5* Rating on Google

Open: Mon - Fri: 7:00am - 4:00pm

5* Rating on Google

Open: Mon - Fri: 7:00am - 4:00pm

Ministry of Defence swimming pool LED upgrade

INUI was recently commissioned to design the lighting plots for a Ministry of Defence swimming pool LED upgrade. 

The existing lighting scheme consisted of 400-watt Metal Halide lamps which were coming to the end of their lifecycle, with some failures having been replaced with low-grade LEDs.  This situation not only produced a colour mismatch but produced such poor lux levels that they failed to meet lighting regulations.

The greatest concern was for student safety, as the bottom of the pool proved difficult to visualise, given the poor lux levels.  The overall aim for the project, therefore, was to raise the lux levels sufficiently to improve student welfare and safety.

INUI were initially approached by Adam Sullivan, Contracts Manager for Connaught Facilities to advise with a Dialux lighting design and supply of the LED flood lights. The INUI 400-watt Flood Lights formed the basis for the Ministry of Defence swimming pool LED upgrade.

INUI were approached by the contracts manager, Adam Sullivan from Connaught Facilities, to assist with both a Dialux lighting design as well as supplying the LED Flood Lights.

Issues with the existing scheme

The swimming pool’s existing lighting scheme consisted of 24 x 400-watt Metal Halide lamps, with some failures having been replaced with poor LED lights.

Metal Halide lamps have a degradation in luminosity of more than 60% over a two-year period.  This meant that the lighting levels were not sufficient to meet pool safety standards.  Also, the replacement of old lamps for new produced an unattractive colour mismatch in the overall lighting effect.

Additionally, the degradation in luminosity requires that the lamps be replaced at least every two years. This is done to maintain sufficient lux levels and this was proving to be expensive to maintain. 

Furthermore, the environmental conditions of the swimming pool were another challenge for a new lighting scheme.  The chemicals used in maintaining swimming pool hygiene were corroding the lighting system components, namely the ballasts, capacitors and connection points.  This, in turn, further contributed to increased maintenance costs.

The solution

The aim for INUI was to bring the swimming pool’s lighting levels up to comply with safety regulations, improve lighting efficiency, lower maintenance costs, reduce current CO2 emissions and improve the overall lighting appearance.

The LED replacements lights selected were the INUI 400-watt Flood Lights, replacing the existing Metal Halide lamps.

The old Metal Halide scheme yielded just 350 Lux. The new INUI LED 400-watt Flood Lights gave a reading 1050 Lux.  This is a tripling of the old reading and brought the swimming pool lighting levels comfortably within the required safety standards.

Efficiency was achieved by lowering maintenance costs.  The 400-watt Flood Lights have a 5-year parts warranty, and its Lumileds chip has LM80 certification for 50,000 hours.  The lights require lower energy resulting in lower running costs.  Additionally, LED fittings have a lower CO2 output and require almost zero maintenance.  The fittings are also IP65 and resistant to the harsh chemical environment of the swimming pool. 

Before images

Readings taken at this location with 24 x 400 Watts Metal Halide lamps yielded 350 Lux

West elevation with old Metal Halide lamps

West elevation with old Metal Halide lamps

After images

Readings taken at this location with 24 x 400 Watt INUI Flood Lights gave a result of 1050 Lux

West elevation with the new INUI Flood Lights

West elevation with the new INUI Flood Lights

A view of the overall pool

Final comments

The Feedback from site – "Very happy with the final outcome, the pool looks great"

If you have any lighting projects that you’d like to discuss - large or small - then please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your LED requirements and offer friendly advice.