Sports Facilities

Due to their very nature, sports areas are especially exposed to the risk of lightning strikes. These facilities, because of both their location and structure, require specific protection solutions that ensure the safety of attendees, staff, and infrastructure. At INGESCO, we have been developing and applying lightning protection technologies for over 50 years, specifically adapted to crowded venues where emergency response time is critical. 

From large stadiums and football fields to athletics tracks, motor circuits, or open-air multi-sport centres, we design a comprehensive shield that combines external protection, internal protection, and advanced preventive measures. Our experience has allowed us to work in some of the world’s most demanding venues, where technical reliability, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable. 

Sports facilities require a comprehensive protection shield for the following reasons: 

• They are exposed areas, where a direct lightning strike can occur at any point on the field, stands, or auxiliary zones. 
• Nearby structures do not offer sufficient protection, as their distance or height may leave large areas unprotected..   
• Thunderstorms can pose a risk to the physical safety of the public, players, and technical staff, as well as lead to unplanned emergency evacuations. 
• They host large crowds during specific events, where anticipation is key to activating safety protocols in an orderly manner. 
• The presence of electronic equipment, lighting systems, scoreboards, and communication networks makes them particularly vulnerable to overvoltages. 

To address this, INGESCO designs complete systems that combine external, internal, and preventive protection to tackle atmospheric electrical risks. 

• External Protection: We implement external protection systems based on INGESCO lightning rods or air terminals, designed to safely intercept and channel atmospheric discharges to the ground. These devices, certified under international standards UNE 21186:2011 and IEC 62305, provide effective and durable protection for large open areas. The system is completed with down conductors and grounding networks sized to ensure efficient current dissipation, minimizing the risks of structural damage, electrocution, or fire associated with direct strikes. 
• Internal Protection: This involves the installation of surge protection devices (SPDs) according to IEC 61643, placed in electrical panels, lighting systems, electronic scoreboards, and control networks. Additionally, equipotential bonding of systems is used to avoid dangerous voltage differences between metallic structures or technical areas, protecting both equipment and the public. 
• Preventive Protection: The preventive component is key in sports environments, where anticipation can prevent damage and allow for safe crowd management. For this, we offer the PREVISTORM warning system, a storm detector that monitors the atmospheric electric field in real time, and detects risk conditions before the first discharge occurs. Compliant with IEC 62793:2020, this system allows safety personnel to activate evacuation protocols, pause events, or disconnect sensitive equipment in advance, reducing the storm's impact and increasing operational response time.