led sportshall lighting systems
The return of the Bergischer Handball Club to the Division One required a technical update of the Wuppertal UNIHALLE. The hall and playing field lighting was converted fully to LED.
The entire package put together by NORKA and NORKA Automation for the renovation of Wuppertal University’s multipurpose hall was developed with efficient LED luminaires, tailor-made suspensions and a lighting management system that provides not only versatile lighting scenes, but also a connection to the central fire alarm system.
Sports and culture have been at home in the Wuppertal UNIHALLE. Mainly a training location for the students of the Bergische University of Wuppertal, the hall can also turn into an atmospheric stage
for a concert, an exhibition hall or a suspenseful venue for a national league handball match in no time. To fulfill the requirements of the German Handball League, the hall did recive a technical upgrade. In addition to new ball nets, stands for the cameras and high-speed Internet for journalists, an LED lighting system with intelligent control was also implemented.
Technological advance increases efficiency and quality
The former solution in the large multi-purpose event hall in Germany’s Bergisches Land region still used mercury-vapour lamps, a lamp type whose sale is now prohibited within the European Union, which means that replacement lamps can no longer be provided. Before this background, the decision was made to re-equip the hall with modern LED luminaires. In addition to considerable energy savings, the modern light sources should also increase the quality of the lighting. These expectations were able to be fulfilled with luminaires from the NORKA portfolio. For hall and playing field lighting, 130 CENTAURUS floodlights fitted with LED arrays and LONDON LED and DUBLIN LED luminaires equipped with LED stripes are used.
The increase in illumination level on the playing field was decisive for meeting the requirements of the German Handball League on Division One playing venues. Instead of the previous medium illumination level of about 950 lux at a height of about 1.50 metres above the playing field the required 1,700 lux is now reached easily - with reserves. The hall is not only brighter, but the new luminaires are also very well deglared, whilst the light is evenly distributed across the playing field. Not just the active participants in the sporting events profit from the new lighting quality, it is also creates a considerably better spatial perception for all kinds of events. The good visual conditions also simplify orientation in the stands and on the steps, providing more walking safety on stairways and in aisles.
The flicker-free light is suitable for HDTV, whilst the long service life of the LEDs reduces maintenance costs to practically nothing.
CENTAURUS LED floodlights were suspended from specifically developed cross beams on the supporting structures of the hall roof.
In regard to illumination level and consistency, the new lighting solution must meet the German Handball League on Division One playing venues.
Versatile illumination options
In addition to high-quality luminaires, the prerequisite for this excellent result was a detailed planning of the lighting system. The sensitive statics of the hall roof prohibited the weight of the existing luminaires from being exceeded. In addition, NORKA had to continue to use the mounting sites of the old luminaires. It was decided to suspend the LED luminaires on new, statically tested cross beams. As a result, the light emission level always lies below the support structure of the roof and the stage equipment installations, which reliably prevents shadows. Three different types of zinc-coated, ball impact resistant cross beams accommodate combinations of two to four CENTAURUS 230N floodlights in the vicinity of the playing field.
A special feature of the Wuppertal UNIHALLE is its adaptability to a wide variety of uses. For instance, the hall can be divided into smaller units and the stands can be moved. NORKA Automation installed the XARA®-
Professional DALI lighting control system so that the right light would be able to be called for all these configurations. NORKA Automation planned five DALI circuits. These circuits provide a total of 320 addresses – a sufficient number to control each light source individually whilst integrating an additional 36 DALI motion sensors. Three presence detectors and four daylight sensors complete the hardware range. Three touch panels are used as control points. As a whole, the lighting control system provides a huge selection of switching and dimming combinations.
The lighting management system provides preprogrammed scenes that can be called at fingertip. With these scenes, operators can respond adequately to the various uses and events in the hall.
The desired lighting scene at a fingertip
Lighting scenes were preprogrammed and saved for the typical spatial and utilisation formats. For example, one presetting with 1,700 lux can be called for Division One games, one with 750 lux for table tennis games and two with 300 and 500 lux for university athletics. In addition, special lighting dramaturgy options are available for special moments of events. In cleaning mode, the motion sensors ensure that the light is on only where people are currently working. In the interest of easy manual operation, 24 luminaire groups were also defined that were allocated to one section of the hall each. Tapping the touch panel with a fingertip is all that is needed to illuminate only the upper or lower stands, only the playing field or only one section of the hall.
NORKA Automation has implemented an additional safety-related function through the integration of the lighting control system into the central fire alarm system: In case of a fire alarm, all luminaires in the hall switch to 100% brightness and remain on until the fire alarm has been deactivated – independently of the settings in the control room.
Summary
The new lighting solution in the Wuppertal UNIHALLE offers maximum
efficiency, comfort and safety in all situations. NORKA luminaires with precise optics, a high light efficiency and modern driver technology provide the basis for a sustainable, consistent and glare-free illumination that is also suitable for HDTV. The XARA®-Professional DALI light control system lets the operator always call the right light for the various kinds of events and spatial configurations with ease.
Project: Wuppertal UNIHALLE
Property owner: City of Wuppertal – GMW
www.wuppertal.de/microsite/gmw
Light planning: EPPS Elektro-Planungsbüro für Gebäudetechnik
GmbH, Pusch & Schramm, www.epps-go.de
Luminaires: NORKA Hamburg, www.norka.de
Lighting control system: NORKA Automation, Dörverden-Hülsen
www.norka-automation.de
Completion: 2018
Photos: NORKA/Günther Fotodesign
Used products
control system
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