Commercial gym flooring is no longer restricted to utilitarian black rubber. As fitness spaces evolve into premium, lifestyle-driven environments, the floor has become a central design element rather than a background finish.

Superstrata offers architects and interior designers a palette of colours, fleck ratios, and custom inlay options. This guide explores how flooring specification can support brand identity, spatial zoning, and intuitive wayfinding.

The Anatomy of Colour in Rubber Flooring

Superstrata products achieve their colour through the inclusion of EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber granules.

The base of most tiles or rolls is recycled SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber), which provides impact absorption and contributes to the product's recycled content. The top wear layer incorporates EPDM granules. EPDM is UV-stable, highly durable, and can be manufactured in a wide range of colours.

Fleck Ratios Explained

Superstrata rubber flooring colour fleck ratio guide
Superstrata rubber flooring colour fleck ratio guide

The visual character of the floor is determined by the fleck ratio — the percentage of coloured EPDM mixed with the SBR base.

  • 10–15% fleck: A subtle, professional finish. The dark base dominates while the coloured fleck helps disguise dust and chalk. Suited to heavy free-weight zones.
  • 30–50% fleck: A vibrant, energetic aesthetic. The colour becomes a primary design feature. Suited to functional training zones and boutique studios.
  • 70–100% solid EPDM: A premium solid-colour finish. Used in high-end commercial gyms or for specific zones (such as sprint tracks) to create visual contrast.

Using Colour for Spatial Zoning

Modern gym design principles, including Sport England guidance, advocate clear zoning of fitness spaces. Rather than introducing physical walls that disrupt sightlines and airflow, flooring colour can be used to delineate zones.

Example Zoning Strategy

  1. Cardio zone: Superstrata Pulse (10mm) with a 15% blue fleck.
  2. Functional zone: Superstrata Stride (20mm) with a 30% red fleck.
  3. Free-weight zone: Superstrata Titan (30mm) with a 15% grey fleck.

This approach guides users through the facility, manages traffic flow, and reduces the need for excessive signage.

Custom Inlays and Brand Identity

Superstrata offers precision waterjet cutting to create bespoke inlays in the rubber flooring. This allows designers to embed brand identity and functional markings directly into the floor surface, where they will not wear away in the way that painted lines do.

1. Brand Logos

A gym's logo can be embedded at the reception entrance or in the centre of a lifting platform. Because the logo is cut from solid EPDM rubber and inlaid into the floor, it withstands heavy traffic without fading.

2. Functional Markings

In functional training zones, painted lines scuff and peel under the friction of sled pushes and athletic shoes. Inlaid markings hold up far longer. Common applications include:

  • Sprint track lanes and distance markers
  • Agility ladders and dot-drill grids
  • Lifting platform boundaries

3. Wayfinding

Inlaid arrows, chevrons, or colour-coded pathways can guide users from changing rooms to specific workout zones, supporting accessible navigation and improving user experience.

Light Reflectance Values (LRV)

For projects subject to the Equality Act 2010 and Building Regulations Approved Document M, designers should consider the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of floor and wall finishes.

Part M and BS 8300 recommend adequate visual contrast between the floor and walls — generally a difference of around 30 LRV points — to assist users with visual impairments in navigating the space.

Solid black rubber has an LRV close to 0. By specifying a higher percentage of light-coloured EPDM fleck (such as white or light grey), designers can increase the floor's LRV and improve contrast with surrounding wall finishes. The required contrast should be confirmed with the project's access consultant or building control officer.

Specification Summary

When specifying the aesthetic elements of Superstrata flooring:

  1. Select the base product based on the impact performance required for the zone (Titan, Stride, or Pulse).
  2. Determine the fleck ratio based on the visual impact and maintenance preferences (higher fleck ratios disguise dirt and chalk more effectively).
  3. Detail custom inlays by providing CAD or vector files for any logos, sprint tracks, or functional markings to be waterjet cut.
  4. Check LRV contrast between floor and wall finishes for accessibility compliance.

To request physical colour samples or discuss custom EPDM blends for your project, contact the Superstrata design team at info@superstrata.fit.