Sport brings together people from different communities, generations and countries, and sporting events are attracting a wider and wider audience. In response to the growing popularity of sports such as football, volleyball, handball and swimming, numerous new sports and recreation investments have been developed in Poland and Europe in recent years. Many of these projects feature seamless resin flooring, which, thanks to its high strength and easy maintenance, is ideal for public facilities visited by thousands of spectators.
Let us take a look at some examples of resin flooring solutions that can be found in the largest stadiums, sports halls and swimming pools.
Epoxy-quartz flooring in entrance areas, corridors and catering areas
The original 3 mm thick Peran STB Compact flooring, made using clear epoxy resins and coloured quartz sands with mechanical trowelling technology, was created by Flowcrete and still sets the market standard in large public facilities. This system is popular in sports and leisure facilities thanks to its durability, resistance to heavy foot traffic and aesthetic qualities, which allow for the creation of bespoke interior colour schemes. This flooring is scratch-resistant and provides the required level of anti-slip while remaining watertight and easy to clean.
Peran STB Compact was used at Wembley Stadium in London, which was designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Populous and Mott MacDonald and opened in 2007. It was installed over an area of approximately 54,000 m² in the internal promenade, including passageways under the stands, catering areas, and toilets which can accommodate up to 90,000 people during sporting events.
The same flooring solution was used for the Wodna Nuta development in Opole, which was designed by the Warsaw-based architectural firm Pracownia Studium. Opened in 2013, the Olympic swimming pool is one of the most modern swimming facilities in Poland. Due to the constant high humidity and condensation around the pool and in the changing rooms, toilets and other areas where wet footwear is worn, a non-slip, easily washable, non-absorbent surface that is resistant to moisture, chlorine and cleaning agents was necessary. Peran STB Compact flooring was installed in this facility across an area of approximately 2,200 m², including the main entrance hall, café, conference room and stands.
Hala Urania is a sports and entertainment venue in Olsztyn, which underwent thorough reconstruction and extension according to a design by Urban Architect and reopened in 2023. The concept of its modernisation referred to the original, futuristic vision of the facility. The designers wanted to achieve high strength parameters and a visually uniform floor in a light, light-reflecting colour. Consequently, Peran STB Compact flooring in light grey was installed in the representative and communication areas, including the promenade around the Main Arena on the ground and first floors, covering an area of over 7,000 m².
Coatings with non-slip finish on stands
To ensure the safety of participants in sporting events, stands require coatings that increase slip resistance. The flooring solutions used should also protect the concrete substrate from dusting, be impermeable and non-absorbent, and be easy to clean. The Deckshield polyurethane-quartz system is ideal for this type of application. This flooring is highly resistant to abrasion and is impermeable to water; the quartz sand aggregate also gives it a rough texture.
This solution has been used in the stands of Wembley Stadium, for example, where Deckshield flooring in a highly visible yellow colour was used to secure and mark the edges of 17,000 steps. It has also been used in the stands of the Sports Centre of the Medical University of Gdańsk, covering an area of approximately 1,400 m².
Decorative flooring systems in exercise rooms
Due to heavy footfall, it is advisable to use flooring with high abrasion resistance in exercise rooms. Seamless solutions that are easy to clean and conducive to maintaining high hygiene standards are also ideal for rooms where intensive training takes place. The Leszek Blanik Gymnasium in Gdańsk, one of the most modern in Poland, with an area of approx. 2,100 m², was fitted with the Flowshield LXP system. This smooth, flexible, self-smoothing resin floor in a light colour, with the addition of a mixture of blue flakes, combines excellent functional properties with attractive aesthetics.
Resin-based paints for rooms that require high hygiene standards
Resin-based solutions are used in modern sports facilities for flooring, and also for walls and ceilings. Peran WWF, for example, is a water-based epoxy paint with added coloured flakes that offers a wide range of possibilities for creating patterns and achieving a variety of colour effects. This material is ideal for use as a wall finish in areas where intensive cleaning methods are employed and high hygiene standards are required, such as in sanitary facilities, changing rooms and showers. Combining resin-based floor and wall coatings in the same room can create interesting effects, such as a concrete-like appearance, while maintaining high scrub resistance.
Designers of stadiums and sports halls have a wide range of materials and technologies to choose from when it comes to resin flooring. For this type of project, it is worth taking advantage of Flowcrete’s expert support, which includes providing technical advice on preparing specifications and proposing tailor-made solutions in response to investors’ specific needs.
