The SAPCA Code of Practice for the

Construction of Padel Courts

The SAPCA Code of Practice

for the Construction of Padel Courts

www.sapca.org.uk

Copyright © SAPCA Page 1

 The SAPCA Code of Practice for the
Construction of Padel Courts

The Sports and Play Construction Association

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means
without the prior permission of the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA).

March 2021, (1st Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-907391-10-1

The LTA

The Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts has been produced in consultation
with the LTA and is recognised and supported by the LTA for the construction of padel courts
in the UK. The LTA are the officially recognised national governing body for padel.

The LTA provides free advice and guidance on tennis facility development. For further
information, please contact the LTA on 020 8487 7000.

Disclaimer

The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) and the LTA do not accept any liability
for the design or construction of any facilities, or the actions of any contractors employed, as a
result of, or in connection with, any information provided in this publication.

Some sports surface system/products and designs, available to potential clients, may be covered
by patents. Clients should ensure that the use of similar products does not infringe any patents
held by manufacturers or installers. The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) and
the LTA do not accept any liability for choice of surfacing systems or padel court enclosures
infringing any current or future patents.

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 The SAPCA Code of Practice for the
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Contents

List of figures ....................................................................................................... 5

Definition of terms ............................................................................................... 6

Preamble .............................................................................................................. 7

Notes to be read in conjunction with the Code of Practice. ........................... 8

The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) ............................... 9

Introduction ....................................................................................................... 10

1 Section One – Construction guidelines .................................................... 12

1.1 Site considerations ...................................................................................................12

1.1.1 General ................................................................................................................12

1.1.2 Planning...............................................................................................................13

1.1.3 Ground conditions ................................................................................................13

1.1.4 Trees ...................................................................................................................13

1.1.5 Services ...............................................................................................................14

1.2 Dimensions & arrangement .....................................................................................14

1.3 Construction guidelines ...........................................................................................16

1.4 Excavations ...............................................................................................................17

1.5 Weed killing ...............................................................................................................17

1.6 Surface drainage .......................................................................................................18

1.6.1 Surface gradients.................................................................................................18

1.6.2 Sub-court drainage ..............................................................................................18

1.7 Design of the foundations for the court enclosure and perimeter edging............19

1.8 Court surface foundations .......................................................................................20

1.9 Geotextiles ................................................................................................................20

1.10 Sports lighting ducts ................................................................................................21

1.11 Porous asphalt base .................................................................................................21

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1.11.1 General ................................................................................................................21

1.11.2 Binder and surface course ...................................................................................21

1.12 Playing surface – general requirements .................................................................22

1.12.1 Regularity or evenness ........................................................................................22

1.12.2 Water permeability ...............................................................................................23

1.13 Artificial grass ...........................................................................................................23

1.13.1 General ................................................................................................................23

1.13.2 Weather considerations .......................................................................................24

1.13.3 Carpet installation ................................................................................................24

1.13.4 Sand application ..................................................................................................25

1.14 Surrounding enclosure and rebound walls.............................................................25

1.14.1 Supporting posts ..................................................................................................25

1.14.2 Glass rebound panels ..........................................................................................26

1.14.3 Weldmesh fencing ...............................................................................................26

1.14.4 Openings (court entry point).................................................................................26

1.14.5 Nets and posts .....................................................................................................26

2 Section 2 – Sports lighting ......................................................................... 27

3 Section 3 - Covered facilities ..................................................................... 29

4 Section 4 – Considerations for developing a project .............................. 30

4.1 Project checklist .......................................................................................................30

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List of figures
Figure 1 Padel court layouts

Figure 2 Padel court dimensions (out of court area not included)

Figure 3 Padel court dimensions (out of court area included)

Figure 4 Padel court end wall example

Figure 5 Relationship between top of the foundation / perimeter edge detail, the enclosure
and the court surface

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Definition of terms
A padel court is defined as an area 20m long x 10m wide enclosed above
ground with either solid rebound walls and mesh panels, or more commonly
The padel court now a combination of glass and weld mesh rebound wall and fence panels,
supported on steel or aluminium posts fixed to a concrete foundation with an
artificial turf playing surface.
Total playing area 20m x 10m (excluding the ‘out of court’ area)
Additional playing area outside the total playing area adjacent to the net, on
Out of court area
either one side or both sides of the court.
Formation The prepared natural ground on which the court is built.
The foundation of the court, normally formed from graded aggregates over a
Base
geotextile membrane.
The system of underground pipework designed to remove surface water from
Drainage the playing surface and sub-base construction to a suitable outfall or external
drainage system.
A layer of coarser asphalt that is laid on the base to provide stability and
Asphalt binder
strength to the finer grade asphalt laid on top of it; used to be known as the
course
base course.
Asphalt surface A layer of 6mm asphalt laid either as the playing surface or as the receiving
course layer for a synthetic surface; used to be known as the wearing course.
A sand dressed, or sand filled carpet manufactured from polyethylene or
Artificial turf
polypropylene yarn, normally of tufted construction.
International Padel
The world governing body for the sport of padel
Federation
Enclosure or
The above ground level part of the padel court that surrounds the court.
superstructure

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Preamble
The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA), in conjunction with the LTA, has
produced this document to provide prospective clients, designers and specifiers with guidance on
the basic construction requirements and specifications currently employed in building padel
courts. The standards outlined throughout the document have been recognised and supported as
the minimum level for the construction of padel courts in the UK.

The document calls on the experience of SAPCA member companies, who have constructed a
wide range of installations for a variety of clients over many years. The requirements of the various
sports’ governing bodies and the relevant standards organisations are incorporated, where
appropriate, in the document.

