LED lighting for climbing and bouldering halls
At the climbing wall, it is not only the light at floor level that counts: holds and footholds must also be easy to see when looking up and sideways. DIN EN 12193 therefore gives the same values for climbing halls horizontally and vertically: 200 lx for training and leisure, 300 lx for a medium competition level and 500 lx for high-performance sport. Uniform light and the right direction of light are just as important.
As of:
Send an enquiry for a climbing hallWhat matters at the wall
Light every wall uniformly
Every wall should be lit without large differences in brightness.
Show holds and footholds in relief
The right ratio of diffuse and directed light makes holds and footholds clearly recognisable.
Avoid hard shadows
Light from the side and from above prevents climbers from casting strong, distracting shadows on the wall.
Calculate vertical values too
For climbing halls, a vertical value at the same level applies in addition to the horizontal one.
Colour temperature and colour rendering
For a natural impression, licht.de recommends a daylight-like colour temperature and at least Ra 80.
blendarm
geplant
Glare when looking up
Climbers constantly look up and at holds to the side. They must not be dazzled in doing so. The arrangement and shielding of the luminaires therefore belong in the planning for every wall.
- Layout
- Direction of light
- Shielding
Light by playing level
| Average illuminance | Playing level | Lighting class | Uniformity | Glare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200lx | Training, recreational climbing, simple competitions | Class III | U 0.5 | |
| 300lx | Competitions at medium level, performance training | Class II | U 0.6 | |
| 500lx | High-performance sport | Class I | U 0.7 |
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.
MoreLess
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).
Emergency lighting needed too?
If needed, you can get emergency lighting for your site through our sister brand NOTLUX.
To NOTLUXFrequently asked questions
How many lux does a climbing hall need?
Under DIN EN 12193 it is 200 lx in Class III, 300 lx in Class II and 500 lx in Class I, each horizontal and vertical. The uniformity is 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7.
Which class suits our hall?
Class III covers general training, recreational sport and simple competitions, mostly without spectators. Class II applies to competitions at a medium level and performance training, Class I to high-level competitions and high-level training.
Does this also apply to a bouldering hall?
Holds, footholds and shadows demand the same attention there, so plan bouldering walls like climbing walls and agree the values in advance.
Does DIN EN 12572 also regulate lighting?
The series of standards sets safety requirements and test methods for artificial climbing structures and bouldering walls. DIN EN 12193 is the appropriate basis for the lighting.
What should the lighting calculation show?
Horizontal and vertical illuminance, the uniformity and the position of the luminaires relative to the walls. Agree the maintenance factor between planner and operator at the start of planning.
What applies to television broadcasts?
The broadcast guideline of the international climbing federation IFSC ideally calls for uniform 1,000 to 1,500 lx across the stage and walls. That is not the benchmark for a training or club hall.
Send an enquiry for a climbing hall
Tell us your wall areas, hall height and use. We will get back to you with an initial assessment for your hall.
Talk directly
