Leading the Development of Australia’s Own Sports Floor Standard

Project Objective

The central objective of this project is to develop an Australian Standard for sports flooring. Historically, sports flooring in Australia has been governed by European standards, resulting in the widespread use of imported proprietary flooring systems in stadiums, sports halls and basketball centres. This project seeks to address that reliance by establishing a locally relevant standard aligned with Australian materials, conditions and industry capability.

Porta, under the leadership of Greg Muir-Chair of the newly formed steering committee for the Australian Sports Floor Standard-is changing that. This industry-first initiative, supported by AFWI funding, aims to establish a dedicated Australian Sports Floor Standard that champions local manufacturing and the use of high-performance Australian-made products like STRUCTApanel® 12mm.

Industry Need

The absence of an Australian Standard has limited the use of Australian timber species and reduced opportunities for local manufacturers and contractors. Imported proprietary systems have increased costs for governments, local councils, community groups and sporting organisations, while constraining participation across the local supply chain.

Lessons from COVID: Why Local Matters

The pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of an import-reliant industry. By establishing an Australian standard, the sector can avoid future disruptions, maintain consistent project delivery, and ensure materials are designed for Australia’s unique climate conditions.

The Sports Flooring Project

The sports flooring project aims to reduce cost barriers, enable the use of Australian-manufactured systems, and build long-term research and technical capacity within the Australian timber industry. Industry feedback identified the project as good value for money and strongly supported its objectives.

Porta’s Contribution: STRUCTApanel® 12 mm

From its inception, STRUCTApanel® 12mm was engineered with sports floors in mind. The result is a product that aligns perfectly with the steering committee’s vision-delivering world-class performance while supporting Australian manufacturing.

Industry Collaboration and Research Support

The project is supported by key industry and research partners. The Australasian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA) provides technical guidance, inspections, training and industry engagement to support best practice and compliant implementation. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT), a leading Australian research university with a strong focus on real-world industry collaboration, contributes research capability and technical expertise to support the development and validation of an Australian Standard for sports flooring.

Outcome

This is more than just a standards update-it’s an industry transformation. Porta, with Greg Muir at the helm, is not only shaping the future of sports flooring in Australia but also setting a precedent for local manufacturing leadership. The forthcoming Australian Sports Floor Standard will empower the industry to build world-class facilities using locally made, environmentally responsible products-ensuring Australian sport is supported from the ground up.

Conclusion

This initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening Australia’s sports flooring industry through local standards development, Australian manufacturing and industry collaboration. Porta’s STRUCTApanel® 12 mm demonstrates how locally engineered products can play a critical role in supporting national standards and long-term industry capability.

The development of an Australian Standard for sports flooring is an ongoing, collaborative process. The project remains a work in progress, with continued industry input, research and validation required to ensure the final standard reflects Australian conditions, materials and performance requirements.