Gym setup for power lifting

[blahman]

I do the odd squat dead bench and overhead press but as part of a work project we are creating a home for our serious power lifting friends at a local non power lifting friendly gym.

In short I have two main questions,

what are the features power lifters look for in a gym?

what is the essential equipment that is required for powerlifters?

I have talked the owner into what I think he needs but would be interested in others ideas.

My ideas thus far:

Chalk ok \:D/

Lifting area with proper floor for deads

Multiple squat setups

Keep space between areas at a maximum to avoid overcrowding.

[teamfatboy]

Hmmm - as a novice p/l I'd have to say:

Equipment:

Decent squat racks on a solid floor - fixed side rails at a minimum, ideally adjustable height side-rails.

Bench at regulation height, with spotter platform behind.

Plenty of regulation-height 20s - a lot of gyms use "olympic" plates which aren't regulation diameter (450mm) but shorter. Without enough plates you can end up losing workout time looking for more - or trying to make do with 5s and 10s.

As you say, a solid lifting platform for deadlifts - word is the platform used at the Oceanias in Sydney broke during competition.

Desirable

Bars with good sharp gnurling are great, but many gyms can't afford to replace them when the gnurling wears down from the rack hooks or whatever.

A bar-jack is nice for deads, makes swapping places easier - dunno if that's the proper name, the gizmo that levers the bar off the floor.

Oh, and some sets of boards for benching.

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

nice TFB but you only forgot 1 thing (the most important)

hotdog stand and free refills on fizzies

[teamfatboy]

nice TFB but you only forgot 1 thing (the most important)

hotdog stand and free refills on fizzies

But of course :doh:

[Old Bull]

Agree with what TFB has put forward, just a couple of questions

(i) How much space is the owner going to allow for this project, this will give a idea of what equipment you could get.

(i) Where abouts will this area be, Low Traffic area Low Ceiling ventilation etc.

The reason I ask is that most commercial setups, space is a premium and the return from a PL area, will be far less to what he is use to (bang for your Buck) and will cater only too a select few.

OB

[blahman]

Agree with what TFB has put forward, just a couple of questions

(i) How much space is the owner going to allow for this project, this will give a idea of what equipment you could get.

(i) Where abouts will this area be, Low Traffic area Low Ceiling ventilation etc.

The reason I ask is that most commercial setups, space is a premium and the return from a PL area, will be far less to what he is use to (bang for your Buck) and will cater only too a select few.

OB

Lots of space gym size is doubling to cope with new added features. I am doing some 3d work tommorrow to work out space for powerlifting area.

The area will be very low traffic hard against the back wall of the gym from left to right - covering the span of the building. My idea is to use this space as the mirrors front and sides allow good checking of technique.

I agree it will only cater for a select few however currently there are alot of rugby people who do not train there because they do not have enough equipment or room to throw heavy weight around.

Kinda cool designing from the ground up will keep everyone posted.