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How to Design a Changing Room

When designing a changing room there are many things to think about. Whether you’re a sports club, a gym or a leisure centre – the design affects user experience for members. Locker room layouts depend entirely on space available and the club type.

We have broken down the top five things to consider when kitting out a changing room:

1. Material

• Wet Areas

Do you need wet area lockers? If you are a swimming pool or leisure centre with pool facilities then the answer is yes. For this environment plastic lockers and laminate lockers are ideal.

Our suggestion:

Our wet area locker is manufactured in the UK with pre-coated galvanised steel with a 1.5mm thick steel frame. Hinges are 75mm deep to ensure durability with frequent use. 2, 3 and 4 doors lockers have their own security shelf to prevent unauthorised access to compartments below. These lockers are also fitted with moisture resistant cam lockers for superior locking in damp environments.

• Boutique Style

For boutique style changing rooms often found in health clubs and spas wooden lockers are a popular option. Our Timber door lockers and Executive locker range both provide a stylish and modern twist on the classic metal locker.

Our suggestion:

Executive lockers featured in our last blog about creating the best first impressions possible. By using smart and sophisticated furniture it portrays a professional and upmarket image of your business. The security yet functionality of these lockers offers everyone using them peace of mind whilst not creating an eye sore.

• Standard Metal Locker

Here at Direct2U we offer a range of standard lockers to suit the most basic of security needs. When budgets tight and no frills are required these are a great, sturdy storage solution. Popular with schools, warehouses and factories, metal lockers are the go to equipment for keeping things safe and low cost.

Our suggestion:

Our economy locker is the cheapest locker you’ll find on the web. Sure, it looks pretty standard and like your average metal locker but our range has reinforced doors and a welded frame for rigidity. Available in either dark blue or light grey these lockers are a perfect match for schools and factories. Along with a small price tag they also have a tiny delivery time of only 10 working days.

2. Locks

There are many lock options available and different manufacturers will call them different things. We’ve done a break down of the most popular options for common use.

• Community Gym and Leisure Centres

A popular lock for these environments is the hasp and staple lock – otherwise known as padlock locking. This is a cost effective option where users will bring their own padlock – reducing the risk of losing keys etc. Another benefit of this type of lock is that replacements can be bought should an existing lock need to be changed.

Our suggestion:

Although the hasp and staple lock is useful and popular, the favourite locking system for public environments is the coin/token return lock. Almost all of us will have come into contact with a coin return lock – most likely at our local leisure centre or swimming pool. These are an ideal lock for such environments because they require little maintenance by staff/ owners and users can simply put in £1/ €1 and have full use of the lockers themselves. Alternatively, if staff does wish to have more control, instead of using monetary coins, tokens can be purchased and used instead.

• Boutique Style

For low traffic or repeated single user environments a more enhanced lock option is best. Lockers where users might store high value goods or leave things over night it is a good idea to use card activated or combination lockers. There are a few types of combination locks:

– Standard Combination Lock: Simple 3 digit code using turn wheel with a master override key system – Re-programmable Combination Lock: Front facing dial with 10,000 combinations. Not recommended for multi-user applications – Digital Combination Lock: simple to program 40,000 combinations. Batteries last up to 50,000 operations. Single user recommended but multi-user option available

Our suggestion:

Card activated locks are essential in any up market, high security establishment. With a card activated lock all the user has to do is show the card against the matching transponder. No external devices or programming needed. Battery life will last 10,000 closings. Simple.

Click here for visual of lock options.

3. Circulation

Not only is the furniture important in a changing room but so is the layout. It is essential for maximising available space whilst creating a comfortable environment for users. It is recommended that the central circulation path should allow for two people to walk side by side.

Changing rooms for dry areas should be open but not exposed; users who will be changing in there don’t want to be visible to the whole room. If you’re planning on having showers in your locker room it is best to place them central if you can and have designated dry and wet changing areas. Creating pods and nests of lockers can create more privacy whilst saving space.

4. Benches

As previously mentioned, providing a comfortable space for users to change in is essential. By providing seating in the centre or around the room gives people the chance to sit down and get ready leisurely. It also encourages socialising which is important in sports clubs. Our range of changing room benches can be customised via colour and style and are available as island benches or against the wall. Benches with hooks on are popular for gym environments as they free up lockers and offer users somewhere to hang their clothing whilst changing. Free standing benches in the middle of a large space also make the space feel less exposed whilst not over crowding the room. Here at Direct2U we offer full size and junior size changing room furniture ideal for all industries.

