It’s no secret that there is a high premium placed on recreational space these days. Gymnasiums are often booked weeks in advance. This makes for challenges for the individuals and groups who want to use the space, as well as for the administrators in charge of managing the facilities.
Fortunately, there is a practical and proven solution to this everyday problem. QSD installs, designs and manufactures the highest-quality gymnasium dividers and protective netting solutions for schools, recreation centres and more.
Divider curtains segment your gym into multiple areas for different activities, transforming your single gymnasium into several multi-use spaces. The best part is that the dividers can be rapidly withdrawn and easily stored when you need the entire space of your gymnasium for use.
Unfortunately, not all gym divider systems are built equally. As with any other piece of mechanical equipment, without proper maintenance, you’re sure to run into costly and potentially dangerous hurdles.
Some Advice from a QSD Expert
Roman is a certified QSD installer, and frequently deals with the less-desirable dividers that can be found in gymnasiums.
“There’s the brail system. I never went to one that was working properly, where all the cables are straight, all of them didn’t have sag, they weren’t spun around, and the clew wasn’t spun around,” says Roman.
If you’re not a seasoned veteran like Roman, you’re probably asking yourself, what’s a clew?
“You’ve got multiple drop lines that go from the bottom of the curtain, through the curtain to a pulley, and then all the cables run to a multiple, which is just multiple pulleys, around that and then to a big piece of metal which we call the clew.”
Terminology aside, the most important takeaway here is that with the traditional brail systems in gym dividers there are common mechanical weaknesses.
“That brail system I was speaking of? If that doesn’t have a safety strap attached from where the motor is to the clew and that main cable breaks, all the dividers are going to come down,” says Roman.
Obviously, this is exactly the type is situation that is every gym owner’s worst nightmare.
“That’s why we got away from that. We do have the fold-up, which is a new version of the brail. So instead of having a multiple and a clew that gets pulled and then the clew goes away from the multiple as the curtain comes up, we have cables that are on the bottom pipe that go through the curtain, right up to a drum that is attached to a shaft.”
What’s the best solution? Roman recommends the following options.
“Go for a fold-up or a mid-roll. Obviously, if we’re there at that point, there are some issues with the divider, so it’s usually best to say, look here, there’s more cost-efficient alternatives and newer alternatives to get the same job done.”
Mid-Roll and Fold-Up Gym Dividers
Mid-roll gym dividers come down from the ceiling, partitioning your space to increase utility. When you lower the mid-roll gym divider, you will have multiple spaces in your gymnasium that can be used at the same time. This is a simple and easily-maintained system that lasts much longer than other dividers on the market.
Fold-up gym dividers from QSD are another reliable way to divide an area into two. The accordion fold-up action is works by cables passing through grommets as the bottom tube is raised. You can even raise or lower the divider with the turn of a key. Better yet, the accordion fold-up action is smooth and designed for years of reliable service. It stores neatly overhead from the gymnasium’s supporting steel structures.
Ready for more info? We’re here to answer any questions and to guide you through your purchase and install options.
