Pool & Spa Scene: SCHOOL POOLS
Ticking Time Bombs
ABOVE: Hundreds of timber framed, liner pools, built in the Sixties and Seventies, are still in existence in UK schools.
Hundreds of schools across the UK are allowing pupils to swim in sub-standard swimming pools unaware of the risks including the dangers of entrapment. Applauding Pool & Spa Scene for raising awareness of the risk of single main drain pools and other outdated installations, that do not conform to modern standards, John Cheek of Hydrospec, Essex, said he fears it is only a question of time before tragedy strikes. “This debate on school pools is long overdue,” says John, a member of the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers’ council. “There were several incidents of disembowelment and entrapment in the Seventies,” recalls John who was an ‘expert witness’ in one high profile case.
“I fear it is only a question of time before an aged school stock claims another victim,” he warned.
John says schools have scant information on the requirements to operate a pool that is considered a Group 2 category under BS EN 15288-1:2008 plus very little understanding of what is required to meet these standards and guidelines. “The condition of some school pools is, to say the least, appalling and in many instances not safe to use,” John says. “But these schools do not know this and in some cases, have been given the all clear to use – shockingly by persons in our industry.” A considerable amount of schools had swimming pools installed in the 60s and 70s by the PTA with funds raised by the
50 Pool & Spa Scene: SCHOOL POOLS
schools most of which were based on a basic domestic swimming pool specifications, supplied in kit form, invariably installed by the parents. Many of these pools were raised out of the ground with a timber frame and a liner.
“There are hundreds of these types of pool still out there,” says
John. “We have just refurbished two, bringing the filtration and chemical water treatment plant to current standards. “This involved all new support pipe work and the pool fittings, in one instant, raise the circulation rate from 8m³/hr to 30m³/hr and the filtration rate from 50m³/hr/m² to less than 25m³/hr/m²,” says John.
Hydrospec was recently called to another school to review a water loss problem.
John explains: “I took one look at the pool and instructed the school that the pool was dangerous and should not be used. “The situation is that a primary school pool has been serviced and maintained for some 25 years plus by a pool company but a serious hazard of entrapment exists in this pool and has existed for all those years.
“It will probably cost about £2,500 to make safe for use. “But the pool is in need of other modification to bring it up to compliance with current standards and guidelines. “At least the school will now be aware of this and can budget and probably raise the funds for the required works.”
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