Building a padel court · 19 July 2026 · 9 min read
What are the Kiwa certification requirements for an indoor padel court?
Kiwa ISA Sport certification for indoor padel courts: which materials are mandatory and what are the risks? Read everything you need to know as a client.
In this article
- Which materials must be Kiwa ISA Sport certified?
- What exactly does Kiwa ISA Sport check on a padel court?
- What happens if a padel court is not Kiwa certified?
- Does the Kiwa requirement differ for an indoor and an outdoor padel court?
- How do you know if a supplier supplies Kiwa-certified materials?
- Does the Kiwa requirement also apply to renovations of existing padel courts?
- How I-Padel helps with Kiwa ISA Sport certification
- Frequently asked questions
For an indoor padel court, the Kiwa ISA Sport certification requirements apply primarily to the foundation materials and the sports floor. Kiwa ISA Sport is the recognised inspection body in the Netherlands for sports infrastructure, and for padel courts the foundation solutions and floor materials used must be inspected and certified by this body.
This applies to both new courts and renovations. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about the Kiwa ISA Sport requirements, so that as a client you know exactly what to look out for.
Which materials must be Kiwa ISA Sport certified?
Kiwa ISA Sport certification is mandatory in the Netherlands for the foundation solutions and sports floor materials used under a padel court. In concrete terms, this means that products such as drainage concrete, Supersub and ZOAB asphalt must have been inspected before they may be used as a base for a padel court.
Drainage concrete is a water-permeable type of concrete in which rainwater is drained directly through the foundation into the ground. Supersub is a foundation solution based on foam concrete, light and self-levelling, which is used in both new builds and renovations. ZOAB asphalt, also known as open-graded asphalt concrete, is a porous asphalt variant that lets water through and is a suitable choice in certain situations.
All these materials must have been inspected by Kiwa ISA Sport to comply with Dutch standards for sports infrastructure. The steel structure, the glass and the artificial turf fall outside the Kiwa ISA Sport certification for foundations, but have their own quality and warranty standards that they must meet.
What exactly does Kiwa ISA Sport check on a padel court?
Kiwa ISA Sport checks whether the foundation materials and sports floors used meet the established technical standards for sports facilities. The inspection focuses on properties such as flatness, water permeability, load-bearing capacity and durability of the base.
In its assessment, Kiwa ISA Sport looks, among other things, at the technical specifications of the material used, the way it is installed and whether the product corresponds to the certified version. A foundation that was installed in practice differently from what the certified product prescribes can still be rejected.
For official matches, an inspection by a recognised body such as Kiwa ISA Sport is mandatory. This means that a padel court intended for competitive use must not only contain the right materials, but must also demonstrably comply with the applicable standards at the time of completion.
What happens if a padel court is not Kiwa certified?
A padel court without Kiwa ISA Sport-certified materials may not be used for official matches and does not comply with Dutch standards for sports infrastructure. This can lead to rejection at inspection, exclusion from competitive use and problems with permit granting.
In practice, the absence of certified materials also has consequences for liability. If damage occurs to the court or to users, and it turns out that the foundation did not meet the requirements, the owner of the facility can be held responsible.
In addition, municipalities and sports federations may ask for proof of certification during inspections or subsidy applications. Anyone who cannot provide that proof risks that the facility will not qualify for subsidies or official recognition as a sports venue.
Does the Kiwa requirement differ for an indoor and an outdoor padel court?
The basic requirement that foundation materials must be Kiwa ISA Sport certified applies to both indoor and outdoor padel courts. The difference lies in which foundation solution is technically suitable in each situation, not in the certification obligation itself.
With an outdoor padel court, drainage and weather influences play a greater role. Drainage concrete and Supersub are often used here in a water-permeable version, so that rainwater is drained quickly and puddle formation is prevented. With an indoor padel court, drainage is less relevant and Supersub is used in a non-permeable build-up, tailored to the indoor environment.
The choice of the right foundation type depends on the location, the soil conditions and the use. What remains the same in both cases is that the chosen material must be certified by Kiwa ISA Sport before it may be used. Want to know more about the cost of an indoor padel court including the foundation? We explain that in more detail elsewhere.
How do you know if a supplier supplies Kiwa-certified materials?
You can check whether a supplier supplies Kiwa ISA Sport-certified materials by asking for the certificate of the specific product. A reliable supplier can provide this document without hesitation. If the certificate is missing or the supplier is vague about it, that is a clear signal to ask further questions.
