Successfully managing any commercial space is an endeavor with many elements at play, and if visitors will be spending many hours in the space, thinking about their comfort is a priority. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in a fitness center, which has its own set of special needs and requirements.

A well-designed HVAC system will not only meet local health and safety measures, but will also have high indoor air quality (IAQ) standards. Already an important feature for fitness centers, the IAQ issue has come into the spotlight since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more people in general becoming aware of its importance. In fact, according to Google Trends, one of the most searched queries worldwide during the pandemic was “is it safe to go to the gym? “. For regular gym-goers, a safe and healthy environment is essential at all times, as is comfort, and so these spaces should take the necessary steps to do just that, to produce safe and comfortable environments in which to work out.

Fitness performance is linked to the environment in which the workout takes place; temperature, ventilation, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels are all factors that can positively or negatively influence a workout routine. Effectively monitoring and managing these factors will not only mean happy members, it will also contribute to a healthy business.

How does Ambiența Gym influence exercise?

The ambience in any commercial space affects the feeling of comfort of its visitors, and its air conditioning system plays a key role in creating the ideal indoor environment. The concept of optimal thermal comfort refers to the feeling of being neither too cold nor too hot; and it’s something that fitness centers, gyms and health clubs strive to provide.

Learn how comfort can enhance the experience of going to a commercial location such as a hotel, restaurant or shop.

Taking comfort into consideration, and we are sure you will agree, the environment and atmosphere of a gym should be welcoming, not only to attract the interest of potential new members, but also of regular members. Looking specifically at ambience, how do these factors influence fitness performance?

• Temperature: high temperatures can affect fitness in different ways. First, low-humidity heat leads to more rapid evaporation of water from the body, increasing the risk of dehydration, overheating and heatstroke. Second, according to recent research, high temperature also has a negative impact on muscle endurance, reducing the ability of muscles to contract repeatedly over long periods of time, leading to faster muscle fatigue. Another effect to consider is the increase in stress hormones that high temperatures can increase (such as cortisol, which is discussed below).

However, warmer indoor temperatures can help you warm up more quickly before training, resulting in better muscle flexibility and less risk of injury. Then, moving to the other end of the thermometer, and as a Harvard sports medicine expert has pointed out, training in a cooler environment can increase endurance. The cardiovascular system doesn’t have to work as hard, allowing workouts to last longer; it should be remembered that extreme cold is also detrimental to fitness as it puts the body at risk of hypothermia.

• Oxygen levels: it goes without saying that oxygen is essential for exercise and everything we do every day. Working out even in a moderate oxygen environment, such as an unventilated enclosed space full of people, can lead to a decrease in performance time; meaning that on average we are able to exercise less and tire more quickly. When you exercise (at any level) there comes a point when your body starts to use more oxygen and requires more of it. To cope with the demand and maintain energy levels, your respiration has to increase, and so does the amount of CO2 we produce, which brings us to the next point.

• CO2 levels: Humans naturally produce carbon dioxide (CO2) when they exhale, so there are always different amounts of CO2 in indoor spaces. Fitness spaces generally have higher levels of CO2 than others, because we also produce higher levels of CO2 when we work out or do any intense exercise. Think of it this way: if there are many people exercising at the same time in an enclosed space, CO2 levels can rise quite quickly. Higher concentrations of CO2 can cause drowsiness, feeling drowsy, headaches, and loss of concentration and attention. For this reason, it is particularly important to monitor CO2 in fitness centers to ensure the health and safety of members.

• Moisture: With exercise comes sweating, a natural response to exercise. The moisture we give off during exercise and through breathing evaporates and is then either expelled through the ventilation system or collects in the corners; if this condensation is not properly managed, it can cause moisture-related problems such as mold and other bacteria. Changing rooms and shower rooms are particularly prone to moisture-related health risks. If left uncontrolled, this can cause unpleasant odors and even respiratory problems such as asthma, coughing, throat irritation and allergies.

