Dance Studio Floor
A sprung floor is a floor that absorbs shocks giving it a softer feel. Such floors are considered the best available for dance and indoor sports and physical education. They enhance performance and greatly reduce injuries. Modern sprung floors are supported by foam backing or rubber feet, while the traditional floors are cushioned mechanically.
A sprung floor is also sometimes referred to as a floating floor. That term though more often refers to a floor that insulates against noise or a raised floor with ducts and wires underneath as in computer halls.
The top layer of a sprung floor is a performance surface. In dance this may be replaceable to suit different styles, such surfaces are often also called marley floors or dance floors. Here the term floor surface or just surface is used for this.
A sprung floor excluding the surface is often referred to as the sub-floor, though this may also refer to the concrete or other floor under a sprung floor.
The term speed refers to the traction (kinetic friction) of performance surfaces: fast describes slippery surface, and slow higher-traction surface, like a gym floor.
The basic requirements for a sports floor or a dance floor are the same. They should encourage optimum performance and be safe. There are many differences between what would be the best floor for various sports and forms of dance. However the requirements are similar enough that one can have a floor suitable for general use; and any exceptions like judo would expect to put down their own mats anyway.
Like a good race track it should have just the right amount of give; it should not be too hard which causes repetitive strain injuries or too soft which is tiring.
- It should be even and flat with only small variation in characteristics across it.
- It should be springy and return energy to lift the feet when moving, but not too springy like a trampoline.
- It should absorb the energy of falls and reduce injuries.
- It should have appropriate traction: too much and the foot might twist when turning, too little and it can be dangerously slippery (more on this below).
- There should not be any sideways movement. Sideways movement hampers balance, this is why very thick pile carpeting can be dangerous for the elderly (thick underlay however is good).
- It should be primarily `area elastic' rather than `point elastic'. It should depress more like a wooden floor than a sponge rubber one - but the effect should not extend too far and the surface layer can be point elastic.
- It should be easy to see action on the floor: it should not be too light or dark.
- It should not be either too noisy or too quiet in use.
- It should not become very dangerous if liquid is spilled on it and it should be easy to clear up any such spillage. This is a major cause of injury.
Additionally many such floors are multipurpose. For instance a community hall might be used for playgroups and old age groups, for dances, aerobics and sports, and for seating for plays. It may have to carry heavy objects like pianos. There may also be requirements for ease of cleaning and maintenance. Cost of repair after damage by vandals or stiletto heels is also a consideration. Note the requirement to host public events can often be eased by the use of a gym floor cover to protect the floor.
There is no combined standard covering playgrounds and sprung floors or for use in old age centres but one that conforms to a full minimum sports or dance standard should be adequate to prevent serious injuries (e.g. broken bones) for children falling from 2 feet (0.6 meter) as from a toddlers table, or hip injuries in the elderly.
The same standards are applicable to dance as to sport. These describe minimum standards suitable for a general purpose hall. The ranges of parameters are wide enough to cover optimizing most special purpose halls as well:
- DIN 18032 part 2 is the German standard and is generally considered current best practice.
- BS 7044 part 4 is the British standard for artificial sports surfaces. The Sports Council only supports indoor activities on a BS 7044 approved floor and have a good description of them.
- EN 14904 is a new European standard which will replace European national standards. This was used for the World Cup in Germany, and covers both sports and dance halls. It also deals explicitly with some special purpose floors.
There doesn't seem to be a researched history of sprung floors. The earliest references on the web seem to be:
The New Zealand Prime Ministerial home was rebuilt soon after 1872. The rebuild included a ballroom with a sprung floor and New Zealand's first lift.
A purpose built dance hall with a still functioning sprung floor was built in Over-the-Rhine in 1885.
Many sprung floors were installed for dance soon after 1900 in places like embassies, hotels, and private clubs. Use of sprung floors exploded with the opening of large public dance halls between 1920 an 1945.
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