ITF

29 FACILITIES GUIDE | JUNE 2020 Ceiling system and insulation Ceiling systems in tennis buildings improve the appearance of covered courts and serve two other important purposes. They offer a highly reflective surface to improve the performance of lighting systems and they provide significant insulation, enhancing the performance of the HVAC system. In addition, they provide a vapour barrier and assist in controlling condensation within the structure. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) An effective HVAC system should be capable of changing air within the structure with minimal noise or draft. In winter, the heating system should maintain the building temperature between 13-17°C (55-62°F), whilst in summer, the air conditioning should maintain an indoor temperature of 6-8°C (10-15°F) below the outside temperature with 55-60% humidity. Noise should not exceed 45 dB. When heating covered courts containing clay courts, consideration must be given to the type of system used, to prevent uneven heating and drying of the surface. Lighting Lighting of covered courts should be uniform and glare-free. All lighting systems should be designed to provide adequate visibility of the ball at all locations whilst in play, for both players and spectators, with minimum glare. Acoustics Tennis requires a high degree of concentration. Noise should be avoided as far as possible. Empty tennis halls should not generate reverberation for longer than 3 seconds at frequencies greater than 500 Hz. Carpeting has a damping effect, as does perimeter and divider netting. A ceiling design with noise-absorbing elements attached at a distance of 0.15 to 0.20 m from the roof structure is recommended. The hall air must be able to circulate between the noise-absorbent panels and the roof surface since this reduces the sound level in the lower frequency ranges. Sound-absorbent elements made of mineral wool above a suspended boarded ceiling are usually sufficient for effective acoustic damping.

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