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COMMERCIAL SPAS


The Importance Of Being Prepared And Dealing With Uncommon Events In Spas


THE CAREFUL CLEANING OF HOT TUBS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF POOL & SPA PLANT MANAGEMENT AND ONE THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED. ALONGSIDE THIS HOWEVER, IS THE NEED FOR HAVING WELL THOUGHT OUT PROCEDURES FOR EVENTS THAT MAY BE UNCOMMON BUT CAN BE FORESEEN IN PROFESSIONAL SPA MANAGEMENT. HERE ROBBIE PHILLIPS, STA’S SENIOR POOL PLANT TUTOR DISCUSSES SOME OF THE KEY POINTS


BREAKDOWN IN EQUIPMENT Let us consider the breakdown of filtration and or dosing system in a commercial spa. It is recommended that a commercial spa be monitored and treated using an effective automatic control system with continuous filtration (purification). Should one or more components breakdown then this cannot be the case. Bacteria can multiply rapidly and can pose a serious threat to users and staff.


WHAT IS A BREAKDOWN? Any event that compromises the production of safe hygienic water. From a circulating pump to an automatic control probe failure. These two examples can allow prescribed levels of disinfectant reaching all parts of the system. The definition of these events can be drawn from The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group and The Health Protection Agency sites. (It is important to note that these recommendations should be used in conjunction with site specific design features.) Once again a well devised site Safe Operation Procedure is essential.


WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? It may very well be that a complete decontamination, to cleanse the system of micro-organisms, may be necessary using one or a combination of: • High levels of free chlorine


• Chlorine dioxide • Silver impregnated hydrogen peroxide • A long chain polymer biocide. All the above processes are risk assessed with suitable risk controls in place. Most certainly a physical clean and drain down will be necessary, once again all set out and agreed to ensure the safety of staff and users. At the end of the process bio swabbing can initially test the efficacy of the regime. It is certainly recommended that a standard laboratory test is taken and the results studied to ensure there is no remaining danger.


PREVENTION


Effective monitoring and reaction procedure in place – what constitutes a facility closure? Identification of danger signs e.g. unusual depletion of disinfectant, musty smells, cloudy water etc.


Good housekeeping with effective chemical and physical cleaning. T.I.R.R. • Test • Interpret • React • Retest


MAINTENANCE


A good planned preventative maintenance programme may contain: • A good range of critical spares – probes, pump, filter media etc.


DESIGN


Ideally at the design stage the system should embrace good basic housekeeping and ease of maintenance. Existing facilities can be improved at a relatively practical cost. Some have such dangerous design faults that they should be closed!


DOMESTIC SPAS We are often asked “What about domestic spas?” All bacteria are common to these installations as well. And alarmingly we see them wrongly installed in commercial premises. The model outlined above should also apply to domestic spas in these applications with a robust procedure for system break down applied. The requirement for a bacteriological water analysis should be required. This can be the only way to test the purification system is working effectively.


TRAINING


Underpinning all of this is the need for relevant and professional swimming pool and spa water training. At SPATEX 2014, STA will be reinforcing why pool plant management should be made a priority, and why it is so important for leisure operators to have properly qualified staff. Uniquely, STA’s Level 3 Pool Plant Operators course contains key areas for safe operation of wet leisure facilities. Significantly the STA is the only organisation which includes, in its manual, chapters on Spas in addition to Interactive Play Features, Energy Conservation and Health & Safety to ensure operators are trained to the correct standard and are able to maintain safe bathing conditions across all modern wet leisure facilities.


Another key point is to engage installers who understand and recognise the key points from the recommendations contained in the STA manual for safe hygienic operation. For further advice on managing pool plant operations and STA’s Level 2 and Level 3 Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment qualifications, contact the STA or visit them at SPATEX 2014 on Stand No. 706. SPN


STA 01922 645097 www.sta.co.uk


40 February 2014 SPN www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk


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