The reference arrangement at a glance
The documented arrangement uses a continuous, level concrete strip under the fence line: 600 mm wide, extending 200 mm inside and 400 mm outside the post centre line. It supports the enclosure continuously rather than providing a separate footing for each standard post. The playing area has its own firm, flat surface base.
The reference specifies C30/37 concrete outdoors, with XC4 + XF1 exposure classes, and C25/30 indoors. Its fence-line tolerances are ±5 mm between neighbouring post positions and ±10 mm across the court. Standard posts use four M12 bonded anchors installed after the concrete has reached the required age and strength; the reinforcement-free anchoring zone is detailed below.
- Choose Type 0, A, B or C around the existing floor, cover, surface and drainage conditions.
- Use the order-specific setting-out drawing for actual posts, doors, goals and plate directions.
- Keep the anchor zone clear before casting and obtain the selected anchor's product assessment and installation instructions.
- Complete the twelve-point handover checklist with site photographs and test results before enclosure installation.
1. Scope and responsibilities
This PadelSpan manual presents the foundation and base details for the documented 15 × 25 m football cage reference arrangement. The local engineer must confirm or revise the design for the actual soil, frost, groundwater, site wind and national requirements, including applicable National Annexes. The order-specific setting-out drawing controls the final post and opening positions.
The reference dimensions, reinforcement, loads and tolerances below are not universal values for every football cage. Agree the actual design and responsibilities before procurement; where applicable national requirements are stricter, they govern.
Swipe to see all columns
| Work package | Responsible party |
|---|---|
| Survey, soil check, permits | Client / local engineer |
| Earthworks, drainage, sub-base, concrete, asphalt | Local contractor |
| Cable ducts and power supply for lighting (if ordered) | Local electrician |
| Setting-out drawing with the post positions for your order | PadelSpan |
| Steel court: posts, beams, kick boards, mesh, doors, goals | PadelSpan |
| Anchors | PadelSpan if listed in the packing list of your order, otherwise the local contractor (Section 8) |
| Artificial turf (if ordered) | Turf supplier |
2. Court arrangement and reference foundation loads
The documented enclosure is 3.0 m high, with 50 × 50 × 2 mm steel posts at intervals no greater than 3.0 m, top beams, 0.9 m high steel kick boards and mesh above. Goals, optional basketball units and optional 6 m lamp posts are attached to the posts. Each standard post has a welded 350 × 120 × 10 mm base plate and a 10 mm stiffener. Plates point outwards in the illustrated arrangement.
The source treats each post as carrying less than 1 kN, approximately 100 kg, of vertical load and concentrates on bending from wind and player contact. Its table records the following design assumptions. These do not establish capacity for every wind condition, ground condition or attachment; the engineer must verify the complete load path, supporting ground, foundation stability and selected fastening for the actual configuration.
Fence wind resistance is a separate site-dependent check in the source, referring to EN 1991-1-4. Identify high wind exposure before ordering. Do not attach banners, wind screens or advertising boards to the mesh without written configuration approval and a revised load review; closing open mesh changes the wind action.
Swipe to see all columns
| Design value | Reference value | Source basis and project qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Post section | 50 × 50 × 2 mm steel tube | plastic moment 1.6 kNm (S235) to 2.5 kNm (S355) |
| Design moment per post at the base, MEd | 3.0 kNm | ≥ 1.2 × the plastic moment of the post |
| Design shear per post, VEd | 3.0 kN | Source upper-bound assumption for wind and impact; verify the actual site and configuration. |
| Vertical load per post | < 1 kN | Source treats this load as secondary; include it in the complete project verification. |
| Design tension per anchor, NEd | 10 kN | rigid plate turning about the far anchor row: 3.0 kNm / 0.150 m = 20 kN per row of 2 |
| Design shear per anchor, VEd | 1.0 kN | 3.0 kN shared by 3–4 anchors |
| Stability of the 600 × 500 ring beam | 2.2 × MEd | self-weight only, 22.5 kN per 3 m between posts, lever 0.30 m |
| Ground pressure | < 50 kPa | Source assumption about compacted ground; bearing, settlement and frost suitability require site verification. |
View the original table
3. Choose the foundation type
The four source options share the same fence-line strip width and position, with a level top to suit the fixed beam and kick-board lengths. Open-air Types B and C are designed to drain through their surface build-up and are laid level or with a fall no greater than 0.5% in this reference.
