Rubber flooring for temporary event areas?
Rubber flooring for temporary event areas must be selected according to the location, intended use, substrate, load capacity, weather resistance, fire performance and installation method. The floor covering must suit its intended use: areas for standing audiences, catering and exhibition stands have different requirements from temporary sports areas or zones with stages, platforms and trusses. Where wheelchairs, transport trolleys and other wheeled equipment are used, the covering must be sufficiently level and firm for unobstructed movement. In sports areas, elasticity, slip resistance and surface texture must be matched to the sport concerned.
These use requirements also determine the loads to be considered. Furniture, sales stands and technical structures may transfer loads through small contact areas, so the load capacity, deformation behaviour and load distribution of the event floor covering must be checked. Stage, platform and truss feet require suitable spreader plates and a load-bearing substrate. An elastic event floor covering is neither a substitute for a foundation nor for any required structural verification.
A load-bearing substrate does not remove the need to consider comfort: during longer stays, the resilience of an elastic event floor covering can increase comfort for visitors and staff. Fire-performance requirements arise from the applicable regulations and the conditions imposed for the individual event. Escape routes may be subject to stricter requirements than the rest of the event area. For tents, the relevant approval governing their erection applies; for exhibitions, the organiser’s technical regulations apply.
These event-specific requirements also apply where surfaces may become wet. Outdoors and in areas where drinks may be spilled, the surface must be sufficiently slip-resistant when wet. Water-permeable event tiles allow liquid to drain through, but the substrate must then absorb or drain away that liquid.
Once liquid has drained away, the event floor covering must still stay in place. Edges, entrances, cable crossings and transitions must be finished without trip hazards using suitable ramps or edge profiles. A loose-laid event floor covering with an integrated interlocking system can be removed after the event without leaving adhesive residue or drill holes.
Where the substrate is sensitive, a suitable protective layer or separation layer may be required. On grass, the period of use should be kept short, as lack of light, pressure, heat and moisture can damage the turf.