Home / Services / Lux & Floodlighting.
88-Point Grid · FA / UEFA Standards

Lux & Floodlighting.

A natural turf pitch is only match-ready after dark if the lighting is. We run full 88-point lux grids to FA, Football Foundation and UEFA standards — measuring average illuminance, uniformity, glare and colour temperature.

Floodlighting compliance is often treated as an afterthought until a venue fails an inspection and loses fixture approval. The standards are detailed: the FA Grounds Grading scheme has separate lux thresholds for every step of non-league football, and UEFA Category 4 venues must hit 2000 lux with a uniformity ratio of 0.7.

A full lux survey uses a calibrated 88-point grid spread evenly across the playing surface. At each point, a photometric sensor records the horizontal illuminance in lux, along with colour temperature and flicker frequency (critical for broadcast). From these 88 readings we calculate the average, the minimum, the uniformity ratio (min/avg and min/max), and the glare index.

Our reports are formatted for direct submission to the FA Licence & Registration Department and UEFA club licensing inspectors. The same report can support grant applications for floodlight upgrade programmes.

Standards followed
FA Grounds Grading · FA Floodlight Testing Scheme · UEFA Club Licensing (Category 1–4)
Why it matters

The business case for measuring this.

01
Promotion-linked
Non-league clubs chasing promotion need documented lux evidence that the lighting meets the target grade before the step up is approved.
02
Broadcast-ready
National League and above need minimum 800 lux with specific uniformity for TV broadcast. Failing this loses broadcast revenue.
03
Grant applications
Football Foundation and local authority capital programmes require pre- and post-upgrade lux evidence.
04
LED retrofit verification
A retrofit promises brighter, more uniform, more energy-efficient light. An independent post-install survey proves the supplier delivered.
Reading scale

How your number reads.

UEFA Cat 4
2000 lux+
Top-flight international
Premier / Championship
1200–1999 lux
Broadcast-ready domestic
National League / Step 1–2
500–800 lux
Standard competitive grade
Training / grassroots
120–250 lux
Safe for non-broadcast play
Our Method

How the test is run.

Every step is UKAS-audited. The equipment is calibrated, the procedure is traceable, the data is defensible.

01
Pre-survey checks
All floodlights run for at least 20 minutes to stabilise before measurement. Weather conditions (wind, rain) are recorded.
02
88-point grid
The grid is laid out using measured tapes and corner markers, ensuring reproducibility for future surveys.
03
Lux readings
At each point, horizontal illuminance is recorded with a calibrated photometric sensor. Vertical illuminance is measured at camera positions for broadcast-compliance work.
04
Supplementary measurements
Colour temperature, colour rendering index (CRI), and flicker frequency are measured at representative points.
05
Analysis & report
Data is processed into the FA / UEFA report format: average, minimum, uniformity ratios (U1 and U2), and glare rating (GR).
What you get

In your report.

FAQs

Questions we get asked.

How long does a floodlight survey take?
A standard 88-point grid survey for a football pitch takes 60–90 minutes on site, after the 20-minute lamp warm-up. Full broadcast compliance surveys take 3–4 hours.
Can you test lighting before a kit is officially commissioned?
Yes. Commissioning surveys are one of our most common floodlight jobs — done before the contractor leaves site and before final payment is released.
What's the FA Grounds Grading lux requirement for Step 3?
180 lux average with a minimum of 120 lux and U2 uniformity of 0.5 or better. Step 2 requires 250 lux; Step 1 requires 500.
Do LED floodlights perform differently to metal halide?
Significantly — LEDs reach full output almost instantly, have higher CRI, and typically deliver better uniformity. Our surveys are standard-agnostic and work equally on both technologies.

Ready to measure your pitch?

Every test we run is UKAS-accredited and defensible. Tell us about your venue and we'll come back with a fixed written quote within two working hours.

Request a Test → Call 0208 246 5562

or email info@surfaceperformance.com with your venue and test requirements