Quick answer: Compare shock absorption using reports for the same test method and the complete floor construction being quoted. Review deformation, ball response, traction and intended use alongside it. A higher number or a thicker surface does not, on its own, establish the right floor for your sport.
Sports-floor offers often place one “shock absorption” figure beside a thickness and a material name. A useful comparison asks a further question: what was tested, and does that test represent the system you will install? This guide focuses on reading the evidence and building a clear procurement comparison.
What does shock absorption describe?
In sports-floor testing, shock absorption or force reduction describes the floor’s response under a specified impact procedure, relative to the reference used by that method. The method, equipment, conditions and construction matter when interpreting the result.
That is different from a claim about how many injuries a floor will prevent. A laboratory floor result does not directly measure the injury rate of people using a venue. Keep those statements separate when comparing supplier literature.
Which tests should you ask about?
The public scope of ASTM F2772-24 for indoor sports floor systems covers performance requirements for multipurpose indoor athletic floors and excludes uses such as artificial turf, running tracks and tennis courts. Check the scope of the specified standard before applying it to another surface or sport.
| Characteristic | Question for the supplier | Why the answer is useful |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorption or force reduction | Which method and edition were used, and which complete construction was tested? | Helps establish whether values can be compared. |
| Vertical deformation | How was deflection measured, and does the report cover the quoted build-up? | Separates impact response from how the system moves under the test load. |
| Ball response | Which ball-response test is relevant to the intended sport? | A player-oriented property does not establish the ball’s behavior. |
| Surface friction | Which finish and test conditions does the result describe? | A figure without method and conditions is difficult to interpret. |
| Other project requirements | What evidence covers equipment loads, rolling loads, wear and the actual venue use? | Prevents one attractive result from standing in for the whole specification. |
Read the test report before comparing percentages
- Identify the product. Match the report’s model and construction to the quotation.
- Identify the method. Record the standard, edition, measured property and units.
- Read the build-up. Check surface, backing, underlay, supporting structure and installation details.
- Check the conditions. Note the reported sample conditioning and any relevant limitations.
- Check the issuer and result. Retain the full report, including its date and sample identification.
- Confirm applicability. Ask the designer or responsible specialist whether the evidence answers the project requirement.
If two offers were tested differently, mark the comparison as unresolved instead of ranking their numbers. Ask for comparable evidence or a written explanation from the party responsible for the specification.
Why material and thickness are not enough
“TPE,” “PVC,” “rubber” and “wood” describe broad material categories. They do not identify a complete installed floor. Two systems with the same overall thickness can have different structures, support layers and installation conditions.
For example, a report for a surface over a resilient underlay cannot automatically support the same surface installed directly on concrete. Ask the supplier to draw or list the exact layers and confirm which of them the test represents.
When discussing Courtiva’s VistaLeap interlocking court tiles, identify the intended multi-court layout and request the applicable model-specific documents. The product identity or tile format alone is not a verified shock-absorption result.
Build a comparison sheet that exposes missing evidence
Create one column per proposed system and rows for the model, intended use, construction, methods, reported results, installation conditions and unresolved questions. Record “not supplied” where evidence is missing. Do not fill a gap using a result from a similar product or an unrelated installation.
Add project requirements for heavy equipment, seating, cleaning machines and non-sport activities. A hall used for events has a different operating brief from a dedicated court. Resolve those uses with the design team before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Is more shock absorption always better?
No single value determines overall suitability. The specified system must satisfy the relevant sport, performance criteria, deformation, ball response and operating requirements together.
Can I compare percentages from different standards?
Not reliably without understanding the methods and conditions. Ask for comparable results or a qualified interpretation before treating the percentages as equivalent.
Does a soft sample prove a floor protects athletes?
No. A hand-pressed sample is not a standardized floor test, and a floor test does not establish an injury-prevention claim.
Does a report cover every thickness or installation?
Only use it within its documented scope. Confirm the exact model, build-up and conditions instead of extending the result to a whole product family.
Compare evidence for your court
Send Courtiva your sports, indoor or outdoor setting, base construction and required standards. Request the identified model, complete build-up and available test documents before selecting a floor.
