44-48 MOVING FLOORS:SPN Master pages 20/11/2009 11:22 Page 45
spnfeature
BELOW: Heritage Pools engineer Neil Dyer operating the moving floor via the control panel.
Five time Olympian Mark Foster during the Candice photo shoot in aid of fresh2o and the BBC
CLASSICAL CASE OF POOL TO ‘CONCERT HALL’
It was quite a demanding request – and heating have to be sized accordingly.
combining a swimming pool and a As a consequence, costs are higher in all
classical orchestra rehearsal room! areas i.e. excavation and soil removal,
The challenge of providing a single steel, concrete, finishes and pipework.
facility for both these very different A moveable floor system called
requirements in Wimbledon took time Aquaterr
®
, manufactured by FT Leisure
getting from concept to reality but a Limited was chosen. London Swimming
moving floor provided the only answer Pool Company had not completed a
for a dual use pool area. project like this before so it was a
London Swimming Pool’s clients learning curve. The company provided
wanted a pool but needed to combine FT Leisure with an extra thick concrete
this with a facility for a classical orchestra pool floor, cable duct for transfer of cable
to rehearse prior to performances. This services to plantroom, a large concrete
particular type of dual use is unique and slab in the plantroom for them to secure
previously the clients erected a marquee hydraulic ram and lifting gear.
in the garden for the rehearsals. Tony Line, the London Swimming Pool
Other types of areas that a moving Managing Director said that a current
floor pool traditionally transform into contract now for a similar size pool – 12m
might be a dance floor / party area, x 5m then the complete works as based
meeting facility, absolute safety area. A on the pool in question, would cost in
small basement area for example is the region of £280,000 to £310,000.
perfect for multiple use – living space, a He added: ”A moving floor is the only
play area for children, a personal cinema true safety cover for a pool as it is
and swimming pool of course. impossible for a child to come into
The possibilities are endless and only contact with water once the floor is
limited by the client’s or architect’s elevated into position. No other solution
imagination, and the depth of the is perfect despite what manufacturers
client’s pocket. and suppliers say, however, the moving
The costs for the Wimbledon floor overcomes all problem areas with
installation were higher than for a normal risk. Another big advantage is that the
pool. The pool shell needed to be 2.25 depth of the floor can be altered to suit,
metres deep to accommodate the floor / for example toddlers can enjoy
buoyancy sections with a stainless steel 200/300mm depth with parents and at
subframe, floor pulleys and stainless steel later stages as confidence grows depths
cables. The pool shell beneath the floor can be increased as the child begins to
needed to have a waterproof render and learn to swim. The moveable floor whilst
a tiled finish. raised to the surface acts as a pool cover
In this case the water volume was and is 98% effective in heat retention
THIS: The challenge was to provide a pool and
larger – there is a lot of pool under the which has long term economical benefits
a facility for classical orchestra rehearsal.
floor, therefore filtration, water treatment to the property owner.”
Aquaterr from FT Leisure Ltd was the answer
also as a dry platform for use during major “Three of our leisure developments in UK through Suntrap Systems in Birmingham.
competitions in the main pool. To cater for the West Midlands have now decided to go “The market is certainly an interesting
the extra loading during use as a dry with a moving floor as part of the one,“ said Janet Cornthwaite, Managing
platform, FT Leisure increased the swimming pool construction. In one case I Director of Suntrap Systems.
buoyancy and hydraulic operating system think the option of a swimming pool area The systems are very much in demand
to accept the higher forces. would have been abandoned in favour of a now amongst residential pool owners who
“It’s a great facility – offering us so many general leisure room for aerobics, meetings see just how flexible they are and how
options of the space. The investment is and other sports. The moving floor means they can completely change a home.
considerable but looking at the long term the local authority can have both. They have an impeccable reputation for
it has changed the face of our business,” KBE Bauelemente GmbH have been the quality and reliabililty of all their
said a spokesman at the centre. manufacturing moving floors, booms and equipment, which is installed and serviced
It’s certainly a wow factor that impresses bulkheads since 1965 and have carried out by KBE employed personnel.
customers but it’s a practical option for more than 850 installations world-wide. “I am pleased the display by KBE of one
architects like Dean Patterson. The KBE moving floor is available in the of their half-scissor support jacks at LIW
Visit our website at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk >>> December 09 Swimming Pool News 45
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92