While it is not intended that this document should become part of a contract, it is believed that it
will prove useful in the selection of an appropriate padel structure and playing surface and form a
useful reference in the design and construction process.

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Notes to be read in conjunction with the Code of Practice.

This Code of Practice is intended for use by tennis and padel court contractors, sports
facility design professionals and padel court purchasers and owners. The Code of Practice
should not be used as a substitute for carrying out appropriate surveys and obtaining
professional advice in individual circumstances. Although the Code of Practice has been
produced by reference to padel courts constructed under normal climatic conditions in the
United Kingdom, the Sports and Play Construction Association cannot accept any
responsibility whatsoever for any loss, damage or injury howsoever caused arising from
reliance on the specifications within the Code of Practice.

The Code of Practice provides a minimum standard of specification and proficiency which
members of the Sports and Play Construction Association are committed to meeting. As
guideline specifications, however, they do not supersede a reasonable interpretation of
the specification and terms of contract applied in each contract. For individual projects,
variations in climate, soil conditions, topography and other site-specific conditions may
necessitate standards of specification greater than those recommended within the Code
of Practice.

Parties not experienced in padel court construction are strongly advised to consult
qualified contractors and/or sports construction consultants. Details of experienced padel
court contractors and sports construction consultants can be provided by the Sports and
Play Construction Association.

The term “asphalt” is the internationally accepted technical name for all surfaces which
are composed of a mixture of bitumen and stone.

In accordance with common practice within the construction industry, the depth of any
individual construction layer is specified within the Code of Practice as the nominal
compacted depth. The nominal depth can be regarded as the design depth of a layer of
construction within a tennis/padel court, within the applicable tolerances’ margins.

In the interests of clarity and consistency, the minimum compacted depth is also specified,
to define the tolerance on the design depth that is considered acceptable. It is intended
that the consistent use together of the terms “nominal compacted depth” and “minimum
compacted depth”, by contractors and consultants alike, will help to avoid any confusion
when competitive quotations are being examined.

The information contained within the Code of Practice, while accurate at the time of
publication, may be subject to change at a future date. Due to changing technologies and
new developments in construction methods, revisions to the recommendations are likely
and only the most recent edition of the Code of Practice should be used.

SAPCA will keep under review the use of the Code of Practice and will consider any
suggestions for amendment, which should be addressed to the Chief Executive, The
Sports and Play Construction Association, The Hexangle, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire,
CV8 2LG. Revision to the Code of Practice will be made when such action is considered
appropriate.

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The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA)

As the recognised UK trade association, SAPCA fosters excellence, professionalism and
continuous improvement throughout the sports and play construction industry, ensuring provision
of high-quality facilities necessary for the success of British sport.

SAPCA’s Aims and Objectives

To promote high standards of design, construction and workmanship for sports facilities
in the UK.

To regulate the industry through the vetting and monitoring of SAPCA members.

To participate fully in the development of British, European and other standards for the
construction and performance of sports facilities, for all levels of play.

To liaise closely with the governing bodies of sport, both nationally and internationally.

To encourage the use of new technology in the design and construction of sports facilities.

To provide and support training and education for the industry’s workforce.

To provide a strong voice for the sports construction industry in the UK.

www.sapca.org.uk

The SAPCA website (www.sapca.org.uk) provides a wealth of valuable information for anyone
involved in the development of sports facilities.

Further information

SAPCA operates through its own full-time administration. For further information, including a list
of members, please contact SAPCA at the headquarters address below.

The Sports and Play Construction Association

The Hexangle
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG

Telephone: 024 7641 6316

Fax: 024 7641 4773
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.sapca.org.uk

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Introduction
From the first considerations regarding the construction of a padel court through to completion, a
clear understanding is required of the process. The processes and decisions that need to be
made can be complex and will depend upon many contributing factors.

Section one details the construction guidelines for a padel court from design through to
construction. It covers such detail as dimensions, orientation, topography, drainage, base,
foundations for the enclosure and type of playing surface that should be considered when
constructing a padel court. It also specifies the requirements for the enclosure and the
combinations of glass panels, weldmesh and rebound fencing. The general requirements
of the playing surfaces are also detailed: evenness, porosity, shock absorption and
rotational friction. The diagram on the following page outlining the project journey is
designed to help potential clients make the correct decisions at the right times by looking
at the ideal routes a project may take from proposal to completion and the information
required at each stage.

Section two considers the sports lighting requirements for padel courts.

Section three considers the requirements for indoor structures or coverings for padel
courts such as a canopy.

Section four details a checklist to consider when designing and constructing a padel court.

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Construction of a Padel Court

This phase reviews the project brief and considers factors
Project brief such as location, usage, funding, procurement and project
management.

This phase can include the development of a business

Project plan, planning application and if required funding
feasibility applications. A consultant can be appointed during this
phase if required, this will normally be for a large project.

Prior to the design phase a detailed site investigation is

Site required. This includes topographical, geotechnical,
investigation electrical and drainage surveys. This may not all be
necessary on a small project.

Design This phase includes the production of full design

specification specifications and technical drawings.

Appointment In this phase a review of submissions is undertaken. This

of contractor includes evaluation and contractor selection.

Construction This phase includes the construction of the facility. If

required, independent quality control is undertaken to
period assess build quality and design specification conformity.

This phase includes handover of the completed project. If

Project required, performance testing may be undertaken to ensure
completion compliance. A maintenance regime should be provided by
the installer.

