Swimming Pools

An Accident Waiting To Happen

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, International, News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

Pool and spa builders in the UK, Europe and around the world, writes Chris Carr, cannot fail to be aware of the well publicised concerns about the risks of entrapment from any of the suction fittings on a swimming pool or spa.
Indeed, the standards here in the UK were updated about ten years ago, highlighting the risks and to set out a new requirement to install a ‘dual – deep suction system’ (main drain) on all new swimming pools and spas.
I think most of us would have assumed that by adopting this ‘dual drain’ system, the risk of entrapment would have been totally resolved on the basis that if one drain was covered then the other would take priority. However, I have recently received information, from a source in the USA, which comprises of a number of documents together with three short videos relating to research undertaken regarding the risks of entrapment. From what is explained by this information, it suggests that even with a dual system fitted, the dangers may still prevail.

RESEARCH CONCERNS
Initially I was a little sceptical that the research had been called for by a manufacturer of a; “Suction Safety Device”. However, the
more I looked at their research, the more concerned I became. To understand the problem you need to imagine that the pool
(or spa) is complying with the standards insofar as it is fitted with two deep suction outlets, but otherwise it is operating in the
worst possible situation. For example: If one of the deep suction (sump) lid should become broken (no longer being in place) and if the plant room valves have been arranged so that all the flow is being directed through the deep drain (or sumps), then (according to the information provided) there is the possibility that a young child could become entrapped on the open sump (main drain – fitting) possibly resulting in a fatality.

Now, you might think that to have these conditions all at one time would be unusual and I would have to agree. However, it’s not uncommon for a property to be sold to a new owner and the previous owners may not have provided any maintenance or safety information on the pool. It could even be that the pool had been left in a poor condition (green water etc) and as a result the new owner may have been chemically treating the pool and have adjusted the valves to ensure greater circulation in the deep end.

MAIN DRAIN LIDS
In such a case it could be that the new owners are oblivious of the risks of entrapment and they may also be unaware of the condition of the main drain lids, especially if the pool was green.
With regard to the main drain lids, we know that it is quite a common occurrence for them to get broken from time to time and the swimming pool equipment distributors who will tell you how many hundreds of replacements they sell each year!

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Hotel Pool Investment Reaps Reward

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, News, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

Loyal Grove provided a raised platform with multiple slides of varying types suitable for a relatively small indoor space and can operate without a pool.

Management at the Manor House Hotel are anticipating payback within a couple of seasons on a new multi-flume water leisure attraction added by the Loyal Grove team to the Devon hotel’s swimming pool complex.
“We have a philosophy of continuous improvement,” says
Barry Madge, marketing manager at the family-run hotel that, together with its sister hotel just two miles up the road, offers a combined 386 guest rooms.
“Loyal Grove was able to offer a good price, backed up by
expertise – it was a great package and it is great to see how it has come to fruition,” says Barry.
“We were looking for multi appeal across the generations, from kids to adults yet the aquacatches mean there is minimal staffing commitment with just one supervisor required for all four flumes.”
“We shopped around before settling on the four flume slide
complex and what we have heard from the guests so far are rave reviews,” Barry adds.
Over more than three decades in business, both hotels have built
up a strong reputation for leisure facilities including golf and
tennis as well as swimming.
Loyal Grove provided a raised platform with multiple slides of
varying types suitable for a relatively small indoor space and that
could operate without a pool.
Loyal Grove came up with a design proposal that included four
slides; some open some closed, all ending in aquacatch run-outs
to slow riders to a gradual stop, allowing them to exit safely.
The shallow water maintained in each aquacatch, typically
200mm deep, means the slides are more appealing to younger
riders and non-swimmers.
An underground tank was constructed below the end of
the slides to collect the discharged flume water, that was then
pumped back to a plant room for chemical treatment and heating
before being redirected back to the slides. Falls and drains were
built into the surrounding floor areas to collect water from splash
over and foot traffic.
Loyal Grove was responsible for the design and manufacture of
all the associated water slide components including support steel.
They liaised closely with Andy Brint of the Manor House Hotel
during the entire project and Apex Pool Engineers relating to the
pipework installation and plant requirements.
Loyal Grove Leisure is a flume and water slide specialist
based in the United Kingdom but with a worldwide clientele. The
company offers a turnkey, design and build of new facilities as
well as modifications or refurbishment of existing installations.
All new water slide installations are designed in accordance
with current standards and manufactured and installed to
the appropriate British Standards. In addition Loyal Grove
continuously develop and expand a varied range of children’s play
features suitable for municipal swimming pool environments and
wet leisure areas.
Loyal Grove Leisure
Tel. +44 (0)1543 677694.
Email. sales@loyalgrove-leisure.co.uk
www.loyalgrove-leisure.co.uk

Signature Installation For Nirvana

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, News, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools, Wellbeing | Comment (0)

Signature Products has completed the installation of a 12 x 5m deck level, one-piece, pre-tiled pool at the Nirvana Spa.

