground injuries were caused by falls to
non-resilient surfaces
IDENTIFY
The Evolution of the Playground
• Most schools have upgraded playgrounds with
more resilient, safer surfacing
• The gym may now be the most dangerous place on
school property
IDENTIFY
School Gyms: A Similar
Evolution
While VCT may be
appropriate in many areas
including school hallways –
it is never a safe surface
when active play is required
IDENTIFY
The Hard Truth About VCT
• The ASTM F 1292-04 tests a surface’s
resilience and failure height using HIC
(Head Impact Criterion) and GMAX
scores
• This test has shown that concrete is 16
times harder than most floors designed
for active play. (3/4” fall height failure
rating)
• VCT is 8 times harder than most floors
designed for active play (1.5” fall height
failure rating)
LEARN
A Higher Standard for Safety
“We had a choice - a tile (VCT) or a quality
product (suspended synthetic)… it was a
no-brainer for us, we wanted something
safe… the bottom line is safety for the kids.”
-Dexter Inovejas, P.E. Teacher
Southwood Valley Elementary
College Station, TX
LEARN
Video: A Principal’s Experience
LEARN
Encouraging Gym Safety
• Specify a floor that is
engineered to provide an
appropriate level of
impact protection
• Specify a surface that
will absorb a portion of
the impact to head,
bones, and teeth
• Consider friction: Not too
much slip or grip
• Share this message with
everyone involved in the
project
Ft. Calhoun Public Schools - Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska
LEARN
Needs to Consider
• Safety: Specify a surface that will absorb a higher portion of
impact from falls during play. Also look for the appropriate
amount of surface friction
• Multipurpose durability: Look for durable alternatives
to VCT that will provide the versatility and ease of
maintenance needed in the school environment
• Performance: Find a balance between safety and
performance (i.e. ball bounce vs. shock absorption)
• Cost: Specify a product that will provide the best overall
value over time
LEARN
VCT is NOT an Appropriate Surface
Whenever Active Play is Expected
The decision should be made upfront to specify
the appropriate level of resilience for the project
Resilient Sports Surface
Lower Probability of Head Injury
Concrete & VCT
High Probability of Head Injury
GMAX < 200*
GMAX > 200*
HIC < 1000*
HIC > 1000*
*Based on ASTM F 1292-04 testing at a 12” Fall height
LEARN
Make a Commitment to Share this
Knowledge with Project Stakeholders
VCT &
Active
Play
VCT is not recognized as a sport surface by any entity!
Thank You!
Copyright 2005, Connor Sport Court International