37-41 REFURB:SPN Master pages 9/6/09 13:55 Page 4
spnfeature
will last a long time. We have also made
some corrections to the promenade around
School project gives UPS chance
the pool and replaced coping stones, the
edging of the pool needed smartening and
it’s just delightful to see with the help of
to use depth reducing system
professional pool operators and some hard
working volunteers what we have been swimming pool tank, extending the tank
able to achieve.” The launch day had a and, as mentioned earlier, reducing its
1930s theme with entry costing just 2p – a depth from three metres to two metres.
price to reflect the sixpence it would have The first task was the removal of all
cost to enter the pool on its grand opening wall tiles from the hall and swimming
in 1935. pool tank but it was discovered that both
the walls and the tank had developed a
The commercial pool number of structural cracks.
The best estimate is that over 180 local UPS then removed the swimming pool
authority and commercial pools in the UK surround tiling and old infill media. An
are involved in a refurbishment project. opening was created in the wall of the
The costs range from £250,000 to building to admit heavy machinery, – two
£600,000 and is seen as a statement about mini diggers and two mini dumpers. A
how many public pools in Britain have week later, all infill media had been
been denied investment. removed to the specified depth along
It also reflects how often pools need to with further excavation to remove the
be invested in and given new facilities. existing shallow-end wall to enable the
Typical of the local authority pool in lengthening of the pool.
need of an upgrade is the Renfrew Baths The next stage involved the building of
in Glasgow which re-opened after repairs the extension and creation of the new pool
were carried out, new tiling, lighting, filter tank shape. This included the incorporation
pumps, showers and changing rooms of a rebated section around the whole
upgraded. pool to accommodate a stainless steel
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Leisure – handrail that would not protrude into the
the management trust that runs sports and Manchester based pool specialists, UPS pool area. It was at this stage also that the
leisure centres locally – carried out the has been working on an refurbishment filtration engineers moved in to install new
improvements to the swimming pool project which involves a new technique for circulation pipe work, plant, boilers and air
facilities against a background of declining reducing the depth of swimming pools. handling systems.
pool numbers. By using a light-weight concrete, UPS The time was now right for the
“I don’t think we are any different from can now avoid the adverse effects to an introduction of the lightweight concrete.
a huge number of local authority pools original structure using heavy, It was then discovered that the hall
with an ageing pool on our hands. There conventional concrete. containing the pool was not sufficiently
hasn’t been the money to keep the pool The benefits include energy and cost supported and so UPS were instructed to
upgraded and what happened, everything savings derived from not having to heat carry out the necessary underpinning to
loses that bit of sparkle. So the water that pool owners and pool users external walls of the building.
refurbishment was obvious. The pool is don’t need; lower water treatment costs; The lightweight concrete was again used
now looking great and we made all the reduced maintenance and a reduction in to infill the exposed pool surrounds, and
changes with costs under budget thanks to pool-side staff. According to UPS, following the curing process, reinforced
some great help from the local specialist experience indicates that on a pool capping was installed. As the creation of
trade, Renfrewshire Leisure’s Chief measuring 25m x 10m, having a deep new surfaces – ideal for professional tile
Executive, Joyce McKellar said: “We had end of three metres and a shallow end of application – progressed, a decision was
no option but to close the pool but now one metre, the savings are in the region made to overcome the difficulties
with the repairs completed, the pool can of £6,000 plus, per annum, offering a presented by the old tile adhesive on the
re-open and everyone can enjoy the payback period of three to five years. walls of the swimming pool hall, which had
swimming facilities we have in Renfrew. UPS were originally contacted by Alan impregnated the brick work, turned black,
Simpson, the bursar of Newcastle under and prevented the creation of an adequate
...and the huge! Lyme School. The pool, which dated from key for the application of new tiles.
At the very top end of the refurbishment the 1930s, required new tiling to the walls UPS then lined the walls of the
ladder is Edinburgh’s Royal of the pool hall and pool surrounds and the swimming pool hall with an insulating,
Commonwealth Pool lengthening of the tank from its old imperial moisture-absorbing cladding system,
The pool is to close for two years as 23 yards to a new metric 25 metres. similar to that used in shower cubicles
part of a major refurbishment project. The UPS found the existing pool surrounds and wet rooms. And so, after 14 weeks
popular Edinburgh Leisure facility will close were visibly uneven and had sunk to of preparation, all those pristine surfaces
in June 2009. varying angles. They recommended that were ready for the tiling process.
When the pool reopens – projected to be a structural engineer establish the
summer 2011 – the facility will also boast a condition of the swimming pool
UPS
new 25 metre teaching pool and 25m structure. The task involved the removal
telephonesolid 0161 799 1222
diving pool, both with moveable floors. of all the wall tiling in the hall containing
envelopeback c.crank@ups-swimming-pool-services.co.uk
Edinburgh Council hopes that the new the pool, removing the tiling from the
pc www.ups-swimming-pool-services.co.uk
facilities will be able to help Glasgow’s bid
to host the 2014 Commonwealth games.
The refurbishment will include: a re-orientated 25m diving area, with a ‘dry-dive’ facility – including
a 25m pool with moving floor to moving floor which, when not required trampolines, diving boards and a special
accommodate “warm up pool” for diving, can be used as a 25m pool; harness system – necessary if the Royal
provision, swimming lessons and a ‘spa’ facility; Commonwealth Pool is to be considered
informal play; a 50m, 8 lane pool for specialist training; as a ‘centre of excellence.’
40 swimming pool news JUNE 09 Digital edition available at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
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