Sports facility · Heating
Heating in sports facility: what the SRI measures
The heating domain looks at how smartly a building controls its heat: per room or centrally, based on occupancy and outdoor temperature, and whether the boiler or heat pump follows demand. Heat storage and fault reporting are part of it too.
In short
- 1Sports halls and swimming pools consume significant energy for heating, hot water, and air handling.
- 2The heating domain counts in full at 3 out of 3 for the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for this building type.
- 3This page shows which smart-ready services for heating are assessed and at which functionality levels.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat emission control H-1a · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Individual room control with communication and occupancy detection | highest level |
| Emission control for TABS (heating mode) H-1b · 4 levels | No automatic control | Advanced central automatic control with intermittent operation and/or room temperature feedback control | – |
| Storage and shifting of thermal energy H-1c · A · 3 levels | None | HW storage vessels controlled based on external signals (from BACS or grid) | highest level |
| Control of distribution pumps in networks H-1d · 5 levels | No automatic control | Variable speed pump control (external demand signal) | – |
| Thermal Energy Storage (TES) for building heating (excluding TABS) H-1f · 4 levels | Continuous storage operation | Heat storage capable of flexible control through grid signals (e.g. DSM) | – |
| Heat generator control (all except heat pumps) H-2a · A · 3 levels | Constant temperature control | Variable temperature control depending on the load (e.g. depending on supply water temperature set point) | highest level |
| Heat generator control (for heat pumps) H-2b · A · 4 levels | On/Off-control of heat generator | Variable control of heat generator capacity depending on the load AND external signals from grid | highest level |
| Sequencing in case of different heat generators H-2d · 5 levels | Priorities only based on running time | Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current AND predicted load, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, capacity of generators AND external signals from grid) | – |
| Report information regarding heating system performance H-3 · A · 5 levels | None | Central or remote reporting of performance evaluation including forecasting and/or benchmarking; also including predictive management and fault detection | highest level |
| Flexibility and grid interaction H-4 · 5 levels | No automatic control | Optimized control of heating system based on local predictions and grid signals (e.g. through model predictive control) | – |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 28 percentage points (from 24 to 52 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does heating count so heavily for sports facilities?
Sports halls and swimming pools have large, difficult-to-heat spaces. Swimming pools also consume considerable energy for hot water and air dehumidification.
For this reason, the heating domain (H) receives the highest weighting factor of 3 out of 3 for this building type. Smart control of heat has a direct impact on energy consumption.
Which smart-ready services are assessed?
The Smart Readiness Indicator examines multiple smart-ready services within the heating domain. Each service receives a functionality level from 0 to 4, depending on how advanced the control is.
- H-1a assesses the control of heat output, for example by field or zone, with or without occupancy detection.
- H-1b applies to buildings with TABS (thermally activated building systems) in heating mode.
- H-1c concerns hot water storage, relevant for swimming pools with large buffer tanks.
- H-1d assesses the control of distribution pumps in the piping network.
- H-1f concerns thermal energy storage for the building heating itself.
- H-2a and H-2b assess the control of the heat generator, depending on type: boiler or heat pump.
- H-2d concerns load allocation when multiple heat generators are present.
- H-3 assesses reporting on heating system performance.
- H-4 examines flexibility and interaction with the electricity grid.
What does this mean for a sports hall or swimming pool in practice?
Peak use in evenings and weekends requires controls that can quickly adjust to occupancy and demand. Services such as H-1a and H-2b reward systems that respond to these changes.
For swimming pools, hot water storage (H-1c) plays a larger role than in a standard sports hall, since hot water is needed continuously. The score on this domain depends heavily on the type of installation already in place.
How does this relate to the building automation obligation?
Sports facilities with heating or cooling capacity above 290 kilowatts have been subject to the building automation requirement under Article 13 of the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) since the end of 2024. From the end of 2029, this requirement applies above 70 kilowatts.
The Smart Readiness Indicator itself remains voluntary, but the European Commission must adopt a delegated act by 30 June 2027 that is expected to make the SRI mandatory for buildings other than residential above 290 kilowatts.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As a municipal or private owner, have your heating control level assessed, especially for H-1c and H-2b if a swimming pool is present. This shows you where investments in smart control will have the most effect on energy costs and score.
- Tenant
- As a user or occupant, you will notice a better Smart Readiness Indicator mainly through more stable temperatures by field or zone and shorter waiting times for hot water. A higher score on heating usually points to fewer faults and a more predictable indoor climate.
- Advisor
- When assessing, distinguish between method A and method B, and check whether TABS (thermally activated building systems) are present for H-1b. Pay special attention to H-1c and H-2b for swimming pools, as hot water storage and heat generator type carry significant weight in the score.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?