Lighting for the archery field
In archery, the light on the target is what counts. For shooting with a bow, DIN EN 12193 specifies 1,000 lx vertical at the target at 25 m, 2,000 lx at 50 m and 200 lx on the shooting lane, in all lighting classes. These values are given in licht.wissen 08 in the chapter on indoor facilities. No separate figure is known for outdoor fields, so they serve as the benchmark for planning there.
As of:
Enquiry for your archery fieldWhat matters on an archery field
Plenty of light on the target
The decisive factor is the vertical illuminance at the target, because the archers' gaze is directed mainly in that one direction.
Uniform shooting lane
For the shooting lane and the area in front of it, 200 lx horizontal is enough, and good uniformity is important there.
Low glare towards the target
For shooting ranges, licht.wissen 08 recommends reflectors tilted 30 to 40 degrees towards the target, because they prevent a direct view into the luminaires.
Masts outside the lanes
Under the rules of the DSB and DFBV, the danger zone of an open archery field extends at least 150 m in the shooting direction if there is no arrow catcher.
Danger zone clearly visible
According to the safety rules of the German Shooting Federation (Deutscher Schützenbund), shooting is only permitted if it is clearly visible that nobody is in the danger zone in front of or behind the target.
Target included in the calculation
The targets are tilted back 10 to 15 degrees, with the centre about 130 cm above the ground.
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The target in view, not the luminaire
Archers look in the same direction for a long time. The floodlights are therefore positioned so that their light falls on the target and no luminaire lies in that line of sight. We settle the tilt and mast position in the lighting calculation.
- Mast position
- Tilt
- Optics
Light on the target and shooting lane
| Average illuminance | Playing level | Lighting class | Uniformity | Glare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200lx | Shooting lane, horizontal | U 0.5 | ||
| 1,000lx | Target at 25 m, vertical | |||
| 2,000lx | Target at 50 m, vertical |
What do the values mean?
Lux tells you how much light reaches the pitch. Uniformity shows how evenly it is distributed, and the glare rating how strongly the floodlights cause glare.
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Illuminance (lx): How much light falls on a surface. 1 lx equals 1 lumen per square metre. For sports facilities, the average horizontal illuminance on the playing area is usually given.
Uniformity (U): Lowest divided by average illuminance. The closer the value is to 1, the more even the light.
Glare rating (GR): Assesses how strongly floodlights cause glare at outdoor facilities, on a scale from 10 (no glare) to 90 (unbearable glare).
Frequently asked questions
How many lux does an archery field need?
DIN EN 12193 specifies 200 lx horizontal on the firing lane at a uniformity of 0.5, and vertical at the target 1,000 lx at 25 m and 2,000 lx at 50 m. For outdoor ranges they serve as a guide.
Is less light enough for club training?
The table gives the same values for all three lighting classes, including general training. How much your site needs, we clarify based on your distances and your use.
What applies at 70 and 90 m?
Outdoors, under the rules of the DSB and DFBV, shooting takes place at 30 to 90 m, but the table ends at 50 m. For longer distances we clarify the values case by case.
Does World Archery prescribe specific lux values?
The rules permit competitions at night if suitable lighting conditions exist and athletes can practise under these conditions.
What applies to light towards the neighbours?
In Germany, the guidance of the Federal/State Working Group on Immission Control (LAI) is the benchmark. In residential areas, the guideline value for brightening at the window is 3 lx until 10 pm and 1 lx afterwards. Ask your immission control authority in each individual case.
Enquiry for your archery field
Tell us at what distances you shoot and how many lanes you have. We will get back to you with an initial assessment.
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