Here’s a further update concerning Indoor Exercise in England as fitness facilities open on the 25th July.
- Government guidance specifies that the maximum total occupancy of a venue is based on a floor area of 100 sq. ft (9 sqm) per person. This figure is the net usable indoor space available to participants. It includes the entrance/reception, changing facilities, toilets as well as the gym and studios. Occupancy includes everyone in the building: participants, instructors, other staff, and visitors.
- Social distancing of 2m within the facility is required.
- When setting out exercise classes you must always enable class participants to stay at least 2m apart. (3m is advised for classes involving movement).
- We recommend the honeycomb pattern when you are creating 2m or 3m of social distance for classes so that all participants can see the instructor.
- In the following infographics we have provided two potential class layouts that keep members safely distanced with a little more space than recommended. Feel free to share these with other Instructors or your facilities. The studio floor should be marked to ensure social distancing.
Download the ‘How To Create 2M Of Social Distance In Group Fitness’ Infographic >> HERE
Download the ‘How To Create 3M Of Social Distance In Group Fitness’ Infographic >> HERE
- Risk assessments are important. Instructors must prepare a written COVID-19 risk assessment prior to activity. See guidance here. When using third party-owned or managed facilities they should also have undertaken a full risk assessment.
Other Key Guidelines
- Venues must have a one-way traffic flow system in place where possible with separate entry and exit points to avoid clustering and unnecessary contact.
- Ventilation is also an important issue, and systems should provide 100% fresh air and not recirculate from one space to another. A target ventilation rate of 20l/s/p (see here) is advised for facilities, attained through adjustments to ventilation systems, by controlling numbers (based on 100sqft per person) and using natural ventilation (keeping windows and doors open to allow maximum fresh air circulation).
- Instructors should pay close attention to the volume of their music. Music should not be played at a level that encourages shouting because of the potential for increased transmission, particularly from aerosol and droplet transmission.
- Handwashing facilities and/or a station for hand sanitising using alcohol gel should be provided, ‘Sweat towels’ should not be used and there must be a minimum of a 10-minute gap between classes to allow time for cleaning.
- Sharing of equipment should be kept to a minimum and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned before and after each use.
- Instructors should explain the safety guidelines of what is expected before, during and after class including what the participant is expected to do to maintain social distancing and all other health and safety guidelines.
Please note: these guidelines are only applicable to England and are subject to regional advice and ongoing COVID-19 guidelines from the government. – the guidelines may differ for other parts of the UK.
For information on FitPro’s insurance please click HERE
