Don’t score an own goal with your back-up power systems

Date: 28/11/24

Nobody wants to see power failures leading to abandoned matches and thousands of disappointed fans leaving the stadium, as happened last night at Fratton Park.

While we can't be certain what caused the floodlights to fail at the Portsmouth vs. Millwall fixture, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance for football clubs to have robust, well-maintained back-up power systems - especially during the colder winter months.

Identifying key players

Floodlights present unique challenges due to their massive power requirements and the operational nature of certain bulb types (some of which can need time to cool down and restrike), which can result in rare outages that are hard to prevent.

However, clubs can take proactive steps to ensure other critical infrastructure - particularly life safety systems - remains operational.

First and foremost, it's crucial to have a clear plan outlining which systems must stay functional at all times during a power failure, such as emergency lighting and public address systems.

Once these essential systems are identified, clubs should evaluate the current back-up power arrangements for these systems to ensure they can handle rapid switchovers and maintain continuous supply.

Maintaining elite performance

Regularly reviewing maintenance schedules for generators and other back-up equipment is also vital. A robust process on paper means little if it doesn't perform when needed.

Over time, maintenance routines can become lax, and critical steps might be missed, leading to equipment failure at the moment it is most needed.

A strong maintenance process should include the following:

• Regular generator tests (every month as a minimum) to ensure everything works and to keep moving parts lubricated.
• Regular inspection of the generator - including fuel and coolant hoses, engine heaters and battery chargers.
• Check the fuel is topped up and fresh. Remember, diesel can begin to degrade after around a year.
• Make sure the oil’s topped up too; many generators have automatic shut off functions if the oil is running too low.

In addition, all staff should be trained in how to make these checks and what to do in the event of an unexpected cut.

Top of the league

Not every club has Premier League budgets to invest in back-up power systems. However, clubs at all levels of the game can significantly reduce the risks of critical failures by regularly maintaining and testing the systems they already have in place.

We support a range of football clubs at all levels of the league pyramid – from Champions League to National League – with their back-up power requirements. For more advice and support with your emergency power systems, get in touch on 0845 437 9750 or https://www.central-power.co.uk/contact/.

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