Gym Lighting
Gymnasiums have been illuminated using large, powerful lighting fixtures mounted high above from the tall ceilings common to these types of facilities. In the past, these fixtures used traditional technologies such as HIDs and high-pressure sodium or mercury vapor lamps. While these fixtures produced excellent lighting performance for their time, they have since been eclipsed by superior LED lighting technology which offers improvements in every conceivable performance aspect.
Gym Lighting Recommendations by:
Ceiling Height
Choosing the most ideal lighting fixture for your commercial gym or recreational facility will largely depend on the ceiling height. For example, large commercial gyms with ceiling heights between 20-30 feet typically require round shaped UFO high bay lights due to their compact design and high lumen output. This design and energy output give them the ability to cast bright illumination with a wide beam angle from high areas.
On the other hand, smaller areas with ceiling heights of 10 feet or lower should typically use less powerful lights such as 4 foot suspended LED lights, these fixtures cast adequate illumination without expending excessive energy; they’re also light, occupy minimal space, and are sold at a highly affordable price point.
Location
Free Weights Area – The free weights area of a gym is packed with dumbbells, barbells, and other equipment for resistance training. Assuming this area isn’t combined with the main cardio section, the free weights area usually has lower ceilings of 10 feet or less. Having ample lighting is important in this area for safety reasons. We generally advise 4 foot suspended LED lights as these fixtures are versatile, occupy minimal ceiling space, and provide sufficient illumination around the weights and mirrors.
Main Cardio Training Area – The main cardio training area of a gym is occupied by equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes, and other cardio machines. This area is generally the focal point of the facility as it has the highest usage by gym members and occupies the most space. As a result, this area of the gym will have the highest lighting needs. Most commercial gyms operate with ceiling heights between 14-18 feet. The number of fixtures and spacing will depend on the square footage of your facility.
Indoor Basketball Court – If your fitness/recreational center has a basketball court, there are specific rules regarding ceiling height. With a regulation rim resting 10 feet above the floor, there needs to be adequate space for the ball to reach the rim. As a result, the height of the ceiling must be at least 16 feet high. With this in mind, your indoor basketball court will require fixtures with a lumen output of approximately 22,000-27,023.
Locker Rooms – Most commercial gyms have locker rooms for their members. Many of these areas are combined with the bathrooms of the facility and have individual rooms for male and female members. In these areas, you want your lighting to provide a nice relaxing and pleasant feel to your members. For this purpose, you want to use drop ceiling lighting fixtures such as LED troffers or LED panels to accommodate your guests.
Office Area – The office area(s) inside commercial gyms is for personal trainers, gym staff, etc. Similar to the locker room areas, it’s good to provide soft and pleasant illumination since these areas will be frequently used by staff. These areas should also use LED drop ceiling lights as these are very popular for office lighting purposes.
