What to Look Out For: Upgrading Your Sports Hall High Bay Lights

Secrene Neo
Jan 5
2 min read

Lighting a sports hall is about much more than just "making it bright." There are a few crucial factors that you need to consider before choosing the right lighting for your sports centers to create an optimal playing experience.

1. Impact Resistance

In a high-intensity sports environment, it’s not if a ball hits a light, it’s when.

IK Rating: Look for fixtures with a high IK rating (ideally IK08 or higher). This measures the fixture’s resistance to mechanical impact from fast-moving objects.

2. Glare Control (UGR)

Athletes, especially in sports like badminton or volleyball, spend a lot of time looking upwards during play. Standard "clear" LED high bays can be blinding, which is why anti-glare design is essential.

Advanced Honeycomb Lenses: It is important to look for lights specifically designed for anti-glare. Here at Brite, we have developed the new BRITE Anti-Glare High Bay LED series. It utilizes specialized honeycomb lenses to diffuse glare away without compromising on lighting quality.

UGR (Unified Glare Rating): For professional and school sports standards, you should request products that provide at least a UGR < 22 for the overall sports hall space. This ensures players aren't temporarily blinded while tracking a shuttlecock or ball.
Verify with DIALux: How do you know if your space will actually achieve a low UGR? Request a DIALux simulation report! BRITE provides expert consultation and precise calculations on the lighting performance you can expect with our products before you even make a purchase.

3. Instant-On vs. Warm-up Time

Old Metal Halide lamps are notorious for their 10–15 minute "warm-up" time. If the power blinks or someone accidentally flips the switch, the PE lesson is essentially over.

Instant Start: BRITE LEDs lights turn on at 100% brightness immediately. This is perfect for school schedules where halls are used back-to-back.

4. Maintenance-Free Lifespan

Changing a bulb in a sports hall requires a scissor lift or scaffolding, which is expensive and disruptive to school activities.

Focus on Reliability: By choosing a high-quality driver (like the isolated drivers we use at Brite), you eliminate the need for frequent "re-lamping" and the costs associated with it.
Heat Dissipation: Look for fixtures with "fin" designs or heavy-duty aluminum housings to ensure the LED chips stay cool even when the hall is used for 10 hours a day.

Need a Professional Assessment?

Choosing the right wattage and layout is crucial to ensure there are no "dark spots" on the court and playing field. Depending on your sports hall's height, our team of lighting consultants here at BRITE will recommend the suitable wattage to achieve the right professional sporting standards for the players. Ready to elevate your sports lighting experience? Contact us today for a pre-assessment and expert recommendation for your sports hall lighting's upgrading!