Lighting a fencing hall is not an easy task as there are many lighting requirements such as brightness and uniformity of lighting. In order to get the best lighting design for a fencing hall, we need to have a comprehensive plan. In this article, we will explain to you the basic concepts about the lighting guidelines for Olympic fencing competitions.
What are the lighting requirements for fencing halls and arenas?
1. Visual comfort for fencer
We need the proper lux level of fencing hall. This is because bright, even lighting helps fencers to see their opponent’s fencing, as well as areas such as epee, foil and saber.
| Type of fencing hall & arena | Lux requirement |
| Recreational & Training | 250 to 400 lux |
| Regional fencing competitions | 600 to 800 lux |
| National and international competitions | > 1000 lux |
From the table above, we can see that we need at least 1000 lux to illuminate the fencing strip. This is essential to provide a clear line of sight for the fencers and a better visual experience for the spectators in the fencing hall.
2. Glare control of fencing hall lights
Glare is one of the most common problems with fencing hall lighting. Glare is basically caused by the super bright contrast between the fencing hall and the surrounding area. If severe, glare can even cause discomfort and even disability, which can greatly affect a fencer’s performance.
We usually use the UGR value to measure glare in a fencing hall. It is expected that the UGR should not exceed 50. In some extreme cases, fencing arenas may require a fencing hall lighting solution with a UGR of less than 30. If you are unsure of the glare requirements for your fencing arena, please do not hesitate to contact us.
3. Installation height of fencing hall lighting
The lighting in the fencing hall should be installed at a minimum height of 4 to 5 meters. If you happen to see a standard Olympic competition fencing arena, the lights will be installed at a height of 10 to 20 meters. Mounting the lights on high ceilings will reduce the direct glare observed on fencers and spectators.
Higher fencing hall lighting can also help improve the uniformity of lighting as the beam travels a longer distance across the fencing strip. Since different fencing halls have their own dimensions, we strongly recommend consulting with our lighting engineers when planning lighting in fencing halls. We offer a free lighting design for any sports lighting project.
4. Tilting angle of the fencing hall lights
The tiles mean that the lighting on the ceiling of the fencing hall should not point directly at the fencing strip. It should illuminate the fencing strip at an angle, say 20 to 60 degrees. Such an arrangement reduces glare, or the sudden appearance of bright spots on the fencing hall, while also enhancing the uniformity of the lighting.
In addition, the lighting surface of the light should not be seen by the camera. In other words, the lighting fixtures themselves should not be captured by the camera. Otherwise, glare may be seen on TV, which is undesirable for image quality.
5. Multiple angles to reduce shadows
To reduce the shadows created by the fencers, we need to make sure that the light beams are coming from different directions, similar to the corner light poles in a soccer stadium. If the lights are coming from different directions, we can eliminate the shadows caused by the lights from one place.
Advantages of using LED fencing hall lights
Whether it’s a new installation or replacing an existing fencing hall light. LED is the best choice because it has the following advantages.
1. High luminous efficacy
Our LED fencing hall lights have a luminous efficacy of 150 to 180 lumens per watt, so we can use a smaller wattage to produce the same brightness. Our 400W LED fencing hall light can replace metal halide lamps of 1000W to 1500W. As a result, we can save a significant amount of energy and power costs.
2. Reduce the heat generated by lighting
Another benefit of using LED lights in fencing halls is that we can reduce the amount of heat generated. Because of their unique operating principle, LED lights do not generate a lot of heat. This is especially important for indoor fencing halls because fencers and spectators may feel uncomfortable if the lights make the area hot and we need a powerful air conditioning system to overcome the heat generated. This will inevitably increase the overall operating costs of the fencing arena. Therefore, using LED lights is a good choice for fencing arenas.
3. High color rendering index of LED lights
The color rendering index is important to the lighting of a fencing hall because we can see more realistic colors of the site under high color rendering index lighting. We consider natural sunlight as 100, which means we can see the full true color of objects in sunlight. Since our fencing hall lights have a CRI of about 85 to 95, it allows fencers and spectators to see vivid and realistic colors, which enhances the viewing experience during fencing matches.
4. LED fencing hall lighting has a life span of 150,000 hours
If you are using mercury vapor, halogen or metal halide lamps, you may need to replace the lights throughout your fencing arena from time to time, say every 2 to 4 years. This is because these traditional light sources have a short lifespan of 10,000 to 20,000 hours.
Nevertheless, by replacing the lights in the fencing hall with LEDs, we can enjoy a long life span of 40 to 50 years. This means that the maintenance cost of the lighting will be quite negligible with the use of LED lights. Although the initial cost of LED lights is higher, replacing fencing strip lights with LEDs is worth it.
