How do I choose the right rubber tiles for my application?
Choosing the right rubber tiles starts with the area and its intended application, rather than with a particular product. Tiles made from PU-bound rubber granules are manufactured for different purposes, and their properties are matched to the intended application during production. The range is organised by application: home and garden, play and sport, fitness, horses and dogs. Once the application is defined, the choice has already been narrowed down.
The second selection step is the substrate. On bound sub-bases such as concrete, screed or paving, drainage channels on the underside direct water away along the fall. On unbound substrates such as grit or crushed stone, water drains vertically through the tile and the sub-base. Not every range is approved for both bound and unbound substrates. Some tiles can be laid on a laying course of grit, while others require a bound sub-base or a plastic cellular grid.
The expected load determines the required tile thickness and properties. Beneath play equipment, the tested critical fall height is decisive, and the fall height increases with tile thickness. Impact-absorbing safety tiles are selected according to the free fall height of the play equipment, tested to BS EN 1177. In training areas, shock absorption and impact sound insulation are the main considerations. For outdoor areas, water permeability and frost-resistant performance are particularly relevant. Where a fire classification is required, tiles with an EPDM wearing layer achieve Cfl-s1 to BS EN 13501-1.
Colour and surface determine the long-term appearance. An EPDM wearing layer is through-coloured, colour-stable and UV-resistant. With tiles made from recycled tyre rubber granules (ELT), the colour is created by a coloured binder that coats the granules.
Format, edge profile and connection method are further selection criteria. Tiles with rounded puzzle interlocks create joints that are barely noticeable, whereas tiles with plug-in connectors produce a visible grid pattern. Each product description in the shop lists these properties, and two ranges can be compared directly.
For anyone wishing to assess the colour and surface beforehand, a product sample can be ordered. Technical advice is available by telephone, email or in person for questions about the area, substrate or appropriate thickness.
The selection of the right rubber tiles begins with the area and its intended application, not with the product. Beneath play equipment, the critical fall height tested to BS EN 1177 is decisive. Where a fire classification is required, tiles with an EPDM wearing layer achieve Cfl-s1 to BS EN 13501-1.