Signature Products has completed the installation of a 12 x 5m deck level, one-piece, pre-tiled pool along with four, deck overflow pre-tiled spas at the Nirvana Spa, the UK’s largest independent spa.

Set in 11 acres of Berkshire countryside, the new additions take the number of pools to eight with a further eight spas and plunge pools.

“When I first saw the Signature Products range, I was immediately impressed as I had researched the marketplace extensively and had never seen anything like the full mosaic finish with sandstone gratings that did not look like a domestic spa,” says Nirvana founder, Sean Barley.

“I was impressed with the project management delivered by the Signature team who were a pleasure to deal with, giving lots of good advice on both design and build, which made life an awful lot easier,” Sean adds.

For more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine

Signature Products Ltd Tel. +44 (0)1256 748388

www.signatureproducts.eu

British Architects Get Inside Track on Moving Floors

Category: International, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

As designers and manufacturers, Hydrofloors can offer a complete turnkey service working hand in glove with pool builders and main contractors.

UK architects visited a Belgium home that included both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool at basement level.

A group of British architects was given the
inside track on the potential for moving
swimming pool floors when they gathered in
Belgium recently.
As guests of UK swimming pool builders,
Guncast and world-leading moving floor
manufacturers, Hydrofloors, the British
delegation was exclusively accompanied by
Pool and Spa Scene editor, Christina Connor.
The visit included a tour of the Hydrofloors
moving floors manufacturing base and the
Ocea slatted covers factory near Brussels.
It also took in a top drawer Belgian home
that included both an indoor and outdoor
swimming pool at basement level featuring a
Hydrofloors moving floor, moving boom and
an Ocea cover system.
The indoor section of the pool featured
a moving floor that moving at about 20mm
per minute transformed the pool into an
aerobics workout area for the sporty owners.
It was separated from the outdoor pool by
a pool boom that disappeared at the push of
a button. The outdoor pool also had an Ocea
slatted cover that completely disappeared
when the pool was in use.
”Given our unpredictable climate, for
many luxury home owners in the northern
hemisphere, it can be difficult to decide
between an indoor or outdoor swimming
pool,” says Jack Harding, Director of Guncast.
“In fact, they can enjoy the best of both
worlds by installing a moving boom.
“Equally, by incorporating a moving floor
in your design, you are utilising your indoor
pool hall as a multifunctional room; creating
additional floor space which enhances
both the functionality and the value of
properties.”
Basement swimming pools with moving
floors are becoming increasingly fashionable,
particularly in parts of London and other
areas where space is at a premium.
The mechanically powered Hydrofloors
system offers adjustable depth and a moving
floor that is sturdy enough to act as a
standard floor, allowing the room to be filled
to capacity with people.
As designers and manufacturers,
Hydrofloors can offer a complete turnkey
service working hand in glove with pool
builders and main contractors.

Golden Goose

Category: Home Pools & Spas, News, Residential Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools, UK Export | Comment (0)

Traditional residential liner pool building companies are being offered a Golden Goose by thermal-insulation panel pool specialists, Polypool Manufacturing.

