How does a club work with an acoustic consultancy?

Working with an acoustic consultancy as a club starts with providing the right technical information about the site, the court configuration and the surroundings. On that basis, the consultancy carries out an independent acoustic study, calculates the expected noise level and advises on which measures are needed. The padel court builder supplies the structural data required for those calculations. Below you will find a practical overview of how this process works and what you can expect as a club.

What exactly does an acoustic consultancy do on a padel project?

An acoustic consultancy assesses the expected noise impact of a padel court on its surroundings. It carries out calculations and measurements, assesses whether the situation complies with the applicable standards and advises on which measures are needed to limit noise nuisance. This work is independent of the padel court builder and forms a technical foundation for the permit process.

On a padel project, acoustic consultants play a specific role. Padel produces more noise than tennis, mainly because of the ball hitting glass and steel. The cage structure amplifies this noise because the cage acts as a resonance box. An acoustic consultancy maps out how this noise spreads towards homes or other noise-sensitive buildings in the area.

Specifically, an acoustic consultancy carries out the following work on a padel project:

• Calculation of the expected noise level based on the site, the number of courts and how they are used
• Assessment of the distance to homes and other sensitive buildings
• Advice on noise measures such as acoustic solutions for padel or freestanding noise barriers
• Preparation of an acoustic report that can be submitted with the permit application
• Optionally, carrying out measurements in practice after completion to check whether the situation matches the calculations

Important to know: an acoustic consultancy works independently. It decides for itself which methods and standards are used. The padel court builder supplies the technical input data, but has no influence on the outcome of the study.

When should a club commission an acoustic study?

An acoustic study is needed in many cases when homes or other noise-sensitive buildings are located near the planned padel court. The municipality ultimately decides whether a study is mandatory as part of the permit process. For outdoor padel courts near residential areas, an acoustic study is almost always required.

There are a number of situations in which it is wise to involve an acoustic consultancy early in the project:

• The site borders on or is close to residential buildings
• The municipality has already raised questions about noise in an initial meeting
• Local residents have lodged an objection or have indicated that they have concerns
• Several courts are being built at the same time, which increases the cumulative noise level
• The courts will also be used in the evening

An acoustic study is not only a mandatory document for the municipality, but also a practical tool for the club itself. The study shows whether the site is technically feasible and which measures are needed to meet the applicable standards. This prevents you from discovering late in the project that additional provisions are necessary.

For more information about the permit process and the role of acoustic studies in it, see also our page on the permit for a padel court.

How does an acoustic study for a padel court work, step by step?

An acoustic study for a padel court starts with collecting site data and ends with a report that the municipality can use when assessing the permit application. In between, the consultancy carries out calculations, assesses the surroundings and advises on measures. The study usually consists of the following steps.

Step 1: Survey of the site and its use

The consultancy collects information about the site, the surroundings, the number of courts, the opening hours and the expected use. Factors such as the distance to homes, the presence of roads or railway lines and the height of surrounding buildings all play a role in the calculation. Evening use is also taken into account, because municipalities assess the noise level per part of the day.

Step 2: Calculation of the expected noise level

Based on the collected data, the consultancy calculates the expected noise level at the façades of nearby homes. This uses calculation models that take into account the distance, the surroundings and the characteristics of the noise source. The consultancy assesses whether the calculated values fall within the standards applied by the municipality.

Step 3: Advice on measures

If the calculated noise level exceeds the standards, the consultancy advises on possible measures. These can include integrated sound-absorbing panels as a source measure, a freestanding outdoor padel court noise barrier, adjustments to the court configuration or a combination of several measures. The choice depends entirely on the specific situation of the project.

Step 4: Reporting and submission

The consultancy prepares an acoustic report containing all findings, calculations and recommendations. This report is submitted with the permit application. Based on the report, the municipality assesses whether the situation meets the applicable requirements and whether additional measures are needed.

Which information does an acoustic consultant need from the padel court builder?

An acoustic consultant needs technical input data from the padel court builder in order to calculate the noise level correctly. This concerns information about the court structure, the dimensions, the materials used and any noise measures that are planned. Without this information, the consultancy cannot carry out a reliable calculation.

