From the design of the electric system to the wiring of the distribution boards, ensuring sufficient energy for every function of the sports facility, requires experience, competence and an accurate evaluation. Let’s take a look at the essential steps and the importance of relying on industry professionals, in order to make the right investment based on the services that can be combined with products on the market.

The electrical system of a sports centre is a complex system that connects numerous different devices to ensure continuity of service throughout the facility, and it also has to handle the flow of electricity at very high amperage. 

It all starts from the transformer cabinet, where the electricity arrives. This enters the main distribution board, a box that contains several protection devices known as circuit breakers. An electrical load appropriate to their size and capacity is connected to each of them.

From the main board, the current branches out to a sub-board, which in turn directs the current through a series of sub-boards of ever decreasing sizes. 

Particularly extensive systems have numerous distribution boards, arranged along a similar number of lines that create the secondary distribution. The main distribution board can handle up to several thousand amps, as it is responsible for the entire electrical supply.

To make a size comparison, the system in a private home is, on average, no more than 25 amps. The larger the system, the larger the capacity of the main distribution board, as in  the stadiums of the top football teams.

Therefore, a sports facilitywill have  numerous circuit breakers distributed among distribution boards of various sizes that can handle the general flow down to the functions of an individual room, for example a refrigerator in the meeting room or the lighting in the locker rooms.

Another aspect that differentiates one distribution board from another is the ability to withstand weather exposure. Some panels are designed to be waterproof in order to operate outside of the building.

How to create an electrical system for a sports centre As required by law, every system that exceeds 6 kW must have an electrical plan drawn up by a registered engineer hired by the client, who takes responsibility for the success of the plan.

The installer is required to issue an electrical compliance certificate, often drafted through the use of  free software. Given the complexity of large systems, these measures safeguard the client, as the designer and installer assume responsibility for the work and for the proper installation of the system.

They then move on to the estimate stage. Once again, software provided by the manufacturer is used here, allowing a very precise estimate to be drawn up in a much shorter time.

Based on the client's needs, the designer compiles a list of necessary elements on the software, such a water pumps, lamps and masts. At this stage, the designer also determines the amperage of the circuit breakers and switchboards, ensuring that they are sufficient to handle the power requirements.

Once the plan for the electrical system has been designed, the installer implements it using the most suitable products. In the case of tight completion deadlines or to simplify complex projects, the installer may opt for distribution boards pre-wired by the manufacturer, who selects all the elements for them, with no need for purchase and assembly of separate components.

The manufacturer certifies the pre-wired boards and the installer can attach the certification to the declaration of electrical conformity once the work is completed. This ensures safety, saves time for the end client and reduces the risk of errors for which the installer would be personally liable.

The relationship with the manufacturer also facilitates the purchase of the various components required by the system: cable ducts, light fittings and so on, further reducing the preparation time for the work.

Now more than ever, it is important to turn to competent professionals to avoid accidents, service interruptions that can lead to financial losses and excessively long installation times. 

As seen above, panels pre-wired by the manufacturer save on time and are an asset in terms of safety and the quality certification of the completed work.  The software provided for this certification is critical, as it can simplify and automate several processes. 

A poorly designed system can lead to various problems: unsuitable circuit breakers for the load, which trip and interrupt the power supply, more frequent maintenance that is not always done at the proper time, and system failures that require checks and inspections of individual panels.

Therefore, it is vital to rely on companies with an established record in the industry, that can manage large projects, issue certifications in addition to those required by law, and  simplify project implementation thanks to their experience and horizontal specialisations across numerous sectors of application.