Making waves on the Manchester hotel scene is the King Street Townhouse. Owned by the Eclectic Hotel group and opened just this year, it has been shortlisted for the Greater Manchester Building of the Year award and made the Conde Nast 2016 hot list for best hotels in the world. Helping the hotel achieve such accolades is the City’s first rooftop infinity spa-pool, installed by Cheshire pool specialists Swimlife UK Ltd, which overlooks the clock tower and spires of the Manchester Town Hall.
Set in a Grade II listed, Italian Renaissance-style building dating from 1872, the jewel in the crown of this upscale hotel is the beautiful infinity spa-pool. Sited seven floors atop the building, it boasts floor to ceiling windows offering hotel residents uninterrupted views of the Manchester city skyline. Owners, Eclectic Hotels said their intention was to respectfully expand on the allure and unique qualities of this historic building and wow they have certainly achieved it!
Eamonn O’Loughlin, owner of Eclectic Hotels, said: “In today’s work-centred world, people value their free time more than anything, therefore it was imperative we provided our guests with a soothing haven of serenity, relaxation and tranquil surroundings, a world away from the busy life below. We are proud to say the new rooftop spa does just that.”
Gary Seddon, MD of the installing company, Warrington based Swimlife, says “We have been dealing with Certikin for over 25 years. In my professional opinion, Certikin is at the frontline of technical support, prompt service and the delivery of premium quality goods. We have come to rely on the company’s filters, pumps and chemical dosing units because they are the very best and we wouldn’t look anywhere else. Furthermore, Certikin provides an excellent after sales service in the commissioning of dosing equipment following installation by our engineers.”
When it comes to the fast and effective refurbishment of an old pool, Infinite on-site lining is the preferred option for Staffordshire pool dealer, West Midlands Swimming Pools, as this pool in Edgbaston, Birmingham demonstrates.
Before
The old leaking concrete pool with a roman end had definitely seen better days and was in dire need of refurbishment. West Midlands Swimming Pools pressure tested all pipework before making their assessment that on-site lining was the way forward.
West Midlands’ Kay Cunningham says: “We regularly undertake this type of project, in fact on-site lining is becoming a core part of our business as it really does transform an old pool in the easiest and quickest way possible. The whole project took about four weeks and gave stunning results.”
The pool’s happy owner, Peter James says: “I hunted the Internet for weeks looking for the right pool lining but there really isn’t that many choices out there. Then, by chance, I started following a company on social media and the lining they were using was exactly what I was looking for so I contacted West Midlands and they got the boys in to do what can only be described as a first class job! It’s soft under my feet and has turned the pool into a real feature. Amazing results.”
All you need to know about Infinite on-site lining:
On average, how long does it take to site line a pool? Timing varies with size and complexity, but generally it’s four working days for an average sized domestic hopper pool with steps.
How soon after lining can the pool be used? Immediately.
What kind of pools are the most suitable for site lining? Site lining is a very versatile option for both new and old pools of domestic and commercial size. It can accommodate complex shapes, steps, ledges, pits etc. One key element to remember though is that any pool fittings need to be liner fittings so if the pool is not an existing liner pool some conversion is required. If conversion is not possible, the provision of purpose made HDPE clamping plates may be possible.
Installed by Certikin’s Infinite Onsite Lining Team
What are its advantages over other refurbishment options? As a commercial grade material the longevity of the product when compared to thinner linings or paints (it comes with a 10 year pro rata warranty) is a major advantage. The process is generally quick but, as Certikin completes the full installation, it also means that the pool trader can still earn on other projects while we are working on their behalf. The range of colours and patterns mean that a tile effect can be re-created and areas of contrasting colour (such as racing lines) can easily be added at what is usually a fraction of the price of a fully tiled pool.
How does it compare in terms of cost? A site lining falls between cheaper options such as paint and thinner, bag style, liners and more expensive options such as tiling or spray applied products, so it is often seen as excellent value for money as the materials used are both attractive and varied in colour and pattern, but also extremely durable and versatile.
How long does site lining last for? The general warranty offered is 10 years, but the life expectancy can be double this in a well maintained pool. Water balance is critical and an even temperature of around 28-32 deg C is ideal. The lining really has two functions – retaining water and looking good. As the life of the liner progresses it will very probably remain an excellent water retainer, but looks will suffer if the lining and its environment are not monitored and controlled.
