Sports Flooring

The performance of a sports floor is determined by the interaction of three key elements: the undercarriage construction, the solid hardwood floor and the surface treatment. Together, these components define the immediate playing characteristics of the floor, such as elasticity, grip and energy return. To ensure optimal performance and extended lifespan, periodic inspections, maintenance, surface treatments and sanding may be required over time.

Sports flooring systems are designed with area-elastic properties, providing protection against injury while allowing athletes full freedom of movement and optimal performance. All solutions are tested and approved in accordance with the European standard EN 14904, which specifies performance requirements for indoor sports floors and is internationally recognised. These systems are also suitable for installation over underfloor heating.

Floors are supplied prefinished with factory-applied lacquer, ensuring easy maintenance and durability. Designed for long-term use, Finixia sports floors offer reliable performance for generations in both sports and dance environments.

Properties

• Long-term durability with low life cycle cost
• Suitable for installation over underfloor heating
• Compatible with retractable seating systems
• Area-elastic structure for optimal sports performance
• Fully compliant with EN 14904 standard
• Suitable for both sports and dance applications

Key factors for safety and performance

1. Shock Absorption

A shock absorbing floor minimizes the risk of injuries. Test results display the percentage of shock energy absorbed by the floor when landing after a jump.

2. Vertical Deformation

The floor’s ability to absorb shock depends on its ability to flex when exposed to a dynamic load. Test results display the floor’s vertical deformation in mm when exposed to a dynamic impact equivalent to that of light jogging.

3. Ball Bounce

A good ball bounce increases the ball control and the speed of the game. Test results display the rebound achieved by the floor as a percentage of the rebound measured on a concrete floor.

4. Friction

Correct friction is important when ball players move rapidly on the floor, and the ideal friction number is between 80 and 110. A friction number less than 80 makes the floor too smooth. A friction number above 110 makes the floor too rough.

5. Rolling Load

The floor’s ability to withstand rolling loads is important in circumstances where e.g. carts and retractable seating are utilized. Test results display whether or not the floor can withstand a rolling load of 1,500 N (approx. 150 kg).

TYPES OF SPORTS FLOORING

a) Portable Floor

You will find a selection of portable solid hardwood floors, which consists of prefabricated lightweight panels, fast to assemble and disassemble. This type of flooring is particularly suitable for temporary use, e.g. sports events requiring special line markings, installation on top of ice rinks, or non-sporting events like concerts.

b) Fixed Floor

You will find a selection of fixed solid hardwood floors. In the range, there are both floating and batten floor solutions with a choice of sub-construction that meets most height and performance requirements. Construction height of floors (sub construction + floor board) ranges from 32mm to 245mm. There are solutions for both flat and uneven sub-floors.

EN 14904 The European standard for indoor sports floors

The performance of a sports floor is measured according to the European standard EN 14904, which specifies the requirements on the properties of sports floors. The standard divides the sports floors into 4 types:

1. Area-elastic floors: When a point force causes deflection over a relatively large area around the impact point (wood)
2. Point-elastic floors: When a point force causes deflection only at or close to the impact point (vinyl)
3. Combi-elastic floors: An area-elastic floor with a point-elastic top layer, a point force will cause both localized deflection and deflection over a wider area (wood/vinyl)
4. Mixed-elastic floors: Point-elastic floor combined with a synthetic material. The standard relates to both safety and sports technical properties and the most important key factors are described above