Includes the ongoing maintenance programme and

Aftercare warranty period of the installation. If required, performance
tests are undertaken to monitor surface behaviour.

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1 Section One – Construction guidelines

1.1 Site considerations

1.1.1 General

Selecting the correct site for a padel court is a major factor in determining not only the costs of
construction, but also the quality of the playing experience and the maintenance needs of the
court. Where possible, the location of the court should be sympathetic to its surroundings and
adjacent infrastructures. Ideally, it will be sited on relatively flat land that is not too close to
boundaries or trees. Access should be easy for players (including disabled players) and suitable
for maintenance and construction equipment (all courts will require resurfacing at some point; a
factor often overlooked).

It is likely that, in a number of cases, the padel court will be constructed in the location of existing
tennis courts. In this case, while it is likely that the existing court construction should be a suitable
base on which to locate and construct a padel court, an assessment of the sub-base construction
should be made by a competent designer to ensure that the base is suitable.

Compliance with the Equality Act (2010) is an obligation for clubs, schools and other
organisations. Consideration should be given during the design stages of a project as to how
disabled players will be able to use the organisation’s courts.

Figure 1 below highlights some imagery of a standard padel court layout.

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1.1.2 Planning

The construction of a Padel court, whether totally new on a green field site, or over an existing
tennis court, constitutes development and therefore requires formal planning consent to be sought
from the relevant local authority. The design layout for a padel court is shown in Figure 1 and the
glass wall or mesh fencing (3.0m and 4.0m in height) and proposed sports lighting posts and
fittings (6.0m above the playing surface) will require planning consent prior to the commencement
of the construction work. The site owner or client will be responsible for obtaining planning consent
and may wish to appoint a consultant to prepare and submit the application on their behalf.

Careful consideration for the proposed location of the padel courts should be given in relation to
the impact of noise on adjacent residential properties. If a residential property is within 30.0m of
the padel court, then it is advisable that a formal noise assessment is undertaken by a specialist
consultant prior to making a planning application. Based on the findings of this report, mitigation
measures may be required within the scheme design, such as acoustic fencing or barriers to
reduce the travel of sound down to an acceptable level. It may even be a requirement from the
Planning Authority to move the court to a more appropriate location. In some contentious locations
adjacent to residential properties, planning authorities may stipulate a planning condition that a
further noise assessment is carried out once the court is in use.

1.1.3 Ground conditions

The cost of constructing a padel court can be greatly influenced by site conditions. Costs will be
much higher for engineering a difficult site (i.e., poor ground conditions, high clay content or
historical landfill) and it should be recognised that some sites are not cost effective to develop. A
designer should consider several factors, including topography, access, site drainage, trees when
choosing a location.

Before commencing with a detailed design, the designer will require as much information as
possible about the site and its surroundings. Allowing sufficient resources for initial information
gathering greatly reduces the risk of unforeseen problems (and increased costs) during
construction or post construction. While on many sites an experienced contractor will be able to
assess the requirements of the ground, on more complex projects a specialist geotechnical survey
is the best way of ensuring a full understanding of the site.

1.1.4 Trees

Trees and their roots can constitute a threat to the court itself (by distorting or cracking of the
surface), especially strong-rooted varieties such as poplar, sycamore and willow. Where such a
threat exists, preventative action will be necessary, such as tree surgery and/or the construction
of a root barrier to inhibit the ingress of tree roots onto the tennis court site. This is usually done
by digging a trench, cutting any roots in the process and removing them as far as possible to a
depth of at least 500mm, but more commonly 1.0m or more. The wall of the trench is then lined
with suitable material, such as root control sheeting before backfilling. Alternatively, the trench
can be filled with concrete and the excavated material removed.

Branches that overhang a padel court are usually a cause of various problems, such as the
continuous dripping of water, secretions and bird droppings. It is strongly recommended that
overhanging branches be pruned back beyond the court fence line and kept trimmed back as part
of the maintenance programme.

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HOWEVER: Before cutting any tree roots it is important to check that this is not going to
destabilise the tree such that it might fall. And prior consent will need to be obtained from the
local authority before any branches or roots are cut if the tree is protected (TPO) or within a
Conservation Area. It is illegal to undertake any works to a tree, its branches or roots without first
obtaining such consent in these circumstances.

1.1.5 Services

When selecting the site for a court, consideration should be given to the existing services around
or under the court area and the utility services that will be required for the court.

Many sites will require some form of drainage and the design should consider if the ground is
suitable for a soakaway or if there is a suitable storm water sewer, ditch or other outlet that can
be used. For an area the size of a padel court perimeter, drainage would normally be considered
acceptable and be preferable to a series of lateral drains. Typically, the perimeter drain would run
at or below formation level along the lowest long side of the court and discharge through the
foundation for the enclosure in a pipe to a suitable outfall.

The LED sports lighting for a padel court will require a single-phase electrical supply and ideally
the location of the court(s) will be as close to the supply as possible. Dependent on the system of
lighting installed, the power requirements will typically range from 1.2 – 2.4kW per court.

1.2 Dimensions & arrangement

The padel court’s internal playing area is 20.0m x 10.0m wide and should be marked with two
service lines and a centre line that crosses over the service line by 200mm, as indicated in Figures
2 and 3 below and on the following page. The two halves of the court should be symmetrical. All
line markings should be 50mm in width and should be coloured white.

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It is likely that most padel courts will be constructed using the layout in Figure 2 on the previous
page, where out-of-court areas are not included in the court layout. Access points to the court can
either be on both sides or a single side adjacent to the net, with access to both sides of the court.
Consideration should be given regarding wheelchair access to the court. To facilitate wheelchair
access there should be a minimum distance of 1.2m between the net post and the enclosure.

