In Focus: LEDiL – Effective Lighting
How can clubs ensure their stadium floodlighting is effective and compliant with today’s requirements? LEDiL explains how their S Beam lighting systems meet these needs.
What is S beam lighting and how does it work?
S-beam is a semisymmetrical beam intended for stadium lighting with special shape of light distribution consisting of two cutoff zones and effective uniformity zone.
When a traditional symmetrical beam is aimed at the field, it creates an oval-shaped area of light depending on the angle it is tilted. Usually, to reach the necessary lighting requirements the angle of the luminaire needs to be tilted upwards, leading to “overshooting” and a nerve wrecking balancing act of getting enough light on the field while trying to avoid it from glaring spectators, broadcasters and spilling light to the neighbourhood. Basically, this means compromising either on one of these aspects, or trying to physically block or limit the damages.
All these compromises come with a price tag. It can mean discomfort in the audience, limit the performance of the players, or increase light pollution in the neighbourhood.
Luminaires that have traditional symmetrical, narrow high intensity beams and the lighting designer is able to get everything in “good shape”, there are most likely shades or some extra elements blocking the “unwanted” light, which in comparison to S-beams is constantly wasted energy.
The S-beams have been designed to provide semisymmetric beams to match these specific needs in sports lighting, giving the lighting designer a much easier task to fulfil the requirements with better end results to players, spectators and the community around it. By dissecting the beam anatomy a bit, the lens directs the beam from the LEDs more efficiently by controlling the spill light vertically and providing more light on the actual target.
When comparing to common symmetric beam, the S-beams direct light much more efficiently and in smoother fashion to allow nicer overlapping of the beams. The S-beams can also be tilted more freely upwards without the risk of spilling light in unwanted directions. Meaning more uniform light on the field, and less glare and obtrusive light.
What are the benefits of using this system in a football environment?
If you are not that familiar with the concept of optics in general, they control the light, and ultimately have a huge impact on how efficient and functional the luminaire is. Optics distribute the power of LEDs efficiently, something that is especially important in sports lighting.
The right optics help to reduce power consumption and the number of other components such as LEDs and drivers further reducing the investment needed. They play an essential role in ensuring lighting meets the varying and often strict requirements of different standards around the world.
Lighting comes at huge running costs. How, through good design and placement, can you help alleviate the cost pressures for clubs?
Efficient and well-designed light distributions can achieve optimal results with reduced energy consumption. “Same lux with less lumens” as we like to say. More efficient optics can reduce the number of other components required such as LEDs, allow lighter luminaire designs with less aluminium and even reduce the number of luminaires required.
Highly efficient optics also play a key role in the entire luminaire performance – for example reducing luminaire temperature which has positive effect on efficiency and lifetime.
Sustainability and environmental impact are major concerns. Do you work with clubs to ensure the highest standards in these areas are being met?
We don’t have a direct link working with the football clubs or their owners. However, as a component manufacturer we work together with luminaire manufacturers and designers on a global scale, and they have different levels of cooperation with the clubs or their partners working in the lighting industry.
As a forerunner in the LED optic industry with innovation and inspiration in our DNA, it has been our duty to constantly research and push the boundaries on what good lighting is, and how it can be made even more sustainable.
Our vision is that the products that we provide, would enhance wellbeing, functionality and safety for a more sustainable future and improved quality of life.
