www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
Enclosures OCT 2010 SPN
49
ABOVE: Motors are an option for all of Summit Leisure’s retractable enclosures. The motors are powered by batteries charged by roof mounted solar panels
ABOVE: Summit Leisure’s impressive full height enclosure at Cardigan Bay SOUND
freestanding enclosures, it is also possible to select those which attach to the side of a building. “We have over 40 years experience in the construction and design of lightweight structures using state of the art techniques. Putting a swimming pool under cover is a realistic and affordable solution to coping with unpredictable weather in all seasons. All Arqualand swimming pool enclosures are either fixed in position or are available as moving sections or telescopic pool enclosures that can be opened on tracks in minutes.”
An example of this sector of the market is an Arqualand project a one hour drive from the French Mediterranean coast in the summer and winter mountain resort Valberg.
Like many resorts, arrangements and facilities must be provided for evenings as well as when weather does not permit outside events. The council’s existing pool was only open in June to early September. It was concerned that the pool, despite being a valuable asset, was expensive to maintain, and wanted a solution so it could be used throughout the year, instead of being idle in the colder months. Arqualand stressed the low-maintenance, energy-efficiency of the structure and its ability to withstand the heavy winter snowfall at the town’s 5,500ft altitude. The secondary cost benefits of
installing a polycarbonate building couldn’t be overlooked. Perhaps of greatest importance was the fact that the polycarbonate roof would provide solar heat warming the pool building internally both in summer and winter and at the same time reducing heat loss from the pool surface. This will lead to substantial cost reductions in pool-water heating and, due to UV roof filtering, reduced chemical costs for chlorine water treatment. (The ultraviolet coatings on the roof and side panels reduce UV penetration by 98%.)
Because there would be no ‘bad-weather-days’ the improvements would guarantee the extended swimming season programme.
An important aspect of the building is the maintenance, because all building parts are polycarbonate, stainless steel or aluminium, this is confined to washing the structure down with a high-pressure spray-washer when the need arises.
Arqualand proposed a 42.5m by 21.0m wide by 7.1m high telescoping structure with fixed ends, using a modular aluminium and polycarbonate system for which structural calculations were provided for the extreme winter conditions. The middle section telescope open automatically by means of specialist motors, but can also slide the side panels upwards. The pool enclosure market has also appealed increasingly to more upmarket private pool owners who want a full height construction over a pool. Says Graham Kelsey: “These are clients who are looking for something special. Often cost isn’t the issue and they are looking for glass being used not plastic and all the features of an up market enclosure. This is the part of the market which has really taken off.”
Summit Leisure are the UK distributor for the French manufacturer Venus Ondine. The
“We are finding more and more that there needs to be the proper service to the client as enclosures become more architecturally demanding”
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