Radiant panels are a strong choice for sports hall heating, and for other large, mid-height spaces such as leisure centres, school gyms, workshops and community halls. Hung at high level, radiant panels warm the people, floor and surfaces below instead of the whole volume of air, so less heat collects under the roof, there is no fan noise or draught, and walls and floor stay clear. Radiant panels also work at low water temperatures, which suits heat pumps. S & P Coil Products Limited (SPC), a Leicester-based HVAC manufacturer with more than 50 years in the industry, supplies iTwelve Industrial Radiant Panels for open, mid-height halls and Thermatile TEN-TWELVE Radiant Panels for suspended ceiling and free-hanging applications.
For warehouses, factories and loading bays, read Why Does Radiant Heating Make Sense for Industrial Buildings This Autumn?
Why are sports halls hard to heat with warm air?
Warm air rises. In a sports hall with a high ceiling, heated air collects under the roof, a pattern known as stratification. The air at roof level ends up warmer than the air at floor level, where players and spectators actually are, and the roof loses more heat as a result.
Air movement is the second challenge. Warm air systems rely on fans to push heat back down to the occupied zone, which adds background noise and can affect draught-sensitive sports such as badminton. Warm air can still suit some buildings, but in a tall, open hall it works against the way warm air naturally behaves.
How does radiant heating work in a sports hall?
Radiant panels heat a sports hall mainly by radiation, in the same way the sun warms your skin on a cold, clear day. In iTwelve Industrial Radiant Panels, about 70 to 75% of the output is radiant, so the heat reaches the floor and the people on it rather than the air under the roof.
Because comfort comes from the radiant effect, the air in a radiant-heated hall can be held at a lower temperature for the same comfort, which reduces heat losses and limits the build-up of warm air at high level. Radiant panel zones are usually controlled with black bulb sensors, which measure the effective temperature people feel rather than air temperature alone.
Which SPC radiant panels suit sports halls and mid-height spaces?
The right radiant panel for a sports hall depends mainly on the ceiling and the size of the space: iTwelve for long runs across open, mid-height halls, and Thermatile TEN-TWELVE for suspended ceilings or free-hanging panels in smaller halls, studios and activity rooms.
iTwelve Industrial Radiant Panels for open, mid-height halls
iTwelve Industrial Radiant Panels are SPC’s industrial radiant panel for sports halls, leisure centres, warehouses and workshops with an open roof structure. Each iTwelve panel has 12 mm copper tubes flattened into a ‘D’ profile and bonded to a 1 mm aluminium radiating panel.
- 300 mm wide modules up to 3 m long, hung up to four wide
- Runs typically up to 40 m on one water circuit, or the full length of the hall with circuits in parallel
- Around 5.5 kg dry per 3 m module, keeping loads on the roof structure low
- No welding on site: panels join with crimp fittings or flexible hoses
- Layouts, outputs and pressure drops designed by SPC engineers for each project
Thermatile TEN-TWELVE Radiant Panels for suspended ceiling and free-hanging applications
Thermatile TEN-TWELVE Radiant Panels suit halls, studios and activity rooms with a suspended ceiling. The 600 mm wide panels drop into a standard T-bar grid in place of ceiling tiles, with plasterboard, free-hanging and wall-mounted versions also available. Thermatile TEN is used for single panels up to 3.6 m, and Thermatile TWELVE joins into continuous runs for longer ceilings. Both are manufactured in Leicester, with outputs independently tested to EN 14037. See our guide to Thermatile TEN-TWELVE installation types.
Do radiant panels work with heat pumps and low temperature systems?
Yes. Radiant panels have a large emitting surface, so they deliver useful output at the lower water temperatures typical of heat pumps. iTwelve outputs are published from a mean water temperature just 15°C above room air, and Thermatile TEN-TWELVE outputs from 20°C above room air.
Heat pump compatibility matters for sports halls and leisure centres being upgraded under programmes such as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. SPC confirms outputs, flow rates and pressure drops for every run at design stage, so the panels are matched to the flow temperatures of the chosen plant.
What should you check when specifying sports hall heating with radiant panels?
Mounting height
The minimum mounting height of a radiant panel depends on the mean water temperature: the hotter the water, the higher the panel, so people below are not uncomfortable from uneven radiant heat. Where people are moving around, as in a sports hall, higher water temperatures or lower mounting heights can be used. Sport England’s sports hall design guidance sets out the space each sport needs, and SPC confirms panel positions in the drawings for each project.
Ball guards and impact resistance
The sports hall version of iTwelve is built to comply with DIN 18032-3, the standard for ball impact safety in sports halls. It has a fully folded construction with the pipe connections hidden, domed mesh ball guards and no gaps between modules across the panel width. Thermatile panels can be fitted with rigid plastic ball guards that stop balls and shuttlecocks becoming trapped.
Quiet operation and zoning
Radiant panels have no fans or motors, so a radiant-heated sports hall stays quiet for matches, lessons, exams and community events. Zones are controlled by valves, which makes it simple to heat only the areas in use.
Where have SPC radiant panels been used in sports halls?
At St Mary’s Community and Leisure Centre in Southampton, iTwelve Industrial Radiant Panels heat the open sports hall as part of a low-carbon upgrade developed in line with Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme objectives. Installed by MJG Mechanical Services Ltd, the scheme uses six free-hanging 24 m runs of 900 mm wide sports hall panels with ball guards.
At Cannock Chase High School in Staffordshire, SPC free-hanging radiant panels heat the sports hall and gym, working with a new air source heat pump. The installer highlighted the ease of installation and manageable panel weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when specified. iTwelve panels can cool when connected to a reversible heat pump, and free-hanging Thermatile TEN-TWELVE panels supplied without insulation can also cool. The chilled water is kept above the dew point of the room air so the panels do not sweat.
Send SPC your drawings and design conditions. SPC engineers will design the panel layout, outputs, flow rates and pressure drops for each run, and the technical sales team can visit site before order.
Very little. With no fans, filters or motors, radiant panels only need an occasional wipe with a dry cloth or non-abrasive detergent. Any system inhibitors must suit copper pipework and EPDM rubber hoses.
Thermatile TEN-TWELVE BIM objects for ceiling grid and free-hanging panels are free to download from SPC on bimstore. For iTwelve, SPC engineers design each layout and supply the project drawings.
Talk to SPC about your sports hall heating
Whether you are designing a new sports hall, upgrading a leisure centre or heating a mid-height commercial space, SPC can design your radiant panel layout and support the project from survey to commissioning. SPC is ISO 9001:2015 certified, and our CIBSE approved Radiant Heating & Cooling Panels CPD can be delivered to your practice.
Call 0116 249 0044, email spc@spc-hvac.co.uk or use the form below to send us your drawings.
Product information and literature were correct at the time of publishing. For the latest brochures, IOMs and data sheets, visit our Literature page.