Kingfisher Lighting recently designed, supplied and installed a £150,000 lighting system at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium - home to the Birchfield Harriers - in the UK.

The system allows for evening practice and adds versatility and accessibility to the venue for athletics training and competitions such as the Midland's Masters and the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships.

The scheme involved designing two switching levels to accommodate the lighting levels for training (100 lux) and competitions (200 lux), with consideration to the individual requirements of specific areas such as track and field, the 100m finishing straight, the 100m back straight and jumping areas.

Although not necessary retractable, the 18m-high mid-hinged mast system, is located around the perimeter of the track to minimise intrusion and a canopy lighting system is situated off the main grandstand to illuminate the 100m finishing straight.

A Sport asymmetric floodlight was fitted with a 2KW long arc metal halide lamp, specified with either a narrow or a wide beam distribution. With a near flat glass working elevation and a maximum intensity of 65 degrees, the sport floodlight balances performance with control over glare, overspill and upward light.

Maintenance-wise, the mid-hinged mast system can be lowered to ground level by means of a manually operated winch.