Project: Health Designers – LED high bays in a private gym

Private training centre Health Designers in Dilsen-Stokkem (Belgium) replaced 18 glaring, flickering fluorescent fittings in its gym hall with 14 LED high bays of 100W at 6 m. The light level rose from 300 to 500 lux, the glare from bare tubes is gone, and the power dropped by 40%.

Project facts

Client	Health Designers, private training centre
Location	Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium
Building	Gym hall with sprint track and strength area
Completed	2022
Old lighting	18 × twin fluorescent fitting 2×58W, 130W including ballast
New lighting	14 × LED high bay 100W, 4000K
Mounting	6 m, suspended from eye hooks
Operating hours	Around 12 hours a day
Illuminance	300 → 500 lux
Planning	DIALux light study

The starting point

Health Designers runs a private training centre for business owners, with personal coaching on a sprint track, free weights and strength machines. The hall was lit by 18 twin fluorescent fittings of 2×58W, around 130W each including ballast.

Glare and flicker during training

In a gym, people often look up: during bench presses, floor exercises and stretching. The bare fluorescent tubes caused glare, and several of them flickered, which is tiring and unpleasant during an intense session.

Not bright enough for a premium gym

With 300 lux, the hall felt dim for a training centre that wants to look sharp and professional, also on camera for social media and coaching videos.

The solution

Fewer, better placed light points

The DIALux light study placed 14 LED high bays between the roof beams, over the sprint track and the strength area. Fewer fittings with more light per fitting give an even 500 lux across the hall, with the light directed downward instead of from long, bare tubes.

14 LED high bays 100W

Each LED high bay 100W gives 15,000 lumen at 150 lm/W with a 90° beam, suited to the 6 m mounting height. Neutral white 4000K with Ra>80 makes the hall feel fresh and bright without the cold look of daylight white, and the driver gives steady, flicker-free light. The fittings hang from eye hooks, and they are 1-10V dimmable if the gym wants lighter scenes later. More on lighting training spaces in our guide on sports hall and gym lighting, or all high bays 100W.

LED luminaire used in this project

Energy savings in figures

The table compares the old installation with the new one, at around 12 hours a day all year.

	Old	LED	Difference
Luminaires	18 × 130W twin fluorescent	14 × 100W LED high bay	4 fewer light points
Connected load	2,340W	1,400W	−40%
Illuminance	300 lux	500 lux	+67%
Consumption per year	10,249 kWh	6,132 kWh	−4,117 kWh
Electricity cost per year	€3,382	€2,024	−€1,359
CO2 per year	1.5 t	0.9 t	−0.6 t

How we calculated this

• Operating hours: 12 h × 365 days = 4,380 h per year.
• Old: 18 × 130W = 2,340W × 4,380 h = 10,249 kWh per year.
• LED: 14 × 100W = 1,400W × 4,380 h = 6,132 kWh per year.
• Cost: 4,117 kWh × €0.33/kWh = €1,359 per year.
• CO2: 4,117 kWh × 0.15 kg/kWh = 0.6 t per year.

The saving comes with 67% more light.

Investment and payback

At current webshop prices, the 14 LED high bays cost €727. Half of the investment was covered by a relighting subsidy, leaving €364. With €1,359 lower electricity costs per year, that amount is earned back in just over three months. Installation is not included in that figure.

Calculate the savings for your gym

The calculator below is pre-filled with the figures of this project. Change the values to see what LED would save in your own gym or sports hall.

The result

• Bright, professional gym: 500 lux instead of 300 lux across the hall.
• Less glare: no more bare fluorescent tubes above people training on their backs.
• No flicker: steady light during every session.
• 40% less power: 1,400W instead of 2,340W, with 4 fewer light points.
• Lower running costs: €1,359 less on electricity every year.

Frequently asked questions

How many lux does a gym need?

For fitness and strength training, around 300 to 500 lux is common. Spaces with fast movement, sprinting or ball games benefit from the upper end of that range. Health Designers now trains at 500 lux.

How do you avoid glare in a gym?

Avoid bare tubes and place the fittings so they are not directly above benches and mats where people lie on their backs. Fittings that direct the light downward at a suitable height, like the 90° high bays here at 6 m, cause much less glare than open fluorescent battens.

Which colour temperature suits a gym?

Neutral white 4000K is a popular choice: bright and fresh, but not as cold as 5000K or 6500K. It also looks natural on camera for coaching videos and social media.

Do LED high bays work at a ceiling height of only 6 m?

Yes. A 100W high bay with a 90° beam is designed for around 5 to 9 m. At 6 m, 14 fittings give 500 lux in this hall.

Is there a subsidy for LED in a sports or fitness hall?

That depends on the country and region. On this project half of the luminaire investment was covered by a relighting subsidy. We tell you which schemes apply and supply the technical data needed for the application.

Can you make a free light plan for my gym?

Yes. Send us the floor plan with ceiling height and the layout of the training zones. We make a free DIALux light study and send a non-binding quote at direct-import prices.