Product showcase
The pour. The blend. The bond.
A close-up look at the high-viscosity polyurethane binder and EPDM granule blend that gives every GroundVex surface its strength, resilience, and color depth.
Engineering
Technology & Innovation
Inside the science of GroundVex — binder chemistry, EPDM granule formulation, impact attenuation, and sustainability.
Select the right binder for the right surface
GroundVex binder technology.
GroundVex offers purpose-engineered polyurethane binder systems designed for different rubber surfacing applications. Binder selection affects UV stability, color retention, curing behavior, application role, and long-term surface performance.
Three models, one decision — made before mobilization. What changes between them is chemistry, where in the build they belong, and how fast they cure.
- Model 3401
Aromatic binder
Enhanced UV-stability binder for EPDM surfacing.
Enhanced UV stability- Aromatic polyurethane binder
- One-component, solvent-free formulation
- Enhanced UV stability
- Designed for binding EPDM rubber granules in synthetic sport surfacing
Ideal applications
Synthetic sport surfacing · EPDM rubber surfacing
- Guide cure time
- 15 – 16 hours
- 20 °C / 68 °F · 50% RH
- Recommended mix ratio
- 18 – 20% binder / 80 – 82% rubber (by weight)
- Model 3443
Fast-curing base binder
Fast-curing base binder for synthetic sports surfacing.
Fast curing- One-component, solvent-free straight MDI prepolymer
- Fast curing
- Designed as a base binder — never as a top-layer binder
- Yellowing will occur under UV light (does not affect mechanical properties)
- Ideal for base layer applications in synthetic sports surfacing
Ideal applications
Base layer in synthetic sports surfacing
- Guide cure time
- 6 – 7 hours
- 23 °C / 77 °F · 50% RH
- Recommended mix ratio
- 20% binder / 80% rubber (by weight)
- Model 3480
Aliphatic binder
UV-stable top-layer binder for superior color and durability.
UV stable- One-component, solvent-free straight MDI prepolymer
- UV stable
- Clear / light-amber binder for bright, vibrant colors
- Designed for binding EPDM rubber granules in a top-layer synthetic sports surface
Ideal applications
Top-layer synthetic sports surfaces · EPDM rubber surfacing
- Guide cure time
- 12 – 14 hours
- 20 °C / 68 °F · 50% RH
- Recommended mix ratio
- 16 – 18% binder / 82 – 84% rubber (by weight)
GroundVex binder at a glance
The same eight questions, answered three ways.
Chemistry
- Model 3401
- Aromatic
- Model 3443
- Straight MDI prepolymer
- Model 3480
- Aliphatic
Primary role
- Model 3401
- Synthetic sport surfacing binder
- Model 3443
- Base layer only (not for top layer)
- Model 3480
- Top layer binder
UV stability
- Model 3401
- Enhanced
- Model 3443
- Yellowing will occur under UV exposure (does not affect mechanical properties)
- Model 3480
- UV stable
Color / appearance
- Model 3401
- Opaque / gold to light brown
- Model 3443
- Opaque / gold to light brown
- Model 3480
- Clear / light amber
Cure time (guide)
- Model 3401
- 15 – 16 h (20 °C / 68 °F · 50% RH)
- Model 3443
- 6 – 7 h (23 °C / 77 °F · 50% RH)
- Model 3480
- 12 – 14 h (20 °C / 68 °F · 50% RH)
Application focus
- Model 3401
- Synthetic sport surfacing
- Model 3443
- Base layer in synthetic sports surfacing
- Model 3480
- Top layer in synthetic sports surfacing
Water / chemical exposure
- Model 3401
- —
- Model 3443
- —
- Model 3480
- —
Recommended mix ratio
- Model 3401
- 18 – 20% binder / 80 – 82% rubber (by weight)
- Model 3443
- 20% binder / 80% rubber (by weight)
- Model 3480
- 16 – 18% binder / 82 – 84% rubber (by weight)
Which GroundVex binder is right for your project?
3401 — Enhanced UV-stability aromatic
Choose 3401 when you need a synthetic sport surfacing binder with enhanced UV stability for long-term performance.
3443 — Fast-curing base
Choose 3443 when installation speed and base-layer performance are the priority for synthetic sports surfacing.
