The challenge: High standards for stadiums - eliminating risk

For professional and international stadiums, a very high standard of playing surface is required. It is important to eliminate the risk of match cancellations, particularly those associated with poor weather conditions e.g. heavy rainfall or ice and snow. According to FIFA’s requirements, the playing fields should be equipped with an underground heating system. 44 stadiums in 16 countries are equipped with a sports field heating system.

An electric heating system keeps the ground temperature at an appropriate level and helps to maintain a good quality playing field during the whole season. The type of heating cable or mat differs depending on type of grass—natural or artificial. There’s a wide variety of heating cables/mats and thermostats available for installation in football fields and other sport playgrounds.

The solution: A football stadium equipped with electric heating

Helsingør Stadium—the home ground of FC Helsingør—is a football stadium in Helsingør, Denmark and is equipped with electric heating. There are no floodlights, and it has a capacity of 4,500 (282 of which are covered seating).

Following FC Helsingør's promotion to the Danish Superliga for the first time in 2017, the club had to seek special dispensation to use Helsingør Stadium for top division matches. This was granted after the addition of temporary facilities and given the club's plans to construct a new stadium.

The first Superliga match at the ground was against Odense Boldklub on July 24, 2017, with a record attendance of 3,984. Another new record was set on September 17, 2017, when 5,308 people watched Helsingør's Superliga match against F.C. Copenhagen.

The result:

226 pcs of DEVIheat™ Sport 90S single conductor heating mats were installed under artificial grass together with a field heating control system from Vitani Security.

The artificial field area was divided into two control zones with output calculated according to the technical requirements. This means that the system may function depending on the requirements of each separate zone or both of them. DEVIregTM 330 / ECtemp 330 thermostats with wire sensors were selected for this purpose to be connected via contactor.

Project Overview:

Project size: 7 992 m²
System output: 90 W/m²
Installed power: Area 1: 733,37 kW; Area 2: 38,94 kW
Products: DEVIheat™ Sport 90S - 226 pcs, 360° screen, two cold leads.
Operation voltage: 230 V~
Cable dimensions: Ø 2.5 mm
Conductor insulation: FEP
Outer sheath: PVDF, red
Screen: 10 x 0,25 mm Cu threads
Min. installation temperature: -5 °C
Cold lead: 2*24 m, DSWA, 1 x 2,5 mm²
Year of implementation: 2019

Facts about electric heating:

Electric heating is energy efficient and environmentally friendly, meeting your needs in various applications. It enables great comfort and convenience while ensuring user-friendly solutions with lasting effects and the highest quality standards.

Electric heating solutions are supported by legislation in key European countries. Directives that are coming into force in the biggest European markets give the green light: use eco-friendly systems and new materials to ensure energy saving.