For out-of-court play, as shown in Figure 3, each side of the court should have two central access
points (one to each side of the court). There should not be any obstacles outside the court within
a distance of 2.0m wide (3.0m for some competition purposes) and 4.0m long on either side of
the court and a minimum of 4.0m high.

There should be a clear unobstructed height above the enclosed playing area of a minimum of
6.0m, including to the underside of any sports lighting overhanging the playing area.

A secondary option is a total unobstructed height above the enclosed playing area of 8.0m, which
can also be considered if this is a feasible option from the perspective of both planning approval
and cost.

All padel courts have a requirement for the inclusion of rebound ends at either end of the court to
a total height of 4.0m. The first 3.0m, from playing surface level, can comprise any transparent or
solid material (glass, bricks, etc.) which does not affect ball rebound, with the upper 1.0m
comprising weldmesh fencing 50mm x 50mm mesh with the inner face being the horizontal mesh.
The mesh should be either 3mm or 4mm diameter for consistent rebound properties. The
transition between the glass internal surface and the metal fencing should finish flush and neither
surface should protrude further than the other to prevent irregular ball rebound response.

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Figure 4 below highlights a typical arrangement for the rebound ends for a padel court.

1.3 Construction guidelines

The padel court is an area 20.0m long x 10.0m wide, enclosed above ground with either solid
rebound walls and mesh panels, or more commonly now a combination of glass and weld mesh
rebound wall and fence panels, supported on steel or aluminium posts fixed to a concrete
foundation with a synthetic turf playing surface. The construction of a new padel court, up to and
including the playing surface, follows the methodology of the construction of a tennis court,
building in defined stages from the formation layer to the playing surface. For a padel court, the
construction of the concrete foundation to the enclosure and the erection of the enclosure needs
to be factored into the construction stages.

These various stages can be outlined through the following reference points:

the formation: this is the prepared natural ground on which the court is built.

the enclosure foundation: this is the in-situ reinforced concrete ring beam or suitably
designed alternative, that the padel enclosure is secured to. This also forms the perimeter
of the padel court construction.

the sub-base: carefully graded aggregates which are laid to provide load bearing and
stability for the playing surface and to protect, as far as possible, the formation from the
effects of rain and frost.

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asphalt base: bitumen bound aggregate that forms the base on which the playing surface
is laid or in the case of an asphalt court, forms the playing surface. Asphalt to be porous
on all outdoor courts.

playing surface is sand-dressed or sand filled synthetic turf.

padel enclosure formed by the erection of support posts with glass and weld mesh infill
panels.

1.4 Excavations
Turf, vegetation and topsoil should be removed to a depth of at least 75mm. If greater depth of
topsoil is present, containing significant quantities of vegetable or organic matter, then all such
soil should be removed.

Excavations to achieve the required gradients (if any at formation level) are normally carried out
on the “cut and fill” principle, i.e., excavating in the higher areas and using the resulting excavated
material to fill the lower areas. When using this method, all filling should be carried out in layers
not exceeding 150mm, each layer being thoroughly compacted.

When excavating the site by “cutting to the solid”, excavated material is removed from the area
of the works and not reused. Any filling that may be necessary should be achieved using selected,
suitable material, which can be readily compacted and will not be subject to future settlement.

The formation should be fully compacted and accurately levelled to a tolerance of +25mm/-50mm
and should provide a stable base for the foundation layer. Any soft spots that are evident should
be removed and backfilled with appropriate compacted material as described above.

It will be necessary to excavate and remove additional material (or add a subbase of suitable
aggregate) when there is a requirement for the playing surface to be at a specific level. In such
circumstances the formation level (top of subbase) will be the playing surface level, less the
combined depth of the court construction. This may be lower (or higher) than the level resulting
from a simple topsoil strip and subsoil levelling exercise.

Tree roots should be removed during excavation and the resulting holes from these or other
underground obstructions should be carefully backfilled with suitable material, as described
above.

The gradient of excavated or filled banks should not exceed the angle of slope suitable for the
excavated material (rarely more than 1:2). Should limitations of space dictate steeper angles,
and/or reduced shoulders at the top of banks, then suitable support should be provided such as
retaining walls or buttressing.

1.5 Weed killing

Residual acting weed killers are no longer acceptable on environmental grounds.

Weeds visible prior to excavation works should be pre-treated with a systemic weed killer.

It is not possible to guarantee that all weeds have been killed, nor that re-growth will not occur
after construction. Some weed growth may occur, but this usually represents little more than a
temporary inconvenience.

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Wind-blown seeds can land on any tennis or padel court surface, wash into the porous
construction and then germinate. If weeds appear on finished surfaces, they should not be pulled
out if they have penetrated the asphalt surface, but treated immediately with weed killer, allowed
to die, and then removed.

1.6 Surface drainage

Drainage from an outdoor court’s playing surface is provided by percolation through the porous
construction (artificial grass/ asphalt/ aggregate base).

1.6.1 Surface gradients

When constructing a new court(s) the playing surface and enclosure foundation (ring beam)
should be constructed level (flat). This ensures that the bottom of the glass panels can finish flush
with the ring beam asphalt layer with no requirement to step the panels.

To assist the drainage of the area, if required, new-build padel courts may be constructed to level
with a gradient of 1:100 established to the formation level. This should ensure that water
percolating through the surface will find the perimeter drainage outfall.