5. Lighting

The importance of lighting is often overlooked when designing a functional and practical space. Lighting can change people’s mood and how they view an environment. In dry areas, side lighting is useful as it can reduce the number of shadows – particularly useful for shaving and putting on make up. Lights above lockers and indirect lighting create a focal point for circulation and grouping. If you are creating a wet area changing room please be aware of regulations regarding lighting due to the levels of moisture in the air.

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This is just a selection of key things to think about when designing a changing room. If you are struggling and would benefit from a site visit, let us know and we can visit and advise you of how to make the best of your space. Questions about any of our products and services can be answered via live chat, email or telephone.

3rd June 2015 0

Lockers for the Homeless

A church in Canada has won a bid for $40,000 funding to provide to storage lockers for the homeless. First United, a church in Downtown Eastside Vancouver provides protection for possessions while people access social programmes.

The church’s storage facility for the homeless is more than just somewhere to store things. The project allows up to 200 homeless people to safely store their belongings while using services provided at First United. They were judged and awarded the grand prize of $40k from the Aviva Community Fund Competition.

Winning the funding was crucial to the church and anyone wanting to take part in their services. The prizes were decided on the Aviva website, and visitors to the site were able to vote for their favourite projects and the judges then had the final say.

First United’s program was established in 2009 through a one-off grant from the City of Vancouver as part of funding linked to the Olympics. The initiative has then continued to grow from strength to strength with the help of individual donors and fundraising.

The program has found that having a member of staff working along side the lockers in the storage facility has benefited their visitors. Not only does having a member of staff there increase security and makes checking possessions in easier, it also provides visitors with a friendly face and human contact which many of them miss living on the streets. The facility has been described as a ‘gateway service’ for many and having daily contact with other human beings encourages them to take part in the services the program also offers. These services include showers, social programs, health programs and housing.

Who knew that lockers could provide such security and peace of mind for those in need? By having clothes lockers, ppe lockers etc these homeless people are safe in the knowlegde that their dearest possessions are safe whilst they are accessing potentially life changing services.

2nd February 2015 0

School Lockers – The Pros and Cons

Are school lockers a good idea for students?

Believe it or not there is a debate on whether school lockers are beneficial for pupils. In our latest blog we have examined the pros and cons of school lockers, looking at how they contribute to student wellbeing and how they may be a concern for the school budget.

PROS FOR SCHOOL LOCKERS

Save Their Backs

Physically a locker is much better for students who, five days a week, carry around extremely heavy back packs as well as P.E kits, art folders and musical instruments. It has been found that student’s back packs on average exceed 10% of their body weight. It has also been recently reported that on average the weight of a school bag is around 6-7 kg. If school lockers were provided for students it would minimise the amount of stress put onto students backs, helping to prevent the rise of back pain reported by youngsters today.

Security for Belongings

Students can’t be with their school bags and belongings all times during a day. There is always going to be the possibility of students leaving school bags on the side as they play sports or games at break times.On these occasions what is there to prevent the theft of the valuable items that youngsters carry around with them today such as mobile phones, music devices and money. A locker would provide a secure place to keep personal belongings, taking the worry of theft away from students and parents.

CONS FOR SCHOOL LOCKERS

Effect on School Budget

Lockers can be quite expensive to buy and install, and could be quite a drain on a schools budget. But we believe the benefits to students would outweigh the costs. If you need to stick to a budget then this is possible. Take a look at Budget and Economy lockers which give you the security and strength required at an economical price.

Theft and Security Concerns

Some concerns have been raised with theft from lockers and students storing prohibited items. Many lockers have security shelves in-between each compartment, which prevents access to other compartments. Lockers are also available with many types of locks to suit all security needs. With regards to students storing prohibited items some schools have installed vision door lockers, which have a ‘window’ allowing the contents of the locker to be seen and examined without access being granted.

What do you think about this debate? Do you think that school lockers are a good thing and should be the norm across our schools, or do you disagree? Let us know your opinion.

