Developing a challenging lighting plan with unique environments
Aquatic facilities throw up lighting challenges you don’t get in standard commercial jobs. Here, picking the right products matters for long-term performance and low maintenance costs.
- High humidity, water-contact and temperature changes
- Chemical exposure from pool and cleaning treatments
- High-traffic public use with people of all ages and conditions
- Weather conditions in the carpark and external pedestrian walkways
We worked with the electrical engineers to meet lighting standards, including:
- 300 lux to light up warm water pools
- 160 lux for seating, common areas, bathrooms and walkways
- Minimal glare and optimised uniformity across the pool water
The main pool areas needed luminaires that could withstand chlorinated air. And they had to deliver consistent lighting across the wide open space. Other wet areas, like change rooms, showers and toilets, needed IP-rated corrosion-resistant fixtures too. These also come into contact with water, moisture and chemicals from regular cleaning. Good lighting in these spaces is about safety as wet tiles and flooring can become slip hazards.
The facility’s circulation zones covered a large floor area across two levels. Foyers, hallways and concourses required downlights to properly illuminate high-traffic areas. The creche, gym and community rooms needed to be lit according to use. And the staircase required a series of linear fixtures to meet safety standards.
The exterior environment was less complex. The car park needed to provide secure, well-lit access for visitors from 6 am mornings to 8 pm evenings. And pedestrian paths around the building required even lighting for accessibility standards.
This project required a lighting supplier with expertise to deliver quality and performance.
Technical planning with delivery to the build schedule
Complex projects that need multiple products at a large scale begin with drawings. We reviewed the specified fixtures and sourced Industralight products that would surpass them. Then our designers created lighting simulations based off the architectural drawings. The calculations defined analysis elements like surface illumination, glare and reflections across:
- Lap and warm pools including the seating areas
- Circulation, foyer, marshalling and staircases
- Bathrooms, change rooms and toilets
- Creche, gym and community rooms
- Car park and external pedestrian walkways
Pools needed vast coverage with a combination of flood, wall-mounted and recessed downlights. The IP65 rated fixtures are able to withstand the demanding conditions. Interior transitional spaces used small downlighting similar to the Saturn-190. We even refinished one series of downlight to keep it consistent with the overall design. A few spaces like the gym and creche required recessed flat panel lighting. And the staircase used a series of batten luminaires.
The carpark was outfitted with our FL8 floodlight series. And the exterior hosts a mix of wall-mounted luminaires and uplighting for pathways.
Delivery was coordinated across four separate shipments in line with the installation schedule. The staged delivery also minimised on-site storage requirements during a busy construction phase.
This systematic approach to lighting is ideal for complex projects like:
- Sporting arenas that have specific dry and wet spaces for physio and fitness
- Theme and amusement parks that need long-lasting, powerful fixtures
- Labs, scientific facilities and hospitals for IP rated fittings that withstand harsh environments
Products (and similar) used in this project
Comprehensive lighting solutions that deliver
The aquatic centre opened in August 2025 and lighting has remained consistent. This project demonstrates Industralight’s capability to deliver comprehensive lighting solutions. Our approach from product selection to staged delivery is ideal for our customers. And our teams’ expertise and manufacturing capabilities allow almost every request be met. It’s our reliable products and responsive service that keeps projects on track.
Further reading:
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Visit the Summit Aquatic and Leisure Centre website