The source proposes Type C for open-air turf courts and describes it as its lowest-cost option; that is not a project quotation. Existing-floor reuse, total cost and drainage suitability depend on site investigations and the selected surface. An uncovered Type A slab requires an agreed drainage detail.
Swipe to see all columns
| Base option | Use | Build-up (top to bottom) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Existing indoor floor | Indoors, on an existing concrete floor | Existing slab ≥ 150 mm, concrete ≥ C20/25, sound and without wide cracks | Source proposes reuse without new groundworks. Check slab thickness with test holes at 3–4 post positions, condition, anchorage and flatness (Section 10) before accepting reuse. |
| A Concrete slab with thickened edge | New indoor floor; outdoor court under a roof | Slab 150 mm with mesh; thickened edge 600 × 400 under the fence line; sub-base 250 mm | Source describes this as its simplest new-base option. Turf is laid on the slab. An uncovered outdoor slab requires an agreed drainage detail. |
| B Ring beam + porous asphalt | Outdoors | Porous asphalt 60–70 mm in 2 layers; sub-base 250 mm; ring beam 600 × 500 | Firm surface that drains through. Laid level. |
| C Ring beam + unbound permeable base | Outdoors, with artificial turf (recommended) | Levelling layer 40–50 mm; sub-base 250 mm; ring beam 600 × 500 | Source-proposed permeable build-up under turf, described there as lowest-cost; confirm project cost and suitability. The source refers to national rules such as DIN 18035-7 for details. |
View the original table
4. Setting out and approximate quantities
Set out a post-centre-line rectangle of 25,000 × 15,000 mm. The source diagonal is 29,155 mm and the two measured diagonals may differ by no more than 20 mm. The strip extends 200 mm inside and 400 mm outside the centre line, giving an outer concrete footprint of 25,800 × 15,800 mm.
The plan shows indicative post positions. For goal recesses, wider door bays or inward-pointing plates, follow the actual order drawing and maintain the specified minimum 135 mm anchor edge distance. The continuous strip accommodates later-drilled anchors; it does not remove the need to verify every connection location.
The following quantities reproduce the source estimate for this layout and exclude waste. They are not an order or a final bill of quantities. Recalculate openings, actual geometry, laps, disposal, construction allowances and changes before purchase.
Swipe to see all columns
| Item (approximate, without waste) | Type A | Types B and C |
|---|---|---|
| Area inside the post centre lines | 375 m² | 375 m² |
| Length of the strip (on its centre line) | 80.8 m | 80.8 m |
| Concrete | slab 61 m³ + edge 12 m³ = 73 m³ | ring beam 24 m³ + blinding 2.8 m³ |
| Reinforcement | mesh Ø8/150 ≈ 408 m² + 4 Ø12 × 81 m + links | 4 Ø12 × 81 m + about 269 U-links Ø8 |
| Crushed-stone sub-base, compacted | ≈ 102 m³ | ≈ 90 m³ (inside the ring) |
| Levelling layer or porous asphalt | - | ≈ 359 m² |
| Anchors M12 | 112 + 10 % spare | 112 + 10 % spare |
View the original table
5. Ground and sub-base
Remove topsoil, roots and soft material across the whole court and 0.5 m beyond it. Proof-roll the subgrade and replace soft spots. The reference acceptance is at least 95% Standard Proctor density, referring to EN 13286-2, or Ev2 ≥45 MPa in a plate-load test. Shape the formation to the drainage arrangement. On clay or silt, include a separation geotextile.
The sub-base is crushed stone 0/32 or 0/45, referring to EN 13285 and aggregates to EN 13242. The compacted thickness is 250 mm, reduced to 150 mm under the Type A thickened edge. Place layers no thicker than 150 mm and compact each to at least 98% Standard Proctor, or Ev2 ≥80 MPa with Ev2/Ev1 ≤2.5.
The source assumes a frost-safe build-up can support the continuous strip without taking a separate footing down to frost depth. The local engineer must verify that assumption against frost-susceptible soil, groundwater, climate and national practice; it is not a general exemption. Do not build on fill, peat or soft clay without the engineer's assessment.
6. Concrete works: section key
The two original sections show the outside of the court on the left. Their hatched zone is reserved for anchor drilling and must stay free of reinforcement in the documented arrangement. Read the numbered layers together with the reinforcement, drainage and anchoring requirements below. Dimensions on the drawings are in millimetres.