Unlike traditional methods that use entrapment, OC-1 Filtration Media works through settlement and harnesses advances in pump technology and variable speed pumps/controllers. The new British manufactured filtration media has some exceptional benefits – by replacing commonly used media (such as sand and glass) with OC-1 it is possible to reduce the head loss in the filtration system; filter with a constant flow (regardless of debris entrapment) and, most remarkably, significantly reduce running energy costs whilst still filtering to the equivalent standard as it can be used with a smaller pump or a variable speed pump or controller.
Why YOU should switch to OC-1
Reduces energy consumption – OC-1 maintains constant flow rates, even when the media becomes dirty. Never experience heating/salt chlorinators/heat pumps going out on low flow again. The constant flow means pumps can be run at lower speeds, thus saving energy.
Huge capacity for debris collection – OC-1 offers over 20 times thecapacity of sand or glass.
Reduced requirement for backwashing and a more efficient backwash – Reduces water consumption, chemical usage and heating. There is no need to backwash on start up with new installations.
Lightweight – Can even be shipped inside a filter, easy to handle and super quick and easy to install.
Less Maintenance – reduces pressure in the system, extending the life of equipment.
Suitable for ALL installations – domestic or commercial, outdoor or indoor, new installations or existing filters.
Recyclable at end of product life.
Payback typically 6-12 months.
Don’t just take our word for it – OC-1 has been independently tested by Cranfield University and IFTS Institut de la FIltration et des Techniques Séparatives.
…Says Eddie O’Neill of Port Talbot pool contractors, Pioneer Maintenance Services. Eddie has been installing Certikin’s market leading Accu-Tab system for the past 12 years and says its unique performance outstrips all other chlorine feeder water treatment systems.
“It is no exaggeration to say that Accu-Tab has totally transformed the business of pool water maintenance and safety. It is super user-friendly and simple to maintain,” says Eddie about Axiall’s calcium hypochlorite system, exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Certikin. “There’s little or no maintenance issues compared to other water treatment systems so there’s few service costs.
“The beauty of Accu-Tab is that it can cope with any workload – from a hospital hydrotherapy pool to a 50-metre Olympic pool. The system really shows its true colours considering there is free summer swimming and heavy loads in most pools in Wales. When a bus trip arrives, some conventional systems cannot cope which is a worry for the manager and public health.”
Wales National Pool, Swansea
Eddie should know having installed the Accu-Tab system at the prestigious Wales National Pool in Swansea. The 50-metre competition pool was used for training in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics and was, at the time, the subject of a Certikin case study. Five years on the system is still going strong and the pool maintenance staff are more than happy with its performance.
To cope with the needs of the 50m and 25m training pools, Pioneer installed an Accu-Tab 3075 PowerBase chlorination unit. The system consists of a PVC base, 4ft by 2ft, with a 20-gallon polyethylene tank mounted on the base. The Accu-Tab dry tablet chlorinator, holding 25kg Accu-Tab tablets is mounted on the specially designed tank. The tank has built in level switches and is connected to a special Burkert solenoid valve, all of which is operated on 24 volts which is very safe. The system is wired to the chemical controller, which also controls a Lowara 240 volt, booster pump. All the electrical controls are wall mounted at eye level for ease of access and the whole system is corrosion resistant.
The Wales National Pool Sports Manager for Facilities, Richard Akers says: “Accu-Tab replaced an outmoded method of chlorinating water which was costly, both in terms of chemical consumption and maintenance and service repairs, and we are as happy with it today as when it was first installed.”
“It saves such a huge amount of time. The duty manager simply has to refill the chlorinator with the large 3-inch Accu-Tabs, which take about 10 minutes a day. With the old system we had to gown-up in overalls and face masks and go through the messy daily ritual of hand dosing the granular calcium hypochlorite into the mixing tank (which caused a lot of dust and fumes) and mechanical agitation to dissolve the granules before injecting the solution into the pool water.
With the Accu-Tab system staff wear an apron, gloves and small facemask. It is also a much cleaner procedure. It has eliminated all hazards and, furthermore, blockages are non-existent and it is very economical!”
Richard concludes: “This safe and reliable dosing method has made the workload of the pool maintenance staff so much lighter and I am delighted to report that the water quality is superb. We are complete converts to the Certikin Accu-Tab system!”
Eddie adds: “With no corrosion on the system, no chlorine dust, no overflowing of chemicals, no bund, no mixing tanks and equipment, no injectors to block, no metering pumps to default, no hoses to block/burst or blow off, no danger of chemical splashes – using Accu-Tab really is a no brainer! We have installed the system on every school pool in Swansea and have recently received an enquiry to supply a unit at TV and film Bay Studios in Swansea.”
