Do
Visit existing daylit sports halls to inform your
design process.
Speak to the staff and users about their
hall.
Check orientation, location and type of
glazing.
Check lighting layout, type and control
method.
Note the sunpath and any obstructions
Note successes and failings in relation to
solar penetration, glare and controls
Use other building types for informing the design
of the proposed hall.
Realise that each site will require a different
solution.
Note the sunpath and external obstructions around
proposed building.
Consider the impact of the proposed building on
light available to nearby buildings.
Block sunlight access to the sports hall at all
times.
Other spaces should maximise south facing aspects
for views, solar gain and external space.
Seek a working knowledge of daylight to inform your
design
Try to get a hands on feeling for lux levels
Understand Daylight Factors and how they
inform the design process
Be aware of the differences between sunlight
and daylight.
Understand the relationship between heat
losses and gains through glazing.
Be aware of specific issues relevant to
sports halls - avoid solar penetration & glare.
Use average daylight factor to estimate initial
design proposals. Aim for 2% to 5%.
Be aware of glare from the sky, and the role of
internal surfaces in creating glare problems.
Locate windows to ensure relatively uniform
daylight distribution.
Remember that worst times for sun access can be
during the winter, spring or autumn
Use double glazing as a minimum specification for
windows.
Try to model or simulate the building before
construction.
Avoid dark surfaces next to windows
Understand the requirements of the relevant sports
bodies and agree the likely standard of play.
Design the artificial lighting to suit the sport
requirements.
Achieve a visually bright interior but consider
sports requirements (e.g. ball colour, speed & flight).
Avoid reflective floor finishes.
Light the ceiling - both night and daytime use.
Illuminate walls
Consider the need for and design of appropriate
shading for specialist events (and any specialist budget)
Try to avoid unnecessary roof structural
componenets which can cast gloomy shadows.
Passively ventilate if possible using the windows.
Consider remote opening, high level windows to aid
ventilation.
Interlock window opening and heating/mechanical
ventilation to aid efficiencies
Consider maintenance of shading and glazing
systems.
Realise that high level windows require safe
maintenance access.
Use simple and easily understood controls for
lighting and other services.
Use occupancy sensor switching as a bare minimum to
lighting control.
Control artificial lighting in relation to the
available daylight.
Provide controllable shading.
Interlock blinds and lighting control if possible
to avoid blinds down/lights on situations.
Train staff to use the controls, and explain the
benefits of correct control.
Pay attention to the cost constraints particular to
a sports hall.
Be aware that adding daylight to any space will add
to the capital costs.
Ensure that the daylit design will actually save
money when running.
Ensure that the daylit sports hall will be
comfortable to use.
Put aside a contingency fund for post-occupancy
adjustments.
Don’t
Proceed without considering the most contemporary
lighting and daylighting advice
Miss the opportunity to investigate lighting and
daylighting in real buildings and documented case studies.
Forget that many sports facilities are community
centres.
Forget the amenity benefits of even a small amount
of daylight.
Imagine that one size/design fits all.
Ignore the impact of the proposed building on light
available to nearby buildings.
Miss the opportunity to maximise south facing
aspects of other regions of the building for views, solar gain and
external space.
Expect to get by with no working knowledge of
lighting and daylighting.
Treat it as a burden - daylighting can be one of
the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of building design.
Design without considering all options for
providing daylight.
Forget that modelling and simulation are relatively
easy to do for lighting.
Forget that sunlight and daylight are different.
Proceed without an understanding of the likely
standard of play and any special needs.
Forget that all sporting activities are prone to
suffer from sunlight access and that badminton players are particularly
susceptible to incorrect lighting (natural or artificial) from
overhead..
Forget to provide blackout facilities if they will
be needed or other controllable shading
Use excessive amounts of glazing.
Over illuminate - artificially or naturally.
Neglect heat losses through glazing or the
influence of windows on ventilation.
Use single glazing
Allow glare to be a problem.
Ignore sky glare
Locate all windows so that daylight comes from one
direction - as the rest of the space will seem gloomy.
Allow hall users to be distracted by external
movement from people, cars, etc.
Leave the lights on if there is sufficient
daylight.
Forget about night-time lighting requirements.
Create a dull interior - or forget to light the
ceiling for day time and night time use
Use reflective finishes even on the floor.
Forget maintenance of shading and glazing systems.
Assume complex control systems will be used - most
staff are not trained to deal with them.
Forget that adding daylight to any space will add
to the capital costs.
Try to save money on controls at the expense of
user comfort and efficiency.
Forget daylighting alone does not save money.
Neglect the benefits of occupancy sensor switching
as a bare minimum.
Control artificial lighting in relation to the
available daylight.
Forget about the seasons and the changes in
daylight.
Forget that worst times for sun access are not just
summer.
Expect a cheap design to be successful.
Ignore advice from sports bodies or colleagues.
Expect it to work perfectly from day one.
