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MFMA MAPLE: TODAY'S PREFERRED SPORTS SURFACE

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Sports flooring differs immensely from floors designed for any other purpose. Because the needs of athletes come first, performance, safety and comfort are inherent characteristics. Floor design can focus on a specific activity, say aerobics versus basketball, or on multiple purposes to suit the exact need of a facility or application: gymnasiums; handball, squash and racquetball courts; basketball courts; health and fitness clubs; international Olympic facilities; professional sports arenas; aerobic/dance exercise facilities; dance floors; auditoriums and convention centers; church and religious facilities; primary and secondary schools; colleges and universities; corporate exercise facilities; YWCA/YMCAs; family life centers; roller skating rinks; theater and performance stages; or commercial, industrial and residential applications.

University of Alabama, Connor Sports Flooring Corporation — UniForce

Time and time again, athletes, performers, coaches, trainers, owners and architects who design floors cite maple as their preferred sports surface. In fact, maple shows up on 70 percent** of the sports floors installed in the U.S. And the most preferred variety, northern hard maple from MFMA manufacturers, accounts for 58 percent** of all U.S. sports floors--more than 17 million square feet--installed each year.

Athletic performance is enhanced by its hard-but-resilient character. Subfloor systems enhance maple's natural shock absorption and area elasticity. And the surface provides dependably uniform grip and traction to athletic footwear. Safety is vastly enhanced by these same characteristics as documented in a study*** that showed that athletes were 70 percent more likely to sustain a floor-related injury on a synthetic floor than on a maple floor.

MFMA maple's life cycle cost is significantly less than that of synthetics. Life cycle cost comparisons reflect original installed price plus manufacturer-recommended maintenance over a 30 year floor life:

A maple surface requires considerably less maintenance and most of it can be done "in-house" without special equipment.

Northern hard maple was first used in sports flooring nearly 150 years ago. From the beginning, it was evident, however, that even "nature's perfect flooring" needed a little help if consistently outstanding floors were to be built.

Consistent quality became the mission of a handful of producers who, in 1897, formed the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association -- the MFMA. Their purpose was to research and develop the best procedures for the selection and grading of the wood. Over time, a set of strict, self-imposed manufacturing standards evolved for members which they adopted in pursuit of consistent quality.

The association established itself as the authoritative source of technical and general information on sports flooring. Equally important, the MFMA established installation and maintenance standards to help its contractor members deliver and assure a product that lives up to its promises.

More than 150 MFMA associate member contractors and distributors worldwide follow procedures affecting the handling, storing and installation of MFMA maple. MFMA manufacturers continuously test and develop various subflooring systems in order to maximize athletic performance on maple sports surfaces. To top it all off, the MFMA publishes a list of tested, recommended floor finishes that are designed to optimize athletic performance while enhancing the legendary durability of the maple playing surface.

MFMA associate member contractors are uniquely equipped to assist architects and facility owners with the design and construction of new athletic facilities, renovations and sports floor replacements.

Duke University, Robbins Sports Surfaces — Bio Channel

An MFMA mill number is embossed into the back of every strip of MFMA maple. It is your guarantee that strictly enforced MFMA grading rules and quality standards have been painstakingly followed in the production of each strip of flooring. It assures the wood has been kiln dried to 6 percent to 9 percent moisture content which makes it dimensionally stable before manufacturing begins. It assures that the finished maple strip has been milled to consistently exact tolerances as mandated by the MFMA.

* 1994, Ducker Research Company, Inc.
** 1991, Ducker Research Company, Inc.
*** 1988, Ducker Research Company, Inc.

FREE TECHNICAL DATA

Complete Grading Rules for Random Strip, Finger Jointed and Parquet flooring are published by MFMA for reference by architects and specifiers. Grading permits selection of MFMA maple flooring according to use and budget.

Literature:
Caring for your MFMA Maple Floor (Wall Chart)
Floor Finish List & Specifications
Grading Rules for MFMA Northern Hard Maple Finger Jointed Strip Flooring
Grading Rules for MFMA Northern Hard Maple Strip Flooring
Grading Rules for MFMA Northern Hard Maple Parquet Flooring
Incidence of Injury Study: Maple Flooring vs. Synthetic
Life Cycle Cost Study Summary and Cost Comparison Worksheet
MFMA Maple Flooring: Today's Preferred Sports Surface
MFMA Sweet's(c) Catalog - 09642/MAP - Buyline 3238
MFMA Game Markings Manual
MFMA Guide Specifications (for "generic" subfloor systems)
MFMA Maple Flooring: The Logical Choice for Your Home
Performance Characteristics Guide
Sanding, Sealing, Court Lining, Finishing and Resurfacing of Maple Gym Floors
Spec-Data (in CSI Format)

Videos:
"Your Next Sports Floor: Things You Should Know" (12:00 VHS)
"Playing For Keeps" (9:50, VHS, English and Spanish versions included). Proper care and maintenance of your MFMA sports floor

MFMA MANUFACTURERS

MFMA maple flooring is manufactured to the highest standards in the flooring industry, by these manufacturers only:

MFMA Showcase Installations

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