Professional Pools
Design, Construction & Maintenance
Tourist industry plays a leading role in the Greek economy and has shown great development in the past few years. In parallel with the creation of its new profile there have been differentiations to the design requirements for professional swimming pools, hotel complexes, mass catering and entertainment units, hydrotherapy tanks, spas and thalassotherapy units.
By applying stricter standards and special safety measures, aquatic spaces have been enriched over the years with new elements, such as waterfalls, water jets, hydromassage systems, swans, geizers. In order for professional swimming pools to operate a building permit issue by the town planning authority is required, as well as an operation permit by the prefectorial authorities. Abidance to physicochemical parameters for all professional swimming pools must be recorded on a maintenance journal, according to legislation. Apposite authorities have the right to withdraw the swimming pool operation permit in case it is found during an audit that there is no compliance with the legislations.
Design
Custom swimming pool design is materialized by the end-user in cooperation expert architects, so that it meets both the designer’s aesthetics and the effectiveness that the end-user expects. The ideal design requires the construction of an additional pool for children. For hotel units there are particular specifications set by the Greek National Tourism Organization concerning the swimming pool area compared to the total capacity of the hotel unit.
Technical Study
Swimming pool contractors are obliged to conduct extensive study concerning structural works (structural design, building permit issue and wood form construction design) and engineering works (electromechanical equipment design, plumbing and electric connection design). Particular attention should be paid to the electromechanical equipment design, as well as to its proper application, as this parameter (together with maintenance) is rather important for the ideal and unhindered operation of the construction.
Concreting & Installation of Electromechanical Equipment
This process requires conduct of structural design and wood form construction design. At this stage of construction it is necessary that all required plumbing (bottom drain, inlets, suction inlets, hydromassage system, etc.) and electrical connections (lights, optic fibers, leds, etc.) be installed.
Sealing – Alignment
Professional swimming pool sealing comprises a quite important part in construction which has to be properly catered for and demands the use of good quality construction materials in order to avoid leakage and to be able to construct the ideal surface before the final tiling.
Electromechanical Equipment Installation
The most important part concerning water clarity and hygiene is proper electromechanical equipment installation. At this stage of swimming pool construction, the user must carefully opt for the appropriate contractor. The contractor should be able to offer continuous support for the end-product and permanent spare-part supply for the equipment installed.
Tiling
At this stage, the most suitable material is chosen for the tiling of the already sealed surface of the concrete. Ideal materials for tiling are those presenting smooth and sleek surface (ceramic tiles, glass inlay) which are easy to clean, durable, and elegant. Particular attention must be paid, so that presence of corners inside the pool is avoided and that measures against slipperiness are taken at the points where this is necessary.
Operation – End User Training
It is rather important that end users be trained by experienced technical staff so that they fully understand the physicochemical parameters to be sustained. Apart for the training the end-user must be supplied with the necessary operation and maintenance information leaflets, as well as a physicochemical parameter journal that the person in charge must update daily.
