How do I choose the right rubber tiles for my application?

The first consideration is the area to be covered, not an individual product. Rubber tiles made from PU-bound rubber granulate are made for a wide range of purposes, with their properties defined during manufacture to suit the intended use. The range is therefore organised by application, including home and garden, play and sport, fitness, and horses and dogs. Defining the application considerably narrows the selection.

The next step is the sub-base. On bound sub-bases such as concrete, screed or paved surfaces, drainage channels beneath the tiles allow water to run off along the gradient. On unbound sub-bases such as chippings or crushed stone, water percolates vertically through the tile and sub-base. Not every range is approved for both. Some tiles can be laid in a bed of chippings, while others require a bound sub-base or a plastic honeycomb ground grid.

The type and intensity of use determine the required thickness and properties. Beneath play equipment, the critical fall height tested under BS EN 1177 is a property of the tile and increases with tile thickness. Safety tiles are selected according to the free height of fall of the play equipment, as defined in BS EN 1176, not the height of its platform. For training areas, shock absorption and impact sound insulation are key considerations. Outdoors, water permeability and frost resistance are relevant. Where a fire classification is required, tiles with an EPDM wear layer are classified as Cfl-s1 under BS EN 13501-1.

Colour and surface determine how the tiled area looks over time. An EPDM wear layer is coloured throughout, colour-stable and UV-resistant. In tiles made from ELT rubber granulate, the shade comes from a coloured binder that coats the granules. Tile size, edge profile and connection method also shape the finished appearance. A rounded puzzle interlock forms hairline joints that are barely noticeable, while tiles joined by connecting pins produce a visible grid pattern.

Each product description in the online shop lists these characteristics, allowing ranges to be compared directly. A product sample can be ordered to examine the colour and surface at close hand. Specialist advice on the area, sub-base or appropriate thickness is available by telephone, email or in person.