Flooring for Raised Floors: Why Loose-Lay Rubber Tiles Are the Smart Carpet Tile Alternative
Flooring for Raised Floors: Why Loose-Lay Rubber Tiles Are the Smart Carpet Tile Alternative
Flooring for Raised Floors: Why Loose-Lay Rubber Tiles Are the Smarter Carpet Tile Alternative
Across the UK, raised floor systems have become standard in modern offices, universities, and R&D buildings. They provide easy access to underfloor cabling, air, and data systems while keeping interiors flexible and future-proofed. Suppliers such as Kingspan Access Floors and Tate produce modular systems built to PSA MOB PF2 and BS EN 12825 standards, offering lifespans of 25+ years. However, the performance of the systems can depend equally on the surface finish used above them — this is where loose-lay rubber flooring is quickly emerging as the next-generation carpet tile alternative.
Why Rubber Beats Carpet Tiles For Some Clients
1. Durability that outlasts textiles
Rubber is inherently resilient. The issues that can prematurely age carpet tiles such as denting, staining and pile flattening/crushing are not a weakness that rubber flooring shares. Long-term installations of Artigo rubber in public buildings have exceeded 40 years of use, outperforming carpet’s average seven-to-ten-year lifespan. This means fewer replacements, lower maintenance costs, and a smaller carbon footprint; key components of both the LETI and BREEAM sustainablity frameworks.
2. Hygienic and low maintenance
Unlike carpet, rubber doesn’t trap dust, allergens, or microbes - making it ideal for laboratories, R&D spaces and healthcare settings. Rubber flooring's smooth, non-porous surface is simple to clean and maintains excellent indoor air quality — essential in technical environments.
3. Acoustic and comfort advantages
Rubber flooring offers impact noise absorption qualities and provides underfoot comfort without the hygiene drawbacks of textile fibres. It keeps spaces quieter and can offer increased durability under rolling loads and heavy equipment.
4. Modern aesthetics and circular design
It is now no longer just flecked tiles either; a full range of contemporary, colour-stable finishes that align with BREEAM, LEED, and RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge sustainability goals are now available.
In short: for architects, designers and end user clients seeking sustainable, hard-wearing carpet tile alternatives, loose-lay rubber flooring such as Artigo UNI LL combines flexibility, performance, and environmental integrity making it the ideal partner for the UK’s modern raised floor systems.
Each project is unique so please contact us directly for scheme specific guidance on the use of loose lay rubber tiles in partnership with raised floor systems.
