LED sports facility lighting

Sports areas require homogeneous, glare-free light for safe activities, while glare for residents must meet minimum requirements.

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Optimal conditions for top sporting performance

Why LED lighting is so important for sports facilities

Lighting plays a crucial role in sports by positively influencing athletes' concentration, performance and motivation. Well-planned lighting enables players to perform their activities safely and efficiently. For sports facilities, it is essential to provide homogeneous and glare-free light that meets the needs of both athletes and spectators. In addition, the needs of local residents must also be taken into account in order to avoid glare and meet minimum requirements.

Challenges at professional competitions

Lighting planning reaches its maximum complexity at professional competitions. Here, cameras and advertising must be taken into account. Not only do the lighting and uniformity values increase in accordance with the regulations, but vertical illuminance levels, possible flicker effects for HD cameras and grandstand lighting must also be taken into account.

Lighting classes for sports facilities

The DIN EN-12193 standard divides the lighting requirements for sports facilities into three classes:

Class I: High performance training in combination with spectators
Class II: Regional competitions, high performance training
Class III: General training, sports lessons and leisure activities

Key factors for good sports lighting

Illuminance levels and horizontal uniformity

For optimum lighting, it is important to consider not only the illuminance and uniformity on the playing field itself, but also the peripheral areas. For safety reasons, these must achieve a minimum illuminance level in relation to the main playing field, depending on the type of sport.

Glare

To avoid glare for players, cameras and spectators, the GR values of the DIN EN-12193 standard must be complied with. The glare rating takes into account luminance, position, size and number of light sources. A scale from 10 (no glare) to 60 (unacceptable) is used for the assessment.

Environments

Outdoor sports facilities are often located in environments with roads, buildings or other facilities. When planning lighting, it is important to ensure that the light remains on the playing field and that the limit values in the surrounding area are complied with.

Flicker

Flicker is particularly critical in sports facilities, as high-resolution cameras can detect and transmit this flicker. The maximum permissible flicker values vary depending on the level of competition and are particularly important for slow-motion broadcasts.

Color rendering index (CRI) and television lighting consistency index (TLCI)

The CRI describes how colors are reproduced by an artificial light source in relation to daylight. For television broadcasts, the TLCI describes the requirements for color rendering to ensure an excellent representation of the colors of players' jerseys, skin tones and advertising boards.

Areas of application for LED sports facility lighting

  • Normal-sized soccer pitch lighting: Strong, uniform lighting for optimum playing conditions.
  • Small pitch lighting: Customizable lighting solutions for smaller pitches.
  • Outdoor lighting for tennis courts: Glare-free lighting for clear visibility during fast rallies.
  • Indoor lighting for paddle courts: Uniform, flicker-free lighting for precise play.
  • Outdoor lighting for basketball courts: Bright and uniform to make fast movements clearly visible.
  • Lighting for school sports: Safe and motivating light for a wide range of sports activities.
  • Lighting for field field hockey pitches: Uniform lighting for fast and safe games.
  • Lighting for ice hockey pitches: High illuminance and color consistency for a clear view of the playing field.
  • Lighting for athletics: Uniform lighting throughout the tracks and fields.
  • Outdoor lighting for rugby pitches: Robust and bright lighting for intense games.
  • Lighting for baseball fields: Precise lighting for safe and exciting games.

The right LED lighting for sports facilities is a key element for safe and successful sporting activities. By taking into account the different classes, key factors and specific areas of application, optimal lighting design can be achieved that meets the needs of athletes as well as the requirements of spectators and local residents.


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