Sports hall and gymnasium lighting
In a sports hall, what matters is uniform light without shadows or glare, so that players can see the ball and spectators can follow the game. The luminaires must withstand ball impacts, come on instantly and not strain the operating budget.
We design, supply and install LED sports hall lighting to EN 12193 – from a school gym through a fitness centre to a hall with competitions and spectators. With ball-proof protective grilles, dimming for training and matches, and a 5-year warranty.
lower power per luminaire in the Sporta Hlohovec handball hall (2,000 W → 320 W)
impact resistance with a protective grille – the luminaire survives a ball strike
warm-up time – LED comes on at full output instantly, discharge lamps need minutes
projects in sports halls, gymnasiums and fitness centres
What sports hall lighting must do
Sport demands fast reactions and tracking the ball against the ceiling – so hall lighting has stricter requirements than a production hall of the same height. We address uniformity across the whole playing area, glare when looking upwards, the mechanical resistance of the luminaires and, in halls with spectators, vertical illuminance for cameras.
Ball-proof
Luminaires rated IK 08 to IK 10, with a polycarbonate diffuser and protective grille – a handball or futsal strike will not damage them. DIN 18032-3 tests 36 throws from three directions.
Uniformity without shadows
The standard requires uniformity of 0.5 for training and 0.7 for competitions. We fine-tune the layout and beam angles in the calculation so that no player has a dark spot – not even under the basket.
No glare when looking up
In volleyball, badminton and basketball players track the ball against the ceiling. We place luminaires with opal diffusers off the axis of play and above the edges of the court, not above the net.
Low running costs
LED luminaires with efficacy of up to 188 lm/W and a 100,000-hour lifetime. Dimming to training level and sensors in changing rooms and corridors cut consumption even further.
How much light a sports hall needs
EN 12193 divides sports facilities into three classes by level of competition. A school gym and recreational sport manage with class III, a hall hosting regional competitions needs class II, and a hall with spectators and TV coverage needs class I – where vertical illuminance for cameras is also addressed.
The values apply to the principal playing area for ball games (handball, basketball, volleyball, futsal); badminton needs 300 lx in class III. We determine the exact value for your hall in the lighting calculation.
| CLASS | ILLUMINANCE AND UNIFORMITY | USE |
|---|---|---|
| III | 200 lx, U ≥ 0.5 | school sport, training, recreation, fitness |
| II | 500 lx, U ≥ 0.7 | regional competitions, performance training |
| I | 750 lx, U ≥ 0.7 | top-level competitions, halls with spectators |
| TV | vertical illuminance for cameras | television broadcast – individually to requirements |
Which luminaire for which hall
We choose the luminaire type by ceiling height, the sport played and whether it is a training gym or a competition hall. For sports facilities we most often start from these three groups.
Gyms and halls up to 9 m
Linear industrial luminaires
Continuous light without multiple shadows. PERUN L with efficacy of up to 185 lm/W and output of up to 42,150 lm, with an IK 10 protective grille. LENA ECO+ rated IP 66 / IK 10 as a one-for-one replacement for fluorescent tubes.
High halls and stands
High-bay luminaires
For halls above 9 m and large areas. PERUN with efficacy of up to 188 lm/W, output of up to 42,425 lm and an optional grille; PRIMUS up to 197 lm/W. Various beam angles to suit the mounting height.
Back-of-house and outdoor facilities
Changing rooms, fitness and floodlights
SANDRA sensor luminaires for changing rooms and corridors, LIVIA and LENA linear luminaires for fitness centres and back-of-house areas. Outdoor pitches and stadiums are lit by ROLAND floodlights with asymmetric sports optics and by ROMEO.
Controls: training, match and an empty hall
A hall does not need 500 lx for school training or for cleaning. Lighting controls switch between scenes – training, match, maintenance – and in halls with several courts light only the part in use. In changing rooms, corridors and back-of-house areas a motion sensor switches the light on, and emergency lighting covers the escape routes.
