Jessica P - Dec 13, 2023

How to Illuminate Your Curling Rink: A Guide to Choosing and Installing the Right Lights at the Right Height

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PERFECT LIGHTING

Curling is an exciting and quickly growing sport that has been around for centuries. The objective of curling is simple: two teams of four players compete on a large sheet of ice to propel a granite stone towards the target area of four concentric circles. Players “sweep” ahead of the stone to create heat, reducing friction for the stone to move more fluidly in the desired direction towards the sweet spot called the “button”.

Originating in Scotland (this is where the official playing rocks are harvested), curling has found popularity around the world. It is wildly popular in Canada with over 1500 rinks dedicated to the sport and is the most watched women’s sport, not to mention all the Olympic medals Canada has proudly swept the ice for.

IMPORTANCE OF CURLING LIGHTING

There are many variables to good lighting which all interconnect.

There are reflective and slippery surfaces and the pressure is on to run a fast and tight game for players especially for recreational rentals when there are frequent transitions with teams.

Good lighting is needed for players, patrons and staff alike to participate and view the game while experiencing the facility in safety and comfort. Preventing injury and the best conditions for the most competitive athletes is our top priority. We also want to make sure people are having fun!

Keeping score and seeing detail has been made much easier by a recent invention made. University students designed LED lights applied to the handle that behave as thermal sensors. The light colour changes when the handle is released enabling quick and accurate score readings.

Before this it was difficult to pinpoint the timing and often resulted in time wasted and uncertainty.

IMPORTANT FACTORS

There are many variables to good lighting which all interconnect.

The main concepts to grasp are light levels, uniformity, glare, placement, colour temperature, CRI and choosing the right source to achieve the best maintenance factor, energy efficiency and savings for both the short and long term.

LIGHT LEVELS

Different light levels will be required for use of the ice. Practice, tournaments and if it’s being rebroadcasted online or televised will vary. Light levels will increase with the class of play, age and use.

The light that reaches the ice and is visibly reflected by surfaces (illuminance) will vary based on many factors such as source, tilt and venue dimensions. We follow IES recommendations and guidelines to ensure requirements are met.

Lumens are measured in “lux” and “foot candles” ( 1 fc =10.76 Lux).

These numbers are target references that are met through site visits, calculations, commissioning and testing to ensure that the adequate amount of light hits the surfaces and illuminates the ice sheet and other rink areas as intended.

Combining the correct vertical and horizontal lux while offsetting flicker is a priority.

Flicker is often not an issue when the right lights are installed.

RECOMMENDED LIGHT LEVELS

General light level recommendations overview for ice sports:

5fc - for empty ice.

30 fc - to perform any maintenance tasks.

30 fc/ 300 lux - for practice

50 fc/ 500 lux - for competitive practice and play

100-150 fc/ 1000-1500 lux - for broadcasting especially, professional level play.

CENTRE LINE

GLARE

Glare is the most frequent offender and challenge of any rink. It’s the intensity and brightness from a light source. It hits the eyes directly or is reflected from other surfaces. Glare can cause serious discomfort and temporary blindness.

Glare is mitigated best through uplighting with indirect fixtures however this is not always possible so proper tilt, placement, optics and accessories such as louvers and shielding can be applied.

There is a GR and more recent UGR method to calculate the glare metric which must remain at under 45 for every angle.

UNIFORMITY

This is the science of selecting the appropriate sources and utilizing the optical characteristics and spacing them optimally to create uniformity. Uniformity combined with the correct light levels enables visual comfort and acuity. It helps us perceive space and depth and is allows players to focus on the game.

Uniformity helps the brain compute the accurate direction, speed and motion. It also supports a better image for broadcasting.

CONTRAST

By creating contrast with lighting it guides the eye to areas that you want to draw focus to or away from and with adjacent spaces such as the viewing gallery. It helps athletes and spectators with depth perception and defining areas. It also plays into the adaptation time of our eyes from levels of brightness to darkness which becomes increasingly more important as you age.

PLACEMENT

Based on your building, a lighting layout plan is created that will adapt your site and existing systems such as HVAC and audio/ visual integrations.

Positioning lights correctly will optimize light output, quantity of units needed and enable access for facility managers while reducing or eliminating glare. This will result in better energy savings and benefit those on and off the ice without interfering with scoreboards or any important signage

CRI COLOUR RENDERING

The higher the CRI the better the accuracy of the light source on the colours they are reproducing. Measured on a scale from 0-100, CRI should be at 80 for competition and broadcast. While 60 is the bare minimum for practice and recreation it is not ideal. LEDs are superior in that most offer high fidelity CRI in the 90s.

Neutral white light hues will enhance overall clarity and visibility for your general multi-use lighting. We can create a crisply lit, energizing space with our lights LED lights all with dimming capabilities. All patrons and staff will appreciate a better quality of light.

High colour fidelity will also make team colours and pop. This is especially important when dealing with sponsorships and other branding agreements.

COLOUR TEMPERATURE

Colour temperatures are impactful on human performance, mood and visibility.

We are mostly accustomed to anywhere from 2200K of warm, dimly lit lights in cozy restaurants and homes to the colder, up to the bright white blue range of 5000-6000K which is common in many commercial and industrial spaces.

4000K is suitable for training and recreation. 5000 - 6500K is suggested for competition and broadcast.

