Football Field Lighting Design Guide(AFC)
Directory:
1. Principle Points
2. Illuminance design guide
3. Diagrams of design guide
This document provides guidelines for the artificial lluminance systems used for football pitches.The principles applied to the design elements and how you apply these principles and combine them together in one design will determine how successful the design is.
The following main points should be considered and applied when designing a new pitch illuminance system or making alterations to an existing system.
1. Principle Points
1.1 It is essential that player comfort and performance is not hindered by the pitch illuminance system.
1.2. The ability of match officials to perform effectively should not be hindered by the pitch lluminance system.
1.3. Aspectator should be able to watch and enjoy the match without suffering any discomfort caused by the pitch illuminance system.
1.4 The pitch illuminance system should provide a level of illuminance that enables television broadcasters to operate effectively in conjunction with the requirements set out for the relevant AFC illuminance category of competition.
1.5 The relevant level of AFC competition must be established when assessing a stadium's needs and to determine the appropriate lighting category.
1.6 A successful pitch lluminance system will produce illuminance levels and uniformity that comply with the requirements of the relevant AFC illuminance level,with soft shadows where possible.
1.7 The pitch illuminance system must be reliable and effective for the given location.The specific environmental conditions that are relevant for the stadium location should be carefully assessed.
1.8 The pitch illuminance system should provide a long-term solution that is both efficient and cost- effective.
1.9 The environmental impact of a pitch illuminance design solution should be carefully assessed.The design team should be committed to achieving an environmentally responsible solution.The light source for all new stadiums in the AFC category1.2 and 3should be provided by LED luminaires. It is recommended LED luminaires are used in AFC category 4 and 5 stadiums and only for specific reasons should HID luminaires be used for new installations.
1.10 Every sports stadium is unique.Consequently,each stadium will require a design solution that is appropriate for the relevant stadium and illuminance level.
1.11 The stadium's infrastructure and design will have a significant impact on the type of pitch illuminance system that can be applied.A four-corner tower/column system will not generally meet the AFC's illuminance requirements for AFC Category¹stadiums.
1.12 Modern artificial lighting systems are able to provide high-quality illuminance conditions on the pitch and may potentially be integrated into the architectural design of the stadium.
2. Illuminance Design Guide
The pitch illuminance system should provide the optimum conditions in accordance with the given illuminance level to ensure that players,officials,spectators and broadcasters are able to perform and enjoy the match without hindrance.
During the design process,the guidelines below should be used in order to develop a high-quality pitch illuminance system that satisfies the requirements of the relevant AFC illuminance category.
2.1 Players and Officials
The primary concern should be to give players and officials the optimum conditions in which to perform. The illuminance system should not distract or hinder players or officials during the match.
2.2 Spectators
The illuminance system should provide spectators with an environment that is comfortable and free from glare and allows them to see the match clearly.
2.3 Broadcasters and Media
Television broadcasters require the correct lluminance conditions to enable high-quality pictures to be produced.The minimum illuminance levels required for specific competitions are specified in Section 3.04 of this document.
2.4 Luminaire Mounting Positions
The positioning of flood light luminaires has a huge impact on the pitch illuminance conditions,this is one of the primary concerns when evaluating the design process.The luminaire mounting positions will have a direct impact on the pitch illuminance level and uniformity for all planes.The mounting positions will also have an impact on the creation of player shadows and the visual comfort experienced by players,officials and spectators.
In recent years,architectural requirements and design aesthetics have challenged the previous illuminance design guidelines. New stadiums are often designed and constructed in ways which require the pitch illuminance system to perform to the required standard while also working in harmony with the architectural design of the stadium.
There are now many examples of stadiums which have pitch illuminance systems that do not conform to the previous guidelines but do provide good illuminance conditions.
AFC recommends that all new pitch lluminance designs focus primarily on ensuring that player comfort is maintained.Design solutions should ensure that the comfort of players,officials and spectators is maintained,while providing good operating conditions for broadcast television.Any new pitch illuminance design/concept that achieves this while also fulfiling AFCs other pitch illuminance requirements willbe welcomed.
2.5 Floodlight Luminaire Mounting Guide
Luminaire mounting guide
For more information, please refer to Football Field Lighting Installation.
3. Diagrams of Design Guide
3.1 Corners-column/tower Floodlight Array
When pitch illuminance is provided by means of corner columns or towers with multiple luminaires in a group[as is generally seen in a headframe],the luminaires should not be mounted within 15°of either side of the goal line[see diagram above].
Large multiple arrays of luminaires provide greater levels of discomfort glare and should not,therefore,be positioned in these areas.Aconsecutive line of luminaires with more than two rows is considered,for this purpose,to be a large multiple array.