Particularly hard hit by the economic down turn, traditional
residential liner pool building companies are being offered a
Golden Goose by thermal-insulation panel pool specialists,
Polypool Manufacturing.
Already cutting an average four weeks off pool building
timelines, the Polypool package is supplied complete with Part L
compliance documentation – an estimated cost saving of up to
£1,500.
But most significantly, after three years of research and
development, the energy efficient pool building system can now
be installed as a tiled finish option – propelling the middle-priced
pool builder into a whole new ‘recession-proof’ luxury end of the
pool building market.
BUSINESS PROSPECTS
“Business prospects for the liner outdoor pool market specialists
are particularly worrying,” comments Phil de Bruderer, of Polypool
Manufacturing.
“The traditional liner market halved two years ago and went
down another third this year, it is a sad state of affairs,” says Phil.
“The local swim pool company, working within a 20 mile radius,
typically building three or four or more liner pools a year have had
to shift their work into refurbishments, maintenance, chemical
sales, well, just anything to survive.
“Offering a tiled finish is particularly significant because it lifts
the low to medium priced builder into a place where they can compete at the luxury end of the market,” Phil adds.
It has taken nearly four years to perfect but the Polypool
System can now be offered with the tiled finish by virtue of an
extra process involving lining the pool tank with a sprayed, sand
textured, rendered finish. This process is carried by Polypool
engineers, as part of the sale price and replaces traditional
rendering.

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Paralysed Pool Dive Girl Loses £6m Court Case

Category: Home Pools & Spas, News, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

Kylie Grimes was left paralysed from the chest down when she dived into a friend’s pool but has lost a £6m court case.

Homeowners with a private swimming pool do not have the ultimate responsibility to prohibit adults from diving into it, according to a landmark High Court ruling in which a young woman lost her claim for £6m damages.
Kylie Grimes, a healthy, athletic horsewoman was just 18 when she was left paralysed from the chest down when she dived into the pool in Farnham, Surrey, in August 2006.
The pool owner David Hawkins and his wife were away on the
night of the accident. Their daughter Katie had asked her father to let her have a few friends over but a group of about 20 came back from the pub.
Ms Grimes, of Stephendale Road, broke a vertebra below the base of her neck jumping into the pool.
She claimed her injury was caused by Mr Hawkins’s negligence or breach of his duties under the Occupiers’ Liability Act but Mrs Justice Thirlwall ruled against her, describing the pool as “not unsafe for diving”.

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Just In Time Cruiser Ordering

Category: Dealers Wanted, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

Mineral Supplies International, the European distributors of the best selling Auto Cruiser pool cleaner, has announced a streamlining of its UK and European supply routes enabling retailers to order in smaller quantities with drastically reduced delivery times.

The ‘just in time’ ordering strategy better reflects the economic climate, say MSI, who will no longer ask customers during the recession to place bulk orders. Instead, an extended warehouse facility in East Sussex will act as a springboard for Cruiser stock both into the UK and mainland Europe, enabling quick ships and reduced quantity deliveries.For more on this story see the latest issue of Pool and Spa Scene Magazine!

Mineral Supplies International
Tel. +44 (0)1825 790524
Email: sales@mineralsi.
www.mineralsi.com

2012 London Aquatics Centre Opens To Universal Acclaim

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, International, News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

British Olympic hopeful, Tom Daley, marked with official opening of the London 2012 Aquatics Centre by being the first person to dive in to the pool.

EXACTLY one year ahead of London 2012 Games, the Aquatics Centre is now complete, the last of the six main Olympic Park venues to finish construction.
The Aquatics Centre was officially unveiled with British Olympic
hopeful Tom Daley making the first dive into the pool.
Double Commonwealth Gold medallist and 2012 hopeful Tom
Daley said: “Marking the one year to go, by diving in the Aquatics
Centre is an incredible honour.
“Only a few years ago, this was a distant dream. The fact that I
qualified at the weekend and am taking the first dive is a complete privilege. I can’t wait for next year and the honour of representing Team GB.”

