Author: Catherine Saunders

Sitting on an 80-acre campus in the Cheshire heartland of Macclesfield, King’s School is renowned nationally for its excellence in sport.  When the governors of King’s made the decision to upgrade their sports facilities with a new 25m x 13m (1-2m depth) swimming pool for training, competitions and galas, Warwickshire-based Buckingham Pools quickly rose to the surface as its builder of choice. In turn, Buckingham chose its tried and trusted supplier, Certikin International, to provide much of the pool’s equipment.

Taking some eight months to design and build, the six-lane indoor pool is the jewel in the crown for a school that has in recent years produced pupils that have represented their country or been national champions in 22 different sports.

Certikin supplied the complete filtration system – two SLX filters and three circulation pumps providing a turnover of less than three hours to optimise the usability. Alongside the pumps, Certikin provided three inverters to make them variable speed. Easy to install and programme, these inverters offer a potential cost saving payback of less than six months.

Finishing off the swimming pool are Certikin’s gleaming stainless steel Gibraltar Rails ladders which come with anti-slip treads as standard.

Buckingham Pools offered a comprehensive QA package alongside its robust Design & Build methodology to ensure longevity and long-term assurance. Taking full responsibility for building the shell with shotcrete methodology resulted in exacting tolerances required over and above traditional concrete construction methods to ensure the pool complies with all the necessary standards.

t. 01926 852351 | w. buckinghampools.com

Displaying the brilliant craftmanship of West Sussex-based Fowler Swimming Pools, the multi-million-pound Spa Garden at Wickwoods Country Club, Hotel & Spa near Brighton was one of last summer’s success stories with the finished project exceeding all expectations.

Set amongst 22 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland within the South Downs National Park, the beautiful Spa Garden is part of an investment by The Hunter Group to establish Wickwoods as the leading lifestyle venue and private members club in the south. Given the brief to create a year-round facility, a sheltered sun deck with a swimming pool, hydro pool, bio sauna and heated loggia, Fowlers took their inspiration from a Nordic Spa.

Delighted with the result, Lee Goossens, MD of The Hunter Group, declared: “As a high-end residential and commercial developer, the collaboration between ourselves, Fowler Swimming Pools and Certikin has produced an exceptional facility, adding value to the underlying asset value and enhancing the client experience. The eye-catching, newly added outdoor swimming pool and hydro pool mean that members of the popular country club can now enjoy the mature woodland setting.”

Winning the contract to build Wickwoods’ indoor pool, it was natural that the task of constructing the outdoor spa should fall to Fowler Swimming Pools. Work commenced in early March but quickly came to a grinding halt due to the government’s Covid 19 lockdown. As restrictions were gradually lifted, work started again with the hard-working Fowlers team taking advantage of the clement weather to complete the project in August.

Instructed to get the facility up and running to make the most of the remaining summer without any further delay, Fowler turned to Certikin to supply its market leading NIVEKO bespoke monopool. A 9m x 3.6m x 1.4m insulated deck level overflow pool in white, featuring corner steps and a small beach area, topped off with an automatic, remote controlled slatted solar cover was duly selected. The cover is hidden in an integral cave for great aesthetic appeal – below ground and out of sight.

A NIVEKO technical consultant was on hand on the day of delivery to oversee the smooth installation of the pool into the pre-prepared hole. This is all part of the Certikin service package – what more can you ask for?

Proudly lying alongside the pool is a bespoke deck level spa. The enticing fully tiled mosaic spa (5m x 3.5m x 0.9m) features stainless steel fittings, a combination of 70 various sized water jets including air to give its users a therapeutic, all over body massage. To add atmosphere, the spa is fitted with mini colour changing LED lights.

Fowler used Certikin for much of the pool and spa’s associated equipment including a Calorex Pro-Pac air source heat pump for pool water heating; glass filtration media, automatic dosing system and UV system to keep the water sparkling clean, with training provided by Fowler Swimming Pools to Wickwoods staff.

Fowler MD, Tom Holman says: “We have a long-standing relationship with Certikin. The product range is second to none and, when considering the Wickwoods project, it was a no brainer. From the NIVEKO pool and the bespoke deck level spa to the filtration and heating equipment, the Certikin service was exemplary.”

The spa garden was completed in time for some late summer sunshine and was warmly received by Wickwoods’ members as a fabulous additional facility.

Lee Goossens added: “Whilst many members were excited, it is fair to say the majority were sceptical about the club investing so heavily in an outdoor spa facility. Now, without exception, members have fallen in love with this sensational facility, particularly so at this current time. ‘Heaven on earth; a different world; my retreat and my favourite facility’ are amongst many flattering comments. Our biggest concern was what would happen when the weather turned, would it still be as popular? With winter around the corner late October brought some dismal wet and windy days. Regardless, I’m delighted to report that just as many members wrapped up in their club gowns and headed for Wickwoods’ Thermal Utopia!”

t. 01403 864373 | w. fowlerswimmingpools.co.uk

When homeowner, Mr Cullen, converted the family’s stunning swimming pool in a village near Fethiye, in southern Turkey, from sand filtration to the revolutionary OC-1 filtration media, there was no going back.

