SCA Standards

Gymnasiums: 30FC Average at Grade with 0.75W/sq. ft / 20 FC in bleacher areas with 0.43W/sq. ft

Gymatoriums: 30FC Average at Grade with 0.7W/sq.ft

HE Williams has worked with athletic facilities from grade school up to the NCAA and has lighting solutions for gymnasiums, locker rooms and gymatorium style spaces.

WAIT! I know, I know. The SCA doesn’t usually specify this style of high bay for gymnasiums. However! The GP series features a couple of important features that I think we should discuss.

The first is glare-reduction. I know the biggest complaint about this style of high bay is the glare in a gymnasium scenario. However using the diffuse polycarbonate lens (DL) for the downlight portions and then incorporating uplighting modules you reduce the glare ratio otherwise known as the “cave effect” when the ceiling above is completely dark and the fixture is bright, causing a nasty bright spot in your field of view.

It’s worth unpacking this a little more graphically. What we perceive as glare is usually extreme contrast. A bright spot of light in an otherwise dark void. A traditional highbay with a glass or polycarbonate cone would inevitable generate some uplight do to refraction and reflection within the cone.

Working with LED and their point-source style distrivution means there are other ways to create some uplight and mitigate the cave effect.

Here’s a GP style high bay using only downlight. You can see the dark spots between fixtures. Looking up to scan for a volleyball, you’re likely to get caught in the light. But the GP can be specified as a 100% uplight fixture.

The good news about this design is that it’s practically zero glare and depending on reflectivity you might be able to get close to the required light levels.

The more practical and energy efficient solution is to mix up and downlight. By lighting the ceiling above the fixture contrast ratio is reduced and therefore there is less glare in the space.

The GP is rugged, available with a wireguard and very customizable. Let’s revisit this with calculations, samples, and even a mockup.

Other Gym Lighting

When a highbay solution isn’t appropriate, as in a gymatorium scenario there are other options.

Need More Information? Want more options?

The calculations and suggestions above are just the starting point. For project-specific suggestions and calculations, just email me.