Case Study - Redbridge Sports & Leisure – LED Hockey Pitch Floodlighting Refurbishment
Project Overview
SJB Floodlighting completed an LED floodlighting refurbishment at Redbridge Sports & Leisure Centre in Ilford, upgrading the lighting serving two hockey pitches positioned side by side.
The existing installations consisted of 24 metal halide floodlights each, which were replaced with 16 modern Philips LED floodlights. The existing cabling, switchgear infrastructure and controls were retained where suitable, helping to make effective use of the existing installation while significantly modernising the lighting technology.
The new floodlighting system was designed to provide a maintained average horizontal illumination of 350 lux, with a target uniformity of 0.70, providing high-quality lighting across the hockey facilities.
About Redbridge Sports & Leisure
Redbridge Sports & Leisure is a major multi-sport and leisure facility in Ilford, providing a wide range of sporting and recreational facilities for the local community and sporting organisations.
The centre offers facilities for a variety of sports and activities, including hockey, tennis, football, netball, badminton and squash, alongside fitness facilities, coaching programmes and other community activities.
With extensive outdoor sporting facilities, effective floodlighting is an important part of the centre’s operation, allowing its sports pitches to remain available during evenings and periods of reduced daylight.
Two-Pitch Hockey Facility
The project focused on the centre’s two adjoining hockey pitches, creating a modernised lighting installation across the combined facility.
On each pitch the existing 24 metal halide floodlights were removed and replaced with:
8 × Philips BVP 528 A35-NB
8 × Philips BVP 518 A35-NB
giving a total of 16 new Philips LED floodlights.
The new floodlights were installed onto the existing columns and accurately aimed in accordance with the computer-generated lighting design.
The lighting design targeted:
Maintained average illumination: 350 lux
Uniformity: 0.70
Reusing Existing Infrastructure
A key element of the refurbishment was making use of the existing electrical infrastructure wherever appropriate.
The existing cabling, switchgear infrastructure and lighting controls were retained where appropriate, while the existing metal-halide operating gear was removed.
This approach allowed the existing column and electrical infrastructure to remain in service while replacing the outdated lighting technology.
Significant Energy Reduction
One of the major benefits of the LED refurbishment was the reduction in energy consumption.
The existing hockey lighting installation required approximately 52.8kW, compared with approximately 21kW for the new LED system.
This represents an estimated 60% reduction in energy consumption, while providing the required lighting performance for the hockey pitches.
Testing and Commissioning
Following installation, SJB Floodlighting completed comprehensive testing and commissioning of the new lighting system.
This included:
Function testing of the new floodlights
Testing of each column following installation
Full system testing and commissioning
After-dark illumination testing
Production of an illumination level report
Operational instruction for centre staff
Electrical testing to BS 7671
Provision of the relevant certification
A Modern LED Solution for Two Hockey Pitches
The completed project has modernised the floodlighting serving two side-by-side hockey pitches at Redbridge Sports & Leisure.
Replacing the existing 24 metal-halide floodlights with 16 high-performance Philips LED floodlights has delivered a more energy-efficient lighting solution while maintaining the required sports lighting performance.