Swipe to see all columns
| Item number | (a) Type A | (b) Types B / C (Type C shown) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subgrade, ≥ 95 % Proctor or Ev2 ≥ 45 MPa | Same |
| 2 | Separation geotextile (on clay or silt) | Same, also around the drain trench |
| 3 | Crushed-stone sub-base 0/32–0/45, 250 mm (150 mm under the edge) | Crushed-stone sub-base 0/32–0/45, 250 mm |
| 4 | Slab 150 mm C30/37 (indoors C25/30), mesh Ø8/150, 40–50 mm below the top | Type C: levelling layer 0/5–0/8, 40–50 mm. Type B: porous asphalt 60–70 mm |
| 5 | Thickened edge 600 × 400, 2 + 2 Ø12, U-links Ø8/300 open at the top | Ring beam 600 × 500 C30/37, 2 + 2 Ø12, U-links Ø8/300 open at the top, on 50 mm blinding |
| 6 | Base plate, 4 bonded anchors M12 (Section 8) | Same |
| 7 | Artificial turf (and shock pad if specified), by the turf supplier | Same |
| 8 | Post 50 × 50 with the 0.9 m kick board (fence line) | Same |
| 9 | - | Drain DN 100, perforated, in a gravel trench, only where needed (Section 7) |
View the original table
6.1 Type A: slab with thickened edge
The source slab is 150 mm thick: C30/37 outdoors with XC4 + XF1 exposure classes, or C25/30 indoors. It specifies maximum aggregate size 16-22 mm and consistence S3 or S4. The thickened edge is 600 mm wide and 400 mm deep measured from the top.
Edge reinforcement is two Ø12 B500 bars at 150-170 mm below the top and two Ø12 bars near the bottom, with Ø8 U-links at 300 mm centres, open at the top. The slab mesh is Ø8 at 150 × 150 mm, B500, positioned 40-50 mm below the top and lapped by two mesh squares. Stop the mesh 50 mm inside the post centre line and turn it down into the edge so it stays out of the anchor zone.
For an indoor ground-bearing slab, the source includes a 0.2 mm polyethylene sheet beneath the slab. The surface is power-floated, smooth and closed, and must meet the handover flatness criteria.
The reference contraction joints are saw-cut 3-4 mm wide and 45-50 mm deep, about one third of the slab thickness, within 6-24 hours. It uses approximately 5 × 5 m bays with no bay dimension over 5.5 m. Keep joints at least 300 mm from every post in the actual layout. Fill the joints flush before laying turf; confirm the cutting window and joint plan for actual concrete and site conditions.
6.2 Types B and C: ring beam
The reference ring beam is 600 mm wide by 500 mm deep, cast on 50 mm C12/15 blinding. The beam concrete is C30/37 with XC4 + XF1 exposure classes. Reinforcement comprises two Ø12 bars at 150-170 mm below the top and two Ø12 bars near the bottom, with Ø8 U-links at 300 mm centres open at the top. The source specifies 600 mm laps and L-bars at corners.
Set the ring-beam top level with the top of the levelling layer or asphalt, so turf meets the kick boards without a step. Before casting, install DN110 sleeves through the beam for drainage outlets and cable ducts. Cast continuously where practical; if a construction joint is required, the reference places it halfway between posts, subject to the actual joint design.
6.3 Concrete quality, curing and release
The source refers to EN 206 for concrete specification and supply and EN 13670 for execution. Its reinforcement cover is 50 mm, increasing to 75 mm where concrete is cast directly against soil. Confirm concrete mix, exposure, reinforcement positioning and inspection records before the pour.
Keep the concrete moist or apply an appropriate curing compound for at least seven days in the reference procedure, longer below 10°C. Protect it from frost. Do not cast on frozen ground or below +5°C without cold-weather measures.
Take one set of cubes or cylinders per pour and test compressive strength as specified for the project, with EN 12390-3 referenced in the source. Provide the 28-day results. The reference waits 28 days before installing anchors; earlier installation requires both permission in the selected anchor's ETA and demonstrated concrete strength. Product-specific installation and curing requirements still apply.
7. Playing-surface base and drainage
Type C uses a 40-50 mm levelling layer of fine crushed stone 0/5 to 0/8 over the 250 mm sub-base, laser-graded and compacted. The reference is level or has at most 0.5% fall. Type B uses two layers of porous, open-graded asphalt, 60-70 mm total, over the sub-base and laid level.