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: ‘The Aquatics Centre will be a
fantastic gateway to the Games in 2012 and a much-needed new
community and elite sporting venue for the capital afterwards. Five years ago, in July 2006, we published a delivery timetable which set
out the ambitious target to complete the main venues a year before
the Games. Today, with the completion of the sixth main permanent
venue, I am proud to say that we have delivered on that commitment.
‘The completion of the Aquatics Centre is the latest chapter in a
British success story where tens of thousands of workers and business
from across the UK have demonstrated the ability of this country to
successfully deliver major projects.’
Construction started on the Zaha Hadid-designed Aquatics Centre
just over three years ago in June 2008 and has been completed on
time and with an exemplary safety record.
Over 3630 people have worked on the construction of the venue
and over 370 UK businesses have won contracts including the steel
for the roof from Wales, pool lights from Scotland, pumps from
Bedfordshire, under-floor heating by a company from Newcastleupon-
Tyne and water testing done by a Flintshire-based business.
In total, over 40,000 people have worked on the Park since
April 2008 and over 1500 direct contracts worth £6bn have been
distributed to thousands of companies across the UK.
The Aquatics Centre will have a capacity of 17,500 during the
Games, hosting swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and the
swimming element of the Modern Pentathlon.
major events
After the Games, the venue is reduced to a maximum of 2,500, with
the ability to add 1,000 for major events, and provides two 50m
swimming pools with moveable floors and separation booms, a diving
pool and dry diving area for a full range of community and elite use.
The sweeping roof, which is 160m long and 90m at its widest point,
is an innovative steel structure weighing over 3000 tonnes with a
striking and robust aluminium covering, half of which is recycled,
resting on three supports.
LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe said: “With construction now complete
on the Aquatics Centre, we are another step closer to the spectacular
Olympic Park which will be host to world class sport in 2012. And
after the Games, the venue will become a much-needed swimming
facility for London with community use at its heart, epitomising the
spirit of London’s bid – a Games which would bring lasting change
and encourage people to choose sport. Everyone involved can be very
proud of this venue and the progress of the Olympic Park as a whole. I
congratulate the ODA and their teams who have done a fantastic job.”

Making Waves In The Swimming Pool World

Category: Home Pools & Spas, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

From architectural design, through the rigours of planning consent, to the creation of the pool, the building, the heating, the glazing, Origin Leisure take on the complete job.

Origin Leisure has been at the top of the swimming pool industry for thirty years. To celebrate this milestone the company hasrebranded its entire look, with a bright new logo, an all-new website, and redesigned vans.
But the ethic of the company remains unchanged. They are still
adopting their programme of constant improvement, and their
products are more adventurous, more imaginatively designed and more perfectly built than ever.
Reflecting on the early days, when the company started
out life as Leisureland, the directors searched the archives for
photographic evidence of the pool houses they were building
in the eighties. Simplicity seemed to be the keyword in those
distant days – when a simple pine building housed a small
heated swimming pool. In further research they found that the
majority of these buildings are still in daily use today, giving new
generations the pleasure of swimming at home throughout the
year. Many of these early masterpieces have been refurbished
by the Origin maintenance team, to bring the look and the pool
technology up to date.
NOSTALGIC BURST
To celebrate this burst of nostalgia, the directors also gathered a
collection of early advertisements and brochures, and featured
them in the Origin summer newsletter NewsWave. Also featured is
an article on Britain’s brightest swimming talent Francesca Halsall.
Origin is delighted to be one of Fran’s sponsors, especially as she
has just clocked a world-leading time in the 100 metres freestyle!
Generally the buildings have become bigger, better, far more
complex and far more stylish over the years. Lovely pool houses
that are designed to co-ordinate with their surroundings, to
actually improve the vista from the owner’s home, and match in
with the materials and fabrics of the existing building.
Constancy has been a key feature in Origin’s development.
The client always meets a representative at director level, and has
the opportunity to discuss ideas and requirements with someone
who has a total understanding of the swimming pool world. The
architects and designers are seasoned players in their fields, and
bring a wealth of experience to every aspect of this complex and
demanding business. Even the teams who build the final pool
houses are eminently professional, many having been involved
since the very early days of the company.

Origin Leisure is marking its 30 year milestone with a company makeover including a a bright new logo, an all-new website, and redesigned vans.

Within Origin’s range of expertise is a long standing
commitment to the supply of hydrotherapy pools. Realising the
benefits of swimming as a health giving pursuit as well as for
pure fun, the company has made sure it has become recognised
as the most important player in this exacting field.
NATURAL PROGRESSION
It was accepted as a natural progression to build outdoor pools
too. The level of skill and the company’s unique understanding
of pool technology stood them in good stead to become one of
the country’s foremost outdoor pool providers. A pool house is
a beautiful and stylish addition to your family life, but for pure
aesthetics an outdoor pool twinkling welcomingly in an English
garden cannot be beaten!
A question that is asked again and again is “Do you do the
whole project yourself?” The answer is a resounding yes. From
the very first sketch, maybe produced while standing in the
client’s garden, to standing in that same garden admiring the
pure craftsmanship, no other company apart from Origin has
been involved. From architectural design, through the rigours of
planning consent, to the creation of the pool, the building, the
heating, the glazing, it is a complete job, monitored and run by a
team of committed experts.
Origin is Britain’s longest established pool company. And the new
look and logo underlines that fact. The strapline reads ‘The original
indoor & outdoor pool company.’ And that just about says it all.
Origin Leisure
Tel. +44 (0)1895 823366
www.originleisure.com

Tide Turns

Category: News, Residential Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

The one-piece pool tide is turning, buoyed by quality projects like this Monoblock installation by Starline.

