Flood Lighting for MUGA Pitches
Planning and cost
Projects involving pitch construction often incorporate floodlights in order to maximise the use of the pitch.
Floodlighting can be an expensive part of a pitch construction project (sometimes as much as a quarter of the cost) and should be properly researched. Planning permission is generally required and applications should incorporate contingencies for minimising glare and light pollution
Lux levels
Pitches designed for multi-sport should ensure that their proposed lighting considers the needs of all the various sports to be played.
Where no lux levels are stated the minimum levels of performance should be in accordance with FIFA’s Class II i.e. a maintained average illumination of 200 lux.
Care must be taken to ensure that the lighting design produces uniformity of the required illumination and that glare and light pollution are minimised.
Pitch lighting is normally achieved by 2 or 3 lamps mounted onto 15m or 16m high columns (6 or 8 for a full size pitch) which are positioned along the side of the pitch outside the fence-line. Columns may be hinged for ease of maintenance. A unit is required to house the controls and a 3-phase supply may be required.
To minimise running costs and for flexibility of use, the lighting system should allow part illumination of the pitch and a lower level of lighting for training.
Sport England give the following guidance for MUGA floodlighting levels, based on measurements taken after dark at ground level.
Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 MUGAs
maintained average illuminance >400 lux
uniformity (min/ave) >0.7
Type 4 MUGA
maintained average illuminance >200 lux
uniformity (min/ave) – full lighting >0.7
maintained average illuminance – secondary level lighting for training >200 lux
Type 5 MUGA
maintained average illuminance >350 lux
uniformity (min/ave) – full lighting >0.7
maintained average illuminance – secondary level lighting for training >200 lux