Where a padel court is being constructed over an existing tennis court, careful consideration of
the existing gradients, surface tolerance of the existing surface and the accurate positioning of
the new padel court is required. As such, a detailed gradient survey of the existing tennis court
would be required prior to proceeding with the project.

To aid the construction of the enclosure and the potential change in levels between the existing
court construction, the enclosure foundations and the new playing surface, where applicable, the
enclosure foundation and new playing surface should be constructed level. Where this is not
possible, very minor stepping of the enclosure panels may be achievable but is not a desired
solution. The contractor should highlight the impact of any potential gradient issues with the
existing court at the time the design is being developed, therefore ensuring that the client is
prepared to accept the consequences of this compromise.

1.6.2 Sub-court drainage

Perimeter drains located inside a perimeter ring beam (if this is the enclosure foundation design)
with an outlet through the ring beam are necessary on poorly draining sites.

Porous foundations should be constructed to allow egress of water into the perimeter drain. UK
outdoor padel courts should be constructed with porous sub-base construction. The perimeter
drain should be connected to an outfall pipe running through the concrete ring beam to ensure
that water can pass away from the padel court and not be retained within the confines of the ring
beam.

Permanently covered courts with side protection, to prevent ingress of driven rain (so not to
include open sided canopies), may be constructed with non-porous sub-base construction.

Catchwater drains should always be installed wherever there is a danger of water flowing onto
the court from surrounding areas. They are particularly important for canopies and at the foot of
cut banks formed during the levelling operation.

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Drains should consist of perforated plastic pipes, laid in the bottom of well-formed trenches,
backfilled with clean, graded stone aggregate or similar suitable material. Drains should be laid
to falls of not less than 1:200 and be connected to soakaways or other suitable drainage system.

The drainage trenches should be lined with a geotextile membrane.

Catchwater drain trenches should be filled with clean stone to the surface.

1.7 Design of the foundations for the court enclosure and perimeter edging
The foundations for the court enclosure must be designed by a structural engineer (with a suitable
cross section profile) with due consideration of the wind loads for the locality of the site and any
other relevant loads.

Where a perimeter in-situ formed reinforced concrete ring beam is used it provides a solid surface
for securing the base plates of the enclosure’s support posts for the glass panels, weldmesh
fencing and the net posts. The ring beam will also act as the retainer for the court construction,
with the porous asphalt surface course finishing flush with the ring beam, allowing the synthetic
turf playing surface to be confined within the glass and mesh panels.

The use of concrete pad foundations to secure the base plates of the enclosure can also be an
option. If this design is adopted, consideration should be given to retention of the sub-base
material and the synthetic turf playing surface between the pad spacings.

The foundation should be designed with suitable reinforcing incorporated, to exceed the expected
wind load calculated, and to allow the enclosure to be bolted down using suitable anchors,
securing it, in line with the structural engineer’s calculations. The design must be backed by the
structural engineers’ professional indemnity insurance.

If a client employs a contractor for both the design and construction (or where this is implied),
then the contractor should also carry their own professional indemnity insurance in relation to the
design foundation.

Maximum wind loadings applicable to the surrounding enclosure supporting steelwork should be
stated by the padel court manufacturer to aid the design of the foundations.

Figure 5 on the following page indicates the levels relationship between the top of the foundation
/ perimeter edge detail, the enclosure and the court surface.

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1.8 Court surface foundations

A correctly designed and well-engineered sub-base is essential for the performance and durability
of a padel court. Failure to provide a suitable foundation layer may result in severe undulations,
cracking or premature breakup of the playing surface.

Certain sub-soils are far more prone to the two main causes of serious problems – frost heave
and clay shrinkage – and clearly it is important to determine site conditions before designing the
construction.

The stone foundation layer should be constructed using hard, clean, well-rounded, non-frost-
susceptible aggregates. These are typically a reduced-fines grading of the MOT Type 1 aggregate
mix or a 28mm - 50mm clean stone material, capped with a 10mm chipping as a blinding layer. If
recycled material or other variations in the stone foundation material are to be considered the
designer or contractor should be requested to provide technical reasoning for this choice and
ensure the material is both suitable and free of contaminants.

The depth of the stone foundation layer should be determined using the guidance defined in
Clause 2.12 of the SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction and Maintenance of Tennis
Courts (3rd Edition, April 2018). If site-specific geotechnical information is available, then this
should be considered when designing the depth of the base. If this information is not available,
the ’soil type’ table in clause 2.12 can be used as a guideline.

1.9 Geotextiles
Geotextiles are recommended when installing new padel courts. These are water-permeable
fabrics that are laid in sheet form beneath the foundation to provide several benefits, including:

isolating the foundation and preventing infiltration and contamination by a silt or clay sub-
soil.

increasing of the load-bearing and structural strength of the foundation.

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the provision of a “slip sheet” to help to prevent cracks from transmitting from the sub-soil
to the surface.

Inhibiting, but not eliminating, possible weed growth from the sub-soil zone.

1.10 Sports lighting ducts

Ducting should take the form of either a partial or fully ducted system, depending on the layout of
the padel court(s) and any surrounding structures.

Sports lighting to padel courts would usually be facilitated by extended support posts from the
enclosure. In some cases, however, there will be a need to erect the sports lighting on stand-
alone columns located outside the perimeter of the enclosure. In both cases the structural design
of the foundation for the enclosure or columns should be carried out by a structural engineer or
an expert in padel court design.

Padel court lighting should be cabled on the basis of one or two looped circuits, with the ducting
either positioned totally outside the perimeter foundations or cast into the ring beam and run under
the playing surface depending on the circuit arrangement.

