Building a padel court · 5 July 2026 · 9 min read

Why is a certified structure mandatory for a professional indoor padel court?

Is a certified indoor padel court mandatory? Find out which standards apply, what Kiwa ISA Sport inspects and what risks you run without certification.

In this article

Which standards apply to the steel structure of an indoor padel court?
What does a certifying body such as Kiwa ISA Sport check?
What are the risks of a non-certified padel court?
How do you know whether a padel court builder uses certified materials?
Does in-house production of the structure make certification easier or harder?
How I-Padel helps with certified padel courts
Frequently asked questions

A certified structure is mandatory for a professional indoor padel court because the steel structure must comply with the building standards of the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit) and with the requirements of recognised inspection bodies such as Kiwa ISA Sport. Without certification, a court may not be used for official matches, and as the owner you run legal and financial risks. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about standards, certification and what to check before you choose a padel court builder.

Which standards apply to the steel structure of an indoor padel court?

The steel structure of an indoor padel court must meet the structural requirements of the Dutch Building Decree, supplemented by the standards that apply to sports facilities. The structure is assessed on load-bearing capacity, stability and wind load. For professional use, the technical specifications of Kiwa ISA Sport also apply. It is the recognised inspection body for padel and tennis facilities in the Netherlands.

In practice, this means the steel structure must be calculated for the specific conditions of the site. Think of the wind load at the location, the soil conditions and any additional elements such as sound-absorbing panels. When such panels are attached to the outside of the cage, wind permeability decreases and wind pressure on the structure increases. In that case the structure must be reinforced. A standard imported court is generally not designed for this.

In addition to the structural standards, requirements also apply to the materials used. Foundation components must be inspected by Kiwa ISA Sport in the Netherlands. This applies to all common foundation types, including drainage concrete, Supersub and ZOAB asphalt. Working with non-certified materials leads to non-conformity, even if the rest of the project is in order.

What does a certifying body such as Kiwa ISA Sport check?

Kiwa ISA Sport checks whether a padel court meets the technical and safety standards that apply to professional use. The inspection covers the steel structure, the glass walls, the artificial turf and the foundation. Only after a successful inspection is the court officially approved for hosting matches and tournaments.

The inspection looks at the following, among other things:

The structural calculations of the steel structure, including wind load and load-bearing capacity.
The quality and fixing of the glass walls.
The quality and dimensions of the artificial turf, including the sand infill.
The certification of the foundation materials.
The LED lighting, where it is checked whether the illumination level meets the standards for competitive play.

The inspection is relevant not only for match use. For commercial operators and sports clubs, approval by Kiwa ISA Sport also provides legal certainty. In the event of an incident, an insurance claim or a municipal inspection, a valid inspection certificate is proof that the facility meets the applicable standards.

What are the risks of a non-certified padel court?

A non-certified indoor padel court may not be used for official matches and tournaments. But the risks go further than that. If the structure has not been calculated and inspected, you as the owner face liability risks in the event of accidents, problems with your insurance and possible enforcement by the municipality.

The most common risks at a glance:

Exclusion from competition: Padel associations and tournament organisers require a valid inspection. Without certification, the venue cannot be used for official matches.
Liability for damage: If a non-certified structure fails or someone is injured, the owner is liable. An inspection demonstrates that the court is safe and built according to the standards.
Problems with insurance: Many insurers make it a condition that a sports facility meets the applicable standards. A non-certified court can lead to a claim being rejected.
Municipal enforcement: Municipalities can halt a project, impose fines or even require the structure to be removed if building regulations have not been met.

In practice, the financial damage of having to modify or rebuild afterwards is always greater than the cost of a properly certified process from the start.

How do you know whether a padel court builder uses certified materials?

You know a padel court builder uses certified materials by explicitly asking about the Kiwa ISA Sport certification of the foundation materials and the structural calculations. A reliable padel court builder can demonstrate this with documentation. Always ask for it before you place an order.

Specific questions you can ask a padel court builder:

Have the foundation materials been inspected by Kiwa ISA Sport?
Is the steel structure calculated structurally for each site, or do you work with a standard design?
Do you supply structural calculations that comply with the Building Decree?
Does the padel court builder guide the inspection process with Kiwa ISA Sport after completion?
What is the warranty period on the steel structure and what are the conditions?

A padel court builder who struggles to answer these questions, or who does not have the relevant documentation, is a signal to be careful. Especially for indoor padel courts, the quality of the structure determines the lifespan of the entire investment. For more information on what an indoor padel court costs and what is included, read our cost page for indoor padel courts.

Does in-house production of the structure make certification easier or harder?

