The heating system was designed and built for Newport City Council by the Cardiff office of Lorne Stewart. The specification called for radiant-tube heating to provide background heating in the 7500 m2 open arena and seating area at a constant 18 and 20°C, respectively.
Over the steeply banked track and badminton courts of the main arena, 16 Nor-Ray-Vac burners, with an output of 46 kW, were installed 10 m above floor level. The seating area is warmed by three 35 kW Ambi-Rad linear radiant tubes.
The Newport International Sports Village includes the Newport Football. Athletics Stadium, a tennis centre, squash and astro-turf facilities, as well as the velodrome. The main cycling arena also has 12 badminton courts in the centre of the track, so a flexible system that could heat by zone when required was needed.
Continuous and linear radiant-tube heating can be zoned so that only areas being used need be heated directly. The Velodrome Centre has five separately controlled zones — one for the seating/spectator area and four for the track. Just one court can be heated if required.
