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When it comes to the specification of washroom systems for leisure centres, high performance is essential to ensuring the longevity of a solution. There can be no more demanding environment on the finish of a system than that which combines the hot, damp conditions of swimming pool changing with the rough and tumble associated with sports facilities. With these two main challenges in mind, Petal has developed washroom systems specifically for leisure applications, ensuring they possess all the qualities required to withstand the many challenges of their surroundings, whilst providing the highly appealing aesthetic desirable for modern leisure settings.

A Robust Approach

A strong and durable washroom system is desirable in any application, but it is imperative in the context of sports facilities. Leisure centre changing rooms are literally awash with busy occupants, from sports teams to school groups and busy families with active toddlers. The rough and tumble which can be associated with such groups means only the strongest of systems will withstand the rigours of their environment. With the combination of indoor and outdoor sports, swimming and gym facilities, there can be many stresses imposed upon leisure changing systems.

Petal’s semi-framed Sprint system features a continuous channel with integral legs, providing a much superior strength to systems encompassing patch fittings which are prone to wear and tear. The full-length profile eliminates the shakes and rattles often associated with these inferior systems. This, coupled with the connection to a headrail, provides exceptional stability. With dowel fixings instead of inferior through-panel fixings and with three hinges per door, Petal’s systems withstand not just general rough and tumble but deliberate horseplay, ensuring even the most demanding of behaviour can be withstood. This tried and tested hardware has been selected for its ability to perform over years of repeated use, giving the assurance that these systems are built to withstand the test of time.

The large area required to cater for changing facilities in leisure settings means design often takes the form of island layouts. The absence of a back wall to provide stability further cements the need for a highly robust system. An island layout demands strong connection to the floor and here Petal’s full-framed Action system provides the exceptional stability required. In a family environment, a quantity of these village units will include baby changing facilities, in which case the demand for safety extends to health & safety considerations.

Damp Environment

Further strain on the materials of a leisure setting comes from the combination of heat and damp associated with leisure changing and showering facilities. Compact Grade Laminate (CGL) is an ideal material in this demanding environment due to its extremely high performing waterproof qualities. Its soft radiused edges also ensure user comfort, another important consideration and especially in a family environment.

Petal’s Elan glass cubicles provide the ultimate in sophistication and performance for a damp environment. Glass produces a luxurious feel and its water resistance means it is an optimum choice for leisure applications, particularly for golf clubs and private leisure outlets such as health spas. Elan and its full height equivalent (Elan Ultra) are a popular choice for showering facilities especially, with frosted and painted glass options providing the required privacy.

Privacy

When it comes to leisure environments, floor to ceiling systems are often not a viable option due to high ceilings and budgetary constraints. In this context, and especially in the wake of ever popular gender neutral settings, it is the floor height rather than ceiling height which assumes most importance in privacy terms, ensuring that hands and mobile phones cannot be slipped underneath cubicle doors in a voyeuristic fashion. In some applications, Petal’s Sprint Plus full height system can provide maximum privacy with heights of up to 3m available.

For a deeper exploration of privacy issues across a variety of settings, visit our Privacy blog.

Specify with Confidence

The demand for high performance in leisure settings is beyond dispute, and Petal’s approach to materials and hardware ensures that its products can be specified safe in the knowledge they have been designed with harsh environments and demanding activity in mind. The full leisure package includes changing and toilet cubicles, vanity units, grooming stations, lockers & benches and in each case, materials have been carefully selected to ensure their performance in a leisure setting.

Leisure installations present additional challenges as the cubicle installation must accommodate the changes in floor level which are a feature in a swimming pool applications. For this reason, Petal’s experience in delivering Supply and Fit contracts for leisure projects is invaluable. This full package approach has been a popular choice with leisure centres, with many recent projects featuring the full range. View our leisure case studies here to explore the range.