CONSTRUCTION DESIGN PLAN REQUIREMENTS



Field Renovation & Construction Projects
Field Lighting Projects
Practice Facilities (indoor and covered/enclosed outdoor)
CONSTRUCTION DESIGN PLAN – RENOVATION & NEW CONSTRUCTION
For field renovation and construction projects construction design plan should include the
following information supported by current, written cost estimates or a bid:
- Field layout – orientation and dimensions including:
o Base path distances
o Distance from home to centerfield, left field and right field
o Dugout (placement)
o Backstop (placement)
o Infield layout – indicating skinned or turf infield
o Baseline and outfield fencing (placement)
o Warning track (if applicable) – depth and placement
- Grading/Drainage plan – including slope and elevations
- Irrigation plan – design/layout
- Dugout – length, depth, materials, furnishings including flooring material
- Backstop – materials, height, width
- Baseline fencing – materials, height, quantity
- Outfield fencing – material, height, quantity
- Soil test results – Learn how to pull a soil sample. Turf & Soil Diagnostics testing services
recommended.
- Infield mix, mound/home plate clay, and conditioners – composition, quantities, depth
and brand/manufacturer
- Warning track material (if applicable) – composition, quantity, depth
BTF Preferred Providers available
CONSTRUCTION DESIGN PLAN – FIELD LIGHTING
For field lighting projects, a construction design plan should include the following information,
either with a light scan showing field dimensions with equipment layout and light
levels/uniformities. The information must be supported by current, written cost estimates or a
bid.
- Field layout – orientation and dimensions including:
o Base path distances (longest base path used on infield, if more than one)
o Size of field - Distance from home to centerfield, left field and right field and any
irregularities (either power alley deeper than center, etc.)
o Backstop fencing (distance from home, first and third base lines)
o Baseline fencing (distance from first and third base lines) and outfield fencing (distances
from home plate: left, center and right)
o Position of proposed light poles (distance down each foul line from home and distance
off each foul line to pole location)
- Mounting heights of lights/height of light poles
- Lamp type, wattage, average lamp life and quantities per pole
- Average footcandles on infield and outfield (example: 50 infield/30 outfield footcandles),
including initial and maintained levels (example: 73 initial, 50 maintained).
o Uniformities of lighting (maximum to minimum**) for infield and outfield (example: 2:1
infield / 2.5:1 outfield, max:min)
- Manufacturer’s warranty – coverage summary
General Lighting Guidelines Based on Field Level
Horizontal Illumination
Foot-Candles (Lumens)*
Field Level
Infield
Outfield
College – non-televised
70 (700)
50 (500)
College – televised
100 (1,000)
70 (700)
High School, Youth (competitive)
50 (500)
30 (300)
Recreational
30 (300)
20 (200)
* In the U.S., lights are measured by the amount of Foot-Candles (FC.) In Europe, lights are
measured in Lumens (Lux.)
** The max to min ratio is a good indicator of the quality of lighting. If the max:min is too high,
the field has bright and dark spots, or a lower field playability. Most lighting standards for
baseball require a 2:1 uniformity for infields, and 2.5:1 uniformity for outfields, for
recreational/high school play. The higher the level of play (i.e. college, professional), the stricter
the max:min.
BTF Preferred Providers available
CONSTRUCTION DESIGN PLAN – PRACTICE FACILITIES
For indoor and covered/enclosed outdoor practice facilities, construction design plan should
include the following information supported by current, written cost estimates or a bid:
- Artist rendering or schematic design if available
- Floor plan including dimensions of the overall structure
- Construction documents – Drawings and specifications (i.e. written requirements
related to the building materials, equipment and systems)
- Description of furnishings, including flooring material and safety equipment
BTF Preferred Providers available