Guide to sports lighting levels

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Guide to sports lighting levels

What you need to know Sports lighting brochure Sports lighting

Lighting levels for exterior sports lighting are considerably lower than daylight levels and usually lower than for the same sport played indoors. This is because there is generally greater subject contrast outdoors, with a dark sky backdrop, giving good adaptation levels. Illuminance levels are dependent upon the difficulty of the visual task.

Guide to sports lighting levels In general, fast action, a small playing object (cricket ball) and long viewing distance will require high lighting levels. A slower speed, larger playing object (football) and closer viewing distance will require lower lighting levels. Exterior sports lighting is provided to achieve either supervised training, club, national, international or CTV coverage. Various lighting guides and lighting specifications are available, recommending appropriate illuminance levels for individual sports. Within Europe, a European Standard exists covering minimum sports lighting levels EN 12193:2007. In addition many sports governing bodies also provide separate specific lighting requirements. Most recommendations of individual sports lighting levels are divided into classes of play: Class I - Top Level Competition. Class II - Intermediate Level Competition. Class III - Lower Level Competition & Supervised Training. Lighting for CTV broadcasting has specific requirements and recommendations (CIE No.83:1989). The table below provides a selection of recommended lighting levels for principle sports in accordance with EN 12193:2007.

Guide to sports lighting levels

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Guide to sports lighting levels

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Recommendations of Minimum Lighting Levels

(Table 1)

Illuminance Level (Em. Horizontal) Lux * (Non CTV) Sport Em Lux Athletics Baseball Basketball Bowls (Flat Green) Cricket Grounds Equestrian Football (soccer) Hockey Horse racing Netball Rugby Tennis Volleyball Sq Field In Fld Out Fld 500 750 500 500 300 750 500 500 500 500 200 500 500 500 500 Class I Uo Min/ave 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 Em Lux 200 500 300 200 200 500 300 200 200 200 100 200 200 300 200 Class II Uo Min/ave 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6 Em Lux 50 to 100 300 200 75 100 300 200 100 75 200 50 75 75 200 75 Class III Uo Min/ave 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 I 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50

Glare Rating (GR)

II 55 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50

III 55 55 55 55 50 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55

* Em is the Maintained Illuminance Level (specification level) and is the design illuminance level, below which the lighting should not be allowed to fall during the period to planned maintenance. Whilst every endeavour is undertaken to provide accurate information, Abacus Lighting recommends that the relevant sport guides and standards or the appropriate individual sport governing body be consulted to ensure full compliance with requirements. Caution: Lighting specifications for locations outside UK may differ from those stated on this web site.

Guide to sports lighting levels

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Guide to sports lighting levels

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Guide to sports lighting levels

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