SWIMMING POOLS
SWIMMING POOLS your questions answered
The experts providing the answers are Peter Lang (FISPE), Technical Adviser for SPATA and Howard Gosling (FISPE) BISHTA’s (The British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association) Technical Adviser and a member of SPATA’s technical committee
Q. What is SPATA? A. SPATA is the Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association engaged in the manufacture, trade supply, retail supply, construction and installation of swimming pools, spa pools, saunas, steam rooms and all associated services and equipment and of service and maintenance companies for all equipment and installations.
Q. What is SpataShield? A. All SPATA full installer members are automatically enrolled in the SpataShield Bond and Warranty scheme. The scheme provides cover for members of the public employing SPATA members to build new domestic pools or spas, provided the member has provided signed and dated Bond and Warranty documents to the member of the public before the start of any of the physical work involved in the pool installation. Customers should ensure they have a copy of the “Relax… For peace of mind choose a SPATA contractor” leaflet to explain more about the scheme.
Q. Will I need planning permission for my swimming pool? A. That depends. Outdoor pools, or those in a detached building for domestic family use, usually do not require Planning Consent. However, a pool in a listed building, a conservation area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will need Planning Consent. Indoor pools always require Building Regulations Consent – and so do some outdoor pools. The key solution to the question of planning consents is to ask your pool contractor and contact your local authority Planning and Building Control Departments to make sure that you know whether there is a need for any type of consent.
14 WHAT POOL & HOT TUB
Q. Is there a recommended temperature for an outdoor pool? A. No. It depends on the temperature favoured by the swimmers and the running costs that the energy bill payer is prepared to accept. The cost of heating increases twofold every 5°F because the differential between the water and air temperatures increases. Most outdoor pools will benefit from solar gain and most have a temperature of about 80°F or 27°C. A floating cover on the pool at night will greatly reduce running costs.
Q. Can I use solar panels to heat my pool? A. Yes. However there will be a fluctuation of temperature due to the daily variation in solar energy. You should run the filter pump and therefore the solar panels from dawn to dusk to maximise the available energy. You should cover the pool at night to reduce heat losses and have a system that is controlled by differential temperature to prevent the panels acting as a radiator at night.
Q. How can I cut carbon emissions and heat my pool in a green manner? A. By choosing the right equipment. A carefully selected heat pump, combined with one of the new-generation solar systems will provide a constant water temperature, with very low consumption of electricity – and lower electricity bills, into the bargain. And don’t forget the all-important heat-retaining cover for your pool, which can save as much as 80% of heat loss from the pool surface.
Q. What if there’s another water ban this year? A. If there’s a hosepipe ban, you are currently still permitted to fill or top-up
your swimming pool. If there’s a drought order, your new pool can currently be filled during construction, but it can’t be topped up. We have found that if the pool needs to be emptied for good reason then the water suppliers will generally allow refilling, but it’s best to contact your pool contractor first. However, you should be aware that under the proposed Flood and Water Management Act 2010, likely to come into effect from October 2010, there will be greater restrictions on the topping up of pools during a hosepipe ban. The government is currently drafting the relevant details and information will appear on the SPATA website.
Q. Are indoor pools more expensive to build and run? A. Yes. The building costs are higher and, because of the need to keep the air in the pool building warm and de-humidified, there is also extra equipment. Against this must be balanced the fact that the pool can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks of the year.
Q. Does my pool need to be insulated? A. From October 2010 onwards, new indoor pools will also have to comply with changes to Part L of the Building Regulations. This will require pool builders to demonstrate how the new indoor pool being installed can be made more thermally efficient. Depending on the construction methods, there may not need to be any additional insulation provided, but a number of products are coming onto the market that can be used to insulate the pool shell. It will be important to ask your pool builder for his advice. Outdoor pools are not currently covered under this legislation.
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