The source requires the base to drain faster than the turf. Obtain the chosen turf system's infiltration value; EN 12616 is the referenced test. Check the complete water route, including underlying ground, outlets and any permitted discharge connection, rather than assuming permeability at the surface is sufficient.
For sand or gravel, the source assumes infiltration into the ground; verify actual infiltration and groundwater conditions. For clay or silt it shows DN100 perforated drains in gravel-filled trenches below the sub-base: one along the inside of each long side, plus cross drains about 5 m apart. It specifies at least 0.5% fall to outlets passing through the beam sleeves and then to site drainage or a soakaway.
Types 0 and A assume a level indoor or covered slab without a dedicated drainage network in the source. Confirm that exclusion against cleaning water, rain entry, roof runoff and the actual exposure before adopting it. The turf supplier installs turf after the fence and cuts it around posts and kick boards; the source refers to EN 15330-1.
8. Post fixing and anchors
The fence is set out, assembled and aligned before anchors are drilled through the base-plate holes, so this reference does not use cast-in anchors. The protected drilling zone extends from 50 mm inside to 350 mm outside the post centre line, with the top 150 mm of concrete free of reinforcement. If drilling encounters steel, stop and consult the engineer; do not cut the strip's main reinforcement.
The reference schedule below gives geometry and design actions, not the demonstrated capacity of an unspecified anchor product. Select an actual product with the relevant ETA and verify its resistance for the concrete, embedment, edge distances, spacing and combined loading. EAD references identify assessment families; they are not product approvals. The original figure labels and numerical schedule are retained for coordination.
Swipe to see all columns
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Anchor type | Bonded (injection) anchor with a European Technical Assessment (ETA to EAD 330499) for cracked and non-cracked concrete. A mechanical anchor with an ETA (EAD 330232) is also acceptable if its minimum spacing is 60 mm or less. |
| Size and number | M12, 4 per post. Threaded rod class 5.8 or 8.8, hot-dip galvanised; stainless steel A4 near the sea or a swimming pool. |
| Embedment | Effective embedment hef ≥ 110 mm. Some posts beside doors or goals may have plates with only 3 holes (marked on the layout drawing): there the single anchor nearest the post needs hef ≥ 160 mm (concrete at least 200 mm thick; on a thinner existing floor, ask us). |
| Washer and nut | Square plate washer 40 × 40 × 5 mm (hole 14 mm) over each Ø22 hole, then the nut. |
| Design values (EN 1992-4) | NEd = 10 kN and VEd = 1.0 kN per anchor (20 kN/ 1.0 kN for the single anchor of a 3-hole plate). Spacing 80 mm (row near the post) and 60 mm (far row); edge distance ≥ 135 mm. Check with the anchor maker's design software. |
| Installation | Drill, clean, inject, set and cure exactly as the ETA and the maker's instructions say; tighten to the torque given in the ETA. |
| Levelling | Steel shims of up to 10 mm under the plate, next to the anchors. Fill gaps over 5 mm with non-shrink cement grout. Posts plumb within 5 mm over their height. |
View the original table
9. Lamp posts, cables and goals
Where 6 m lamp posts are included, the source shows a PE duct of Ø50 mm with a draw wire cast into the concrete to every lamp-post location and back to the power supply. Ducts finish beside the base plate on the court side of the post. Their final routes must avoid the anchor zones and match the order drawing.
A local electrician provides lighting circuits, protection and earthing to the applicable wiring requirements; the source refers to IEC 60364 or the national equivalent and requires bonding of the steel fence to earth.
The source proposes the same base plate and anchors for its lamp posts, and bolts goals and basketball units to fence posts without separate footings. Confirm those particular attachments and their reactions in the project design; do not transfer the detail to different columns or equipment without review. Freestanding goals must be secured against tipping using the actual goal manufacturer's approved method. EN 748 and EN 16579 are referenced; ground sockets cast into the base are one source example, not a universal fixing method.
10. Tolerances and handover checklist
Complete this reference checklist before enclosure installation. Record actual measurements, dates, photographs and test reports, identify the checker and resolve departures against the approved project design. Send the completed package to PadelSpan for equipment-interface coordination. Empty boxes do not indicate acceptance or a test already completed.
The values below are the documented arrangement's acceptance criteria and must be reconciled with the actual project specification. A drainage observation after rain or a hose test does not replace hydraulic design or any specified infiltration test.