The UK water leisure trade has traditionally been unwilling to
overcome its one-piece pool prejudice.
Popular in the southern hemisphere markets such as Australia
and South Africa, the all-in-one option has also gained a
significant following across France and mainland Europe.
Meanwhile, the sceptical UK pool traditionalists stone-walled the
‘washing up bowl’ option in favour of more conventional home pool
building methods such as block and liner and panel pools.

At last, the one-piece pool tide is turning; buoyed by
improvements in product quality with the backing of long
warranties and a healthy dose of competition.
Swimtek was one of the first companies to introduce all-inone-
pools to the UK. “The trade has been slow to get involved in
the one-piece market,” says native Australian, Graham Witham ,
the man behind Swimtek.
“Yet the public are better informed than they were 20 yearsago when I started to make the pools in the UK and they are
looking more towards the advantages of a one-piece pool,”
Graham says.
“With the middle to bottom of the market falling away we
are deliberately trying to appeal to a higher end, more discerning
customer who wants and expects a better product,” Graham
continues.
“We took the decision to improve the over-all appearance of
the pools by offering bespoke colour schemes and also by using
a new gel coat system designed in Australia and manufactured
under license in Europe,” Graham explains.
“The manufacturing was moved to a modern new factory
where the pools are manufactured in a climate-controlled
environment and to a much improved heavier lay up (thickness)
for extra strength in transport and life-long durability.”
TOP PERFORMERS
Other top performers in the one-piece sector include Starline
whose strategy of marketing the Monoblock pool directly to the
end user via quality newspaper advertising is raising product
awareness.
“The potential for growth for the one-piece pool market is
huge as product awareness grows for both the trade and end
user,” says Starline’s Darren Brown.
“Also, as the market for new pool installations has its peak and
troughs, the fast installation times of a one-piece pool will allow
the trade to service the peaks much more efficiently and with
fewer staff.
“The one-piece pool principle takes away a lot of the technical
aspects of traditional pool building which opens the market up to
the less experienced installer, especially with something like the
Starline Monoblock which offers the simplicity of a one-piece pool
installation along with a very high specification.”
TRADE BENEFITS
The Starline Monoblock offers the trade many advantages and
selling points to market to the end user whilst also having the
benefit of fast installation times coupled with the ability to fix
costs with a factory-built, quality controlled pool and therefore
better guaranteed profit margins.
Starline also offer help and advice in the transportation and
delivery of the pools, with specially adapted delivery vehicles
which can crane the pools off the trailer and move them
independently on site making the logistics of delivery far easier.
Starline pools can literally go where no other pools can reach.
Along with the benefits of the Roldeck pool cover, Starline have
designed the Monoblock for family use with a constant depth to
enable children to interact and play in the whole pool area with a
standing ledge round the whole pool for younger swimmers.
The pools are available in five colours and come with a range
of overlapping copings which provide a very neat finish to the top
of the pool.

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Made To Measure

Category: News, Residential Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

Christina Connor reports on the growth of the bespoke automatic pool cover market…

Individuality is today’s watchword when it comes to automatic pool covers.

Gone are the days when home pool owners were impressed simply by the push-button action of the automatic cover.
Now they demand a bespoke product that is precisionengineered not only to automatically exit the pool water but to disappear into a wall or floor; completely invisible when the pool is in use.
Where a standard blue finish once would suffice; now discerning clients want to see an infinite colour palette that will precisely match the tones and finishes of the surrounding pool tiles and themes.
UNIQUE CREATION
“The mass market for automatic covers has reduced significantly,” believes Alan Thorne of Ocea UK. “These days, automatic covers are more likely to be a unique creation,” he says.
“It is ideal for bespoke suppliers like Ocea because others cannot match the diversity of service from initial design, through to manufacture and installation.

“With six full time engineers based in the UK, we at Ocea are passionate about our role to work with pool builders who are looking for something special.”

