NOC*NSF sports products list: what changed in 2026

In this article we explain what the sports products list is, what exactly changed, and what it means for municipalities, schools and facility operators planning to build or renovate a sports hall.

What is the NOC*NSF sports products list?

The sports products list is the official register of sports products approved for competition use in the Netherlands, maintained within the NOC*NSF quality assurance system. It is the successor to the sports flooring list ("sportvloerenlijst"), which for years served as the national reference for approved indoor sports floors. The renewed list makes a clearer distinction between scopes — the different types of indoor sports floors — and sub-scopes, the specific versions in which each type is executed. That makes it easier for a non-technical decision-maker to see at a glance what a listed product actually is.

Under the previous system, a laboratory test was required to get a floor onto the list, and once a floor had been installed, the owner could voluntarily have it inspected by an accredited body. That inspection resulted in a project report and, if the floor met all requirements, a project approval. The key word was voluntary: a facility could choose to skip the on-site inspection altogether.

What changed on 1 January 2026?

Since 1 January 2026, facilities where competition is played under one of the Dutch sports federations are required to choose a sports floor from the sports products list. A floor that is not on the list may still be installed, but competition organised under a Dutch federation is then not permitted on it. For accommodations where no federation competition is played, nothing changes: they remain free to choose any floor.

The list itself is built on a European foundation. EN 14904 is the European standard that specifies the requirements for multi-purpose sports floors in indoor facilities, covering properties such as shock absorption, ball reflection and surface friction. A floor that complies with EN 14904 enters the sports products list in the base class, class 0. Suppliers who want their systems placed in a higher class — classes 1 to 3 — must additionally meet the supplementary requirements set by NOC*NSF, which go beyond the European baseline.

Perhaps the most far-reaching change is the scope of certification. Every sports floor used for competition must now be inspected by an accredited body — and the certificate is issued for the entire accommodation, not just the floor. Lighting, clear height, run-off zones, line markings, acoustics, changing rooms: the whole facility has to meet the requirements before a certificate is granted and competition may be played. Those requirements are laid down in a new NOC*NSF manual for multidisciplinary indoor sports accommodations, drawn up as part of the renewed quality assurance system.

What does this mean for your facility?

The practical consequence is that quality now has to be designed in from day one. Anyone preparing a new sports hall — or a renovation — needs to take the requirements of the new manual into account at the design stage, because a certificate for the building can only be obtained once every element complies. Line-marking drawings deserve particular attention: the requirements for court markings are strict, and the party purchasing the floor is expected to review the drawings carefully before installation.

The certificate also has a lifespan. Re-certification of the building will take place every seven years, which turns compliance from a one-off hurdle into a long-term commitment — and makes the durability of the chosen floor system a financial consideration, not just a technical one. The requirements of the new manual apply to new construction and renovation. For renovations of existing accommodations, it will always be assessed whether the new requirements are feasible at all within the existing building; where they are not, NOC*NSF can grant dispensation in certain cases.

For suppliers, the bar has moved as well. Where floors previously qualified without additional testing, suppliers will now have extra tests carried out to place their systems in the highest achievable class. For a policy adviser writing a tender, that is useful to know: the class of a listed floor tells you how far it goes beyond the European minimum.

How is Herculan responding?

At Herculan, we develop, produce and install our seamless sports floor systems ourselves, from our own lab and factory in Meerkerk. That position makes the new system a natural fit for how we already work: performance you can prove, not just promise. All systems we want placed on the sports products list are being tested against the supplementary NOC*NSF requirements, wherever those tests have not yet been carried out.

We also expect the quality assurance system itself to keep evolving. It is a new framework, and practical experience will show where procedures and the manual need adjusting. Because we control every step of the chain — from formulation to installation — we can adapt quickly when they do.

The take-away is simple. If competition is played in your facility, or will be, a floor from the sports products list is now the starting point, and the whole accommodation has to be right around it. The earlier those requirements are on the table, the smoother the road to certification. Planning a new hall or a renovation? Talk to our specialists early in the design stage — we are happy to think along.

Frequently asked questions

Is the sports products list mandatory for every sports hall?

No. The obligation applies to accommodations where competition is played under one of the Dutch sports federations. Facilities without federation competition remain free to choose a floor that is not on the list.

What is class 0 on the sports products list?

Class 0 is the base class. It means the floor complies with EN 14904, the European standard for indoor multi-purpose sports floors. Placement in classes 1 to 3 requires meeting the supplementary NOC*NSF requirements on top of that baseline.

Does the certificate cover only the sports floor?

No. Since 1 January 2026 the certificate is issued for the entire accommodation, including elements such as lighting, clear height, run-off zones, line markings, acoustics and changing rooms. The building is re-certified every seven years.

What about existing sports halls?

The requirements of the new manual apply to new construction and renovation. For renovations, it is first assessed whether the new requirements are feasible within the existing building; where they are not, NOC*NSF can grant dispensation in certain cases.