Identify the drainage strategy before assigning slopes
Ask the designer to describe the complete surface system: turf, any supporting layers, structural base and ground drainage. A permeable finish does not establish that every layer beneath it is permeable. The agreed drainage strategy determines where water is expected to move and which layer needs the designed gradient.
SAPCA's UK guidance distinguishes porous construction from nonporous surface drainage and discusses the relationship between playing-surface, enclosure and formation levels. This distinction is more useful than copying one slope onto every drawing. Label each level and arrow with the layer it describes so the contractor does not apply a formation gradient to the wrong surface.
Draw the route from rainfall to the outlet
Follow water from the court to its destination, including transitions that sit outside the equipment supply. Identify collection points, connecting pipes, inspection access and the receiving system. Ask who confirms outlet availability and any site-specific restrictions before excavation fixes the route.
Include runoff from neighbouring paving and higher ground. If a canopy is planned, show roof drainage separately before considering how it connects to the overall site system. An existing drain should be investigated by the responsible designer; its presence on a photograph does not establish usable capacity, condition, ownership or permission to connect.
| Interface | Question to resolve | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Playing build-up | Where does water leave each layer? | Coordinated surface section |
| Enclosure foundation | How does the drainage route pass it? | Approved crossing or outlet detail |
| Paths and entrances | Will adjacent runoff enter the court? | Level plan and threshold details |
| Receiving system | What connection and discharge are accepted? | Designer and authority requirements |
| Maintenance | Can collection points be inspected and cleaned? | Access and maintenance plan |
Separate local flatness from overall gradient
Flatness describes local irregularity; gradient describes the intended change in level over a distance. A uniformly sloping surface can be locally flat, while an apparently level slab can contain depressions. The construction specification should therefore define both the intended levels and the method used to check local surface regularity.
FIP's 2026 rules address surface regularity and a maximum transverse evacuation slope for surfaces without drainage. They do not prescribe one slab build-up for every climate. Apply the relevant sports requirements through the project specification and coordinate the selected surface with the enclosure supplier; do not use a maximum permitted fall as an automatic construction target.
Resolve foundation crossings before concrete is placed
A perimeter foundation can interrupt the intended water route if its drainage interfaces are missing from the drawings. Mark proposed openings, sleeves and crossing elevations on the same plan as the posts and base plates. Have the structural designer resolve their position relative to reinforcement and anchorage.
Avoid treating a late drainage hole as a routine finishing operation. A penetration can affect the structural detail or conflict with an anchor location. The approved drawings should tell the contractor what to form, what to protect and what must remain clear. Record these concealed interfaces at the pre-pour inspection.
Agree the drainage check before handover
Define how the finished system will be inspected and who will judge the results. The procedure should identify observation areas, test conditions, acceptance criteria and the treatment of defects. A photograph taken immediately after washing the slab cannot substitute for an agreed drainage check.
Record low spots, blocked collection points, incomplete outlets and unexpected water movement with their locations. Establish whether the issue concerns surface workmanship, buried drainage or an unresolved design interface. Apply the agreed correction and repeat the affected check. Do not hide a known drainage defect beneath the playing surface and transfer the uncertainty to the installer.
Hand over the water path and its maintenance access
The handover pack should contain the as-built drainage route, relevant levels, inspection locations and operating instructions. Mark areas that need to remain accessible after landscaping or storage layouts change. Maintenance teams need to know where water should go and which components they are expected to keep clear.
The LTA guidance provides UK context for site-specific drainage and canopy discharge planning. For projects elsewhere, establish the local design and discharge requirements directly. In a PadelSpan equipment enquiry, share the current level and drainage drawings so the court access, plate seats and surface interfaces can be coordinated before delivery.
Further reference
Sources & scope
- SAPCA September 2025 code — UK surface gradients and sub-court drainage, sections 2.6–2.8
- FIP Rules of Padel 2026 — ground-surface requirements
- LTA construction guidance — UK site drainage and canopy interfaces
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