Wall padding
Encyclopedia
Wall padding may go by a variety of names, including; Softwall, Wainscott, Cushion Wall, Safety Padding, and more.
s, stage fronts, I-Beam
s, goal posts, columns, and fences.
s and universities
have made a push for 84” high padding in their basketball
facilities, where athletes are often elevated in motion. In grappling
and wrestling
facilities pads are regularly 60” since most movement occurs on the ground.
Outdoor stadium padding is 48” wide x 96” high. However, when working with a skilled manufacturer all dimensions can often be easily customized to fit the unique needs of your facility.
will be laminated. For indoor panels the standard thickness of foam is 2”, but which type 2” foam is laminated to the backer is the most important part of the pad (see foam). After these steps have been completed a 16 oz. vinyl
cover is stapled over the face and onto the back of the pad.
A basic stadium pad, will spend most of its life outdoors, and should always begin with a ½” to ¾” weather durable backer board. Most often plywood
is used, but other experienced companies like Mancino Manufacturing use a higher grade backer called extira. To that, a layer of foam will be laminated. For outdoor stadium panels the standard thickness of foam is 3”. Foam should be a minimum 1.8 pound density, with a 50 pound IFD. After these steps a 16o oz. to 17 oz. fabric will be stapled over the face of the pad.
based foam, but can vary based on a specification written, or simply customer preference.
emboss pattern engrained into the good side of the material. There are at least 16 standard colors to choose from. Vinyl should also be expected to meet fire retardant
test NFPA-701 and ASTM E84 http://www.astm.org/Standards/E84.htm
Standard method is a process in which panels are toe nailed in with a finishing nailer. Most often this method is done by professionals. If the surface the pads are being installed on is capable of being nailed into, pads will often be mounted directly to that surface. However if the surface is unable to be nailed into, like cinder block
, then firing strip will be mounted first, and the pads mounted to them.
Nailing margin is a process in which the manufacturer will intentionally leave 1” of foam off the top and bottom of the panel. This 1” area is meant to allow the installer to drill directly through the panel, without damaging, or compromising the pad. If the surface the pads are being installed on is capable of being screwed into, pads will often be mounted directly to that surface. However if the surface is unable to be drilled into, like cinder block, then firing strip will be mounted first, and the pads mounted to them.
Z-clip is a process in which the panels are hung with male/female aluminum channeling. An installer will first mount the female side of the aluminum clip to the wall (typically in 6’ lengths). The installer will then mount the male side of the clip to the panel (typically 22” lengths). To hang the panels, the installer will drop the panel with the male clip into the female clip on the wall. These pads will appear the same as standard method pads on from head on, but can also be removed from the wall because of the male/female clip.
Purpose
The primary purpose of wall padding is to provide a safe level of absorption for an individual making impact with an established object. Often these objects are walls (hence “wall padding”), but also these pads commonly protect bleacherBleacher
Bleachers is an American term used to describe the raised, tiered rows of seats found at sports fields or at other spectator events...
s, stage fronts, I-Beam
I-beam
-beams, also known as H-beams, W-beams , rolled steel joist , or double-T are beams with an - or H-shaped cross-section. The horizontal elements of the "" are flanges, while the vertical element is the web...
s, goal posts, columns, and fences.
Standard Sizes
Typical indoor wall panels are 24” wide x 72” high. In recent history however many newly constructed schoolSchool
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s and universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
have made a push for 84” high padding in their basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
facilities, where athletes are often elevated in motion. In grappling
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
facilities pads are regularly 60” since most movement occurs on the ground.
Outdoor stadium padding is 48” wide x 96” high. However, when working with a skilled manufacturer all dimensions can often be easily customized to fit the unique needs of your facility.
Composition
Standard quality indoor wall panel will begin with a 7/16” osb (oriented strand board) backer. To that, a layer of foamFoam
-Definition:A foam is a substance that is formed by trapping gas in a liquid or solid in a divided form, i.e. by forming gas regions inside liquid regions, leading to different kinds of dispersed media...
will be laminated. For indoor panels the standard thickness of foam is 2”, but which type 2” foam is laminated to the backer is the most important part of the pad (see foam). After these steps have been completed a 16 oz. vinyl
Vinyl
A vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group ,which are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...
cover is stapled over the face and onto the back of the pad.
A basic stadium pad, will spend most of its life outdoors, and should always begin with a ½” to ¾” weather durable backer board. Most often plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
is used, but other experienced companies like Mancino Manufacturing use a higher grade backer called extira. To that, a layer of foam will be laminated. For outdoor stadium panels the standard thickness of foam is 3”. Foam should be a minimum 1.8 pound density, with a 50 pound IFD. After these steps a 16o oz. to 17 oz. fabric will be stapled over the face of the pad.
Foam
Foam used in manufacturing wall padding is typically a polyurethanePolyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
based foam, but can vary based on a specification written, or simply customer preference.
Vinyl
Vinyl range from 14 oz. to 18 oz. in weight, and typically has a light leatherLeather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
emboss pattern engrained into the good side of the material. There are at least 16 standard colors to choose from. Vinyl should also be expected to meet fire retardant
Fire retardant
A fire retardant is a substance other than water that reduces flammability of fuels or delays their combustion. This typically refers to chemical retardants but may also include substances that work by physical action, such as cooling the fuels; examples of these include fire-fighting foams and...
test NFPA-701 and ASTM E84 http://www.astm.org/Standards/E84.htm
Installation Methods
The most common installation methods are; standard method, nailing margin, and z-clip.Standard method is a process in which panels are toe nailed in with a finishing nailer. Most often this method is done by professionals. If the surface the pads are being installed on is capable of being nailed into, pads will often be mounted directly to that surface. However if the surface is unable to be nailed into, like cinder block
Cinder block
In the United States, a concrete masonry unit – also called concrete block, cement block, and foundation block – is a large rectangular brick used in construction. Concrete blocks are made from cast concrete, i.e. Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel for high-density blocks...
, then firing strip will be mounted first, and the pads mounted to them.
Nailing margin is a process in which the manufacturer will intentionally leave 1” of foam off the top and bottom of the panel. This 1” area is meant to allow the installer to drill directly through the panel, without damaging, or compromising the pad. If the surface the pads are being installed on is capable of being screwed into, pads will often be mounted directly to that surface. However if the surface is unable to be drilled into, like cinder block, then firing strip will be mounted first, and the pads mounted to them.
Z-clip is a process in which the panels are hung with male/female aluminum channeling. An installer will first mount the female side of the aluminum clip to the wall (typically in 6’ lengths). The installer will then mount the male side of the clip to the panel (typically 22” lengths). To hang the panels, the installer will drop the panel with the male clip into the female clip on the wall. These pads will appear the same as standard method pads on from head on, but can also be removed from the wall because of the male/female clip.