Ducting should be formed from plastic pipework and should be installed at a depth of at least
450mm beneath a court surface to avoid damage if drainage holes are installed during
subsequent resurfacing work.

Draw-pits may be required to allow the future cabling and re-cabling of the lighting posts. If
required, they should comprise prefabricated plastic sections that link together to form the
chamber with the cover of the draw-pit finishing flush with its surrounding surface level.

1.11 Porous asphalt base

1.11.1 General

Asphalt is laid over the stone foundation layer. This will form the platform base on which the
synthetic surface will be laid. For new-build padel courts the asphalt should be laid in two courses,
a binder course followed by a surface course. If a padel court is being constructed over an existing
tennis court with a suitable base, a single surface layer may be sufficient, although two layers will
almost always be preferable.

IMPORTANT NOTE - For outdoor padel court playing surfaces, the base should be open graded
porous material.

1.11.2 Binder and surface course

The asphalt binder and surface courses should be produced, transported and laid in accordance
with clause 2.14 of the SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction and Maintenance of Tennis
Courts (3rd Edition, April 2018).

The binder course should be laid to a compacted depth of 40mm and the surface course laid to a
compacted depth of 25mm.

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If the padel court is a new construction (on virgin ground) it should be built with two asphalt layers
to satisfy the necessary drainage, stability and regularity requirements for artificial grass playing
surface in full accordance with this Code of Practice.

If an existing tennis court is being converted to a locate a padel court some preparatory works are
likely to be required. The base on which the padel court is to be laid should be checked for
regularity and drainage. To aid the drainage of the new surface, the existing asphalt tennis surface
will need piercing to improve drainage for the padel playing surface. Piercing involves punching
holes through the asphalt surface to form a drainage link to the sub-base and underlying ground.
The holes, typically 25mm diameter, are back filled with chippings or pea gravel. The surface
should be pierced at 450mm centres across the total area of the padel court.

Piercing the base will, however, result in small holes and there is a possibility that these holes will
reflect through to the new playing surface. If this occurs, the aesthetics of the court can be
damaged and, more importantly, ball rebound may be unpredictable as a result of the ball striking
the edges of holes.

As a minimum scope of works, a new single layer surface course would be required as a suitable
base to lay the new padel court synthetic turf surface with the enclosure constructed on the
engineer designed foundation set into the surrounding court surface.

1.12 Playing surface – general requirements

The correct installation of the playing surface is essential if a court is to provide a satisfactory
playing environment and meet players’ expectations.

1.12.1 Regularity or evenness

The surface regularity of a new or resurfaced padel court should conform to the following:

At no point on the court area should there be any bump, hollow, ridge, joint or textural variation
sufficient to cause reasonable expectation that a ball in play might be deflected from its true path;
or expose a player to a significantly increased risk of injury within the perimeter of the court.
Subject to the above, the surface should be laid to a tolerance of ±6mm as a maximum permitted
undulation under 3m straight edge.

Ideally there should be no undulations greater than 6mm at any point on the court area. If two
layers of asphalt form the sub-base, however, then two permitted deviations are allowed and on
a single asphalt later up to four deviations are allowed. Undulations more than 1000mm in length
are considered to be multiple deviations (e.g., a 1.8m long ridge is considered to be two deviations
– one of 1m length and one of 0.8m length).

Notes:

Regularity should be measured in accordance with BS EN 13036 Part 7 by placing a 3m

straightedge at any position on the surface of the court (excluding and the area around court
fittings such as net posts) and measuring the gap at any place between the points at which the
straightedge is in contact with the surface.

The variation in allowable tolerances reflects the relative difficulty of achieving superior surface
levels with certain types of surface and construction, such as single layer asphalt.

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1.12.2 Water permeability

Porous surfaces when newly laid (but after an initial period of weathering) should be free draining
and can be expected to be clear of surface ponding within fifteen minutes of rain ceasing. BS EN
12616 defines a method of test for assessing the in-situ water infiltration rate of sports surfaces.
Suppliers will typically design and test around laboratory values for vertical permeability as in
EN13108.1.13.

1.13 Artificial grass

1.13.1 General

The padel court playing surface should comprise a single tone sand-dressed or sand filled artificial
grass (with a preference for monofilament yarn) loose laid onto the asphalt base and dressed/filled
with silica sand in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance. The artificial grass surface
should be designed specifically for padel and should have the following product specification or
similar.

Product Specification

Characteristic Property

Pile Height 10 mm – 15 mm

dtex 9,000 – 10,000

Yarn Type Monofilament (preferred), Fibrillated (acceptable)

Infill Material Silica Sand

Primary backing Polypropylene

Secondary backing Latex

40,000 – 60,000
Stitch rate

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The playing surface should comply with UNE 147301: 2018 Sports surfaces for the practice of
padel (Requirements) for the sports performance requirements shown in the table below. This
standard is a Spanish National Standard, and the requirements have been adopted by the
International Padel Federation. Padel surfacing products should be tested in the laboratory for
these requirements to ensure compliance with the standard in both dry and wet conditions It would
not normally be considered a requirement to carry out these tests on an installation unless
specified within a tender document.

Property Test Method Requirement

Shock Absorbency EN 14808 15 – 25%

(Force Reduction)

Rotational Resistance EN 15301-1 25 – 50Nm

Ball Rebound EN 12235 >80%

Water Permeability EN 12616 >500mm/hr

1.13.2 Weather considerations

Artificial grass surfaces can only be laid in certain weather conditions. This is because the
adhesives used to join the rolls of carpet may not fully bond if laid in very cold or wet conditions
and the need for the carpet and sand infill to be dry to allow the sand to flow into the pile of the
carpet. Surfaces should only be laid when conditions satisfy those stipulated by the adhesive and
carpet manufacturers. This is very much a case of the experienced contractor knowing best and
they should not be pressurised to lay a surface in less-than-ideal conditions just to complete the
work on time.

