When should a stadium or arena have its electrical thermography survey: event day or non-event day?

Survey a stadium or arena when the load is there. On a non-event day most of the venue draws very little power, so the boards that matter on event day show very little. The usual answer is to time the survey around load the venue already runs: an event build, a floodlight test, or the hours before the gates open.

Why timing matters more here than almost anywhere

A thermal image shows heat from current flowing through a connection. In an office or a data centre the load is fairly steady. A stadium or arena swings from a small base load on a quiet weekday to its full design load for a few hours on an event day: floodlights or show lighting, catering, concourse heating and ventilation, broadcast supplies and big screens all at once.

A survey on a quiet weekday can only judge the boards that are busy that day. See what load a survey needs.

Three ways to plan it

Before the gates open. On an event day, most event loads are switched on hours before the public arrive. Plant rooms, switch rooms and back-of-house boards can be surveyed in that window.
On a load day the venue already has. Floodlight or lighting tests, rehearsals, event builds and conference days bring large parts of the load up without a crowd.
Split survey. Base services such as lifts, plant and office areas on a normal day; event-only circuits in a load window agreed with the venue’s engineers.

What gets imaged

Main LV switchboards and sub-main distribution
Floodlight and show-lighting distribution and contactor panels
Catering and concession boards, which often carry heavy loads for short periods
Broadcast, big-screen and temporary power supply points
Concourse air handling, heating and lift supplies
Outdoor feeder pillars and external boards. See surveying outdoor equipment in UK weather.

Access and safety on a busy day

The survey stays back of house. Covers are opened by the venue’s authorised electrician under its permit to work, and nothing is switched off. On an event day the survey finishes before the venue’s own lock-down time, and anything not reached is listed so it can be picked up in the next load window. The approach is the same as in a shopping centre that is trading. See surveying without affecting trading.

Recording the load

Because load changes so much, every image is recorded with the load at the time and the activity under way, for example floodlights on or catering running. That lets next year’s survey be compared with this one fairly, and stops a board being marked clear only because it was lightly loaded. See comparing results year on year.

Measuring under real load is the rule on every site we survey. On a London data centre build, commissioning thermography by our team found 16 busbar sections reading above 80 °C under test load, the highest 103.5 °C at a tap-off unit, each located and imaged.

Ti inspects and reports. Any finding is investigated and put right by the venue’s electrical team or contractor.

Frequently asked questions

Can the survey be done during an event?

Back-of-house switch rooms and plant rooms can be, if the venue allows it. Most venues prefer the survey to finish before the public arrive.

Is a non-event day survey enough?

For base services, often yes. For lighting, catering and event power, the survey needs a time when those circuits are carrying load.

How often should a stadium or arena be surveyed?

At least once a year is common, timed before the busiest part of the season so findings can be put right first.