27th January 2015 0

Lockers for Personal Belongings

Lockers for personal belongings are a popular choice for those who require secure storage.

They are versatile, secure and offer sufficient storage space for smaller items. Here we have picked out what you need to know about lockers for personal belongings.

Where are they best used?

Workplaces and public environments such as sports centres, factories, hospitals, schools, universities and libraries all benefit from lockers for personal belongings. In fact any place which needs to provide secure storage for items like mobile phones, keys, wallets and small handbags will all benefit from these lockers. With a wide choice of the number of compartments within each locker you can choose one that is suited to your workplace, and the number of people you need to provide storage for. Lockers for personal belongings are versatile and compact. They are an ideal solution for areas where space is a premium.

How are they built?

Lockers for personal belongings are built with security in mind. Manufacturers have incorporated features to increase their strength and security into the design. For instance, our popular Personal Effects Lockers feature a behind the frame locking system and through frame shelf for extra security. They are constructed from robust steel and have a durable powder coated finish in a variety of colours. They are also pre-drilled which allows for easy nesting, enabling you to create longer runs of lockers.

How do they operate?

Each compartment is provided with its own key lock and supplied with two keys. A mastered cam lock is also available upon request. This locking system allows each user to have a compartment each, enabling them to lock their personal belongings away during the day and keep the key to the compartment on their person. The second key (or master key) grants access if required for a security check or if a key has been lost.

Do you need quick delivery?

If yes, then we offer a selection of personal effect lockers available for next day or 5 day delivery. Colour choice is limited to dark blue or light grey.

21st November 2014 0

Tesco Introduce Click & Collect Lockers

Tesco is launching new click & collect lockers for general merchandise and clothing in London. On the 18^th August two London stores; Yiewsley Superstore and Orpington Extra opened their lockers to make it easier and quicker for shoppers to retrieve their orders than the current process. Tesco said that the current average collection time from the desk was around two minutes and the new reduced locker collection time would be as little as 20 seconds.

The lockers are also hoped to be more convenient as shoppers would no longer be restricted to collecting their shopping when customer service desks are staffed (usually 8am – 8pm). Orpington is open 24 hours and Yiewsley is open from 7am – 11pm. Shoppers will have a 14 day collection period to retrieve their order. There are currently 40 lockers at each site and free of charge to use.

The MD of Tesco London, Andrew Yaxley said that they are always looking for way to make life easier for its London customers. “All customers have to do is order online by 3pm and receive a secure code to open the locker via text and can collect as soon as the next day”. The lockers will only be available for GM and F+F clothing to begin with but if successful, facilities will develop to include grocery. One difficulty Tesco are trying to tackle is temperature control and age restricted sales.

At the moment, ASDA is the only supermarket to offer grocery click & collect in store lockers. Asda lockers are equipped for ambient, chilled and frozen lines at its Pudsey store. Waitrose is the next brand set to open a lockers facility, at its store in Gatwick airport this autumn.

Retailers will no longer need planning permission to install click & collect lockers thanks to new plans announced last monthy by Penny Mordaunt, the high streets minister. Under the proposals, part of the Governments plants to renovate and update town centres. Businesses will no longer need permission to build covered collection points and lockers as long as they are within the bounds of existing sites.

15th September 2014 0

Waitrose Click & Collect Lockers

Waitrose has recently unveiled their plans to trial fully automated grocery click and collect lockers at ten high traffic locations this autumn.Subject to planning permission, Waitrose plans to install temperature controlled lockers in ten popular locations including Gatwick North and Gatwick south terminal long stay car parks, four TFL London Underground stations and three travel hubs to be confirmed. Lockers will also be installed at Green Park Business Park in Reading which is the 195 acre home to 40 businesses with over 6000 staff.

The lockers themselves will be chilled, frozen and ambient temperature controlled lockers which are very similar to the one that has already been installed in Waitrose’s head office in Bracknell. The aim is to have lockers refilled several times a day and customers can gain access through a pin code they receive once their order is placed.

The idea was developed from the company being committed to finding shopping solutions that make sense for shoppers and are convenient and ambitious. If this innovative service is successful Waitrose plan to expand further. Waitrose’s head of Omnichannel Delivery Tony Rivenell will be speaking more about these plans at the IGD Online and Digital Summit in November.

6th August 2014 0