There are 12 points of interest with gym inspections.

There is a saying, “If you want something done, do it yourself.” But this begs the question, “what if you don’t know how to do it right?” There are many services that we really should leave to the professionals with the knowledge and expertise to complete the job and to complete it right.

What does your janitor know about the large and complex machinery that is in your gymnasium? Not much, actually. Your janitor will be a great help in keeping units clean and organizing regular maintenance on the units. The best case scenario is to have routine checkups done by ADP Lemco, so we can identify issues before something breaks. We want to make sure everything is working properly and are able to do this with regular inspections and maintenance. It will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Gym equipment inspections are the most important type of service that you can do to extend the life of your gym equipment. ADP Lemco offers a wide variety of services and products for athletic facilities. We serve all of the United States and Canada. As a third generation company, we have seen and fixed tens of thousands of gymnasiums, recreation centers and athletic facilities. When it comes to identifying problems and pitfalls, our experience is priceless. ADP Lemco’s current president is a member of a committee through the ASTM to create and establish the rules for the entire industry. ADP Lemco is very involved in all aspects of safety and inspections.

There are 12 points of interest with gym inspections. We begin the process with the limit switches on the motor. This is an item that can “float” over the years which causes problems with how much slack exists in the cables. The more slack, the more likely the chance of the cables twisting or jumping the knee joint. This slack causes problems all throughout the systems.

The second item we look at are the cables and belts themselves. These need to be checked for frays or any sign of weakness. Obviously, if a belt or cables fails the unit may drop from the ceiling and hopefully engaging the safety strap. If there is no safety strap or the safety strap is faulty, there will be damage.

Next, we check all the bolts; both structure and working bolts. These are machines that get used frequently; they flex and move constantly over their lifetime. Therefore, all bolts need to be torqued periodically to make sure they are structurally sound.

The fourth item checked are the board extensions. This is the location where the glass backboard attaches to the frame. Patrons attach non gym equipment to these all the time which can pull the unit out of square or pull the unit down.

The safety strap is the fifth item we look at. All gym equipment that moves has to have a safety strap. It is the “seat belt” that stops your gym equipment during a failure from a belt or cable break. Safety straps may be the single most important piece of gym equipment you can install for safety.

The sixth item on our inspection is the super structure of the units. Super structure can move or be damaged at any time during operation of the facility and unit. Wall bolts or wall attachments also fall under this category. This area of your gym equipment is where it attaches to the structure of the building.

The seventh item is the height of the goal or volleyball net. It is important to make sure the basketball goal is set at ten feet to keep the units in regulation. It also is a sign of the unit moving over the years and can tell the inspector a little history of the unit.

Then we move on to the eighth item; checking the height adjuster, if there is one. Not all items have a height adjuster, but if it does the unit needs to be thoroughly checked. The height adjuster may have a threaded rod or an actuator. They are mini machines attached to the big machine. Many problems can arise from this piece of gym equipment if it’s not in proper working order.

Next, our team will check the motor hoist. Motor hoists generally have a lifespan of 15 years. During that time, they should be routinely inspected for oil leaks. The electrical components need to be inspected for defects or worn parts, such as the micro switches. The motor hoist also needs to be “pinned” to the pipe through roll pins.

The tenth item is the glass backboard itself. The backboard will be checked for cracks or chips. This is also an opportune time to have the glass backboard plumbed and squared to the gym court lines.

Then we move on to check all the welds throughout the unit. We check for visual weakness or breakage. This can prevent large items from failing.

The final item we check is the folding operation of the units. Between basketball units, hanging volleyball systems, batting cages or gym divider curtains they all have a very important path for movement. If this path is off, it generally means that there is extra stress on another part of the unit where there shouldn’t be. If the path is off, it is just a matter of time until the unit has a failure.

After ADP Lemco finishes a gym equipment inspection we send a .pdf report that includes all points of interest, photos, dates, signature of the inspector, and general notes with recommendations. These are essential to show the client what was done and what they need to do in the future. During our inspection, it is very common for us to fix minor problems or swap out components, such as a motor hoist. When there is a larger problem, we notify the customer and note these issues in the inspection. Having inspections completed by our team will create a cost reduction for the client. Our clients appreciate the fact that we can fix problems during inspections. We are not looking to sell products during inspections to increase the cost, we are focused on making sure the units are safe for the facility. We bring in an aerial lift and touch each unit every time. A company cannot do a proper inspection from the floor. ADP Lemco prides itself in providing the most comprehensive inspection in the industry. Safety is our number one goal.