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Category: Residential Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
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
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
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
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:
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.
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
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
For More on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine
Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Sir John Deane’s Leisure Centre has put literally thousands of empty bottles to good use in their swimming pool.
In continuous operation since 1972, serving the local community with general public swimming facilities, Sir John Deane’s Leisure Centre, Northwich, had become a victim of its own success.
The plant room was in need of a major overhaul and a main part of the refurbishment was the replacement of the two swimming pool water filters.
Total Pool Chemicals of Chester, who undertook the plant room work grasped the opportunity to change the filter media from sand to EGFM, Eco Glass Filter Media. Steve Carder at Total Pool explains, “Silica sand is a finite resource and we are rapidly running out of the material. Compare this to EGFM which is produced from glass recycled in the UK; bottles, jars and containers which are thrown away in the bottle banks or collected by waste companies from your home. We’ve calculated in Sir John’s filters there are approximately 12,000 beer and wine bottles!”
Lesley McLaughlin, Leisure Centre Manager at Sir John Deane’s comments:“Since the filter media was replaced with glass there has been a marked improvement in the pool’s water clarity.
Additionally, because the filters are working more efficiently, we are saving on energy and water replacement and disposal costs, again another plus point when the Centre considers our carbon footprint.”
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
AstralPool has launched an international sales and marketing initiative that will see it establish a network of ‘official partner’ retail outlets that aims to enhance turnover at the point of sale.
Built on a platform of AstralPool products, the AstralPool official partner programme is exclusive to 250 members worldwide.
As part of the initiative, AstralPool provides a corner within the partner’s showroom to focus on the ‘up-selling’ pool market with a standard layout that, at the same time, aims to increase brand awareness.
“Marketing action undertaken in the point of sale area has been transforming the retail business and has been well received by the client,” explains Director of UK Sales, Albert Lluis Gros.
“From the trade point of view, there is an increasing use of marketing and sales support to drive sales forward and differentiate themselves from other nearby retail outlets, paying special attention to the showroom and space available in order to get the best profit out of each available square metre”
Fore more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine
Category: Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Leaders in their field for more than four decades, Beaver International’s Mike Tuttey, centre, flanked by Jo and Andrew Tuttey.
Leaders in their field and boasting a curriculum vitae packed with quality builds, the team from Beaver International, under the stewardship of Mike Tuttey, understands that commercial work takes both diligence and patience.
Flag ship projects include the recently opened Haverford West pool which boasts the biggest boom ever installed in the UK. “It all started more than 40 years ago when Dad dug a hole in my mum’s back garden,” recalls Mike’s daughter, Jo.
“Dad had a plumbing background and that was his first swimming pool – it is still going strong today.
The next generation at Beaver International, Jo and her brother Andrew were just youngsters at the time.
“A friend saw the pool and asked him to build one,” says Andrew. “There was never a grand plan, Beaver as pool builders just kind of evolved.”
Beaver International Tel. +44 (0)1159 375900
Category: Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
The Connaught Hotel in London uses PoolSan chlorine replacement to offer a totally unique chlorinefree swimming experience for guests.
The Connaught Hotel in London is home to the first Aman Spa outside of an Aman resort.
The star of the new spa is the 33-foot indoor pool which uses PoolSan chlorine replacement to offer a totally unique chlorinefree swimming experience for guests.
The hotel changed from chlorine to PoolSan earlier this year. The PoolSan installation team spent one day installing the dosing system and bringing the maintenance department up to speed with the new controller. The next day was spent making sure the staff were confident with water testing procedures.
The chief engineer at The Connaught, Joe Balzano, is the first to admit the decision to change to PoolSan was not an easy one.
“As one of the world’s leading hotels there is no margin for error and our pool at The Connaught must always be perfect,” says Joe.
“I must admit that I was very sceptical about operating without any chlorine. Despite knowing so many other places use it, the idea of replacing the chlorine with PoolSan made me nervous. But our bacteriological tests are always perfect and our water quality remains superb.”
For more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine
PoolSan Tel. +44 (0)20 8500 4847
Category: Pool & Spa Business News, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Delegates at the Arch Water Products seminar get hands on tuition with the new Cruis multi-pool controller.
