Guidelines and Recommendations for Floodlighting

Floodlighting is now an integral part of many GAA facilities, particularly all-weather playing fields and practice areas.

Floodlighting and the intensification of use it can bring can, however, be intrusive in some locations. This can be an issue in both urban and rural areas.

Any Club currently considering options for development, looking at their present and future training/coaching and playing requirements should explore the possibility of erecting Floodlighting.

Clubs considering the installation of Floodlighting for either training or playing purposes should remember that such schemes are not for the amateur but should be designed, installed by qualified lighting specialists.

Prior to planning, the club should ask themselves the following questions.

What will the club use the Floodlit area for?

1. Physical Training
2. Ball Work, including mini games
3. Competitive Games

• Design and layout of floodlights should be implemented by a competent lighting supplier and or an electrical and mechanical engineer.
• Clubs should ensure that playing surfaces where floodlights are to be provided will have sufficient capacity to accommodate extra practice sessions and games including the provision of ancillary facilities such as changing rooms.
• Fast action small playing objects and long viewing distances (Hurling, Rounders and Camogie) require higher lighting levels than larger playing objects and closer viewing distances (Gaelic football).
• Floodlighting columns must be located so as to minimize obstruction to on site spectator or television viewing where appropriate. Galvanized steel masts (Numbers will vary depending on height and distance from playing area) should be positioned on each side of the field and for safety reasons located a distance of at least 5m from the sideline.
• The height of floodlight columns will influence the evenness of the light falling on the pitch, how many lights are required and what lux levels (the illumination level).
• The lighting type will influence lux levels on the pitch, level of power required to run the lights and the level of maintenance required.
• Locating pitches close together creates the possibility of one column lighting pitches in multiply directions.

Lighting should be provided in such a way that it is capable of being redirected where this is appropriate and should be designed to be of optimum efficiency to minimize wasted light and associated financial costs.

• The size and use of the pitch will have a direct influence on the design of floodlighting.
• The target for illumination should be 50 Lux with a uniformity of 1:3 where the lights are used for training purposes only (Uniformity level is the difference between the bright spots and those not so bright).
• If the lights are for playing purposes, the recommended minimum lighting level for Gaelic Football is 250 Lux and Hurling 500 Lux. For competitive games at County and Provincial Grounds where TV cameras will be used the lighting should be of the highest quality therefore 1000 Lux is recommended at least. In grounds such as Pairc Ui Rinn, Parnell Park and Austin Stack Park where 1000 Lux has been achieved the lights are mounted at a height of 30 meters.
• It’s important at the early planning stage to contact local ESB and investigate if the local electricity supply will be capable of bearing the necessary loads. Clubs should also use this opportunity with local ESB contact to acquire information regarding wiring specifications.
• Planning permission will be required for Floodlighting. Therefore Clubs should plan well in advance. At this stage too clubs should consider the height and location of proposed structures in relation to the surrounding residential properties.

Note: In the event of a main power failure GAA units should make provisions to have emergency lighting systems installed to ensure spectators can leave the ground safely and floodlighting is provided in the car park areas.