Specifically, this concerns the following information:

• Dimensions and layout of the courts, including their position on the site
• Height of the cage structure and the type of glass used
• Product specifications of any sound-absorbing panels, including material thickness, density and acoustic properties
• Information about the position of the panels on the structure (which sides, which height)
• Structural data relevant to the wind load and the stability of the court

As a padel court builder, we supply the acoustic consultancy with the technical product specifications, structural data and information about available noise measures. This allows the consultancy to correctly include the panels and the court configuration in its calculations. The acoustic assessment itself always remains the responsibility of the independent consultancy.

What is the difference between a noise barrier and sound-absorbing panels in the structure?

The main difference is the position relative to the noise source. Sound-absorbing panels are placed directly on the padel structure and work as a source measure: they limit the spread of noise as close to its origin as possible. A noise barrier is a freestanding structure placed next to or around the court, which intercepts noise after it has already spread.

Both solutions have their own areas of application, advantages and disadvantages:

Integrated sound-absorbing panels

Panels are attached to the outside of the cage structure. They limit the spread of noise directly at the source. A practical advantage is that they require little extra space, which can be relevant at existing tennis clubs with limited room. Because the panels become part of the structure, the steel structure must be calculated for the extra wind load caused by the closed surface. This is a technical point that must not be skipped.

During a practical measurement at LTC Hofgeest in Velserbroek, an indicative noise reduction of approximately 3 dB(A) was measured within the configuration studied, after correction for background noise. This value applies only to that specific situation and must not be regarded as a general performance figure for other projects.

Freestanding noise barriers and earth berms

A noise barrier or earth berm is placed next to the court and can reach a height of six to eight metres. This solution is effective when noise needs to be screened off towards one specific side.

The drawback is that a freestanding structure requires more space, needs its own foundation and in almost all cases requires a separate environmental permit. In some situations, a combination of panels and a noise barrier is the most suitable approach, in which the barrier can be built lower thanks to the contribution of the panels.

Which solution is suitable depends entirely on the specific situation of the project and the results of the acoustic study.

How do sound-absorbing panels affect the structural calculation of the court?

Sound-absorbing panels increase the wind load on the steel structure because they enlarge the closed surface of the cage. Wind that would normally pass through the mesh is now held back by the panels. This increases the force exerted on the structure. The steel structure must be calculated for this and reinforced where necessary.

This is not a detail that can be fixed afterwards. When panels are planned in a project, the structural engineer must take this into account during the engineering phase. Specific adjustments can include heavier posts, additional columns or modified connections. The exact reinforcement depends on the wind zone of the site, the height and position of the panels and the total surface area that is closed off.

Importers of standard padel courts often cannot make these adjustments, because the structure is not produced in-house. We produce the steel structure entirely in our own factory, so structural adjustments can be made during the engineering phase. You can find more about the relationship between structure and wind load on the relevant product page.

An acoustic consultancy needs the structural data of the court to assess which panel configuration is feasible. Cooperation between the padel court builder, the structural engineer and the acoustic consultancy is therefore not a formality, but a technical necessity for a safe project that can obtain a permit.

What does an acoustic study for a padel court cost?

The cost of an acoustic study for a padel court varies and depends on the complexity of the site, the number of courts, the distance to homes and the scope of the report the municipality requires. A simple calculation-based study for a site with few variables costs less than an extensive study with practical measurements for a complex situation.

We do not give a fixed price indication for acoustic studies, because this work is carried out by independent external consultancies that set their own rates. What we can say is that the cost of an acoustic study is a relatively limited part of the total project cost. An outdoor padel court including foundation quickly requires an investment from around €50,000. The cost of an acoustic study is out of proportion to the risk of submitting a permit application without proper substantiation.

What determines the cost of an acoustic study:

• Number of courts and the complexity of the court configuration
• Distance to homes and the number of calculation points to be assessed
• Presence of background noise that has to be included in the calculation
• Whether the consultancy only carries out calculations or also performs measurements in practice
• The requirements the municipality sets for the reporting

Request quotes from several consultancies and discuss with the municipality in advance which type of study is required. This prevents you from commissioning an extensive study when a simpler report would have been sufficient, or the other way around.

For a complete picture of the cost of a padel court including all additional costs such as foundation, lighting and noise measures, we refer you to our costs page.

Not sure whether outdoor padel is feasible at your site?

We are happy to think along with you about the court configuration, structural preparation and possible noise measures. Together with your acoustic consultant, we look at which solution is technically feasible and suits the project. Take a look at our page on acoustic solutions for padel or get in touch for an initial, no-obligation exploration.

Frequently asked questions