How Often Should Gym Equipment Be Serviced?

Gym equipment should be serviced regularly, but there's no single servicing interval that applies to every machine or every facility.

The right schedule depends on the manufacturer's recommendations, the type and age of the equipment, how heavily it's used and the conditions within the gym.

For a busy commercial gym, equipment may need considerably more attention than the same machine in a lightly used apartment or hotel gym.

The important point for operators is that gym equipment servicing should not be treated as an occasional repair task. It should form part of a documented preventative maintenance system that combines routine checks, scheduled maintenance, professional servicing and clear procedures when faults are identified.

AUSactive's Work Health and Safety Guide recommends having a preventative maintenance program for exercise machines that is regularly implemented, recorded and monitored. It also recommends that motorised equipment such as treadmills is maintained and serviced by appropriately trained technicians in accordance with manufacturer instructions. 

Is There a Recommended Gym Equipment Servicing Frequency?

There's no universal rule that says all commercial gym equipment must be professionally serviced every three, six or twelve months.

Manufacturer requirements should be the starting point.

Different equipment has different maintenance needs. A commercial treadmill has motors, belts, electronics and emergency-stop systems, while a squat rack or dumbbell set presents a very different maintenance profile.

Safe Work Australia's guidance on plant recommends regular inspections as part of a maintenance system and keeping records that identify inspection frequencies, responsibilities and procedures.

A practical maintenance schedule should therefore consider:

• manufacturer servicing and maintenance instructions

• equipment type and complexity

• frequency and intensity of use

• equipment age and previous fault history

• operating conditions, including dust, moisture and ventilation

• previous incidents or recurring problems

• warranty and supplier requirements.

For high-use equipment, waiting for the next scheduled professional service may not be enough.

Inspection, Maintenance and Servicing Are Different

One of the common gaps in gym equipment management is treating servicing as the entire maintenance system.

It helps to separate three activities.

A piece of equipment might only receive a professional service periodically, while routine checks occur much more frequently.

AUSactive guidance reflects this distinction. In addition to preventative maintenance and servicing, it recommends regular equipment inspections, investigation of reported faults and prompt removal or isolation of defective equipment. 

What Can Make Gym Equipment Need More Frequent Servicing?

High equipment usage

Equipment in a busy commercial or 24-hour gym may operate for many hours each day.

Treadmills, cable machines and other frequently used equipment will generally require closer monitoring than equipment that receives occasional use.

Equipment type

Motorised cardio equipment typically has more components requiring technical maintenance than free weights.

Resistance machines also require attention to cables, pulleys, adjustment mechanisms, pins and moving components.

24-hour and unmanned operation

In a staffed gym, employees may notice unusual noises, damaged equipment or member reports during the day.

In an unmanned facility, faults can remain unnoticed for longer unless there is a structured inspection and reporting process.

Equipment age and fault history

Older machines and equipment with recurring problems may justify shorter inspection and servicing intervals.

Repeated faults should also prompt operators to consider whether continued repair remains an appropriate control.

The operating environment

Moisture, perspiration, dust and heavy use can all affect equipment condition.

Hotel, apartment and workplace gyms can present another issue: because the gym may not have dedicated fitness staff present every day, responsibility for identifying faults needs to be particularly clear.

What Should Be Checked Between Professional Services?

Professional servicing should not replace regular internal equipment checks.

Depending on the equipment, routine checks may include:

• damaged or frayed cables

• loose bolts, fittings or attachments

• damaged upholstery

• unstable frames or benches

• worn belts

• sticking adjustment mechanisms

• damaged electrical cords or plugs

• functioning guards and safety mechanisms

• treadmill emergency-stop buttons and clips

• signs that equipment has been moved or incorrectly repositioned.

When Should Equipment Be Taken Out of Service?

Operators should not wait for the next scheduled service when a fault could affect safe use.

Equipment should be isolated from members where there is reason to believe it may be unsafe.

That could include a damaged cable, unstable frame, malfunctioning safety mechanism, electrical fault or another defect that could cause injury.

AUSactive guidance recommends clearly identifying equipment that is not operational as out of order or removing it from the gym floor where possible.

This is one reason informal maintenance systems can create problems. If a fault is simply mentioned to another staff member or contractor, there may be no clear record showing whether it was actually resolved.

Keep a Gym Equipment Maintenance Record

A documented maintenance system helps operators keep track of what has been checked and what still needs attention.

For each piece of equipment, consider recording:

• equipment identification or asset number

• inspection date

• fault or issue identified

• action taken

• service or repair completed

• service provider or technician

• replacement parts where relevant

• date returned to service

• next inspection or service date.

These records are useful operationally, but they also help demonstrate that equipment risks are being actively managed rather than addressed only after something breaks.

Servicing Is Important, but It Doesn’t Cover Every Equipment Risk

This is where gym operators need to look beyond the service sticker on the machine.

Professional servicing may confirm that a treadmill or resistance machine is mechanically functioning correctly. It doesn't necessarily tell you whether the broader environment around that equipment is safe.

That distinction is already reflected in FitSafe's broader approach to equipment risk assessment: maintenance looks primarily at servicing and repair, while a risk assessment also considers factors such as layout, user interaction, foreseeable misuse, supervision and reporting systems.

This is why equipment servicing and a gym safety review serve different purposes.

A servicing technician is there primarily to maintain the equipment. A gym safety audit looks at how that equipment fits into the wider facility and whether the systems around inspection, maintenance, fault management and member safety are working effectively.

🔍 Not sure where your facility stands on safety? Talk to FitSafe and we’ll recommend the most appropriate next step.