Rugby pitch lighting to FFR standards

Designing rugby pitch lighting to FFR standards requires knowing the French Rugby Federation's classification of lighting installations and the illuminance levels associated with each competition category. As with football, the issue is not just reaching a number of lux: sufficient uniformity must be guaranteed, glare limited and the in-goal areas properly covered. This article reviews these requirements and the LED solutions that make it possible to meet them durably.

The FFR lighting classification: four levels

The FFR regulates the lighting of sports grounds and distinguishes, according to the regulations in force, four lighting classification levels (E1 to E4), themselves linked to the federation's competition categories:

Level E1: 1st professional division, international matches, high-risk matches;
Level E2: 2nd professional division, matches between representative teams;
Level E3: federal divisions, final stages of the French championships (excluding E1 and E2) and women's "Elite" divisions;
Level E4: other competitions, training pitches and play areas.

The level required for a club follows from the rules of the competition it plays in. The higher the level of play and the media exposure, the more demanding the photometric targets, particularly in vertical illuminance for television broadcasts.

Illuminance levels in lux by competition level

Average horizontal illuminance (Emoy), expressed in lux and measured on the ground, increases with the level of competition. According to the FFR regulations in force, the orders of magnitude for night play are a few hundred lux to be maintained for levels E3 and E4 (federal and training pitches), and considerably higher for levels E1 and E2 intended for top-level play and television capture. As an indication, targets of the order of 150 to 250 lux to be maintained are frequently found for the most modest levels, rising to several hundred lux, or even more, for the professional levels.

Given the regular changes in regulations and the specific requirements of supranational federations (World Rugby) for international competitions, we recommend always validating the exact target value with the current FFR regulations and the specifications of the competition concerned before any sizing. A prior photometric study makes it possible to fix these targets on the actual project.

Uniformity: a demanding criterion in rugby

Rugby is played on a large surface, in-goal areas included, with high, fast ball trajectories. The evenness of the light is therefore decisive. The FFR regulations set a uniformity factor for horizontal illuminance (Emin/Emoy, equivalent to U0) that must not be less than 0.7 for the classification levels, a high requirement that calls for rigorous layout and optics. Measurements are generally taken on a grid of 25 points on the ground, supplemented for the higher levels.

Mounting height and column layout

As in football, lighting equipment must not be suspended above the playing area. The regulations impose large distances and mounting heights: the columns must be placed at least 10 metres from the touchlines, outside the spectator rail, and the luminaires placed at a considerable height in order to limit glare and obtain the required uniformity. A high mounting height is also what makes it possible to cover the depth of the in-goal areas properly.

Managing the in-goal areas and the surroundings

The in-goal area is an integral part of the playing area: it must receive illuminance consistent with the rest of the pitch. The regulations also provide that horizontal illuminance at the perimeter (about 1.5 m from the touchlines and goal lines, and behind the in-goal area) remains at a high level compared with the corresponding lines, so that players and referees have the whole useful surface available without a break in brightness. Glare control, dealt with in detail in our article on UGR and glare in sports lighting, directly determines visual comfort in these areas.

Why LED is the answer on rugby pitches

To reach large mounting heights with high uniformity and controlled consumption, high-performance LED floodlights are now the reference. Their high luminous efficacy (lm/W) reduces installed power, their flux stability limits drift over time, and control (dimming, training/match scenes) precisely adjusts the illuminance level to the use. Asymmetric optics make it possible to direct the flux towards the playing area while reducing light pollution towards the neighbourhood. Discover our solutions in the outdoor football and rugby lighting range and the example of performance of the GALAXY HP 170 lm/W.

Rugby and football share many layout principles: our recommendations for lighting a football pitch to FFF standards usefully complement this article.

Vertical illuminance and television broadcasting

For the higher levels intended for television capture, horizontal illuminance is not enough: satisfactory vertical illuminance is also needed, measured on vertical planes facing the cameras. It is this that ensures the players and the action at mid-height can be read properly, particularly in fast phases of play. Vertical illuminance often requires higher mounting heights and power than meeting horizontal illuminance alone, which explains the difference in requirements between professional levels and federal or training pitches. Colour temperature (in kelvins) and colour rendering index (CRI) also come into play for faithful image rendering.

Maintenance factor: illuminance to be maintained over time

As for all sports facilities, the FFR illuminance levels are values to be maintained, not one-off values at acceptance. The sizing therefore includes a maintenance factor: the power installed offers a margin at commissioning, which gradually declines to the required threshold before the next maintenance. The quality of the LEDs, the drivers and the thermal management determine how quickly this degradation occurs. Choosing floodlights with a long useful life (L80, L70) limits oversizing and spaces out work at height on the columns, which is particularly costly in a stadium.

Control and management of uses

A rugby pitch alternates training sessions and matches, which do not require the same illuminance level. Controlling the LED lighting makes it possible to define scenes (training at reduced power, match at the classification level, event) and instantly adjust the light to actual use. Combined with the high luminous efficacy of the luminaires (lm/W), it reduces consumption without compromising compliance. Finally, the instant start of LED makes recovery after a power cut easier, whereas old metal halide lamps required a long warm-up time.

FAQ

How many lighting levels does the FFR define?

The FFR sets four lighting classification levels (E1 to E4), linked to the federation's competition categories, from top professional level (E1) to training pitches and play areas (E4). The level required depends on the rules of the competition played.

What uniformity must be respected on a rugby pitch?

According to the FFR regulations in force, the uniformity factor for horizontal illuminance (Emin/Emoy, equivalent to U0) must not be less than 0.7 for the classification levels. This high requirement calls for carefully designed layout and optics.

At what height should the lighting columns be installed?

The columns must be placed at least 10 metres from the touchlines, outside the spectator rail, and the luminaires placed at a large mounting height. This height determines both glare limitation and proper coverage of the in-goal areas.

Is a photometric study needed to classify an installation?

Yes. The classification of the installation is based on a photometric study that checks average illuminance, uniformity and glare against the level targeted. It makes it possible to avoid any under- or oversizing before buying the floodlights.

Need a photometric study?

The audit and the photometric study are the work of a lighting design office: we recommend the expertise of the Luminance Consulting agency, the lighting design office that contributes to developing our ranges of luminaires based on an in-depth analysis of the needs of the most demanding customers. Luminance carries out the audit of your installation, the DIALux study and the compliance check. Rexylum, for its part, designs and supplies the prescribed luminaires and lighting solutions: for the choice of equipment, contact us.