Arch Water Products recently held two training seminars for their UK equipment installers at the Country House Hotel, Manchester.
As well as updated information on the Easiflo range of dry chlorine feeders, delegates were introduced to three Greek Gods – Cronis, Cruis and Cratos – the new multi-pool feeder developed exclusively by Arch.
These controllers are designed to manage a single pool in the case of the Crius, two pools with the Cronos and four pools for the Cratos, with the latter two controllers having variable speed drive (VSD) capacity, data logging, and many more features to help the pool operator.
Presentations were given by the Arch staff team as well as by the equipment manufacturers themselves.
Delegate feedback was excellent and installers have ask for a second series of seminars to be run after the summer season.
Arch Water Products Tel. +44 (0)1977 714100
Email. watersales@archchemicals.com
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
The ProCopi team of Paul Jeffery, Matthew Ransom and David Dahl helped ISPE put the spotlight on safety at the Institute’s recent seminar.
The Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers put the spotlight on safety at their recent seminar held in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.
Procopi’s Matthew Ransom flew across The Channel to give members an insight into the safety regulations in France relating to swimming pools, the toughest in the world.
“France is the biggest market in Europe and most of the rules and regulations that come in to France eventually find their way through to European level,” said Matthew.
“I think it is unlikely there will be a law just for the UK but I am sure there will be European-wide safety standards within the next few years,” he added.
Matthew urged swimming pool builders to be ahead of new regulations so they can give good and timely advice particularly on products such as safety covers, alarms, fencing and enclosures that need to be NF P 90-308 compliant.
“Independently of the laws, the best way people can protect their pool is through vigilance; keeping a watchful eye on what the children are doing,” said Matthew. “Safety starts at home whether in your kitchen, car or pool – that is a simple human reflex.
Procopi UK
Tel. +44 (0)1622 832800
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Ease of installation on a sloping site encouraged West Country Leisure to opt for a Heatwave panel system for this residential project.
It was the Heatwave’s ease of installation and design which first came to mind when Mark Gilpin of West Country Leisure surveyed his customer’s ‘challenging’ site overlooking the English Riviera in Torquay, Devon.
The Heatwave reduces the size of the excavation required; saving valuable time and money on backfilling, and each panel is pre-plumbed with Certikin flow fittings.
The 8m by 4m pool was given the finishing touch with a liner and solar bubble cover. A Genie gas condensing boiler was also installed as it offers 94 per cent efficiency and a 30 per cent reduction in heating costs, compared to conventional gas fired pool boilers. Continuing the green theme, eco-glass was also used as the filter medium.
West Country Leisure
Tel. +44 (0)1626 364 927
www.westcountryleisurepools.co.uk
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Panel pool installations like this Young Leisure example score highly on key issues like ease of access and speed of installation.
Panel pools are regarded by many as the most significant advance in the water leisure sector.
Previously priced out by expensive concrete construction methods, the arrival of galvanised and fibreglass panels in the Seventies, opened up a world of potential for wannabe home pools owners.
Four decades on and polymer-constructed panel pools are again breaking new ground with heat retention properties that easily match and even surpass the new Part L building regulations for residential outdoor pools.
Meanwhile flexible and speedy panel pool installs are opening up a raft of possibilities for the commercial operators, particularly holiday park pools.
“Panel pools offered the consumer a swimming pool at a greatly reduced cost when compared to concrete pools which was the only other pool available at the time,” recalls Patrick Thorpe, Chairman of Certikin.
For more on this story see Pool & Spa Sceen Magazine
Certikin International Tel. +44 (0)1993 778855 www.certikin.co.uk
Cresta Leisure Tel. +44 (0)1305 259 253 www.crestaleisure.co.uk
Young Leisure (Cornwall) Tel. +44 (0)1726 860866 www.youngleisurecornwall.co.uk
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
With 30 years experience and operating from three major centres across England, The Calvert Trust aims to enable people with disabilities, together with their families and friends, to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure in the countryside.
