Safety against ball throwing - introduction
Gyms or sports halls are used for much more than just gymnastics. A wide range of action-packed sporting activities are carried out there every day. Many of these activities also involve balls, which are sometimes thrown, hit or kicked at high speed. Whether it is a smash in volleyball, a powerful shot in handball, a well-aimed strike in indoor hockey or a strong kick with a football, these balls do not always hit the intended target. As a result, no object in a sports hall is safe from being hit by a ball.
The safety of all athletes, whether they are students or club members, is always of utmost priority. Therefore, it is of course important that they are not injured by an object hit by a shot, punch or throw of a ball. For this reason, the applicable standards clearly define that every piece of equipment used in a sports hall must meet the requirements for safety against ball throwing. This applies, for example, to lamps, loudspeakers, display panels, clocks – in short, to everything that is installed in a sports hall. In other words, any product that is to be installed in sports halls must be tested in advance for safety against ball throwing.
As a certified testing laboratory, ISP GmbH - the Institut für Sportstättenprüfung - can carry out safety-against-ball-throwing tests on all kinds of products, both in its own laboratory and on site, in accordance with the relevant standards and professional guidelines.
Please find additional information about our individual safety against ball throwing services provided in the opposite menu.
Safety against ball throwing
| Testing Standards and guidelines |
Installation elements Testing on site and in the laboratory |
|---|---|
| DIN 18032-1 | Lamps |
| DIN 18032-3 | Ceiling and wall cladding |
| Control room windows | |
| Sports hall doors and sports hall gates | |
| Scoreboards |
Sports Hall Lighting: Ensuring Safety Against Ball Throw
Proper lighting is critical for both visibility and injury prevention in indoor sports. As halogen fixtures make way for energy-efficient LEDs, all luminaires must comply with DIN 18032-3 and DIN 57710-13 standards to withstand high-impact ball strikes. Testing involves launching balls at various speeds and angles, ensuring no damage occurs and no parts loosen.
Whether new lighting being introduced to the market or existing fixtures already installed, ISP GmbH conducts tests to guarantee safety and compliance. Their experts provide reliable test reports to ensure your lighting remains resilient and secure.
Ensuring Ceiling Safety Against Ball Impact
Sports halls often feature high ceilings equipped with critical elements like lighting, heating, and sound systems. To prevent accidents, these components must be firmly installed and comply with DIN 18032-3, ensuring they remain secure under strong ball impacts. ISP GmbH specializes in testing these ceiling elements—both in their certified lab and on-site—using a ball-shooting machine to simulate real sports scenarios. A product only passes if it shows no serious damage, stays firmly attached, and functions as intended. Categories D1 and D2 specify different impact speeds, underscoring the importance of proper testing before market launch or final installation.
By certifying your ceiling elements for ball-throw safety, you protect athletes, staff, and the long-term integrity of your sports facility.
Installation Elements: Proven Safety Against Ball Impacts
Sports halls feature a variety of fixed elements—windows, doors, climbing equipment, lights, and more—all of which must meet DIN 18032-3 safety requirements. This ensures they remain intact even when struck by balls at high speeds, preventing dangerous breakages or falling parts. ISP GmbH conducts rigorous tests using specialized ball-shooting apparatus, verifying each product’s durability, stability, and functionality. From wall to ceiling installations, multiple angles and impact speeds are tested to simulate real sports scenarios. If your product shows no significant damage or changes, it qualifies for a test report.
Whether you need pre-installation testing or checks on existing fixtures, ISP GmbH offers accredited services that help you protect athletes and maintain a safe, compliant facility.
Ensuring Ball-Throw Safety for Wall Elements
Wall elements in sports halls must be designed and tested to withstand high-speed ball impacts, ensuring that no parts become loose or damage occurs. Certified tests, according to DIN 18032-3 and DIN 18032-7, involve shooting handballs—and, for higher categories, hockey balls—from multiple angles using a ball shooting machine. A wall element is deemed safe if it shows only minimal, non-critical damage and maintains its structural integrity, stability, and functionality. ISP GmbH conducts these rigorous tests both in our certified laboratory and on-site, providing professional reports that certify compliance before market launch or installation.
Ball-Throw Safety: Mastering DIN 18032 Compliance
In Germany, sports halls must meet strict safety standards to protect both athletes and spectators from ball impacts. DIN 18032-3 ensures that all permanently installed fixtures - walls, ceilings, and equipment - can withstand the force of high-speed balls. DIN 18032-1 provides essential planning guidelines, while DIN 18032-3 outlines rigorous testing procedures with different ball types. Categories like W1-W3 (for walls) and D1-D2 (for ceilings) define the level of impact and speed, ensuring reliable, standardized evaluations. Additional regulations in DIN 18032-7 address impact protection systems for walls, referencing strict ball-throw requirements.
At ISP GmbH, our accredited lab thoroughly tests new or installed elements to confirm compliance, safeguarding the longevity of your facility.
Ball-Throw Safety: Test Methods for Sports Halls
Ensuring the safety of sports hall fixtures is essential to protect athletes from high-speed ball impacts. Under DIN 18032-3, each product—whether wall, ceiling, or installation element—undergoes standardized “initial tests” carried out with a ball-shooting machine. Depending on whether the fixture falls into W1-W3 or D1-D2 categories, testers measure specific impact speeds, angles, and ball types. Only installations that remain secure and free of critical damage pass these rigorous assessments, confirming their resilience. For luminaires, DIN 57710-13 adds further requirements to ensure they withstand repeated ball strikes. ISP GmbH offers both lab and on-site testing, providing comprehensive reports for a reliable confirmation of ball-throw safety.
We at ISP offer the following services:
- Tests on your sports hall products to ensure they meet the requirements of standards DIN 18032-1 and 18032-3
- Tests on the products installed in your sports hall to ensure they meet the requirements of standards DIN 18032-1 and 18032-3-3
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