Key lighting considerations for sports facilities
For any sport practised in an indoor facility, lighting is crucial. Good visibility prevents accidents, enhances the venue experience and enables team members to coordinate. In this post, we discuss the criteria that should be followed to achieve adequate lighting.
This article addresses...
- How lighting affects the experience in indoor facilities
- Current regulations
- Types of lights based on lighting requirements
How lighting affects the experience in indoor facilities
Lighting is important in any covered space but takes on an even greater role when it comes to 7. These are venues where people hone and test their abilities, and without adequate visibility throughout the space, this becomes a more complicated task.
The main aspects to consider are as follows:
- Ensuring a proper experience. Lighting is fundamental in football, basketball and other sports. Players can become disorientated and uneasy if they cannot see properly. Poor lighting can prevent them from seeing the lines on the floor, the ball or the field of play.
- Spectator visibility. It’s not only the players who are affected by poor lighting. Spectators may not be able to see the action, particularly if seated further from the field of play. Whether at an exhibition match or a tournament, they may lose interest in the game, feel annoyed, complain or even leave the venue altogether.
- TV broadcasts. Visibility must be even greater in this case. Otherwise, the cameras cannot capture sharp images of the game. If the game is being recorded, poor lighting may affect image quality in some parts. And for live broadcasts, the viewers at home could miss out on all the action.
- Accident prevention. Poor lighting increases the chances of bumping into someone or tripping and makes it more difficult to gauge distance. Player safety is jeopardised, and this is never acceptable.
Current regulations
Lighting in covered sports facilities is governed in Spain by the UNE regulations for sports installations. These provide standards for lighting in such venues, whether indoors or outdoors, and ensure that the main sports can be played safely.
The regulations provide lighting specifications for each type of space and use. These cover illuminance, uniformity, brightness limits and the colour of the light sources. The specs also address lighting quality requirements for TV broadcasts and recordings.
The regulations effectively establish minimum requirements for luminaires and set out where these should be installed to maximise their efficiency. The most important regulation is UNE-EN 12193:2020.
Types of lights based on lighting requirements
The regulations set out mandatory lighting limits based on three types of use:
- Class I, high-level competitions;
- Class II, mid-level competitions; and
- Class III, which covers training, physical education and other recreational sporting activities.
The requirements vary depending on the sport and whether or not an event is televised.
The aforementioned lighting classes apply to both indoor facilities and outdoor sports grounds and ensure that the spectators get a clear view of the proceedings, whether watching in the venue or from their own home. And of course, the players will not suffer from glare, poor visibility or other problems resulting from incorrect lighting choices.
Since the UNE regulations align with international standards, lighting companies have an easier job installing and maintaining the light fixtures. And, quality is guaranteed regardless of the venue, meaning more people win.
Specialist products from SECOM
SECOM supplies a range of luminaires for sports grounds. The Protek Q2, for example, provides adequate lighting and is easy to instal, and its LED modules ensure enough light is available at all times.
The Protek Q2 can be installed on walls, posts or ledges and the watertight connector enables rapid connection to the electricity supply. This luminaire provides clean lighting which is always suitable for the activity in question. LED technology means the luminaire has a long useful life reaching tens of thousands of hours, with consequent significant energy savings.
Outstanding SECOM projects
SECOM has experience of installing light fixtures indoors and in sports facilities, including the Gallur Municipal Sports Centre in Madrid. This project complied with all current regulations and incorporated the best solutions available. Spectators and sportspeople alike can enjoy the facilities without fear of any lighting issues.
Light must be of a suitable quality to ensure the right visibility conditions for the sport in question. The building characteristics are also a factor, but not at the expense of legal lighting requirements. SECOM carries out complex lighting projects that seek high-quality results and client satisfaction, always in compliance with the highest current standards.
In short, lighting for indoor sports facilities requires the best quality luminaires and consideration of the needs of those who will use the space. Proper lighting in this case ensures that players can enjoy their sports safely at all times.
