Indoor Sports Flooring
Ekip Grass supplies and installs floors for sports halls, school gyms, futsal courts and indoor training areas: PVC sports flooring, poured polyurethane and synthetic turf. The right floor depends on which sports the hall hosts and what else it is used for. Cushioning, grip and ball bounce affect both performance and the load on players' joints.
- EN 14904European standard for indoor multi-sport surfaces
- 3 floor typesPVC · polyurethane · turf
- Subfloor firstDry, level, clean slab
Short answer
Which floor suits your hall?
- School and multi-use halls: a PVC or polyurethane floor with moderate cushioning gives a reliable bounce and is easy to clean.
- Court sports halls: PVC sports flooring with foam backing, welded at the seams, in plain colours or wood-effect prints.
- Futsal and football training: a short-pile indoor turf with little or no infill to limit dust.
Floor types
Three floors for indoor sport
PVC sports floor
PVC sports flooring comes in rolls with a foam backing and is welded at the seams. It is used for basketball, volleyball, handball, futsal and badminton halls, in plain colours and wood-effect prints.
Thickness and backing type set how much cushioning it gives.
Poured polyurethane
A seamless polyurethane floor laid in place, sometimes over a prefabricated rubber layer. It suits multi-sport halls and fitness areas and is easy to clean.
Indoor turf
Synthetic turf is used indoors for football training, five-a-side and futsal centres and athletic warm-up areas. Indoor turf usually has a shorter pile and little or no infill, to limit dust and maintenance. Our Non-Infill Grass needs no rubber granules.
Side by side
Indoor floors compared
| PVC sports floor | Poured polyurethane | Indoor turf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seams | Welded | None | Seamed and glued |
| Typical sports | Basketball, volleyball, handball, badminton | Multi-sport, fitness | Futsal, football training |
| Elasticity | Point-elastic | Point-elastic | Depends on pile and pad |
| Cleaning | Sweep, damp-clean | Sweep, damp-clean | Brush, vacuum |
| Events and furniture | With covers | With covers | Not suited |
From our range
Turf for indoor training areas
Standards
EN 14904 and building rules
In Europe, EN 14904 sets test methods and limits for indoor surfaces used for multi-sports: shock absorption (force reduction), vertical deformation, ball rebound, slip resistance, rolling load and wear. Floors are also described as point-elastic, area-elastic or combined, depending on how they flex under a player. Ask for the EN 14904 test report of the exact product and thickness offered.
Sports halls are public buildings, so local regulations usually require a reaction-to-fire classification for the floor covering, given under EN 13501-1. Check it against your building permit.
- Force reductionHow much impact the floor absorbs.
- Vertical deformationHow far it gives under a player.
- Ball reboundHow the ball bounces compared with concrete.
- Friction and wearGrip for turning, and durability.
Planning
Court sizes in a hall
A hall floor is usually laid wall to wall, with the courts marked in separate colours. These are the playing areas of the common indoor sports, before safety zones.
| Handball, futsal | 40 × 20 m |
|---|---|
| Basketball (FIBA) | 28 × 15 m |
| Volleyball | 18 × 9 m |
| Badminton, doubles | 13.40 × 6.10 m |
| Floor area | Wall to wall |
From slab to first game
How we fit a hall floor
Slab check
Moisture, flatness and condition of the concrete are tested on site.
Preparation
Cracks, old adhesive and paint are removed; uneven slabs get a levelling compound.
Floor
PVC is laid and welded, polyurethane poured, or turf seamed.
Lines
Court lines are marked in a colour for each sport.
Handover
You receive the cleaning plan and guidance on covers for events.
Maintenance
Hall floor care
Daily
Use entrance mats to stop grit coming in on shoes. Sweep or vacuum and damp-clean with products recommended for the floor type.
Events
Protect the floor with covers and load spreaders when the hall is used for non-sport events. Indoor turf needs regular brushing and vacuuming.
Other sports
Surfaces for other sports
Questions
Questions about indoor sports flooring
Which floor is best for a school sports hall?
A school hall usually hosts many sports plus assemblies and events, so a PVC or polyurethane floor with moderate cushioning is a common choice. It gives a reliable ball bounce for basketball and volleyball, tolerates furniture with protection and is easy to clean. If the hall is mainly for football, an indoor turf may suit better.
What does EN 14904 cover?
EN 14904 is the European standard for indoor multi-sport surfaces. It sets test methods and limits for shock absorption (force reduction), vertical deformation, ball rebound, slip resistance, rolling load and wear. Tenders in Europe often require a floor tested to EN 14904. Ask for the test report of the exact product and thickness being offered.
Can the floor go directly on our concrete slab?
Usually, if the slab is dry, flat and sound. New concrete needs time to dry before installation, and moisture is tested on site. Uneven slabs need a levelling compound first. Cracks, old adhesive and paint must be removed. We check the slab before confirming the floor build, since most indoor floor failures start at the subfloor.
How do we maintain an indoor sports floor?
Entrance mats stop grit coming in on shoes. Sweep or vacuum the floor daily. Some cleaners leave a slippery film, so damp-clean only with products recommended for the floor type. When the hall hosts events, protect the floor with covers and load spreaders. Indoor turf needs regular brushing and vacuuming.
What should we send for a quote?
Send the hall dimensions, the sports played and any non-sport uses, the type and age of the subfloor, and photos of the current floor. Mention any tender requirements such as EN 14904 or a fire classification. Tell us if line markings, wall protection or equipment such as goals and basketball hoops should be included.
Planning a sports hall floor?
Send us the hall size, the sports and the subfloor. We reply with the floor build and a quote.
- Hall dimensions
- Sports and other uses
- Subfloor type and age
- EN 14904 or fire class in the tender
- Lines and equipment