Sports Lighting Retrofit Playbook (Metal Halide to LED)
Retrofitting metal halide to LED follows five disciplined steps: audit the existing system, verify the poles, design to IES RP-6, plan the install, and commission. Done in that order, a retrofit cuts energy 50–65%, slashes maintenance, and upgrades light quality — with minimal disruption to the playing schedule. Done out of order — buying fixtures before verifying poles or designing to a standard — is how retrofits go over budget or fail inspection.
This playbook walks each step and flags the decisions that protect your budget and your timeline.
The five steps
| Step | What it produces |
|---|---|
| 1. Audit | Inventory of fixtures, wattage, pole locations/heights, electrical service, and current light levels |
| 2. Verify poles | EPA/wind-load confirmation that poles and foundations can be reused |
| 3. Design to RP-6 | Photometric study confirming maintained footcandles, uniformity, and spill |
| 4. Plan the install | Crane access, electrical changes, controls, and schedule |
| 5. Commission | Aimed, measured, controls-programmed system with a documented report |
Step 1 — Audit the existing system
Start by documenting what you have: fixture types and wattage, exact pole locations and mounting heights, the electrical service and circuiting, and the current measured light levels. This baseline tells you how far below standard the field has drifted (metal halide fades badly with age) and gives the designer the geometry needed for the new layout. Photos and a simple measured footcandle grid are worth the hour they take.
Step 2 — Verify the poles (the step nobody should skip)
The most expensive mistake in a retrofit is assuming the existing poles will carry the new fixtures. Run an EPA/wind-load check (per ASCE 7) before reusing any pole. The good news is that LED fixtures are usually lighter and lower-EPA than the metal halide units they replace, so reuse is often feasible — but "often" is not "always," and a pole loaded beyond its rating is a safety failure, not a budget line. Verify, then reuse.
Step 3 — Design to IES RP-6
A retrofit is not "swap fixture for fixture." It is a fresh design to the field's RP-6 class of play. A photometric study using real IES files confirms the new layout delivers maintained footcandles, the required uniformity, and controlled spill — accounting for the existing pole positions. This is also where you catch and fix dark spots or glare the old system had.
Step 4 — Plan the install
Coordinate the practical logistics: crane access and staging, any electrical changes (LED's lower load sometimes allows service reductions), the controls package, and — importantly — scheduling around the playing calendar so the field is dark for as few events as possible. A clear plan here is what keeps a retrofit "minimal disruption" rather than a season-wrecking project.
Step 5 — Commission
Finally, aim each fixture to the design schedule, measure footcandles on the grid to confirm they match the prediction, program the controls (scenes, schedules, curfew), and produce a commissioning report documenting results. Commissioning is what turns a pile of installed fixtures into a verified, standard-compliant system you can stand behind.
Why this saves money
Reusing structurally verified poles avoids new foundations, often 30–50% of a project's cost, and the LED system then delivers the 50–65% energy savings and reduced maintenance that drive a 3–6 year payback. Duvon supports the full workflow with free photometrics.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps to retrofit metal halide to LED?
Audit the system, verify the poles with an EPA/wind-load check, design the LED layout to RP-6 with a photometric study, plan the install, and commission with field verification.
Can I reuse my existing poles?
Often yes, since LED is lighter, but only after an EPA/wind-load check confirms the poles and foundations are adequate at the site's wind speed. Never assume.
How much does a retrofit save?
Typically 50–65% on energy plus large maintenance savings from fewer re-lamps and crane trips, with payback commonly in 3–6 years.
Why reuse poles instead of replacing them?
New poles need new foundations — often 30–50% of project cost. Reusing verified poles avoids that and shortens the install.
Will a retrofit disrupt our playing schedule?
With install planning around the calendar and reused poles, downtime is usually limited to a few days or evenings — far less than a full new-construction project.
Plan your retrofit with a free certified photometric study and EPA review. Request it at duvonlighting.com/photometric-study.