Trampoline Parks

[CBSE]

Has anyone ever designed an indoor trampoline park? I'm contemplating submitting a proposal on one, but am a bit nervous. It seems loads on the columns and beams and such could get quite substantial.

I would imagine there are columns with kickers at a 45deg at the base that goes under the trampolines?

I'm assuming loading from the trampolines would come from the manufacturer?

I have been in these things with my kids before and they are just big open spaces with really big grids of trampoline material and springs.

 

[KootK]

I've no experience whatsoever with trampoline parks. This is just what I could find on Google. I feel like I kinda rocked this anyhow though. I would have thought that the supplier would design the structure.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

[Archie264]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what these things are but why would it require anything beyond what's required for a gymnasium or dance floor, i.e. 100 psf?

 

[CBSE]

I would be designing the structural supports for it.

 

[MikeHalloran]

<tangent> ... but possibly of interest...

The only KOA in Connecticut has an outdoor bounce pad.

Think of a giant fuel bladder, maybe 30 ft x 50 ft, inflated with air, and half-buried in sand, so that the big seam is just underground, and the only thing the kids can fall on is the bladder surface, or sand.

I mention it because the only trampoline park I have seen comprised an array of standard tramps, buried in gravel(!) down to the springs, with (soil-crete?) pits under the tramp fabric and springs. They had the usual pads over the springs, but it was still possible (and therefore mandatory) for untrained unsupervised teenagers to land with a leg jammed between the springs.
It closed in a hurry, presumably because of a few foreseeable accidents.

</tangent>

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[drawoh]

CBSE,

If someone lands on the side structures or the floor, who gets sued?

--
JHG

 

[DETstru]

I found this online but I haven't read it:

http://www.atpa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ATPA-Industry-Standard.pdf

 

[CBSE]

I spoke with the architect and let him know I could most likely do the foundation designs for him, but probably not the structural aspect. I have been looking into it for a few hours, and there is way too much coordination between the actual mats and the steel that I feel the risk would not be worth the reward. It also appears that the trampoline manufacturer does do the steel supports, but not certain on that. The architect is looking into it for me.

 

[mike20793]

There's several of these in my city and I've been to one a couple times. The trampoline structure is independent of the main structure and will be designed by the trampoline suppliers. These trampoline parks are large and there are definitely specialty contractors that will do the design mugh better than us ordinary structure people. I'm sure there's really one 2 or 3 layouts that fit almost all buildings.

My wife's a teacher at an elementary school and they have dodge ball tournaments at these places. It's actually pretty awesome to watch.

 

[DaveAtkins]

When my kids were young (20 years ago), our pediatrician told us to STAY AWAY from trampolines. He said he saw more trampoline injuries than anything else. He was talking about backyard trampolines, of course.

Our kids did not like it, but we did forbid them from getting on backyard trampolines. Whether they actually obeyed us, I don't know

DaveAtkins

 

[XR250]

I bought my kids a backyard trampoline. Now they just hang out on it with their friends and talk without jumping. It is like a cheap addition to the house.