Where the Noise Comes From in Fitness Facilities

Gym environments are split into two very different sound zones:

Front-of-House (Lobby / Entrance)

• Check-ins and front desk conversations
• Members entering and exiting
• Phone calls and staff coordination

Workout Studios

• Group classes
• Personal training
• Focused exercise environments

Typical Noise Levels:

• Lobby and front desk: 65–75 dB
• Foot traffic and entry noise: 60–70 dB
• Combined lobby activity: 70–80 dB

Workout studios ideally need:

• 50–60 dB for focus and instruction clarity

👉 Without separation, lobby noise travels directly into workout areas.

Why This Becomes a Member Experience Issue

Disrupted Focus During Workouts

Members in:

• Yoga classes
• Personal training sessions
• Strength training

may hear:

• Conversations
• Phones ringing
• People entering

👉 This breaks concentration and reduces workout quality.

Instructor Communication Becomes Less Effective

Trainers must:

• Speak louder
• Repeat instructions
• Compete with background noise

Reduced Perceived Value of the Facility

Members expect:

• Controlled environments
• Professional spaces

Uncontrolled noise makes the gym feel:

• Less organized
• Less premium

Why Open Layouts and Basic Dividers Don’t Work

Many gyms rely on:

• Open floor plans
• Glass partitions
• Basic accordion room dividers

However, these solutions fail because they:

• Do not reduce speech transmission
• Lack sealing systems
• Have low acoustic accordion partition STC rating
• Allow sound to pass through gaps

👉 Result: noise flows freely between spaces.

OSHA Compliance – Arizona Fitness Environments

OSHA Standard Reference:

• 85 dB(A) – Action Level
• 90 dB(A) – Permissible Exposure Limit

While lobby areas typically stay below these levels, combined environments can reach:

• 70–80 dB sustained

👉 Staff working long hours are exposed to continuous noise, making acoustic control important for OSHA compliance and overall workplace comfort.

The Solution: FoldaSil® ANC-AP39 Acoustic Accordion Partition System

The FoldaSil® ANC-AP39 Acoustic Accordion Partition System provides a way to separate lobby areas from workout spaces while maintaining flexibility.

It allows gyms to:

• Control sound between zones
• Maintain open layouts when needed
• Improve member experience

Before vs After: Gym Environment Improvement

Before Installation:

• Noise levels: 70–80 dB from lobby spillover
• Distractions during workouts
• Reduced focus and engagement

After Installing ANC-AP39:

• Reduced to approximately 55–60 dB in workout zones
• Less intelligible background noise
• Improved focus and instruction clarity

👉 The result is a more controlled and professional training environment.

Accordion Door vs Operable Wall for Fitness Spaces

• Accordion doors = flexible, fast, cost-effective
• Operable walls = higher isolation but less adaptable

👉 For most gyms, movable accordion partition systems are the ideal solution.