No Sweat: Traditional Gym Steam Rooms Undergo Major Face Lifts
Sometimes perceived as a health risk, workout centers opt for new technology that makes steam rooms immune to mold, mildew and bacteria.
(PRNewsChannel) / Idaho Falls, Idaho - A new hybrid steam room that prevents the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria and all types of viruses has already been tapped by Gold’s Gym and YMCA, the companies Scandia Manufacturing and AM-FINN Sauna and Steam announced today.
“Customers see these new high-tech rooms and feel very confident they are sanitary without even knowing the technology behind them," says Dustin Eagans, product manager with Scandia Manufacturing.
Commercial health clubs and wellness facilities across the country are being forced to re-consider their traditional tiled steam rooms for sanitary reasons. The warm wet environment of the traditional tiled steam room is an ideal breeding ground for mold, mildew, bacteria and all types of viruses. There is a rapid increase of viral epidemics such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and Staphylococcus (the Staph virus), historically originating from within hospitals, now originating in athletic facilities and schools in 27% of the staph cases reported in the U.S. according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Health departments across the country have turned their attention to public and commercial facilities. In 2007 alone, dozens of health clubs were closed due to sanitary and heath issues.
Even daily cleaning with aggressive chemicals sometimes doesn’t work
Traditional steam rooms
Historically, steam rooms have been constructed with various forms of tile using ceramic or some form of stone. These tile materials, including the grout and mortar components, are highly porous. It only take a few days for organic material – matter such as mold, mildew, bacteria and various forms of viral matter shared by humans, to flourish within the pores of this material in a steam room environment. Dry saunas, on the other hand, typically maintain average temperatures of around 180 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature considerably higher than the maximum survivable temperature (140 degrees) of most virus and influenza strains. Saunas constructed of cedar also offer the added benefit of natural resistance to mold and mildew. Because the source of heat in a steam room is in the moisture, temperatures within steam rooms are typically between 105 to 110 degrees. The result is a warm, wet and porous environment ideal for the harvesting of all types of harmful organic matter.
The hybrid steam room use sanitary and energy efficient alternatives to the traditional tile steam room are already popping-up in high-profile clubs such as Gold's Gym and the YMCA as well as the new Washington Nationals Ballpark. Gold's gym in Loveland, Colorado opened its doors December 2006, and according to its Owner, Lynn Meacham, "The Am-Finn hybrid steam rooms are the cleanest part of the gym – almost no maintenance on our part and the members consistently comment on how clean they are." Many clubs today are opting to convert their existing tile rooms over to the hybrid-panel construction to simply bypass health risks and maintenance challenges. "We could not keep up with member complaints," says Shane Riffle, YMCA Director Boise Idaho. "Regardless of the cleaning frequency or type of cleaning chemicals we used, we simply could not maintain a clean and sterile steam room environment. Two years ago we converted our tile rooms to a Scandia hybrid steam room and all of our problems went away… including customer complaints."
Sterile, green and virtually maintenance free
Bruce Carter of Optimal Design Architecture in Weston, Florida, a leading fitness facility design firm, says that the unique panel design systems of the new hybrid rooms address nearly all of the problems related to traditional tile steam rooms. "Traditional steam rooms typically require deep cleanings on a daily basis, and within just a couple of years, grout deteriorates requiring replacement, thus leading to the need for retiling every four to six years. These hybrid steam systems, on the other hand, sterilize automatically every night and only need to be wiped down with basic eco-friendly cleaning products. For the benefit of our clients, and our clients' clients, we no-longer spec tile rooms." Eliminating daily use of harsh chemicals goes in line with today's movement towards more eco-friendly business practices.
In addition to a non-porous design, the new hybrid steam rooms come with an advanced corona-discharge sterilization system that automatically eliminates all organic matter (mold, mildew, fungus, and viruses) by the infusion of O3. Called the PowerZone 400 by Scandia Manufacturing, the cleaning generator is about the size of a notebook computer and simply hangs on the wall outside of the steam room. "At night, our cleaning crews simply press the button on the PowerZone generator and the rooms are perfectly clean by morning," notes Meachum.
An environmentally-friendly system
Another challenge facing commercial facilities today is energy costs. Architects, builders and commercial facility operators across the country are pursuing ways to reduce energy costs. Manufacturers claim their hybrids are up to 50% more efficient than stone tile and 40% more efficient than ceramic tile. This is good news for club owners and managers since less maintenance and lower energy bills translate into big savings. According to AM-FINN's VP Jon Vanderpool, "There was a need in the market to come up with something better - much better! Club owners and maintenance personal consistently cite steam rooms as their top maintenance problem," explained Vanderpool. "So, we designed our hybrid rooms using a non-porous panel structure and an advanced automatic cleaning system to solve the inherent problems of commercial tile steam rooms, and, somewhat by accident, this new design turned out to be considerably more energy efficient than tile rooms."
Functionality and design
It is rare when practicality can be combined with what is considered good design. However, hybrid steam room customers say it happens. "We had tile rooms in our older facilities and we put a hybrid steam room in our new club. It certainly lives up to its promise. We have zero maintenance problems and the members love it," claims French McGhee, Maintenance Director for Hockessin Athletic Club, Hockessin Delaware. "Typically the first thing a new customer will say when they walk into our locker room is 'wow – what is that… straight out of the future?' They look clean and they are clean." Hybrid steam rooms are produced from vacuum-formed poly-ethelyne panels with steel and fiberglass re-enforcement. The standard color is brilliant white complemented with full glass doors and glass front panels. Dustin Eagans, Product Manager with Scandia Manufacturing, says "Beam me up Scottie. Customers see these new high-tech rooms and feel very confident they are sanitary without even knowing the technology behind them."
Contact name: Jon Vanderpool
Phone: (208) 286-0460
Email:
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