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Recreational Equipment
Recreational equipment is the gear an offshore crew uses off shift, in the gym and the recreation rooms. This Category covers cardio machines such as treadmills, bikes, rowers and cross-trainers, strength machines, free weights and racks, TV, cinema and games room equipment, and the furniture of lounges and quiet rooms.
Why a rig needs it
Crews on rotations of two to four weeks spend every off-shift hour inside the accommodation, so the gym and recreation rooms see heavy daily use. Where the flag applies the MLC, Standard A3.1 requires recreational facilities suited to people who live and work on board. Guideline B3.1.11 lists exercise equipment, film and television viewing and a library among the facilities to consider.
Configurations
- Cardio. Motorised treadmills, upright and recumbent bikes, rowers and cross-trainers. These draw power and transmit vibration into the deck.
- Selectorised strength machines. A weight stack on guide rods, a selector pin, and cables or belts over pulleys.
- Plate-loaded machines, racks and free weights. No electrics, but heavy point loads and dropped weights on the deck.
- AV and games. Screens, projectors, sound systems, consoles, pool and table tennis tables.
- Furniture. Lounge seating, recliners and quiet room furniture, where fire performance of the upholstery matters most.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Why it matters | Typical classes or units |
|---|---|---|
| Usage class | Home machines wear out fast under shared daily use | ISO 20957-1 class S, H or I |
| Supply | Shore machines may need a transformer on the rig supply | V, phase, Hz |
| Footprint and height | Must fit the room, its deckhead and the clear area behind a treadmill | mm (in) |
| Fixing method | Machines on a floating unit must be secured | Bolt-down kit, deck plates |
| Fire performance of upholstery | Some flags and operators require tested furniture | IMO FTP Code Parts 8 and 9 |
Standards and certification
- ISO 20957 series. Part 1 sets general safety rules and usage classes for stationary training equipment. Class S covers professional and commercial use, class H domestic use, and class I commercial use by people with special needs. Part 6 adds requirements for treadmills, including the free safety area behind the belt. A rig gym is commercial use, so look for class S.
- IMO FTP Code. Part 8 tests upholstered furniture and Part 9 tests bedding. SOLAS makes them mandatory in passenger ship accommodation, and many flags and operators apply them to rig accommodation too. Ask your operator before buying soft furnishings.
- Electrical safety marks. CE, UKCA or UL marking on the machine and its consoles, with the supply rating on the nameplate.
- MLC Standard A3.1. Where it applies, recreational facilities form part of the accommodation the flag inspects.
Failure modes and inspection
- Treadmill belt and deck wear, drive motor brushes on DC models, the motor controller, the incline motor and the emergency stop lanyard.
- Frayed cables, worn pulleys, bent guide rods and missing selector pins on strength machines.
- Cracked welds on frames and racks, and seat and backrest adjusters that no longer lock.
- Rust on frames, fasteners and chrome from salt air.
- Upholstery tears and foam degradation, which also void any fire test certification for the item.
- Screen wall brackets and their fixings into deckhead or bulkhead.
Documentation
Ask for the owner's manual, serial numbers, the usage class on the label, service logs or console hours, any FTP Code test certificates for furniture, and the bolt-down kit drawings. Commercial gym equipment rarely comes with more, and a missing manual is less serious here than on any other equipment in this group.
Integration with the gym room
Bolt every machine to the deck through the maker's fixing points or a backing plate, since a floating unit rolls and heaves. Lay impact flooring under free weights to protect the steel deck and its coating. Mount treadmills on vibration isolators where the gym sits next to cabins, because structure-borne noise travels far in steel. Check the deckhead height over overhead press stations and the clear area behind each treadmill.
Used, unused surplus or new
Recreational gear has no lifting certificate or class approval to lapse, so used class S equipment in good order is often the sensible choice. Unused surplus usually comes from a cancelled accommodation fit-out. Buy new where you want a maker's warranty or a matched set for a new gym. Refurbishment means new belts, cables and upholstery, and a check of the electrics.
If you are adding beds as well, see accommodation modules. Mess room tables and chairs are under galley and mess equipment.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does an offshore rig have to provide a gym?
No rule names a gym specifically. Where the flag applies the MLC, Standard A3.1 requires recreational facilities for people living on board, and Guideline B3.1.11 lists exercise equipment among the options. In practice the operator and crew agreements set the gym fit-out.
What usage class should gym equipment on a rig be?
Choose ISO 20957-1 class S, which covers professional and commercial use. A rig gym serves many people a day, and class H home equipment is designed and tested for far lighter duty. The usage class appears on the machine's label and in its manual.
Does gym and lounge furniture need fire certification offshore?
It depends on your flag and operator. The IMO FTP Code tests upholstered furniture under Part 8 and bedding under Part 9, and SOLAS makes those tests mandatory in passenger ship accommodation. Many flags and operators apply them to rig accommodation, so ask before buying upholstered items.
What should I check on a used treadmill from a rig?
Check the belt and deck for wear, the drive motor and controller, the incline motor, the console hours and the emergency stop lanyard. Then confirm the nameplate supply, the usage class and that the bolt-down kit comes with the machine.
How should gym equipment be secured on a floating unit?
Bolt each machine to the deck through the maker's fixing points, using backing plates where the deck plating is thin. Secure free weights in racks with retaining bars, and fix screens and speakers to the bulkhead or deckhead with brackets rated for the item's weight.
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