Which NOC*NSF standards apply to an indoor padel court in the Netherlands?

For an indoor padel court in the Netherlands, the NOC*NSF standards apply. These were set by the Dutch padel umbrella organisation and are aligned with the international standards of the World Padel Tour and the Federación Internacional de Pádel (FIP). The standards cover dimensions, structural safety, floor quality, lighting and noise. For commercial locations, tennis clubs and municipal sports facilities, it is important to know these standards before you invest in a new court.

What standards does NOC*NSF set for the structure of a padel court?

NOC*NSF sets requirements for the cage structure of a padel court in terms of structural safety, material quality and stability. The steel structure must withstand wind load, absorb the forces of play and comply with building regulations as laid down in the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit). For official competitions, an inspection by a recognised body, such as Kiwa ISA Sport, is mandatory.

The structural requirements cannot be separated from the location. A court in a closed sports hall experiences different loads than a court in a semi-covered space. The steel structure must be calculated per location for wind load, the load-bearing capacity of the floor and any additional requirements such as sound-absorbing panels. When panels are fixed to the outside of the cage, the wind permeability decreases and the structure must be structurally reinforced. This is a requirement for safety and service life, not an optional measure.

In addition to the steel structure, NOC*NSF also sets requirements for the glass. The glass walls must be made of laminated safety glass with the right thickness and breakage characteristics, so that they do not shatter into pieces on impact. The fixing of the glass to the structure must also meet the applicable standards.

What are the official dimensions of an indoor padel court according to NOC*NSF?

The official playing size of a padel court is 20 by 10 metres. These are the internal dimensions of the playing area. At least 21 by 11 metres is needed for installing the cage structure. The recommended total space including run-off zones is 21 by 14 metres, so that players can move safely behind the court.

The clear height inside a padel hall is a point of attention that is regularly underestimated. The minimum recommended clear height is 6 metres. For professional use, greater height improves playing quality, because high balls are less likely to be obstructed by the roof or the structure above. In existing halls, it is wise to measure the available height, including any roof structures, light fittings and sprinkler installations.

When laying out several courts side by side, the space between the courts is also relevant. Sufficient spacing prevents players on adjacent courts from getting in each other's way and contributes to safety at the location as a whole.

What floor and foundation requirements apply to a certified padel court?

For a certified indoor padel court, the floor must be level, stable and suitable for laying padel-specific artificial turf. The foundation build-up must meet the requirements of Kiwa ISA Sport, the recognised inspection body in the Netherlands. All foundation components must have been approved by Kiwa ISA Sport before they may be used.

In practice, three foundation types are used for indoor padel courts, each with its own properties:

• Drainage concrete is a water-permeable concrete floor where rainwater is drained directly through the foundation into the soil. Widely used for outdoor courts, but also applicable in indoor projects with specific drainage requirements.
• Supersub is a foundation solution based on foam concrete. It is light, self-levelling and shock-absorbing. For renovation, a layer of approximately 10 centimetres is usually applied, for new construction approximately 15 centimetres. The exact thickness is always determined on the basis of the soil conditions.
• ZOAB asphalt (open-graded asphalt concrete) is a porous asphalt variant that lets water through. In certain situations a good choice, depending on the location and use.

Besides the foundation itself, the quality of the artificial turf plays a role in certification. The artificial turf must be padel-specific, with the right fibre length, sand infill and bounce characteristics. Not every type of artificial turf meets the requirements for official competition use.

What are the lighting standards for an indoor padel court in the Netherlands?

For an indoor padel court, lighting standards apply for illuminance, uniformity and glare. The minimum illuminance for recreational use is approximately 300 lux, measured at floor level. For competition use, higher requirements apply, in which the uniformity of the lighting across the entire playing surface is also assessed.

LED lighting is the standard for new padel courts. Consumption is considerably lower than with traditional fittings, the service life is longer and the light colour can be tailored to the requirements of the location. When designing the lighting installation, it is important to take glare for players into account. Fittings must not cause direct glare in the field of vision of people playing.

For outdoor courts, the effect of artificial light on the surroundings also plays a role. Light nuisance towards homes or the public road can be part of the permit application and sometimes requires a lighting study. For indoor courts this is less relevant, but with large glass areas in the hall, light can radiate outwards and still require attention.

How do noise requirements affect the construction of an indoor padel court?

Noise requirements affect the construction of an indoor padel court in two ways: they set requirements for the structure itself and they can make additional measures such as sound-absorbing panels mandatory. Padel produces an average sound power level of approximately 91 dB, which is about 10 dB more than tennis. This makes noise a serious point of attention, even at indoor locations.

For indoor courts in existing halls, the noise situation depends on the building characteristics of the hall. A hall with concrete walls and a high ceiling reflects noise, which increases the nuisance experienced by visitors and local residents. Acoustic measures in the hall itself, such as sound-absorbing ceiling panels or wall cladding, can have a positive effect.

Sound-absorbing panels on the outside of the cage structure are a proven solution. These panels have been independently tested and have sound absorption class A, with an absorption value of 0.80 and an airborne sound insulation of 22 dB. In practice, this results in a clearly audible noise reduction at distances of 40 to 100 metres. Important point of attention: when panels are installed, the wind permeability of the cage decreases. The steel structure must then be structurally reinforced, which requires a recalculation per location.

For locations near residential buildings, an acoustic study is almost always a requirement for the permit application, even for indoor projects where the hall borders on or is located in a residential area.

What is the difference between an NOC*NSF-certified and a non-certified padel court?

The most important difference is that an NOC*NSF-certified padel court is officially approved for hosting matches and competitions. A non-certified court may be used for recreational play, but does not qualify for official tournaments and competitions organised under the banner of the Dutch padel umbrella organisation.

For commercial operators and tennis clubs, certification also has practical consequences outside the competition circuit. A certified court gives renters and members certainty about the quality of the subfloor, the structure and the lighting. This can contribute to the attractiveness of the location and the confidence of users.

The inspection for certification is carried out by Kiwa ISA Sport. During this inspection, the dimensions, structure, floor, artificial turf and lighting are assessed against the applicable standards. Courts that do not comply receive a list of points that must be adjusted before certification is issued. It is wise to take the inspection requirements into account during design and construction, so that rework afterwards is avoided.

A non-certified court is not by definition a bad court. For locations focused exclusively on recreational use that do not organise matches, certification is not mandatory. It is nevertheless advisable to follow the structural and safety requirements, regardless of whether a formal inspection is requested.

How I-Padel helps you meet NOC*NSF standards

We guide clients from start to finish in realising an indoor padel court that meets all applicable standards. That starts with the design and the structural calculation per location, and ends with completion and inspection. In concrete terms, this means:

• We produce the steel structure entirely in-house, which makes customisation per location possible, including adjustments for sound-absorbing panels.
• We work exclusively with foundation materials certified by Kiwa ISA Sport, including drainage concrete, Supersub and ZOAB asphalt.
• We handle the entire process, from groundwork and foundation to artificial turf, LED lighting and installation, so that one party is responsible for the whole.
• We can guide the permit process, including the acoustic study, lighting study and structural calculations in accordance with the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit).
• We offer a 15-year warranty on the steel structure, which gives certainty for an investment that has to last for decades.

As an indication, a complete turnkey indoor padel court is possible from approximately €23,000 per court. The exact price always depends on the location, the number of courts and the desired specification. You can find more information about the cost of an indoor padel court in our extensive overview. Want to know what a certified court means for your location? Get in touch for a no-obligation initial exploration. We are happy to think along with you.

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