Sports facility lighting glossary

B

Ball-impact resistance

Ball-impact resistant luminaires withstand ball impacts without being damaged or losing parts. This is tested according to DIN 18032-⁠3.

Ballast (EVG, KVG)

Limits the current of discharge lamps and, together with starters, also serves for ignition. There are conventional (KVG) and electronic ballasts (EVG), whereas LEDs are supplied by drivers.

See also: Metal halide lamp (HQI)

Beam angle

The angle at which a floodlight emits its light, usually given as the half-peak width: the range in which the luminous intensity reaches at least half of its peak value. Narrow optics (e.g. 20°) throw light far, wide optics (e.g. 40°) illuminate nearby areas.

See also: Luminous intensity distribution · Optics (symmetric, asymmetric)

C

Colour rendering (Ra, CRI)

How natural colours look under a light source, given as the colour rendering index Ra (CRI in English) up to a maximum of 100. With the 2018 version of EN 12193, the minimum value for sports facilities was raised to above 60.

See also: Colour temperature (Kelvin)

Colour temperature (Kelvin)

Describes the colour of the light in Kelvin (K). 3000 K appears warm white, 4000 K neutral white, 5000 K cooler and closer to daylight. All our products are available in 3000, 4000 and 5000 K.

See also: Colour rendering (Ra, CRI)

Crossarm

The cross member on the mast on which the floodlights sit. In a retrofit it counts towards the load on the mast and must be able to carry the new floodlights.

See also: Structural stability · Existing mast

D

Dimming (0⁠–⁠10 V, DALI)

LED floodlights can be dimmed continuously, for example for training instead of competition. Common interfaces are 0⁠–⁠10 V and DALI. According to the datasheet, the Series 12 floodlights can be dimmed via 0⁠–⁠10 V.

DIN EN 12193

The European standard “Light and lighting – Sports lighting”. It sets minimum requirements for illuminance, uniformity, glare limitation and colour properties for many sports, separated by lighting class. The current German version is DIN EN 12193:2019-07.

See also: Lighting class

E

Ecam

The illuminance in the direction of the television camera, i.e. a vertical illuminance. The DFL sets its minimum values for the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga as Ecam.

See also: Vertical illuminance (Ev)

EULUMDAT / LDT

A file format (extension .ldt) for the luminous intensity distribution of a luminaire. Lighting design programs such as DIALux or Relux use it to calculate the lighting of a facility. A reliable lighting calculation needs the LDT of the floodlight actually planned.

See also: Luminous intensity distribution

Existing mast

An existing floodlight mast that is to continue to be used in a retrofit. Structural stability, height and location must be checked beforehand.

See also: Structural stability · Mounting height

F

Flat-glass floodlight (Planflächenstrahler)

An asymmetric floodlight whose light-emitting surface is aligned parallel to the playing field. It therefore emits less stray light and protects the surroundings from light pollution.

See also: Optics (symmetric, asymmetric) · Light pollution

Flicker

Rapid brightness fluctuations that the eye barely sees but that become visible in slow-motion and television footage. Low-flicker light is therefore important for broadcast matches.

See also: Ecam · Flicker factor

Flicker factor

States in percent how strongly the brightness on a plane fluctuates during a full cycle. UEFA and FIH specify maximum values for television broadcasts.

See also: Flicker

Floodlight (Fluter)

A powerful outdoor lamp that spreads flooding light, for example over stadiums and sports pitches.

See also: Optics (symmetric, asymmetric) · Flat-glass floodlight (Planflächenstrahler)

G

Glare (GR, glare rating)

Assesses how strongly floodlights cause glare for players and spectators. The method comes from the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). The scale runs from 10 (no glare) to 90 (unbearable glare). For football, DIN EN 12193 specifies a maximum of GR 50 in Classes I and II and GR 55 in Class III.

See also: Lighting class · UGR (Unified Glare Rating)

Glare measure (k)

According to the LAI guidance, describes the psychological glare effect of a light source from its luminance, the ambient luminance and the solid angle. The value is compared with guide values for each area type and time of day.

See also: Point of immission · Luminance

H

Horizontal illuminance (Eh)

Light falling on a horizontal surface, abbreviated E_h. The values in DIN EN 12193 for outdoor football, tennis and hockey are average horizontal illuminances.

See also: Illuminance (lux) · Vertical illuminance (Ev)

I

Illuminance (lux)

How much light falls on a surface, measured in lux (lx). 1 lx equals 1 lumen per square metre. For sports facilities, the average horizontal illuminance on the playing area is usually given (E_m or E_av).

See also: Horizontal illuminance (Eh) · Vertical illuminance (Ev) · Luminous flux (lumen)

Initial value

The illuminance of a new installation, also called the initial value. It is usually above the maintained value, because: maintained value = maintenance factor × initial value.

See also: Maintained value · Maintenance factor

L

Lifetime (L80B10, L90B10)

States after how many operating hours an LED still delivers a certain proportion of its luminous flux. L80B10 at 100,000 hours means: after 100,000 hours, at most 10% of the luminaires deliver less than 80% of the original luminous flux.

See also: Maintenance factor

Light pollution

Light that falls beyond the sports facility into the surroundings, for example onto houses, roads or natural areas. Good planning limits light pollution through mast position, tilt, optics and glare shields.

