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SPN APR 2010 IndustryFirst

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk

POOLWORKS CLAIM AN INDUSTRY FIRST WITH ARDEX S7

KENT POOL SPECIALISTS POOLWORKS CAME TO THE RESCUE WHEN A LOCAL AUTHORITY POOL WAS FORCED TO CLOSE WITH SERIOUS LEAKAGE PROBLEMS. THE SOLUTION WAS THE FIRST UK APPLICATION OF AN INSULATING MORTAR NOW AVAILABLE MORE WIDELY WHICH COULD BE AN ANSWER TO 1970S POOLS WHICH NEED REFURBISHING

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ent based swimming pool, design and construction specialists, Poolworks have claimed an industry first in the refurbishment of a 20metre school pool using an Ardex S7 insulating mortar system. It’s the first time the process has been used in the UK. The Medway Council pool, built in 1972, was originally Marbelite with a glass tile band, but had serious problems.

Shut since July 2009 the pool had been painted, but the paint was suffering from de- lamination and a decision was made to drain the pool for further investigation. A plant room refurbishment last year had not allowed for any increase in turnover as two new filters had been fitted on existing inadequate sized pipe work.

The Marbelite layer was lifting along the floor areas, with patches on the walls in the shallow end and deep end. Removing the Marbelite from the floor area showed failing screed, originally laid in 2m wide section along the entire floor area.

This was allowing movement and water penetration through the delaminated Marbelite and screed layer, penetrating the shell and increasing the problem. A decision was made to either abandon the pool or find a cost effective way to remedy the situation.

Says John Bennett from Poolworks: “The budget did not allow for a full strip out, re- render and screed floor so I asked Peter Digby from Ardex for advice on the preparation and tiling of the pool and also Mike Braid from BBS technical services who provided the circulation, pipework, light and grill specification. “A potential solution to the failed pool shell was to be found in an Ardex product, used

widely on a global scale but never before used in the UK, Ardex S7.” An easy to use product with a two coat system applied four hours apart appeared to be the best solution, but it was unavailable in the UK so while the pool was drained and prepared with an acid wash delivery came from Europe. The Ardex S7 was applied to the pool wall in two 1mm layers forming a 2mm thick flexible water proof membrane that would accept mosaic tiling. The Ardex S7 proved an invaluable tool in terms of timescale and caused no delay to the completion date. It took two days to apply on a 25metre x 8metre pool. Adds Bennett: “This product could be the answer to many of the existing pools built in the 70s that require renovation. The coating adhered well to the acid cleaned and prepared Marbelite coating and covered the tile band with only a light sanding.” Pool fittings, ladders wall mounted lights, skimmer face plates and pipework were supplied by Mike Payne Pool supplies, who managed to get goods delivered under budget and on time, within the tight deadline of only nine working weeks to full completion. All stainless steel fittings were manufactured to strict design criteria by Westfront Pools, whose attention to detail adds a high quality to this finished pool. Swim lanes were added as well as a cobalt blue tile band, wall and floor demarcation lines

and turning block vision panels to make the pool more in keeping with modern standards. Poolworks were chosen because the company demonstrated it could compile and work to the 600 page Health and Safety documentation required for a major pool refurbishment to HSE standards. Tiling had to be demonstrated pre quotation in order to assess the quality and look of the finished product.

Tight deadlines were met with staff and contractors working seven days a week when required with the site being closed only Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. This enabled the project to be finished three weeks before the proposed deadline. Ardex S7 will now be stocked by Ardex in the UK for tanking both new and existing pools. The ability to cover many types of backing with minimal disruption to the pool shell was the deciding factor in the completion of the Medway project. Having to remove the existing tile band and repair the pool prior to tiling would have added at least another week to the refurbishment – which just wasn’t possible in the allocated time scale. spn

i FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

F POOLWORKS

( 01634 314395 : www.poolworks.co.uk

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