LED lighting for skate parks and skating tracks
DIN EN 12193 sets no requirements for skate facilities. For skating tracks, licht.wissen 08 sets the requirements similarly to outdoor speed skating: 100 lx for training and recreation, 200 and 500 lx for competitions. Karlsruhe lit its skate park to at least 50 lx. Several municipalities switch the lighting on only when needed and limit it to the evening.
As of:
Send an enquiry for your skate parkWhat matters at the skate park
No shadows on the riding surface
For half-pipes, take extra care that no disturbing shadows fall on the riding surface.
Even and low-glare
Good uniformity of the light and the lowest possible glare are especially important.
Light by push button
In Paderborn and Radolfzell, riders switch the light on locally by push button, otherwise the facility stays dark.
A clear switch-off time
Wolfsburg, Radolfzell and Lippstadt end the lighting at 10 pm. In Wolfsburg, an astronomical twilight switch sets the start to suit the season.
Dimming instead of sudden darkness
In Radolfzell the light dims towards the end of the 30 minutes, and pressing the button again restarts the time.
Masts around the area
In the Allerpark in Wolfsburg, nine masts, each eight metres high, are planned around the skate area, directing the light at the area.
Consideration for neighbours
Light extends use, so cities such as Karlsruhe always also assess the noise issue for facilities close to homes.
GR ≤50
Glare rating, strictest level
10 no glare90 unbearable
Riding without looking into the luminaire
In the ramp and bowl, the line of sight keeps changing direction, often upwards too. We therefore set mast height, tilt and optics so that the area is lit and as little light as possible spills beyond it.
- Mast height
- Tilt
- Optics
Lighting for skate parks and skating tracks
| Average illuminance | Playing level | Lighting class | Uniformity | Glare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50lx | Example: Karlsruhe skate park, built | |||
| 100lx | Skating track: training, recreation | U 0.5 | GR ≤ 55 | |
| 200lx | Skating track: mid-level competitions | U 0.5 | GR ≤ 55 | |
| 500lx | Skating track: top-level sport | U 0.7 | GR ≤ 50 |
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 a skate park need?
There is no standard requirement. Karlsruhe lit its skate park to a mean illuminance of at least 50 lx. For skating tracks, licht.wissen 08 gives, following speed skating, 100 lx at a uniformity of 0.5 for training and recreation.
Does DIN EN 12193 cover skate facilities?
No. licht.wissen 08 states that the standard sets no requirements for lighting such facilities, and for inline skating applies the values of speed skating.
Push button or fixed times?
The two can be combined. Radolfzell lets riders switch the light on by push button for 30 minutes from dusk until 10 pm. Wolfsburg switches via an astronomical twilight switch and switches off at 10 pm at the latest. A push button suits a facility that is not used every evening.
Are solar luminaires enough?
Experience differs. In 2023 Radolfzell replaced its first solar luminaires, which riders found too weak, with six more powerful solar LED floodlights. Stadtwerke Karlsruhe rejects solar for public leisure facilities because charging capacity and light output in winter are not reliable enough.
Who takes care of operation?
Each municipality decides this itself. Lippstadt operates the LED lighting of its skate park in cooperation with the club Lippstädter Rollsport. Clarify early who takes on maintenance, repair and electricity costs.
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.
Send an enquiry for your skate park
Tell us how big the facility is and until when it should be used in the evening. We will get back to you with an initial assessment.
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