SELECTING THE RIGHT FIXTURE

Arenas can be harsh on hardware due to the humidity and having to balance temperatures. We offer specially IP rated and certified fixtures to endure these conditions and interferences, keeping them long lasting and high performing.

We have maintenance factors at the top of mind to reduce cleaning frequency and re-lamping.

We recommend the Dome Bay for its high performance specs that include direct/ indirect throw and resistance to corrosion.

ENERGY BENEFITS & RETROFITS

Not only is LED the environmentally friendly option but it produces vivid and beautiful lighting effects. LED technology offers much greater energy efficiency than traditional halogen or discharge lamps without the tedious wait for start-up times.

LED lights have significantly longer lifespans, which means your venue will save on up to 80% on energy plus the reduction of cost for re-lamping and maintenance. We can provide a cost analysis for your to illustrate your saving and payback forecast.

The energy efficiency factors for LEDs have been clearly established, globally. Legacy lamps such as fluorescents come with a host of issues and are being phased and in some places are already banned.

COLOURED LIGHTS (RGB)

Coloured LED lighting is enabled with up to 17 million colour options, giving a boost or a sense of drama and excitement elevating any space into a dynamic entertainment one.

The rink is after all, a stage.

RGB helps define team colours and is known to give patrons a greater sense of team spirit while boosting your sales incentives for venue rentals with this special feature on special occasions, holidays and tournaments of all kinds.

LIGHTING CONTROLS SYSTEMS

Luxlogic can also specify a controls system that works best for your budget and facility needs. Controls can be as simple as including dimmers and occupancy sensors as a basic set up. Controls offer the flexibility and ease to control lights from one location or even remotely off site. They are programmed to suit your programming needs and made easy for you to use!

Being able to switch the lights from a game match to a private party event back to the house lights for cleaning in a matter of seconds with a click of a button is invaluable to managing resources and having a smooth shift.

Other building areas such as change rooms, concession and maintenance storage all require light at different levels. Professional planning of lighting controls offer the convenience to control these zones independently all from one or multiple designated locations. The additional perks of controls offer data on energy use and more, all of which can be useful for your management team and operational decisions.

Creating the perfect lighting set up for a curling rink requires careful planning and execution.

When it comes to installation and our local team of engineers are part of making sure that all of your lighting system components are securely mounted for safety and durability. We perform commissioning and testing and are available to provide our clients with attentive, quick turnkey services.

LET US HELP YOU SHINE DOWN THE CENTRE LINE

Selecting the right fixtures and engineering a start to end plan based on complex calculations for curling rinks is daunting.

That’s what were here for! With our years of expertise we help guide you through the process of selecting the best options for your budget. Making sure your rink has the right lights will make all the difference.

Hurry hard!

Contact one of our agents today!

OUR SOLUTIONS

DOME BAY

WATTAGE: 100W/150W/200W/240W/300W/400W/480W

CCT: 3000K/4000K/5000K/6500K

VOLTAGE: 100-277V (UNV) / 277-480V (HV)

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT / PENDANT MOUNT

150LM/W

The Dome Bay is an extremely versatile, Direct /Indirect, highperformance LED sports high bay that is ideal for both outdoor and indoor sports lighting applications. With its flexible, modular design the Dome Bay is specifically engineered to illuminate swimming pools, tennis and soccer domes, gyms, arenas and more.

• LED Driver: Lumileds

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: >50,000 hours

• CRI: RA>80

• THD: <15%

• Power Factor: >0.95

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 60ºC / -40ºF to 140ºF

POOLSIDER

WATTAGE: 60W/100W/150W/200W/300W/400W/600W

CCT: 2700K/3000K/4000K/5000K/6500K

VOLTAGE: 120-277V (UNV) / 277-480V (HV) (REMOTE DRIVERS ONLY)

MOUNTING: YOKE MOUNT (STD) / PENDANT MOUNT / CROSS ARM BRACKET

170LM/W

The Poolsider is a modular LED flood light specifically designed for the caustic environment of Natatoriums, but versatile enough to be used in any flood light application. Multiple optical lens choices, and rotatable modules allow a wide variety of light spread for various use both indoor and out.

• LED Engine: Philip Lumileds 50502, CREE 3524 for 10D ONLY

• LED Driver: Meanwell XLG

• Lumen Maintenance @L70: 75,000 hours

• CRI: >70 Ra

• Power Factor: >0.95

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 60ºC / -40ºF to 140ºF

MAXUM

WATTAGE: 90W/120W/150W & 120W/160W/200W

CCT: SELECTABLE 3000K/4000K/5000K

VOLTAGE: 120-347V

MOUNTING: EYE BOLT (STD) / CEILING BRACKET

170LM/W

The Maxum is a WATTAGE SELECTABLE AND CCTSELECTABLE high bay featuring a patented design, with aesthetic modeling and unique style. It is occupancy sensor ready (It features a built-in occupancy sensor socket.) It has a luminous output of 170L/W, making it an ideal solution for warehouses, factories, supermarkets, and other indoor applications.

• LED Engine: SMD2835 LED

• LED Driver: Lifud

• CRI: Ra>70

• Power Factor: >0.9

• Operating Temperature: -40ºC to 45ºC / -22ºF to 113ºF

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