3.2 Linear-roof Rim Lighting
When the pitch illuminance is provided by means of a single linear run of luminaires around the stadium roof rim structure as seen in the diagram 6.02 the luminaires should be positioned with sufficient lateral distance to the pitch perimeter to ensure the required verticalilluminance levels and illuminance uniformity may be achieved.
As a general guide an angle of greater than 20°between the pitch perimeter and the luminaires should be maintained.The optimum angle to is 25°-30°for the majority of stadiums.The required lateral distance should be evaluated in conjunction with the proposed luminaire mounting position.Insufficient lateral distance may cause poor illuminance uniformity and the angle of luminous flux towards the pitch perimeter will cause deep and dark shadows on player faces as seen in diagram 6.03.
If the stadium design or existing installation requires luminaires to be positioned within a lateral distance of less than 20°perpendicular to the perimeter of the pitch,or if the vertical illuminance requires improvement,a second linear run of luminaires may be required.
The focus position of each luminaire should adhere to the requirement to ensure that player discomfort glare is maintained at an acceptable level.Further guidance may be seen in sections 6.05.and 6.09.
3.3 Player Face Modelling
For high quality television production it is of fundamental importance that player faces are exposed correctly with good illuminance that produces player face modelling to allow facial character and expressions to be observed clearly.
During a football match the player position and orientation as well as viewpoint will continually change and therefore a football pitch is not expected to provide lighting for face modelling equivalent to that of a TV studio.However it is possible to provide a consistent level of good illuminance conditions to ensure player face modelling is of good quality.To do so it is essential that the luminous flux from the pitch illuminance system arrives at the pitch from the appropriate angle.If the incident light arrives from a steep angle the shadows cast upon the player faces [as shown in figure l]are deep and produce dark eye and nose shadows.
When the incident light is delivered upon the face from the correct angle the illuminance conditions and resultant face modelling of the player face[as may be seen in figure 2]is good and beneficial for TV broadcasters and spectator/viewers.
It is considered necessary for luminaires to be positioned to provide a minimum angle to the perpendicular of the pitch perimeter of 20°[the optimum angle is 25°-30°]to ensure that player face modelling is of a good standard.
3.4 Column Positions
A corner column should be positioned in the zone as indicated in the diagram above.The zone is the area created by making an angle of 120°from the goal line and 120°from the pitch side.The column should be located no closer than 12m from the pitch corner.In most cases the optimal height of the column to the centre of the luminaire head-frame will be about 40m.
The corner column position may be compromised by land space,structural objects or foundation restrictions.However where possible the following guidance should be implemented to ensure the luminaires are positioned correctly to provide effective illuminance conditions.
Additional luminaires may be used in pitch illuminance systems that use corner columns.In the diagram above [diagram 6.04]it is seen that lateral arrays of luminaires attached to the stadium roof structure have been used and are shown in blue.The lateral distance marked [x]should be evaluated as indicated in 6.02.
In stadiums it is essential that players are not hindered by discomfort glare cause by the pitch illuminance system.At every stage of the design process the impact of discomfort glare should be considered.
3.5 Corners-linear Floodlight Array
Additional consideration should be applied to ensure that players in the penalty area are not affected by discomfort glare.A linear run of luminaires is considered to be within an acceptable level if the luminaires'focus points are such that players can stand in the penalty area and look towards the corners without hindrance.
Luminaires mounted within 15°of the goal line should be focused away from the penalty box,as indicated in the diagram above.
Multiple arrays of luminaires should not be positioned within 15°of either side of the goal line.
A linear array of luminaires used for this purpose should not comprise more than two rows.
3.6 Pitch Perimeter-lateral Distance
In order to achieve the required vertical illuminance around the perimeter of the pitch,the luminaires should have a mounting position with a minimum lateral distance from the pitch perimeter of greater than the value of[x].Guidance to evaluate the lateral distance[x]is provided in section 6.02.
When possible it is considered good practice to arrange and locate the luminaires in areas that are not in zones that are assessed to be of critical importance to ensure that players maintain the maximum visual clarity and comfort when either attacking or defending in the goal area.When this is not possible the guidance provided in this guide with reference to luminaires positions and focus points and the impact upon discomfort glare should be carefully applied.
3.7 Pitch Perimeter-luminaire Mounting Zone
As a general guide,the luminaires should not be mounted less than 25°or more than 45°above the centre of the pitch.
This will generally a good guide when designing illuminance conditions to comply with the AFC's guidelines.
If possible,luminaires should be mounted at least 20m above the surface of the pitch.If this is not possible,it is important to develop a design solution that considers the implications of the reduced height and takes it into account any effects of player discomfort glare.
