Mast height and mast layout: how tall, how many, where?

Mounting height is the height of the floodlights above the ground. According to licht.wissen 08, floodlights should be mounted as high as possible so that players are not dazzled when looking at high-flying balls. Calculating the mounting height precisely, together with well-shielded floodlights, also protects the neighbourhood from light pollution.

According to the association guide, too low is often the case in existing systems: masts of 8 to 12 m cause glare, poor illumination and large shadow areas. It cites good results with masts of 16 m and above that stand directly beside the pitch.

Associations and technical literature give these values. Where no figure is given, the height follows from the lighting calculation.

• Football, training: 16 m mounting height recommended
• Football, competition facility: 18 to 20 m recommended
• Football, new full-size pitch: 6 to 8 masts recommended; according to the association guide, 14 to 16 m is generally used
• Athletics around the pitch: generally 6 masts, but more floodlights of higher output
• Padel: at least 6 m to the underside of the floodlights, masts outside the court; for new facilities the FIP suggests 8 m if the floodlights are inside the court walls
• Tennis: wide-beam floodlights, mounted high enough that players are not dazzled
• Outdoor arena: one or more masts depending on size; the higher the luminaires, the lower the risk of glare

For padel, the height also includes the clear height above the court: the FIP requires at least 6 m without obstacles such as floodlights, and suggests 8 m for new facilities. If a mast stands in the safety area outside the court, play outside the court is not permitted.

According to licht.wissen 08, systems with four or six masts along the pitches are common. The association guide recommends 6 to 8 masts for new full-size pitches and names disadvantages in illumination for 4-mast systems. Both are built: Dettingen unter Teck proposed 4 masts for its grass pitch, and the light forecast for the stadium in Haseldorf assumes 4 masts and a mounting height of 16 m.

More masts do not automatically mean better light. According to the association guide, existing systems have anywhere from two to twenty masts, and their number alone says nothing about light quality. Many masts also increase maintenance effort, because aerial work platforms have to drive onto the pitch and put strain on the turf.

Under DIN 18035-1, lighting masts must stand outside the obstacle-free zone, like other fixed installations. The diagram in the association guide gives at least 1 m at the touchline and 2 m at the goal line.

Also check the surroundings. According to the association guide, trees too close to the pitch reduce the light distribution, and treetops grow into the light path over the years. In tennis, according to licht.wissen 08, the illuminance may only fall off slightly for a few metres beyond the sidelines, because play also takes place there.

Three questions decide: Is the height enough for the lighting calculation? Are the masts in the right place? Is the mast structurally sound? How to check this is described in the guide on retrofitting existing masts.

The building site matters too. The city of Landsberg am Lech kept using its masts, among other reasons because replacing them would have damaged the newly renovated sports surfaces. Anyone planning new masts should also clarify the permit early: the Musterbauordnung (Model Building Code) exempts floodlight masts from the permit procedure only up to 10 m in height, and the federal states regulate this differently.

We supply dimensions, weights and the lighting calculation for your masts. The structural stability verification is prepared by a structural engineer or a testing company.