3480 — UV-stable aliphatic
Choose 3480 when UV stability and clear / light-amber appearance are critical for top-layer synthetic sports surfaces.
The GroundVex difference
- 01
UV stability
Engineered to withstand sun exposure for long-term surface integrity.
- 02
Color retention
Advanced binder technology helps colors stay vibrant longer.
- 03
Application performance
Purpose-engineered for the right role in the system — delivering reliable results where it matters most.
GroundVex engineers binder technology around the requirements of the finished rubber surface — from fast-curing base systems to enhanced UV aromatic and UV-stable aliphatic performance.
What’s Under the Surface
Ground to surface, four decisions deep.
Nothing in a GroundVex build is decorative. Every layer solves one specific engineering problem — load, impact, wear, or UV — and removing any of them changes the certified performance of the whole system.
Sub-base carries load and drainage. Cushion sets the fall-height rating. Wear course is the only layer anyone touches. The UV seal is the only one that’s optional — and only for color, never for safety.
Before it’s a color, it’s a spec
Built to pass inspection, not just look good.
EN 1177
Certified fall-safety standard
100% Virgin EPDM
No reclaimed shred
15+ Year Life
Across a -40 → 120 °C range
- 01
Optional UV top seal
Optional, and only added when UV exposure or brand color-fidelity demands it. Skipping it doesn't compromise safety, only color longevity.
< 1 mm
- 02
EPDM wear course
Structural work is done by now. This layer is chosen for color, grip, and daily wear resistance — the part everyone touches.
8–15 mm
- 03
SBR cushion layer
This is the layer that actually sets your certified fall height. Thickness here is chosen from the fall-height table, not from budget.
10–90 mm
- 04
Compacted sub-base
Everything above depends on this. Uneven or unstable sub-base is the single most common cause of surface failure — settling, cracking, drainage pooling.
100–150 mm
Fall-height lookup
Enter equipment height, get your code-mandated minimum.
Critical fall-height ratings per EN 1177. Thickness isn't a finish choice — it's the number that determines whether an install passes inspection for the equipment installed on it.
15 mm
< 0.6 m
25 mm
≤ 1.0 m
40 mm
≤ 1.5 m
55 mm
≤ 2.0 m
75 mm
≤ 2.6 m
100 mm
≤ 3.0 m
At 1.5 m, your minimum wear-and-cushion build is 40 mm — typical for standard playgrounds, fitness zones.
Final specs are confirmed per site by our engineering team — equipment height, ADA accessibility routes, and drainage all factor into the certified build.
Granule size — a secondary spec decision
Once thickness is set by fall height, granule size is chosen for how the surface will actually be walked, run, or rolled on.
| Size | Grade | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 – 1.5 mm | Fine | Splash pads, spray parks, wet-play surrounds. |
| 1 – 4 mm | Medium (standard) | Playgrounds, fitness zones, rooftop decks. |
| 2 – 6 mm | Coarse | Running tracks, sport courts, equestrian. |
| Custom blend | Signature blend | Brand color inlays, logos, custom patterns. |
We build this. We don't just render it.
What gets verified, in the order it happens.
Sub-base verification
Certified installers test compaction and grade before any material is mixed. An out-of-spec sub-base stops the job here, not after pour.
Compaction density & grade tolerance
Edge restraints & drainage
Perimeter edging and drainage paths are set to the site's engineered grade, confirmed against the approved spec.
Drainage slope & edge-restraint placement
Cushion course pour
SBR cushion layer is mixed on site and screeded to the exact thickness the fall-height rating requires.
Cushion thickness vs. certified fall height
Wear course & finish
Colored EPDM wear course is trowel-finished the same day. Binder chemistry is locked in at this step — no substitutions after pour.
Binder chemistry matches approved spec
Cure & sign-off
Walkable at 24 hours, fully cured at 72 hours. Installers document the pour against spec before hand-off.
As-built record filed against original spec
Everything on this page is the spec behind the surface — not marketing gloss.
Full technical and safety data sheets live in the document library. If you're still shaping the concept, the Studio is where color and pattern get explored first.
Every GroundVex spec is backed by paper you can hand to an inspector.