1.13.3 Carpet installation

Prior to laying out the artificial grass carpet the base should be swept to ensure there are no loose
stones or other debris lying on it. The artificial grass carpet should then be rolled out in the
configuration shown on the seaming plan and the rolls checked for any signs of damage or
defects.

Following the checking of the roll, the edges should be overlapped by an amount sufficient to
allow trimming and the edges trimmed to produce a good butt joint. After trimming, the gap
between the edges should be no more than the distance between each tuft row.

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The carpet should then be turned back from the trimmed joint and a carrier tape positioned on the
joint line. The tape should be positioned centrally to give a bond width in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions. A water-based “tacky” adhesive may be used under the tape to
prevent movement.

1.13.4 Sand application

The surface will not perform, and its durability will be compromised, if the carpet is not correctly
sand dressed or filled prior to play. This part of the installation is, therefore, crucial.

Before infilling, it is recommended that the entire surface is brushed to aid the turf fibre to stand
upright.

The correct grade of sand should be applied evenly in stages, ensuring that the sand is brushed
into the pile in such a way that the pile remains upright. Extreme care and attention should be
taken when applying the sand. The dressing must be finished to a constant depth within the base
of the pile. Experience has shown that some grades of sand used in continental Europe would be
considered too fine for the UK climate. Therefore, suppliers and installers should ensure that a
suitable grade of sand infill is used for the UK climate.

If using a wheeled vehicle to transport sand across the surface, make sure that the tyres are
smooth – tyres with treads, such as herring bone tyres, will permanently mark the playing surface.
The recommended ground pressure of tyre to turf surface is between 8 and 11 pounds per square
inch. Drive with care over previously sanded areas and do not make sharp turns or stop suddenly.

It may be necessary to return to site to top up sand levels after installation. The amount needed
for top dressing can only be determined on an individual basis.

1.14 Surrounding enclosure and rebound walls

The surrounding enclosure and rebound walls to a padel court should be formed of a combination
of a transparent or solid material (glass, rendered blockwork) which does not affect ball rebound.
The transition between the glass (solid) internal surface and the metal panels should finish flush
and neither surface should protrude further than the other to prevent irregular ball rebound
response.

1.14.1 Supporting posts

The enclosure should be supported using steel or reinforced aluminium box section posts. If steel
is used the posts should be galvanised and zinc coated. The UK experiences higher corrosion
rates than in Continental Europe and in some areas, this can be considered severe. If the
enclosure is being sourced outside of the UK, no non-galvanized steel posts should be installed.
All steelwork should be pre galvanised with subsequent zinc electro plating after fabrication. The
use of non-ferrous metals, such as aluminium, should also be considered and should be designed
to suit the UK climate.

The posts should be fabricated with suitable base plates to allow the posts and the subsequent
enclosure to be fixed to the foundation.

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1.14.2 Glass rebound panels

Glass rebound panels should comprise either 10mm or 12mm toughened glass to give a solid
structure with high quality ball rebound characteristics. Where region wind loading requirements
stipulate, 12mm glass panels should be adopted within the design. Glass rebound panels should
incorporate counter sunk fixings to prevent irregular ball responses. Toughened (or tempered)
glass panels should be used as the glass is treated so it will break into small blunt pieces under
pressure making it much safer than shards of normal glass.

All glass panels should be individually kite marked to the relevant European Standard. Glass
manifestations should be included at the bottom of the panels and at a height of between 850mm
and 1000mm for health and safety reasons. The manifestations should take the form of small
spots or balls and should not take the form of larger stickers or advertisements which may
compromise the toughened glass shattering.

If further information is required, please refer to Part K of the building regulations.

1.14.3 Weldmesh fencing

The weld mesh sections of the surround walls should comprise weldmesh fencing 50mm x 50mm
mesh with the inner face being the horizontal mesh within the mesh. The mesh should be either
3mm or 4mm diameter for consistent rebound properties. The fabrication of the weldmesh should
also follow the principles specified in section 1.14.1 for corrosion protection.

1.14.4 Openings (court entry point)

The side elevation(s) should incorporate a central opening for player access on one or both sides
of the padel court with access to both ends of the court from the central location. For competition
courts the ‘out of court play area’ 4.0m x 2.0m (or 4.0m x 3.0m) either side of the net (8.0m x 2.0m
or 3.0m overall) should be incorporated into the design of the enclosure on both sides of the court.

To allow wheelchair access to either end of the court, the spacing between the net post and the
enclosure should be a minimum of 1.2m on either side of the court.

1.14.5 Nets and posts

The net should be 10m in length, 0.88m high at the centre, rising to 0.92m at the ends, with a
maximum tolerance of 5mm.

The net should be suspended by a metal cable with a maximum diameter of 10mm and the ends
attached to net posts. It is considered the norm that most padel court designs will use base plated
posts rather than using the enclosure to support the net. The net should comply with BS EN 1510.

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2 Section 2 – Sports lighting

Padel courts should be floodlit using two methods to support the required luminaires to light the
court.

Method 1 uses the court enclosure by extending the posts supporting the enclosure and fitting a
bracket to mount either one or two luminaires depending on the lighting design. The extended
posts should be configured such that the luminaires are located 4.0m from the back of the court
into the side elevations to give a side lit lighting arrangement.

