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It is increasingly important that as manufacturers we provide, to both the public and to fitness clubs equipment that is safe for use, this reduces the chance of injury and protects equipment manufacturers and the fitness club industry from liability exposure. All new products developed by Leisure Lines now take into consideration the requirements of BSEN957.

Requirements in the European Union

In the European Union, several directives mandate the safety of fitness equipment. For all of these directives, the route to compliance is similar. The European Union has published a set of standards, the EN957 series, which specifies methods of compliance for stationary, floor mounted, fitness equipment. This type of equipment includes all major types, including weight benches, selectorized systems and cardio equipment.

To apply the EN957 standards, it is essential to select the correct standards and classification for the equipment. There are several standards in the EN957 series:

The selection of the standards is cumulative. For example, a weight bench must use EN957-1, EN957-2, and EN957-4.

Table 1. Most Applicable European Union Directives

Table 2. European Standards

Classifying Fitness Equipment

Under the EN957 series standards, fitness equipment has a major and a minor classification. The major classification defines whether equipment is for home use (Class H) or for use in fitness clubs (Class S). Within the standards, the requirements are different for Class H or Class S use, with Class S generally having more restrictive requirements because of the greater usage time and the higher number of people exposed to the equipment. Classification determines the accuracy of the equipment, with Class A being the most accurate and Class C being the least accurate. Again, the standards mandate a higher level of testing for Class A equipment and a lower level of testing for Class B and C equipment.

Looking at Components

Finally, a common question in the testing of fitness equipment concerns the evaluation of components. Fitness equipment manufacturers frequently use components that are custom constructed to meet the demands of the equipment. These custom components are generally tested to meet the requirements of the component-specific standards that apply to them. Components for use in European equipment should be tested to EN or IEC components standards.

More complex mechanical tests may also be required. For example, equipment using ropes and pulleys face a series of tests for rope strength, pulley safety and strength of the rope connections.

Testing Fitness Equipment

Because so many standards may apply, and selecting the correct set of standards is critical to the success of the overall compliance project, development of a comprehensive test plan is a crucial initial step. Leisure Lines identifies all relevant standards for the equipment and the components which may require testing, developing a comprehensive test plan for the equipment in question. The test plan will reflect the intention to approve the equipment for use in the European Union.

Once the standards and classifications are selected, and a complete testing plan has been formed, the second step in assessing the compliance of fitness equipment is to perform a thorough evaluation based on the requirements of the selected standards and the classification of the equipment. Safety testing of fitness equipment varies according to the standards and classification. However, there are some common elements all fitness equipment must meet when tested. These include:

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