Player discomfort glare must be rated at below the level of 50.The angle of a floodlight's tiltshould be limited to 70°for HID luminaires and 60°for Flat Panel LED luminaires as indicated in the diagram in Section 6.09.However the structural design of some stadiums may make this not possible.The level of discomfort glare should be evaluated and determined by during the design process and records of the process should be maintained for reference.
The use of luminaires with an asymmetric light distribution may be used along the pitch sides in order to produce good illuminance levels and uniformity along the adjacent pitch perimeter.In this application the asymmetric luminaires are often seen to assist in reducing the levels of glare experienced by players and officials.
3.8 Pitch Perimeter-second Linear Row
If the stadium design or existing installation requires luminaires to be positioned within a lateral distance of less than 20°of the perimeter of the pitch,or if the vertical illuminance requires improvement,a second linear run of luminaires may be required to be used to achieve the required vertical lluminance around the perimeter of the pitch.The optimum angle for a second linear row of luminaires is generally 25°-30°for the majority of stadiums.However the optimum position of the luminaires should be evaluated in conjunction with the existing installation or the whole design proposal.
In the diagram above it may be seen that with a luminaire height of 24m it is necessary to have a lateral distance of no less than 8.7m from the pitch perimeter.
3.9 Luminaires'focus Point Angle
In order to avoid discomfort glare being experienced by players and officials,a general rule during the design process is to ensure that luminaires focus point angle is no more than 70°from the line perpendicular to the pitch,as in the diagram above.This is a good general guideline,but it will not always be possible owing to the constraints of the stadium's design.
The above guidance is particularly relevant to single point source illuminance systems,as generally seen with high-intensity discharge lamps.However,it may be necessary to re-evaluate this guidance when using LED luminaires,which will generally have large arrays of LEDs producing direct point source luminous flux.It should be noted that with Flat Panel LED'luminaires the angle of the floodlight focus point should be carefully assessed to ensure the level of discomfort glare on the football pitch is maintained to an acceptable level.When using 'Flat Panel LED luminaires and depending upon the specifications of the luminaire it is recommended that the maximum angle of the focus point perpendicular to the pitch should be no greater than 60° .
3.10 Pitch Sides-luminaire Mounting Position
Stadium structures should not impede the luminous flux of the pitch illuminance system and cause shadows to be cast upon the surface of the pitch.Care should be taken to ensure that the luminous flux projection lines to the pitch surface are completely clear.
In the diagram above it may be seen that the luminous flux of the corner column head-frame is obstructed by the stadium roof.In such cases it is necessary to focus the luminaires on the head-frame away from the stadium roof structure and provide additional illuminance by means of installing luminaires under the stadium roof structure.
3.11 Behind Penalty Area-luminaire Mounting Zone
In order to avoid discomfort glare being experienced by attacking players looking towards the goal, additional provision is made by increasing the installation angle of luminaires directly behind the penalty area[as shown in the diagram above].Luminaires positioned directly behind the goal area should be no less than 60°above the goal line.
Additional guidance is provided in design guideline ref:3.12.
3.12 Behind Goal Line-luminaire Mounting Zone
Luminaires positioned behind the goal and parallel to the penalty boxas indicated in Section 6.11 should be mounted more than 60°from the goal line when in line with the penalty area,as indicated in the diagram above.If a pitch illuminance system using a continuous 'rim'lighting method is to be used it is necessary to calculate the required lateral distance as indicated by x.Further guidance may be provided in 6.02 on page 19.
Luminaires that are not in line with the penalty box may be mounted at an angle of more than 45°from the goal line.
If only a single linear line of luminaires is used as indicated by the blue luminaires,the minimum lateral distance from the goal line[as indicated in ×]may be calculated by ensuring that the luminaires are positioned at an angle of greater than 20°perpendicular to the pitch perimeter.
Further guidance may be obtained by viewing AFC reference 3.11.
3.13 Behind Goalline-second Linear Row
If the stadium design or existing installation requires luminaires to be positioned within a lateral distance of 20°from the goal line [as indicated by the blue luminaires in the diagram above]or if the verticalilluminance requires improvement,a second linear run of luminaires should be used to achieve the required vertical lluminance along the goal line and within the penalty area.Luminaires positioned directly behind the penalty area should be mounted at an angle of more than 60°[as indicated by the red luminaires in the diagram above].Outside the area parallel to the penalty area,luminaires may be mounted at an angle of more than 45°[as indicated by the green luminaires].
Where possible,alluminaires behind the goal line should be a minimum of 20m above the pitch surface. If this is not possible,it is important to develop a design solution that considers the implications of the reduced height and takes it into account.
3.14 AFC Pitch Dimensions
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