Pay attention to the following points in your assessment:
- Explicitly ask for the Kiwa ISA Sport certificate for the foundation material that will be used.
- Check that the certificate applies to the exact product, not to a similar or older model.
- Ask whether the installation of the material complies with the instructions that come with the certificate.
- Ask for reference projects in which the same certified material has been used.
In the Dutch market there are suppliers who offer products that resemble certified alternatives but do not hold a valid certificate themselves. This risk is greater with suppliers who import materials without direct control over the production process. Anyone who produces themselves or works with fixed, certified suppliers faces this less.
Does the Kiwa requirement also apply to renovations of existing padel courts?
Yes, the Kiwa ISA Sport requirement also applies to renovations in which the foundation or sports floor is replaced or renewed. If new foundation materials are applied during a renovation, they must meet the same certification requirements as in a new build.
In a partial renovation, where only the artificial turf or steel structure is replaced without touching the foundation, nothing changes for the foundation. The existing certified base then remains valid, provided it was installed and documented correctly at the original construction.
It is wise to take stock before every renovation of which parts will be replaced and whether new certifications are needed for them. That way you prevent a renovation from failing to meet the requirements for official use afterwards, when the investment has already been made.
How I-Padel helps with Kiwa ISA Sport certification
We work exclusively with Kiwa ISA Sport-certified foundation materials. That is not a side issue, but a basic requirement we apply on every project, for new builds as well as renovations. In concrete terms, this means for you as a client:
- We only supply foundation solutions such as drainage concrete and Supersub that are demonstrably certified by Kiwa ISA Sport.
- We advise per location which foundation type is most suitable, based on soil conditions, use and budget.
- We can guide the entire certification process, including the documentation needed for permit applications and official use.
- For renovations, we map out in advance which parts require new certification, so you are not faced with surprises.
Want to know what this means for your specific location? Get in touch for an initial exploration, we are happy to think along with you, without obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Kiwa ISA Sport certificate valid for foundation materials?
A Kiwa ISA Sport certificate usually has a limited period of validity and must be renewed periodically by the manufacturer or supplier. As a client, it is wise to check not only whether a certificate exists, but also whether the certificate is still current at the time of construction. Always ask your supplier for the expiry date and make sure this is recorded in writing in the project documentation.
Can I, as a client, verify myself whether a certificate is genuine?
Yes, you can have a Kiwa ISA Sport certificate verified through Kiwa itself. The certificate carries a unique certificate number with which you can ask Kiwa whether the document is authentic and still valid. This is a simple but important step, especially if you are working with a supplier you have no previous experience with.
What are the most common mistakes clients make in the Kiwa certification process?
A common mistake is assuming that the contractor or supplier arranges the certification automatically, without laying this down contractually. In addition, clients sometimes forget to request the certification documentation at completion, so they cannot later demonstrate that the court meets the requirements. Always make sure that all certificates and installation reports are part of the completion file.
Is Kiwa ISA Sport certification also mandatory if the padel court is intended only for recreational use?
For purely recreational use without official matches, the obligation is regulated less strictly, but the use of certified materials remains strongly recommended. Municipalities and insurers may still ask for proof of certification, and in any liability issues a certified base offers a stronger legal position. It also makes the court more future-proof if you later decide to move to competitive use.
What documentation should I keep after the construction or renovation of a certified padel court?
Keep at least the original Kiwa ISA Sport certificates of the foundation materials used, the contractor's installation reports and any inspection reports at completion. Store these documents both digitally and physically, because you may need them for subsidy applications, permit checks or future renovations. A complete completion file prevents discussions afterwards and considerably speeds up administrative processes.
What does it cost to have an existing padel court inspected after the fact if there is no certification documentation left?
If the original documentation is missing, in most cases it is not possible to have an existing foundation certified after the fact without additional research or partial replacement. A recognised body can carry out a technical inspection, but if the foundation does not meet current standards, renovation with certified materials is the only solution. The costs of this vary greatly per situation and depend on the extent of the modifications required.
How does the Kiwa ISA Sport requirement relate to international padel standards such as those of the World Padel Tour?
Kiwa ISA Sport certification is a Dutch standard that applies specifically to sports infrastructure in the Netherlands and is separate from international tournament regulations such as those of the World Padel Tour or the FIP.
For international matches, additional requirements apply in terms of court dimensions, artificial turf specifications and lighting, which are set by the federation concerned. A court that meets the Kiwa ISA Sport requirements therefore has a solid Dutch basis, but always check the specific requirements of the federation if you want to organise official international matches.
