What is the best impact absorbing flooring for aged care?

It depends on your priorities. Kradal Smart Foam offers the strongest clinical evidence (59% injury reduction, BMJ published), the thinnest profile (12.4mm total), and wet area suitability. Cellular rubber systems like SmartCells offer higher raw force reduction (up to 90%) but are thicker and not wet-area suitable as underlay.

Can impact absorbing flooring be used in bathrooms?

Not all products. Kradal is closed-cell and non-water absorbing, suitable for all wet areas including showers. Cellular rubber systems are not typically specified for wet area underlay. Rubber tiles vary. Carpet is not suitable. Bathrooms are where a significant proportion of aged care falls occur.

Which impact absorbing flooring is easiest to retrofit?

Kradal at 12.4mm total is the thinnest clinically proven option, requiring minimal floor height change. Cellular rubber systems at 25mm+ may need door and ramp modifications. Rubber tiles at 40-60mm require the most significant building alterations.

How does Kradal compare to SmartCells?

Kradal is a 10.4mm polyurethane foam underlay with 46% force reduction and 59% injury reduction (BMJ published). SmartCells uses patented cellular rubber with up to 90% force reduction and up to 40% injury reduction. Kradal is thinner, wet-area suitable, invisible once installed, and has stronger clinical evidence. SmartCells absorbs more raw force but is thicker.

How to Choose Impact Absorbing Flooring for Your Facility

Q: Does higher force reduction mean fewer injuries?

Not necessarily. Force reduction is a lab measurement; injury reduction is measured in real-world settings. Kradal has 46% force reduction but 59% injury reduction. SmartCells claims up to 90% force reduction but reports up to 40% injury reduction. Surface stability and fall mechanics affect real-world outcomes beyond what lab tests capture.

An objective comparison of impact absorbing flooring options for aged care, healthcare, and childcare settings — based on published evidence, independently tested specifications, and real-world suitability.

Why This Comparison Matters

Not all impact absorbing flooring is the same. Products vary significantly in how much force they absorb, how thick they are, whether they work in wet areas, and most importantly — whether they have real-world clinical evidence of reducing injuries. For aged care facility managers, healthcare architects, and procurement teams, understanding these differences is essential to making the right specification decision.This guide compares five flooring approaches commonly considered for fall injury prevention in care settings: polyurethane foam underlay (such as Kradal™ Smart Foam), cellular rubber systems rubber tiles, carpet, and standard vinyl. All data cited is from publicly available sources, independent test reports, or peer-reviewed publications.

Product Comparison

Kradal specifications from independent testing by Koikas Acoustics, Acousto-Scan, and Australian Wool Testing Authority. Clinical trial results published in BMJ Injury Prevention (Gustavsson et al., 2015). SmartCells specifications from smartcellsusa.com (accessed March 2026). Rubber tile, carpet, and vinyl data based on general industry specifications. Where manufacturer data is not publicly available, this is noted.

Higher force reduction does not automatically mean fewer injuries. Force reduction is a lab measurement; injury reduction is measured in real-world clinical settings with actual people. Kradal achieves 46% force reduction but 59% injury reduction. SmartCells claims up to 90% force reduction but reports up to 40% injury reduction. The relationship is not linear — surface stability, fall mechanics, and occupant frailty all play a role.

Why Thickness Matters for Retrofit

Most aged care facilities considering impact absorbing flooring are retrofitting existing buildings, not building new. In a retrofit scenario, total floor thickness has practical consequences that directly affect cost and disruption.

Every millimetre of additional floor height can mean adjusting door clearances, modifying wheelchair ramps, adding transition strips at doorways, raising or modifying cabinetry, and potentially affecting compliance with accessibility standards. Thicker systems also create height differences between treated and untreated areas, which can themselves become trip hazards if not properly managed.

This is particularly relevant in Asian markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, where residential and care facility apartments typically have ceiling heights of 2.4 to 2.6 metres — significantly lower than Western equivalents. In these settings, every millimetre of added floor height reduces already limited headroom, can affect door frame clearances that were built to tight tolerances, and may conflict with building regulations that specify minimum floor-to-ceiling heights. Thicker flooring systems that work acceptably in purpose-built Western facilities can create genuine compliance and liveability problems in compact Asian apartments.

At 12.4mm total (10.4mm underlay + 2mm vinyl), Kradal adds the least floor height of any clinically proven impact absorbing system — a critical advantage in height-constrained environments. SmartCells at 25.4mm+ and rubber tiles at 40–60mm require progressively more building modification to accommodate, and may not be practical in many Asian residential care settings where ceiling height cannot be sacrificed.