What a Facilities Study Can Tell You about Your Pool

By Erik D.W. Greven, P.E., Principal, Harriman Associates

Aging pools are like unopened books. What you see on the outside may not tell you a lot about what's going on inside. And for a pool that's seen two or three decades of service, what you don't see can have ramifications that compromise both safety and the bottom line.

It may seem both logical and cost-effective to repair visible defects — missed or chipped tiles on the deck, rusted door frames, or a stained suspended ceiling. But in a pool facility, where humidity, water, and chemicals create a harsh, corrosive environment, these visible defects may actually be symptoms of more serious problems -- ones that can cost significantly more to repair as time goes on and ones that can pose dangers to pool users.

A professional team
When a study is needed
What study will cover and uncover

Building systems
--Mechanical
--Structural
--Electrical
--Architectural

Pool systems
--Pool structure
--Filtration system
--Circulation system
--Chemical treatment system

The benefits vs. costs

A professional team
A better strategy is to commission a comprehensive study that covers the entire facility -- the pool and its systems as well as the building envelope and its systems — and that will detect root problems as well as superficial ones. The study is best performed by a team of architects, engineers, and pool-design specialists, which offers a combination of professional expertise and a broad perspective that covers all systems and their interrelationships.

The team looks carefully and methodically at all systems and their components, noting which work properly and which do not. They also make suggestions for correcting the problems they find, giving options and alternatives and cost estimates, and noting items that should be given priority, usually those that are safety or code issues. The study can then become the basis for an orderly plan that spells out what needs to be repaired or replaced and the time table in which it should be done.

When a study is needed
While there is no hard and fast rule on when a comprehensive study is needed, it's wise to consider one after every decade a pool is in use. Major problems are usually slow to evolve, taking at least 10 years, and this course should highlight any significant difficulties while they are easier and less costly to correct.

Unfortunately, this does not always happen often and a structural failure is often the catalyst for a study. In one community, the roof above the pool collapsed and in another, the pool deck collapsed.

Indications of rust and corrosion on any metal parts are also indicators that a study will be valuable, as are the smell of chlorine and a humidity level in the pool area that makes you feel uncomfortable when you are in street clothes.

What a study will cover — and uncover
Pool systems and the buildings that house them consist of hundreds of distinct parts that must function properly, not only on an individual basis but in relation to other parts. And with the corrosive nature of the pool environment, the correction for a problem in one part or system may lie in a completely different area.

A comprehensive facilities study will check the architectural, mechanical, electrical, and structural systems in the building and the filtration, circulation, and chemical treatment systems for the pool as well as the pool structure itself.

The specific components will depend on the individual pool and facility, just as the types or problems and solutions will, but following are a few examples of what a study will cover — and uncover.
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Building systems
Mechanical All parts of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system will be checked for physical condition and proper functioning. This is critical, since a malfunctioning HVAC can affect almost every other part of the pool facility. If humid, chemical-laden air is not properly handled, anything the air comes in contact with will be corroded after time — pipes, ducts, heating coils, electrical components, and even steel supports of the building itself.
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Structural Structural problems pose the most serious safety issues and can be hard to identify, since symptoms can be as innocuous as broken or cracked tile. Concrete that looks solid can actually be so saturated with chlorine that it could disintegrate under stress. Chlorine contamination can even corrode the steel rebar used to reinforce concrete. Older pools built with an air duct under the deck are especially vulnerable.

An inadequate ventilation system may also put chlorine-laden air in contact with ceiling supports. If corrosive activity is detected in the concrete, an additional test can be conducted to determine the extent of the corrosion.
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Electrical Power panels, the wiring, the lighting as well as the paging and fire- alarm systems will be checked for code compliance and for damage caused by a corrosive environment. Besides visual checks, infrared thermal scans are sometimes used to determine "hot spots" at connection points, especially in circuit breakers. Lighting levels will also be ascertained and whether they are compatible with the way the pool is used will be determined.
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Architectural systems Determining whether the facility meets requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, life-safety codes, and other municipal and national codes is also part of the process

Architects will be also able to determine whether the facility's design is compatible with current uses. A facility that started out primarily for youth programs may now have a broader client base encompassing all ages. And that may require a different layout with more locker rooms, space for spectators, even the addition of amenities such as a fitness room.
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Pool systems
Pool structure An examination of the pool structure will determine whether the finish shows signs of wear. For aluminum and steel pools, long-term contact with water and concrete can cause an electrolytic reaction that damages the liner, walls, or floor of the pool. While there may be leaks in the pool structure, they more typically come from piping, gutters, or drains.
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Filtration system Pipes, valves, pumps, and tanks are potential problem areas for leaks and malfunctions. In addition, the filtration medium itself will be checked for its effectiveness and whether an upgrade to a different system should be considered.
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Circulation system The piping, the gutter or skimmer, the surge tank, the return pipes and the main drain will be checked for proper operation. Older gutters and skimmers may appear to be working, but may not be absorbing displaced water or quelling waves as they should, and often the system may not be compatible with current uses of the pool. Grates on main drains must not be loose or damaged since they can entrap swimmers if they are.
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Chemical treatment system The right balance of chemicals in the pool is essential, since it can go a long way toward keeping corrosive action from causing damage in the pool and its facility. Besides checking the balance, the study will include an examination of the lines that send the chemicals to the pool. An analysis of the benefits of upgrading to a newer system may also be included.
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The benefits vs. costs
The cost of a comprehensive study will depend on the size and complexity of your facility, but will typically be in the range of $5,000 to $10,000. The team usually spends three man days going through the facility to gather information and check system components. A written report analyzing findings and prioritizing what needs to be done and giving cost options of various options is provided.

The benefits come when the recommendations are implemented — fewer maintenance headaches, longer equipment life, and improved safety. And the knowledge that the facility works well for current use and is not an accident waiting to happen.
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Written for Aquatics International, November/December 1999