Define the connection before selecting a fastener
Start with the selected court model and the design reactions at its base connections. Identify the plate geometry, hole pattern, intended support condition and the actual concrete member. The designer needs these inputs together; a fastener diameter without its surrounding geometry is not an anchorage design.
Hilti's base-plate guidance identifies loads, base material, edge distances, spacing and environmental conditions among the inputs to fastening design. For a padel project, keep those inputs linked to the court and foundation drawing revisions. If a canopy or other equipment shares a support, establish the combined interface through the project design.
Request the complete approved product package
Record the exact anchor product and configuration selected by the responsible designer, together with the applicable approval, design output and installation instructions. Check that the instructions supplied to the installer correspond to that configuration. Similar-looking anchors or threaded rods should not be substituted through a purchasing description alone.
Mechanical and adhesive anchors transfer load differently, as Hilti's technical explanation sets out. Adhesive systems also require their specified curing conditions before loading. Neither category is automatically the correct choice for every padel court. The approved design and product documentation establish the installation, environmental and loading conditions for the actual connection.
| Package item | What it should identify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Design basis | Court reactions and foundation geometry | Connects the fastener to the real structure |
| Product identity | Exact system, size, material and approval | Prevents unreviewed substitution |
| Installation | Current instructions and required equipment | Defines the accepted site procedure |
| Inspection | Checks, records and responsible parties | Makes acceptance traceable |
| Changes | Designer-approved correction route | Controls departures from the design |
Check the concrete and layout before drilling
Verify the accepted post survey, concrete readiness evidence and the locations of reinforcement or services relevant to the proposed holes. Check that the anchor positions still match the approved member and edge geometry. Identify existing damage, cracks or abandoned holes for review before work proceeds in that area.
Agree the drilling and dust-control method through the contractor's site procedure and product instructions. If the drill encounters an unexpected obstruction, stop the affected operation and record it. Moving the hole, cutting reinforcement or changing embedment is a design issue; the installer should receive an approved detail before continuing.
Record the installation at an identifiable connection
Use the same post identifiers as the survey and erection drawings. The record should show the product and batch information, installer, date, relevant site conditions and the checks required by the selected system. Record the actual measured or confirmed information rather than pre-filling every row with a standard value.
Where the instructions specify hole preparation, tightening or adhesive curing conditions, make their completion traceable. Record the equipment or method used and the required inspection evidence. Product-specific numeric values belong in the approved installation package; a public article should not supply a generic torque or hole-cleaning sequence for unrelated systems.
- Connection identifier and controlling drawing revision.
- Approved product configuration and traceability information.
- Required hole, installation and tightening checks.
- Applicable curing and loading-release information.
- Inspector, exceptions and accepted corrective action.
Treat exceptions as controlled changes
Keep a short exception register for misplaced holes, damaged concrete, product substitutions or plate-fit problems. Include photographs and dimensions that let the designer evaluate the actual condition. An instruction such as move the anchor slightly is incomplete unless the revised connection and affected checks are defined.
Mark superseded or abandoned locations on the as-built record. After correction, repeat the checks identified by the approved resolution and record acceptance. This prevents a later installer from using an old hole or assuming an unused fastener position is intentional. It also preserves the reason why a connection differs from the standard erection drawing.
Hand over a connection file, not a bag of spare anchors
Combine the design package, product documents, survey, installation records and correction history into a file the owner can retain. Include the relevant inspection and maintenance instructions supplied for the installed system. Photographs of finished base plates are useful, but cannot establish hidden embedment or recreate missing installation evidence.
The LTA's UK guidance connects court anchorage with site-specific structural design. For other locations, identify the local design and approval route with the appointed professionals. In a PadelSpan project discussion, ask for the current base-plate layout and agree who supplies, designs, installs and accepts the anchors before the equipment and civil works are ordered.
Further reference
Sources & scope
- Hilti — base-plate fastening design inputs
- Hilti — mechanical and adhesive post-installed anchors
- LTA construction guidance — UK site-specific foundation and anchorage context
Our technical team translates your site layout, equipment choices and local construction requirements into a coordinated manufacturing and delivery brief.