For regular gym-goers, performance is fundamental. Those who exercise several times a week want to constantly improve their fitness, boost their performance or polish their shape. That’s why fitness centers take the impact of indoor air quality seriously. Read about indoor air quality (IAQ) for our health and common indoor air pollutants here.

Temperature, cortisol and exercise

You may already be familiar with it, but as mentioned above, cortisol is a stress hormone produced in the adrenal glands above the kidneys and is deeply linked to exercise. Many consider it simply a ‘bad hormone’, but this is not the case. Cortisol is vital to our bodies, regulating our blood pressure, our metabolism and even affecting the quality of our sleep. Our body produces more cortisol in the morning and less in the evening to encourage sleep. More cortisol is produced when we exercise, but that doesn’t mean it is a negative effect of exercise. Cortisol levels regulate in a healthy body and, after a normal workout routine, they balance out again.

However, other factors such as temperature and physical or emotional stress can negatively affect cortisol levels. Studies have shown that at warmer temperatures, our body releases more cortisol into the blood; so training in a hot environment can cause an increase in cortisol in the body.

Even though cortisol and stress are linked, regular exercise can help relieve stress. After a light to moderate intensity workout, our body adjusts our cortisol levels, helping us feel more relaxed afterward; in addition, this type of exercise also improves our sleep at night.

Fitness centers monitor indoor temperatures to keep them optimal for exercise and normal cortisol levels and to ensure that members don’t overheat.

Ventilation and air renewal for gyms

Ventilation is essential in gyms to avoid air stagnation, minimize CO2 build-up and reduce the effects of poor indoor air quality. Unwanted odors can be quite common in a fitness area, and ventilation and air renewal can help manage this problem and keep everyone more comfortable while working out in the same space.

In addition to maintaining a comfortable environment, proper ventilation also promotes air renewal. Through air renewal, which brings outside air inside to refresh indoor environments, oxygen and carbon dioxide can be maintained at optimal levels. Ventilation also helps to reduce pollutants and allergens, as well as playing an important role in minimizing illness.

Natural ventilation strategies include opening windows or doors from time to time to air the space. A combination of natural ventilation and air conditioning can be used to maintain an optimal indoor environment.

Maintaining a healthy space for comfort and well-being

Along with ventilation and air renewal, air conditioning systems use filters to help protect the interior of the product and, depending on the type of filter installed, help to remove or deactivate allergens, bacteria and viruses.

The recently launched Hitachi ZPT (zinc pyrithione) filter for 4-way cassette systems is an example of this, helping to reduce the risk of airborne pollutants and viruses. With up to 99.7% virus inhibition, it greatly reduces the amount of dust particles in the air, contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

How Hitachi air conditioning helps create comfortable and healthy fitness spaces

In the Hitachi air conditioner portfolio, the ranges on offer are built to provide expert and reliable HVAC solutions for all types of fitness facilities. Hitachi’s range of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems provide consistent multi-zone air conditioning comfort in all fitness facilities, offering versatility and efficiency. This means that because fitness facilities have different facilities with different temperature control requirements, Hitachi VRF gives each space its own individual controls and, depending on the system configuration, all can be controlled from a central location.

A Hitachi Heat Recovery VRF* system can further increase efficiency by simultaneously heating and cooling different spaces by using the waste heat produced from cooling one space to heat another. Imagine locker rooms in the colder months, with Heat Recovery VRF, waste heat extracted from fitness spaces can be used to heat them.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our range of VRF products and the benefits they bring to fitness environments, visit the range here.

Then there are the Hitachi ventilation and air renewal systems, which can be used alone or integrated into new or existing Hitachi systems with fresh air port* to give more control over the indoor atmosphere.

The range features Active KPI that pre-treats the air before it is brought indoors, adjusting the temperature accordingly and delivering fresh, clean air into the environment. It effectively contributes to lower CO2 levels, supporting an improved fitness atmosphere and therefore performance.

An optional CO2 sensor is available to enjoy greater control over levels, either by constantly reducing CO2 to maintain a constant IAQ level, or by rapidly refreshing the air when levels exceed a certain limit. Find out more about the range and availability here.