What is the Illumination & Colour Temperature for Athletic Field Lighting?

Lighting intensity and colour temperature of the athletic field lighting are crucial factors that should be taken into consideration. These aspects not only guarantee that the players and the audience will see the game well but also contribute to the safety and effectiveness of the athletes. In this article, we will explain the illumination standards, colour temperature standards and factors that may influence various sports fields including football, baseball and basketball fields. Finally, we will see how CHZ Lighting, a professional LED lighting manufacturer, has been successfully providing the best lighting system for athletic fields for the last eleven years.

Illumination Requirements for Athletic Fields

Illumination is measured in lux and depends on the kind of sports and the level of the competition of the game. Here's a breakdown of typical illumination requirements for different sports fields:

❚ Football Fields

• Training: 75-200 lux

• Club Competition: 200-500 lux

• Professional/International Play: 500-1000 lux

In football fields, the lighting has to be balanced so that there is no shade in some areas that the players may not be able to see very well. Proper lightning helps the players to chase the ball and see each other well thus reducing on injuries and enhancing the quality of the game.

❚ Baseball Fields

• Amateur Play: 200-500 lux

• Semi-Professional: 500-750 lux

• Professional: 750-1500 lux

Baseball needs more light on the infield since this is where most of the action takes place while the outfield needs wider lighting. Lighting should be enough so that the players can see how fast and in which direction the ball is moving. It is equally important to have the right lighting as the ball is in play most of the time at over 90 MPH.

❚ Basketball Courts

• Training: 200-300 lux

• Clubs Competition: 300-500 lux

• Professional/International Play: 500-750 lux

For instance, basketball courts are illuminated to the highest level so that the players are able to see the ball as well as other players around them. Lighting is also used at different times of the event to ensure that the audience gets the best view of the event.

Colour Temperature for Sports Lighting

Colour temperature is the measure of the colour of the light produced by a lamp and is measured in Kelvin (K). Regarding the sports lighting, it is recommended to use the colour temperature between 4000 to 6500K. Here's why:

➯ 4000K-5000K:

Produces a warm, white light that is not harsh on the eyes and also has a decent colour rendering index. This range is suitable for training and recreation since it is associated with low eye strain while at the same time allowing for comfortable playing and watching of the game.

➯ 5000K-6500K:

This gives a rather natural light which is close to the incandescent light and is suitable for seeing things clearly with natural colors. This range is suitable for professional and serious matches or tournaments since it enhances the view of the playing surface, ball, lines, and the players.

Lighting Standards for Sports Fields

Some of the recommendations for sports facility lighting come from regulatory bodies such as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). These organizations establish guidelines that assist in ensuring that facilities for athletics are well lit for safety. Key considerations include:

1. Uniformity:

Ensure that the light is distributed in a uniform manner across the field to avoid formation of shadows and glares. Uniformity is quantified using the uniformity ratio which is calculated as the ratio between minimum luminance and average luminance. Proper uniformity ratio implies that no area of the field is too bright or too dark since it can influence the players. For example, the IES recommends that the uniformity ratio for a particular lighting system should be 0.5

2. Glare Control:

One of the well-known issues in sports lighting is glare, which may be both annoying and affect the visibility. Glare control requires ensuring that all the lighting fixtures are shielded and directed towards the areas that require lighting while avoiding unnecessary lighting of other areas. It also enhances the quality of light required for play while at the same time minimizing the illumination of undesired areas.

3. Colour Rendering Index (CRI):

A CRI between 80 and 100 is required to accurately portray the colours of the objects and ensure that players and officials can make proper decisions. The CRI measures the ability of the light source to produce the color of various objects just as they would be under the normal light. High CRI is important in games which require players and officials to differentiate between colors and do it fast. This is why the lights used for the professional sports facilities must have CRI of at least 90.

Specific Considerations for Different Sports Fields

▪ Fixtures Mounting Options

LED lights are mounted on the poles or the walls and ceilings of other structures in the surrounding vicinity. The total number of light poles and the number of the lighting fixtures to be installed depends on the size of the field and the intensity of the light designed for the particular field. Common mounting options include:

Fixed Light Poles: Suitable for places that need equal illumination and are not very big in size.

Retractable Light Poles: The following are mostly installed in large facilities. They are also variable in height according to the event and can look almost similar to high mast lights.

Mobile Light Poles: It can be easily shifted to any other place as per the requirement

▪ Controlling Light Spillage

The light should not extend to the neighboring zones and should not be too bright to disturb people in the neighbouring buildings. Contemporary sports lighting systems have openings protected by enclosures with visors, side plates, and one or two layers of the backlight control system to minimize the spill of light. Efficient lighting is a science that enables one to achieve the best lighting conditions on the field while at the same time preventing light pollution. For instance, when choosing the LED fixtures, one ought to ensure that they have a backlight control rating of 1 to reduce the excess light in the surrounding area.

▪ Beam Angles

How much light will spread from a light source depends primarily on beam angles. There is the narrow beam which produces a high intensity of light in a certain area while there is the broad beam which produces low intensity light in a large area. The selection of the beam angle relies on the field diameter, the amount of lumen required, and height of the pole used in lighting.

▪ Glare Restriction

LED sports lighting systems are particularly designed in a way that may help to minimize glare so that people can see well and be comfortable. Low glare or light diffusers or asymmetrical optics are also very helpful in reducing the glare that is crucial to enhance the game for the players as well as the audience. The level of glare is also expressed in a numerical scale called the Unified Glare Rating or UGR, lower UGR means lower glare. For sports fields all over the world, a UGR of less than 19 should be used in order not to strain the eyes during the game. Most of the modern LED lights are capable of maintaining a low UGR rating since the light is well directed and well diffused by the use of specialized optical features and diffusers.

▪ Weatherproofing

Outdoor sports lighting systems have to be very robust because they are subjected to all kinds of conditions. In choosing the LED lights, it is better to use the ones that are IP65 or higher for weather protection. The Ingress Protection (IP) code defines the ability of the lighting system to protect against contact with dust and water. An IP65 rating means that the fixture is protected from the ingress of dust and from low pressure water jets from any direction. For more severe conditions such as areas with salt spray or areas with high rainfall an IP66 or IP67 rating may be more suitable.

▪ Dimming Ability

The dimming feature allows the regulation of the lighting depending on the time of the day or the particular game being conducted. It can help in conserving power during practice and use full brightness during actual games.

CHZ Lighting: Leading the Way in Sports Field Lighting

As a leading manufacturer of LED lighting solutions, at CHZ Lighting, we are proud to present products that have stood the test of time since 2013. Founded in 2013, CHZ Lighting is located in Jiading District, Shanghai, with three plants in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo, occupying a total area of 12,000 square meters. Innovation drives us and it is evident from our partnership with Fudan University, where we continuously strive to meet and exceed your growing requirements. Choose us if you want your business to shine brighter than the day.

Conclusion

The choice of the illumination and colour temperature of any athletic field lighting is a very important aspect to consider as it will have a direct impact on the player’s performance, safety, and clarity for the spectators. It is important to understand the standards and technologies to use for each game type. With our experience and advanced solutions, we offer safe, energy-saving, and high-quality lighting for every type of facility that requires sports lighting. If you need expert advice and only the best LED sports lighting, look no further CHZ Lighting to enlighten your sports areas efficiently and responsibly.