See also: ULR (Upward Light Ratio) · Point of immission · Room brightening

Lighting class

DIN EN 12193 divides sports facility lighting into three classes. Class I applies to high-level competition (national and international), Class II to mid-level competition (regional and local), Class III to simple competition, training, school and leisure sport. The standard sets minimum values for each sport and class.

See also: DIN EN 12193 · Illuminance (lux) · Uniformity (U0)

Luminance

Determines the impression of brightness of a surface and is measured in candela per square metre (cd/m²).

See also: Illuminance (lux) · Glare measure (k)

Luminous efficacy (lm/W)

How much light a floodlight produces per watt, in lumens per watt. The higher, the more efficient. What matters is whether the value refers to the LED or to the whole luminaire.

See also: Luminous flux (lumen)

Luminous flux (lumen)

The total amount of light a floodlight emits, in lumens (lm). Together with the luminous intensity distribution, this gives the illuminance on the pitch.

See also: Illuminance (lux) · Luminous efficacy (lm/W)

Luminous intensity distribution

Describes how much light a floodlight emits in which direction, usually in candela per 1000 lumens (cd/klm). It is stored in the LDT file and determines how evenly a facility is illuminated.

See also: EULUMDAT / LDT · Beam angle

M

Maintained value

The value below which the average illuminance must not fall at any time, regardless of the age and condition of the installation. The DIN EN 12193 values for average illuminance are maintained values.

See also: Initial value · Maintenance factor

Maintenance factor

Takes into account in lighting design that an installation loses light over time through ageing and dirt. The design calculates with the maintenance factor so that the minimum values are still reached after years.

See also: Maintained value · Initial value · Lifetime (L80B10, L90B10)

Measurement report

Records the measured values of a completed facility. The guide of the football associations of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia specifies a measurement on a grid according to DIN EN 12193 with average, minimum and maximum values, uniformity, glare and total power.

See also: DIN EN 12193 · Uniformity (U0)

Metal halide lamp (HQI)

A high-pressure discharge lamp, developed from the high-pressure mercury vapour lamp, that contains halide compounds of various metals. It is used in stadium lighting, among other places, and is often simply called HQI in floodlight systems.

See also: Sodium vapour lamp · Ballast (EVG, KVG)

Mounting height

The height at which the floodlights are mounted. Masts that are too low cause glare and uneven illumination. For football, the guide of the football associations of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia recommends 16 m for training and 18 to 20 m for competition facilities.

O

Optics (symmetric, asymmetric)

Lenses or reflectors that direct the light. Symmetric optics emit evenly around the axis, asymmetric optics direct the light specifically forward and so limit glare and stray light.

See also: Beam angle · Flat-glass floodlight (Planflächenstrahler)

P

Point of immission

The place where light affects people, such as the window of a flat or a balcony. There, room brightening and glare are assessed according to the guidance of the Bund/Länder-Arbeitsgemeinschaft Immissionsschutz (LAI).

See also: Light pollution · Room brightening · Glare measure (k)

PPA and TPA

Principal Playing Area and Total Playing Area (including run-off). Different requirements can apply to the two areas.

Protection rating IP66 / IK10

IP66 means dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets. IK10 is the highest level of impact resistance. According to the datasheet, the Series 12 floodlights meet IP66 and IK10.

R

Room brightening

Brightening of living areas by a lighting installation in the neighbourhood. The LAI guidance describes it as the average illuminance in the plane of the window.

See also: Point of immission · Light pollution

S

Sodium vapour lamp

A discharge lamp available as a high-pressure and a low-pressure lamp. According to licht.de, high-pressure lamps have a high luminous efficacy, but the common variants only have a colour rendering index of Ra 60 or less.

See also: Metal halide lamp (HQI) · Colour rendering (Ra, CRI)

Structural stability

Every structure must be stable as a whole and in its individual parts, according to § 12 of the Musterbauordnung (Model Building Code). For floodlight masts, this includes the loads from floodlights and crossarms as well as wind and ice.

See also: Existing mast · Crossarm · Wind zone

U

UGR (Unified Glare Rating)

A CIE method for assessing glare indoors. It calculates the glare of the whole installation for a defined observer position and also takes into account the brightness of walls and ceilings.

See also: Glare (GR, glare rating)

ULR (Upward Light Ratio)

The proportion of light emitted upwards into the sky. A ULR of 0% means: no light goes directly upwards.

See also: Light pollution

Uniformity (U0)

How evenly the light is distributed on the playing area. In DIN EN 12193 as U0 = E_min/E_m, i.e. lowest divided by average illuminance. The closer to 1, the more even. UEFA requirements additionally use U1 and U2.

See also: Illuminance (lux)

V

Vertical illuminance (Ev)

Light falling on a vertical surface, for example on players facing the camera. For television broadcasts it is often more important than horizontal illuminance.

See also: Ecam · Horizontal illuminance (Eh)

W

Wind zone

How strongly the wind acts on a mast also depends on the location. Germany is divided into wind zones according to DIN EN 1991-1-4, and the assignment is published by the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik.

See also: Structural stability

Stand: 6 November 2026.