Swipe to see all columns
| Item number | Check | Requirement | How | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Setting out | 25,000 × 15,000 ± 10 mm; diagonals 29,155, difference ≤ 20 mm | Tape or total station | To record |
| 2 | Level of the concrete under the fence line | ± 5 mm between points 3 m apart; ± 10 mm over the whole court | Level at every post position | To record |
| 3 | Strip width and position | 200 inside / 400 outside the post centre line, -0 / +50 mm | Tape | To record |
| 4 | Flatness of the playing-surface base | Gap ≤ 6 mm under a 3 m straightedge, both directions | Straightedge and wedge, EN 13036-7 | To record |
| 5 | Sub-base compaction | ≥ 98 % Standard Proctor, or Ev2 ≥ 80 MPa and Ev2/Ev1 ≤ 2.5 | At least 3 tests | To record |
| 6 | Concrete strength | C30/37 outdoors, C25/30 indoors, at 28 days | Cubes or cylinders, EN 12390-3 | To record |
| 7 | Concrete age before anchoring | ≥ 28 days (or as the anchor's ETA allows) | Delivery notes | To record |
| 8 | Anchor zone | No bars in the top 150 mm (Figure 2) | Photos before casting | To record |
| 9 | Joints (Type A) | ≥ 300 mm from every post on the layout drawing; filled | Tape | To record |
| 10 | Drainage (Types B, C) | No standing water 30 minutes after heavy rain or a hose test | Visual | To record |
| 11 | Ducts (if lighting) | At every lamp post, ends sealed and marked | Visual | To record |
| 12 | Site | Clean, truck access to the court edge, 230 V power for drills | Visual | To record |
View the original table
11. Sequence of work
Use the sequence after the local design and order layout have been agreed. Record acceptance at each stage before work is concealed or the next trade starts.
- 1. Survey and set out against the order-specific layout drawing.
- 2. Excavate, prepare and test the subgrade; install drainage where required.
- 3. Place and compact the sub-base, then carry out the specified tests.
- 4. Install formwork, reinforcement, sleeves and ducts; keep the anchor zone clear and check levels.
- 5. Pour and cure the concrete for at least seven days under the reference procedure; saw-cut Type A joints within the agreed cutting window.
- 6. Install the levelling layer or porous asphalt for Types B and C.
- 7. Complete the handover checklist and submit the test results and photographs.
- 8. At the reference 28-day stage, subject to demonstrated concrete strength and the selected anchor requirements, set out, assemble and align the fence and install anchors.
- 9. Lay turf and fit the goals and nets, completing the agreed final checks.
12. Standards referenced by the source
The following list reproduces the standards and subjects named in the source document. It does not certify the court or confirm the latest edition, national adoption, applicability or compliance. The appointed professionals must identify the applicable requirements and selected product documentation for the actual project.
This guide and its drawings explain the documented 15 × 25 m arrangement. They do not replace the site-specific design or the order's binding setting-out drawing. Keep the approved revision, inspection records, product instructions and as-built details with the handover package.
Swipe to see all columns
| Standard | Subject | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1990, EN 1991-1-4 | Basis of design; wind actions | Design values, wind on the fence |
| EN 1992-1-1, EN 1992-4 | Concrete structures; fastenings in concrete | Strip, slab, anchor design |
| EN 1997-1 | Geotechnical design | Ground, bearing, frost |
| EN 206, EN 13670 | Concrete: specification; execution | Concrete class, exposure, curing |
| EN 12390-3 | Testing hardened concrete: compressive strength | Strength tests |
| EN 13242, EN 13285, EN 13286-2 | Aggregates and unbound mixtures; Proctor test | Sub-base |
| EN 13036-7 | Unevenness: straightedge test | Flatness |
| EN 12616, EN 15330-1 | Water infiltration; synthetic turf | Drainage, turf |
| EN 15312 | Free-access multi-sports equipment | Public football cages |
| EN 748, EN 16579 | Football goals; goals – safety | Goal fixing |
| EAD 330499, EAD 330232 | Bonded / mechanical fasteners for concrete (ETA) | Anchor approval |
| IEC 60364 | Low-voltage electrical installations | Lighting |
View the original table
Further reference
Sources & scope
- FIFA: Installing Football Turf
- Hilti: Base plate anchor design inputs
- Sport England: Outdoor surfaces and facility design guidance (UK context)
Our technical team translates your site layout, equipment choices and local construction requirements into a coordinated manufacturing and delivery brief.