Method 2 uses stand-alone floodlight columns located outside of the padel court enclosure to
mount the luminaires, adopting a more traditional sports lighting layout.

When developing the lighting design, considerations should be given to the number of padel
courts to be lit, the complexities of the site and whether there are residential properties near the
court location. These site-specific requirements can often dictate which luminaires can be used
in the design to potentially control lux level spillage or reduce glare.

All light fittings should be manufactured to the relevant British and European standards with the
associated CE marking. If the padel court is being supplied as a ‘package kit’ from the
manufacturer of the enclosure, then all the electrical components should be detailed with a
suitable lighting design prior to placing any order for the works.

All light fittings should be installed ensuring a 6m high clear space above the padel court playing
area.

Padel court lighting designs should be produced using dedicated software by competent persons
(designers, consultants, manufacturers or contractors) with relevant experience in lighting
designs and local authority planning policy.

The lighting performance standards for padel courts in the horizontal plane at ground level are
defined below.

Outdoor and indoor courts requirements:

Minimum illumination at ground level (Z=0)

National and International Competition 500 lux (E av) with 0.7 uniformity

Regional competition, school &

recreational use, indoor courts 300 lux (E av) with 0.5 uniformity

A 10% over-performance should be taken into consideration when undertaking the initial design
(i.e. 0.9 maintenance factor).

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When a lighting design is being produced, the designer should use a suitable calculation grid
spacing (i.e. 1.0m x 1.0m as indicated below) over the playing area centred on the net line position
of the court. This removes the potential for any ‘dark or over lit’ patchy areas to be located within
the overall playing area of the court.

The calculation grid spacing for the overall area affected by the floodlighting should be at a
maximum spacing of 5.0m.

A detailed lighting design using this type of software and design grid is particularly importance
when considering the use of low cost, low wattage LED fittings. These fittings commonly use a
symmetrical (rather than asymmetric) optical distribution as they are designed for lighting general
amenity areas and are not sport specific products.

Lighting designs for padel courts should provide calculations for both lux and candela when
adjacent to domestic dwellings. This will ensure that the design is in accordance with the
requirements of the ILP Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light 2020.

On padel courts – as play involves the use of the ends and side walls – additional vertical lighting
calculations may also be requested by planning authorities.

Where padel courts are to be incorporated into existing floodlit areas then consideration should
be given to maximise the existing lighting provision in relation to the current positions of columns,
fittings and potential conflict with underground service cabling.

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3 Section 3 - Covered facilities

There are a range of closed or open-sided structures available, which can be used to cover padel
courts at a more economical cost than a tradition building, tensile structure or airhall. Typically,
they comprise steel or timber portal frames constructed with a single or double skin membrane
roof. Some structures come in with a fully enclosed roof and walls, others as a canopy type design,
shown in the images above. The supporting frame (legs) sits outside the padel enclosure and it
is feasible for the sports lighting fittings to be incorporated into the structure.

When selecting a structure to cover a padel court, consideration should be given to the overall
minimum height of the structure and the location of the supporting columns, so as not to interfere
with play or the out of court area (where incorporated) or restrict the provision for wheelchair
access.

For covering a single padel court, the type of structure shown may suit as an affordable option
with a simple design. If your project is looking to cover more than a single padel court, then
consideration should be given to the layout and shape of the structure across multiple courts. It
may be more cost effective for the structure to cover the entire area.

All steel supporting components for structures and canopies in the UK should be hot dip
galvanised for maximum longevity and protection against the climate. The structure and its
foundations should be designed by a structural engineer. Planning approval will be required for
the development of an indoor structure or canopy in line with UK planning laws. Building control
will be required for fully enclosed indoor structures and may also be required for canopies, to sign
off the design and installation of the structure and its foundations.

Canopy roof and wall membranes should have a minimum design life of 15 years.

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4 Section 4 – Considerations for developing a project

4.1 Project checklist
Key points to consider before proceeding with a padel court project:

1. Location for proposed padel court should be considered in relation to noise and light
disturbance to the surrounding environment and neighbourhood.

2. Position of padel court and its surrounds suitable for player access (including wheelchair
users) and ongoing maintenance, including glass cleaning on both faces.

3. ‘Out of court’ play area considered in the design. Is it needed? Is there sufficient space?

4. Future or current requirement for padel court to be covered, with consideration given to
the need for additional footprint and access to the area.

5. Planning consent for the proposed scheme will be required.

6. Acoustic assessment report may be required to support the planning application.

7. All metalwork components to be designed and manufactured for the UK climate with
sufficient warranty from manufacturer in place.

8. Site specific concrete foundation for the padel enclosure, designed by a structural
engineer and covered by PI insurance.

9. 10mm or 12mm kitemark glass to be specified within the design.

10. Player access arrangement (including disabled access) for the court (on one side or both).

11. Sports lighting design to achieve or exceed minimum performance criteria for the level of
usage, with details also given for luminaire mounting and height.

12. Site specific foundation requirements for the indoor structure or canopy designed by a
structural engineer and covered by PI insurance.

13. Court surface product designed for padel tennis.

14. Confirmation of the source of padel court fabricator / manufacturer established before an
order is placed, with certificate of origin to be provided prior to completion of the project.

Care should be taken in selecting a padel court manufacturer as their warranties do not always
cover structural failure of the enclosure, only failure of the individual components in terms of wear
and corrosion. A minimum 10-year warranty should be established for all installations in respect
of structural failure of the enclosure.

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