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Europe Considers Response To Main Drain Cover Recall

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, News, Residential Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (2)

European suppliers are considering the ramifications of the recall of approximately one million swimming pool drain covers from at least eight manufacturers.
In a landmark move in June, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled the
pool drain covers they say were incorrectly rated to handle the flow of water – posing a potential entrapment risk.
The move primarily impacts on pools with a single-drain that do not have an unblockable drain, gravity feed system or drain covers that were fitted before December 2008.

Although SPATA regulations recommended pools should have two main drains; many UK pools with single drain pools still exist. The move is also likely to have repercussions for hundreds of children’s pools, paddling pools and in-ground spas.

A full list of affected products is included on the web pages of the Association Pool and Spa Professional website at: www.apsp.org/ draincoverrecall. They include specific drain-cover models from the following manufacturers as part of what the CPSC describes as a ‘voluntary’ recall:
• A&A Manufacturing
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Color Match Pool Fittings
• Custom Molded Products
• Hayward Pool Products
• Pentair Water Pool and Spa
• Rising Dragon Plastics
• Waterway Plastics
Earlier this year, the CPSC launched an investigation to determine whether the testing methods used to approve drain covers were sufficient to confirm the safety of the product.
All American-installed covers are required to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act that came into effect in December 2008.

Top Shelf Option

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Our picture diary shows the speed of a Signature Pool one-piece installation.

The only one-piece ‘tiled‘ composite pool currently available in
the UK water leisure sector, the Signature Pool range is a top shelf
option for the all-in-one market.
A range of rectangular, freeform and deck overflow pools are
available as standard but Signature also offer a bespoke design
service to enable the consumer to have a pool custom-built to
their personal specification.
The Signature range can offer any size, any shape, walk-in
steps and bench seat sitting area, tiled skimmers, stainless steel
pool fittings, insulated walls and floors – all backed by a ten-year
structural guarantee.
DECK OVERFLOW
The company constantly invests in research and development.
The latest innovation is a modification of the new deck overflow
channel that now incorporates a balance tank.
Signature Pools are also now able to offer fully encapsulated
insulation to all of their pools achieving a U-value of 0.18W/m2K
– ideal for indoor installations that must now conform with Part L
building regulations.
The pools are supplied with the tiles already in place, applied
using an epoxy tile adhesive and grout as standard ensuring a
very durable and superior finish.

Signature Products Ltd
Tel. +44 (0)1256 748388
www.signatureproducts.eu

Treasure Trove

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One of four silvers for the multi-award winning Portrait Pools team this boutique pool project was runner up in the category for in ground commercial spas and health pools.

Proving all that glitters is not gold, we bring you a head-turning selection of silver and bronze projects from this year’s UK Pool Designs, the competition organised for members of the Swimming Pool and Allied Trade Association.

For all award winners see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine

Olympic Legacy

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

The Aquatics Centre will host swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo finals and the swimming discipline of the modern pentathlon.

Paralympic swimming gold medalist, Liz Johnson, had the unique honour of laying the last of 180,000 tiles lining the 50m competition, the training pools and the dive pool in the London 2012 Aquatics Centre – bringing the number of tiles on the whole project to nearly one million.

The Aquatics Centre ‘big build’ is on track to complete as scheduled this summer, in time for test events ahead of the Games. Despite cost increases, the centre should stay within the total construction budget for the event, which is an estimated £6.09bn.

The 50m training pool has already been filled and the moveable floors and separation booms tested. The remaining pools are now being filled with millions of litres of water for further extensive testing.

“With just 500 days of training and preparation to go until the Paralympic Games open it’s great to see first-hand where I hope to be competing and to play a very small part in building it,” commented Liz, as she laid the remaining tile.

For more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine

Going For Gold

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

The training pool at the Wales National Pool in Swansea is kept in tip top condition thanks to EGFM media in its filters.

Total Pool Chemicals is helping to keep it clean for swimmers training at the Wales National Pool in Swansea, as they prepare to go for gold at the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Chester-based company has been called in to keep the competition pool’s waters crystal clear for swimmers, including the Olympic hopefuls, using its innovative environmentally friendly Eco Glass Filter Media (EGFM).

The 50m Wales National Pool in Swansea has been selected as an Intensive Training Centre for elite swimmers by British Swimming, with hopes Swansea will become a breeding ground for gold medallists in the London 2012 Olympics.

Along with the Olympic athletes, the pool also caters for a very wide range of users including: aqua-natal, parent and toddlers, children and adults of all ages.

