The National Cycling Centre in Manchester, home to the UK’s first indoor Olympic-standard cycling track, has recently undergone a major £27 million refurbishment to modernise its facilities and improve performance for both athletes and visitors. As part of this extensive upgrade, Sontay solutions were specified to provide reliable monitoring and control across the site, ensuring optimal environmental conditions within the velodrome arena.

The project, delivered between April 2022 and June 2023, required general Building Management System (BMS) monitoring with a particular focus on air quality and gas detection. This was essential due to the unique use of the indoor arena, which accommodates not only elite cycling but also motorcycle training and events. Monitoring for air quality and potential gas build-up was therefore a critical safety requirement.

To meet these objectives, a range of Sontay products were deployed, including SC-S210000, GS-AQ-S, OC-C-LVN, TT-S-A-SP, TT-PO-521, TT-555-A, TT-D-A, TT-I-A, TT-C-A, TT-O-A, TT-S-A, and GS-CO2-S. The smart sensors were mounted on custom-fabricated back plates and protected with Sontay cages, with installations positioned both around the spectator barrier and on posts across the arena floor. This ensured accurate, tamper-proof monitoring while maintaining accessibility for ongoing maintenance.

One of the technical challenges faced during installation was a clash of device addresses, despite the use of two separate BACnet gateways. This was successfully resolved by re-addressing Network #2 to follow the sequence of Network #1, eliminating duplicate addresses and ensuring smooth system communication.

The result is a reliable and flexible monitoring system that supports the Velodrome’s operational requirements while enhancing safety for athletes, staff, and spectators. By delivering accurate air quality and gas detection data directly into the BMS, the system provides the reassurance needed for events that involve motorcycles as well as cycling, without compromising the experience of those in the arena.

With ISG acting as the main contractor and Waterman Group as project architect and specifier, the refurbishment demonstrates the value of intelligent building solutions in supporting complex, high-performance environments. Through robust sensor design and thoughtful integration, Sontay has played a key role in safeguarding the future of this iconic sporting venue.