In-house production of the steel structure makes certification considerably easier, because the manufacturer has full control over the design process, the choice of materials and the structural calculations. There is no dependence on foreign suppliers who have to provide documentation or make modifications. Everything is in your own hands.

For padel court builders who import their structures from Spain, certification is more complicated. The structural calculations are drawn up by the foreign manufacturer, often based on Spanish standards. Those calculations must be converted to the Dutch Building Decree requirements, which brings extra time, cost and dependence on a third party. If the site imposes different requirements, for example because of sound-absorbing panels or a special wind load, the foreign manufacturer has to start again. In practice, this leads to delays or refusal.

A manufacturer that designs and fabricates the structure itself can adapt the calculations directly to the site, the standards and the specific project requirements. That makes the inspection process predictable and efficient. It is also the reason why a long warranty on the steel structure, such as 15 years, is only realistic when the manufacturer is responsible for the entire production process.

How I-Padel helps with certified padel courts

We produce the steel structure entirely in our own factory and handle the entire process from design to completion. This means that for every project we draw up the structural calculations ourselves, tailor them to the site and submit them for the permit procedure and inspection. You deal with one party that is responsible for the whole.

What we arrange in concrete terms:

Structural calculations per site, in accordance with the Building Decree.
Use of foundation materials certified exclusively by Kiwa ISA Sport.
Guidance through the inspection process after completion.
Custom solutions for special site requirements, such as sound-absorbing panels or a deviating wind load.
15-year warranty on the steel structure.
Complete installation including artificial turf, glass and LED lighting, delivered turnkey.

Would you like to know what a certified indoor padel court costs in your situation and which steps are needed? Get in touch for an initial exploration and we will advise you without obligation.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the inspection process at Kiwa ISA Sport take after an indoor padel court is completed?

The inspection process at Kiwa ISA Sport usually takes a few weeks after completion, depending on how complete the submitted documentation is. If all structural calculations, material documentation and technical specifications have been correctly prepared and submitted in advance, the inspection goes considerably faster. If you work with a padel court builder that has in-house production and guides the inspection process, the lead time is predictable and surprises are rare.

Does an existing, non-certified padel court have to be completely rebuilt to obtain certification after all?

That depends on the nature of the shortcomings. In some cases, adjustments to the foundation, fixings or documentation are enough. In other cases, for example when the steel structure does not meet the wind load requirements or the foundation materials have not been inspected by Kiwa ISA Sport, more extensive modifications are necessary. Have a certified structural engineer or recognised padel court builder carry out an assessment first before you make decisions about remedial work.

Does Kiwa ISA Sport certification also apply to outdoor padel courts, or is it only mandatory for indoor courts?

The certification requirements of Kiwa ISA Sport apply to both indoor and outdoor padel courts used for official matches and tournaments. For indoor courts, the structural requirements are generally stricter, because the steel structure carries greater loads, such as roof structures and sound-absorbing panels. For outdoor courts, wind load and foundation requirements also play an important role, but the overall structural complexity is generally lower.

What happens if the site has special requirements, such as a deviating wind zone or a specific soil type?

In that case the structural calculations must be adapted to the specific conditions of the site. Think of a higher wind load class in coastal areas or soft soil that requires a different foundation type. A padel court builder with in-house production capacity can make these adjustments internally without depending on a foreign manufacturer, which prevents delays and extra costs. Always ask whether the padel court builder supplies site-specific calculations as a standard part of the process.

Does the certification of the padel court affect the amount of the insurance premium or the coverage?

Yes, a valid Kiwa ISA Sport certification can directly affect both the acceptance and the coverage of your business or liability insurance. Many insurers make it a condition that sports facilities demonstrably meet the applicable standards. A certified court lowers the risk profile in the eyes of the insurer, which can lead to better terms. Consult your insurance adviser in good time, preferably already in the planning phase of the project.

What is a common mistake when selecting a padel court builder that later causes problems with certification?

A common mistake is choosing the cheapest provider without checking whether the structural calculations are prepared specifically for the site and whether the foundation materials are Kiwa ISA Sport certified. Imported courts are often offered with standard calculations that are not tailored to the Dutch Building Decree requirements or the specific site conditions. In practice, this leads to costly modifications afterwards, delays in the inspection process or even rejection. Always ask for concrete documentation before signing the order.

Is a building permit always required for an indoor padel court, and who is responsible for applying for it?

For most indoor padel courts an environmental permit is required, because it concerns a structure that falls under the rules of the Environmental Plan (Omgevingsplan) and the Building Decree. Formally, the client is responsible for applying, but an experienced padel court builder supports this process by supplying the necessary structural calculations and technical documentation. Check with your municipality in advance which permits are required for your specific site and zoning, so you do not run into delays in your planning.