Total Pool Chemicals has been working with the centre to optimise water quality, by replacing the existing sand in their pool water filters.

For more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine

On-line Boost for Pool & Spa Retailers

Category: Hot Tubs & Spas, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

The launch of a new on-line information resource for existing and would be home pool and spa owners, Home Pool and Spa Scene is set to give the residential pool and spa markets a timely boost.

The web service at www.homepoolandspascene.com is the first lead-generating site of its kind for both swimming pool companies and spa retailers as well as being a valuable asset for complementary outdoor living suppliers.

The Home Pool & Spa Scene web service is part of a three-pronged consumer presence aimed at boosting UK outdoor living and home water leisure. Retailers are charged £195 a year to register on the site in up to five county areas. Nationwide presence costs £495 a year.

Visitors to the site can search for local retailers via county or post code searches or via product areas. They can also request brochures on specific companies or areas. Leads generated on this service are can be purchased from £2.75 via the retailers special log-in area.

The site will run in conjunction with Swimple – available at www.swimple.co.uk – a forum based site for home pool and spa owners to share information and ideas. Swimple will go to market in a different style to Home Pool & Spa Scene with much more customer interaction.

Both Swimple and Home Pool & Spa Scene link to the final element of the three-pronged consumer presence – an on-line shopping site run under the United Pool Retailers Online.

Click here:

www.homepoolandspascene.com

www.swimple.co.uk

A Cut Above

Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

The UK’s biggest supplier of refined glass to the water leisure industry is calling for the introduction of a global standard to certify the calibre of the alternative filtration media.

Amid a groundswell of scare stories about the use of recycled glass in swimming pool water filtration, the UK’s biggest supplier of refined glass to the water leisure industry is calling for the introduction of a global standard to certify the calibre of the alternative filtration media.

Direct Material Supplies Enviro Ltd (DMS-Enviro) produces the major brands EGFM and Enviro Glasmedia from its Staffordshire factory where it is not just crushed but processed and rendered sharp free.

It’s tried and tested glass media is currently being used on hundreds of pools, both public and residential, across Europe, as well as in the UK.

“DMS Enviro has invested and achieved production of a safe glass filter media as a suitable alternative to primary aggregates with excellent results and accreditations,” says Garry J Foley managing director of DMS Enviro.

“We, as a company, wholly support the introduction of a global standard for alternative water filtration media and implore the industry to make it happen.

For more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine

Enviro Glasmedia DMS Enviro Tel. +44 (0)1202 810600.

EGFM Total Pool Chemicals Tel. +44 (0)1829 740290.

Pool Beauty Is Not Skin Deep

Category: Home Pools & Spas, Residential Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

UK Pool Contractors of the Year, Portrait pools delivered all the goods with the outstanding barn conversion project in Cumbria.

Proving that beauty is not just skin-deep, the environmental control for an outstanding Cumbrian barn conversion project, by multi-award winning Portrait Pools, was entrusted to the care of a Phoenix environmental control unit from Heatstar.

The client wanted tasked the Portrait team with maximising the use of space and layout within the barn to create a modern contemporary style pool yet still retain some of the original character.

In addition, any ductwork required for the heating and ventilation had to be hidden from view and Portrait’s design had to accommodate the fact that the barn had very little natural light.

Portrait Pools rose to the challenge and met all the criteria. The pitched roof with exposed honey coloured beams showed the buildings origins and original character whilst the rest of the space was given a clean, contemporary look.

For more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine

Blue Riband Anniversary

Category: Hot Tubs & Spas, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)

Synonymous with quality, accuracy and reliability, the Lovibond brand is recognised in more than 120 countries.

As anniversaries go, celebrating the company’s 125th birthday this year is quite a blue riband event for the team from water analysis experts, Lovibond Tintometer.

While looking back on a proud history, the recent acquisition of the Kittiwake Water Test Kit business is testament to Lovibond® Tintometer®’s commitment to the future As Chris Counsell, Tintometer’s Managing Director comments: “The purchase of the Kittiwake water business will enable us to focus even greater energy and resources on the areas Tintometer® and Lovibond® are famous for; high quality instrumentation, reagents and ancillary equipment for water analysis.

Lovibond Tintometer Tel. +44 (0)1980 664800

www.tintometer.com

For More on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine

Swimming Pools

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