Swimming is extremely fun and healthy at the same time. Lighting is considered to be an indispensable aspect of swimming, regardless of existing maintenance or swimming pool installation. Onor lighting is the best manufacturer of swimming pool LED lights. The company assists swimming pool owners throughout the buying to the design process to ensure that the perfect LED lights are selected. Moreover, Onor Lighting also makes sure that the LED lights are positioned in the ideal place in order to achieve maximum light. This post offers the ultimate guide to swimming pool LED lighting.
LED lighting is the most popular lighting choice when it comes to swimming pools. It requires minimal maintenance and provides the longest life possible. LED lighting can take swimming pool lighting to the next level. Moreover, the perfect ambiance can be created for the swimming pool by using LED lights. Keep in mind that every swimming pool out there is different and if something works for someone, it might not work for you. There are different types of swimming pools such as water lagoons and simple geometric shaped pools. However, the principles of lighting are the same. This post will help you gain better understanding of swimming pool lighting, so that you can have the best swimming pool lighting.
1. Lighting Requirements For Swimming Pool Lighting
When it comes to swimming pool lighting, there are various requirements that have to be considered. The proper lux level for the aquatic center or swimming pool is crucial as it ensures that the lifeguard and swimmers are able to see underwater and above the water clearly. Furthermore, the brightness regulation has to be followed in case the swimming pool has been designed to host professional competitions like FINA World Championship or the Olympics. The lux level should be around 750-100 lux for professional tournaments. The following lighting requirements are vital to ensuring that the swimming pool lighting is properly illuminated.
Spread of Light
The swimming pool lights depend on the spread of light and light reflection in the pool. The LED lights are required to placed at a distance of about 32ft for a spread of light of around 16ft. Keep in mind that the color of the LED lights as well as the swimming pool interior surface would affect the spread of light. The line of sight should also be considered as it would impact the spread of light appearance.
Color Absorption
When lighting the swimming pool, the interior color of the swimming pool surface must be taken into account. As a rule of thumb, the lighter the swimming pools interior color, the fewer lights that would be required for achieving sufficient amount of lighting. An equation that will prove useful is that for every 1 light required for a light color surface, 1.5 lights would be required for a darker color surface of the swimming pool.
2. Factors To Consider When Designing The Lighting For A Swimming Pool
There are various factors that have to be considered when designing the lighting for a swimming pool. By knowing about these factors, the design of the lighting will be most efficient.
Swimming Pool Lighting Brightness Level
The most important thing that needs to be considered when designing the lights for a swimming pool is the brightness (lux) level required. Normally, when it comes to public or private pools, the brightness level should be around 200-500 lux. Whereas for an Olympic-sized pool or an aquatic center, the brightness level can be anywhere around 500-1200 lux. The spectator area would require 150 lux. At least 500 lux is the minimum brightness requirement for a recreational swimming pool. Professional swimming pools generally require a higher lux level as it ensures that the environment is better illuminated for photo shoots and video broadcasting. However, at the same time, it also means higher energy costs as more lighting fixtures would need to be installed on not just the ceilings and sides of the swimming pool, but also in the spectator area, the changing rooms, the equipment room, and other parts of the swimming pool compound. Sufficient brightness has to be maintained.
Wattage Required
Besides just the lux level of lighting, the power required also has to be determined. For instance, an Olympic-sized swimming pool would take up about 1,250 square meters, for each square meter, 1000 lumens would be needed. Hence, 1,250,000 lumens are required by multiplying 1,250 with 1,000 for lighting up the swimming pool. The luminous efficacy of the LED lights should be calculated to decide the right amount of lumens that will have to be produced. While on the other hand, the spectators seating area will require about 30-50 percent more lighting.
Positioning Of The Swimming Pool
The positioning of the swimming pool plays a huge role in how the LED lighting should be designed. Whether there are ceiling lighting fixtures that face downwards or they face sideways. One has to first know the direction of the lighting. Normally, direct lighting causes considerable glare which impacts the vision of audience and swimmers. It can be especially frustrating for backstroke swimmers as their sight would be irritated by the light. The solution to this issue would be to mount the LED lights in a way that they are able to surround the pool side. This is where oblique illumination would be useful to lighting up the swimming pool. Water reflection would minimize the glare. Secondary reflection can also be used to light up the swimming pool. Secondary reflection is another great way to light the swimming pool. The LED lighting design would have to be made in such a way so as to ensure that the LED lights point towards the ceiling. The reflected light would help light the pool. The ceiling would act a light diffuser and would ensure that uniform illumination is provided. However, at the same time, it can be energy-consuming since a majority of the light produced would be absorbed and extra LED lights would be required.
CRI & Color Temperature
The CRI and color temperature should also be considered when designing the LED lighting. When it comes to lighting inside the swimming pool, the color of light should not matter. The suggested color temperatures for various situations are mentioned as below.
◉ Public/ Recreational Pool: The CRI should be 70, the color temperature can be anywhere around 4000K as the swimming pool is for non-televised purposes. The color of light would be similar to morning light.
◉ Televised Competition Pool: CRI of 80 and color temperature of 5700K should be sufficient.
3. How To Choose The Best LED Lights For A Swimming Pool
Choosing the best LED lights for a swimming pool is not an easy task. The following factors should be considered as they will allow you to choose the best swimming pool LED lighting.
Ease of Installation
LED lights that can be installed easily should be considered. As most LED models are installed manually, choose LED lights that do not require a lot of effort. However, poorly constructed LED models take a lot of time to install. Fortunately, Onor Lighting offers swimming pool LED lighting that is easy to install and suitable for most fittings.
Bright Lighting
The main job of LED lighting is to illuminate the swimming pool in order for swimmers and spectators to see clearly. It does not matter how durable the model might be if it is not bright enough to keep the entire pool illuminated. Choose LED lights that provide bright lighting.
Other Features
LED lights have many other features which most buyers tend to overlook. For instance, one of the features that should be considered is the ability to create different colors. A swimming pool that is illuminated with different colors will be well-received by kids. Another feature that is commonly ignored is dimming ability. Having dimming ability can be useful and could be used to create different effects such as for an opening or closing ceremony on the swimming pool.
Efficiency
Finally, in order to choose the best LED lights for a swimming pool, one has to look at the efficiency of the light. At the end of the day, efficiency is what most people pay for. Efficient LED lights such as the ones offered by Onor Lighting are just what you need as they offer great energy savings and reduced operational costs. Besides, efficient LED lights are good for the environment and have a longer life.
Post time: Jan-08-2022