- training / match / maintenance scenes at the press of a button
- separate zones for a divided hall
- motion sensors in changing rooms, corridors and back-of-house
- DALI dimming, optional control from a phone
- corridor function – gradual fade-in and fade-out
- emergency lighting of escape routes and stands
Case study
Gymnasium of the Trenčianska Turná primary school
A school gymnasium with basketball hoops and floorball goals, used in turn for lessons, clubs and evening training sessions. In the DIALux calculation we designed 20 LENA ECO+ linear luminaires, 150 cm long and rated 106 W, in daylight white 5,000 K, laid out so that the whole playing area is lit evenly without shadows under the hoops. The luminaires are rated IP 66 and IK 10 – a ball strike will not damage them – and the gym’s entire lighting draws 2.1 kW.
Requirements
- uniform light over the whole area
- resistance to ball strikes
- no flicker, no maintenance
Solution
- 20 × LENA ECO+ 150 cm, 106 W, 5,000 K
- IP 66 / IK 10, polycarbonate body
- layout according to the DIALux simulation
LENA ECO+ linear luminaires
total lighting power
resistance to ball strikes
luminaire warranty
How we work together
Site survey
We look at the hall, the height and structure of the ceiling, the sports played in it and the existing lighting.
DIALux calculation
Lighting class to EN 12193, number, layout and angles of the luminaires, uniformity and glare.
Quote with payback
Price, savings and return on investment in one document – also a basis for a grant application or municipal budget.
Installation outside operating hours
During holidays, at weekends or outside training hours – the hall stays open.
Warranty and service
5-year warranty on PERUN, PERUN L, LENA ECO+ and ROLAND floodlights.
More sports hall and gymnasium projects
All references with industrial luminaires →
Sporta sports hall, Hlohovec46 × 320 W high-bay luminairesA handball hall with stands – 320 W LED luminaires replaced 2,000 W discharge fittings; light is available instantly, even during a match.
Slov Uni Sport, Bratislava128 luminaires, 900 m²A newly opened fitness centre with a combat zone – DIALux design, efficient luminaires and emergency lighting, 5-year warranty.
First Complex, Šaštín-Stráže42 W high-bay luminaires, LINA, LADA IIHigh-bay luminaires with frosted glass against glare during exercise, LINA in the next room, LADA II at reception, all with DALI.
Ludanice municipality18 × PERUN L 90 cm, 83 WThe village gym with 13,600 lm, 4,000 K linear luminaires – number and layout from the DIALux simulation.
Dubnica nad Váhom26 × LIVIA 116 cm, 30 WA boxing training hall with LIVIA linear luminaires, protective grille available.
ŠARD – gymnasium22 × IVA 70 W, 5,000 KHigh-bay luminaires with a 90° beam angle for uniform lighting of the gym.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to what hall managers, schools and municipalities ask us most often.
How many lux should a gym or sports hall have?
According to EN 12193, a school gym and recreational sport need 200 lx with uniformity 0.5 (class III). A hall hosting regional competitions needs 500 lx (class II), and a hall with spectators and top-level competitions 750 lx with uniformity 0.7 (class I). Badminton needs 300 lx in class III.
Will the luminaires withstand a ball strike?
Yes. For halls we supply luminaires rated IK 08, and IK 10 with a protective grille – PERUN, PERUN L and LENA ECO+. The polycarbonate diffuser does not shatter on impact like the glass of discharge fittings.
How do you prevent glare for players looking upwards?
With opal-diffuser luminaires and their placement – for volleyball and badminton we position them off the axis of play and above the edges of the court, not above the net. We verify the layout and angles in the DIALux calculation.
Can one lighting system serve both training and matches?
Yes. With DALI dimming we set up scenes: training 200 – 300 lx, match 500 lx and more, maintenance minimum. The hall does not pay for full output during every training session.
Why replace discharge lamps or fluorescent tubes while they still work?
A discharge lamp takes several minutes to warm up and cannot be restarted immediately after a power cut; fluorescent tubes flicker and have to be changed regularly from a platform above the court. LED comes on at full output instantly, draws far less power and runs for 100,000 hours without maintenance.
How long does installation take and does the hall have to close?
We usually refit a gym in 1 to 3 days, working during holidays, at weekends or outside training hours. A larger hall is split into stages so that it stays in use.
What warranty do you provide?
5 years on PERUN, PERUN L, LENA ECO+, LANOTA, LAURA II, PRIMUS luminaires and ROLAND floodlights.
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