A new state-of-the-art water centre, the first of its kind in the UK, is now open at its Lake District centre.
The revolutionary new pool combines cutting edge technology with the warmth of hydrotherapy (the pool is heated to 33oC) to provide a complete sensory experience for users with and without disabilities alike.
Sensory features of the 12m x 6m pool include a spa, bubble pads and water curtain that are activated by pool-side buttons. Above and below-water lighting and sounds can be changed by the pool user to flood the whole pool area with different colours and music.
Lake District Calvert Trust
Tel.+ 44 (0)17687 72255
For more on this story see Pool & Spa Scene Magazine
Category: Commercial Swimming Pools, Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Dulwich Leisure Centre, a Grade II listed building which houses one of the remaining Victorian pools in London still in use, has reopened following the completion of the first phase of refurbishments and improvements designed by award winning architects Watkins Gray International.
The £6.1m upgrades, which are being undertaken on behalf of London Borough of Southwark, include a complete refurbishment of the pool, comprising a new pool tank with level deck pool, new pool plant, reinstated Victorian changing cubicles and re-tiling of the pool hall area.
In addition, roof mounted solar thermal panels have been installed to preheat water and reduce demand on boilers, while the pool area now benefits from improved natural light achieved through a new insulated and glazed pool hall roof.
For more on this story see Pool & Spa Sceen Magazine
Watkins Gray International LLP Tel. +44 (0)20 7940 8400
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Compac heat pumps from Certikin offer an energy efficiency solution for above ground pools and panel pool builds.
Recognised as the most economical and environmentallyfriendly method of swimming pool heating, Certikin has taken the lottery out of low cost heat pumps with the introduction of the Compac 6 and Compac 8 cost effective units.
Certikin has backed a sure-fire winner with the Compac units that extract heat from the air and heat pool water generating up to 4kW of energy for every 1kW of energy used.
Offering both strength and reliability at a lower cost, the Compacs, available in 6kW and 8 kW, make heat pumps a viable option for budget entry swimming pools such as above ground pools and panel pool builds. They offer minimal maintenance and do not require flues or fuel storage.
Both models are imported from the Far East but are qualityassured with a two year warranty and nationwide service and support by the UK’s leading heat pump specialists, Calorex. “In the past, the market has been caught out by inferior imports with questionable approval status and unreliable components,” says Graham Kneale, Certikin’s heating and ventilation field sales manager.
“The Compacs offer the best of both worlds because they come with the backing of Calorex who have approved the manufacturing
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Pool & Spa Scene is proud to have sponsored Fairlock's Paul Webb in his recent London Marathon feat
Fairlock’s Paul Webb is celebrating a great personal achievement having completed the London Marathon in the very respectable time of 4hours 57mins.
Running to raise much needed funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Webby was struck by cramp on the 16th mile which slowed him down but determination spurred him on to successfully finished the course.
Webby said: “I feel great to have completed the Marathon and got my medal and most importantly raised so much money for the JDRF.
“So many of our family, friends and customers have been incredibly generous and my personal total is now over £3,000 which is truly amazing, and collectively the 150 JDRF runners who ran the Marathon have raised the staggering sum of £226,792.64 so far!”
Always ready for a challenge and never one to run out of steam, Webby has already entered for the 2012 Marathon.
Category: Swimming Pools | Comment (0)
Representatives of some of the finest pool building companies in the UK gathered at the Oxfordshire Golf Course, Hotel and Spa for a mixture of work and play, not to mention networking, as guests of Ocea UK.
Delegates spent a day in the seminar room hearing the latest innovations involving the top selling Ocea automatic cover range. In particular, the much anticipated crystal clear transparent slats, available as a top of the range luxury option from this spring, and a continuous programme of investment, including new extrusion machines, at the manufacturing headquarters in Belgium.
In the afternoon, attention switched to Ocea’s sister company, Hydrofloors®, which focuses on the concept, design and custom manufacture of complex moving floor and wall systems for covering and dividing swimming pools with moveable floors, motorized hatches and diving walls.
For more on this story see Pool and Spa Scene Magazine
Ocea UK
Tel. +44 (0)1865 604882