There are beautiful pools and then there are really beautiful pools and this infinity edge pool, nestled in a backdrop of lush gorges overlooking the Yedi Burun (Seven Capes) coastline, with the sparkling azure sea lapping sun-bleached golden beaches, falls very much into the second category. When it was built, the T-shaped pool was fitted with a sand filter but owner Mr Cullen was unsure about the water clarity and found the sand became “clogged”, possibly by pool chemicals and, in particular, flocculants. He decided it was time to take action and conducted some internet research to find a solution to the problem and eventually discovered Certikin’s OC-1,” explains Mr Cullen. “The technology that OC-1 uses made sense to me as it is not dissimilar in concept (though very different in size and role!) to that used in the sewage plant at our home in Kent.

“The installation was very straight forward and, of course, filling the filter with the OC-1 could not have been easier. I am delighted with how it has transformed the functioning of my pool – its efficiency and the results the OC-1 filtration media achieves are outstanding.”

Certikin’s Pools Division Sales Manager, Neil Muscat, says: “For new filter installations, an OC-1 filter is the obvious choice. There are a range of filters available that come supplied complete with the lightweight OC-1 media. The filters are specially designed to work in perfect harmony with OC-1 and complement the amazing advantages it can provide.”

Unlike traditional methods that use entrapment, OC-1 Filtration Media works through settlement which means that the debris settles within the cells of OC-1 throughout the entire bed rather than being trapped on top of the media. This 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 filter with a constant flow between backwashes. Also, due to the reduced head loss within the filter it is feasible to use a smaller or variable speed pump/inverter and still maintain the same flow/turnover rate whilst at the same time significantly reducing the running energy costs.

When the spotlight fell on the completion of the £25 million world-class Andersonstown Leisure Centre project in west Belfast last year, the focus was on its six-lane pool and its three huge water slides. Less glamorous, but nonetheless vital to its success, is the plant room – the workhorse which houses Certikin’s filtration and water treatment systems installed by Northern Ireland pool contractor, Oak Creative Water Engineering Ltd.

Ranking as the biggest project in Belfast City Council’s £105 million multi-centred Leisure Transformation Programme, the Andersonstown Leisure Centre is an impressive facility by anyone’s standards. Eighteen months in construction, the £25 million cutting edge project, was created for maximum family fun and, as such, includes a 25m six lane pool with 50 spectator seats; a teaching pool; a water confidence pool for small children and toddlers plus a splash pool.

The WOW factor is supplied via three high speed water slides. Visible on the exterior of the redeveloped site on the Andersonstown Road, the three jaw dropping features comprise The Abyss – a drop slide where riders enter a capsule and prepare to be plunged into a literal abyss, with the floor disappearing below their feet. The Torrent – a slalom slide where riders in singles or pairs twist and turn on inflatable rings and lastly, the hairraising Vortex – a body slide taking riders to the bottom via terrifying twists and turns at high speeds. If that’s not enough, there’s also an exhilarating indoor surf simulator for those who want to learn to surf before trying it for real in the sea. Heavily used, high energy facilities like this naturally demand a premium quality, dependable and super robust filtration system. The project’s contractor Heron Bros appointed Newtownabbey pool contractor, Oak who, as long-standing customers of Certikin, selected nine heavy-duty TLX mild steel filters to do the vital job of maintaining crystal clear sanitised water: two TLX 2100, two TLX 1800, two TLX 1400 and three TLX 2600 were duly installed.

Oak’s Linda Bell says: “We have always found Certikin totally reliable with a service back-up second to none. If we encounter any problems we know we can turn to Certikin to provide support and advice. That’s priceless peace of mind, especially when it comes to a high-profile, prestigious installation like Andersonstown.”

 

Oak also installed Certikin’s Accu-Tab calcium hypochlorite system which, says Linda: “We consider to be a perfect water treatment system for a sizeable installation like this. It is very safe for staff, reduces maintenance and is very reliable. The beauty of Accu-Tab is that it can cope with any bathing workload – from a small hospital hydrotherapy pool to a 50-metre Olympic pool.” To cope with the needs of the 25m pool and three learner pools, Oak installed an Accu-Tab 3075 Power Base 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.

Linda adds: “Accu-Tab saves such a huge amount of staff time. The duty manager simply has to refill the chlorinator with the large 3-inch Accu-Tabs, which takes about 10 minutes a day – a very clean procedure. It eliminates all hazards, blockages are non-existent and it is very economical! 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 and the water quality is superb!”

GLL, the social enterprise that operates Better leisure facilities on behalf of Belfast City Council, say the centre is on a scale “never seen before in the city”. Gareth Kirk, GLL’s Regional Director for Belfast adds: “While these are challenging times, we are confident that the Covid safe measures we have in place will mean that everyone can have a safe and enjoyable visit.”

t. 028 9085 4167 | w. oak-pools.co.uk

Huddersfield-based pool designer and builder, Concept Pools, prides itself on offering affordable tailor-made packages to make the dream of owning a piece of swimming pool heaven into a reality. It’s helped in its task by Certikin, whose equipment it frequently specifies. Here, we turn the spotlight on one of the company’s most recent installations.

“We believe that every pool is a concept and as unique as our clients,” says Concept Pools’ Contracts Engineer, Lauren Thistleton. “From an Olympic sized pool and 5-star luxury spa to a small family pool, no job is too big or too small for us. It’s a collaboration between the customer, Concept Pools and developers, architects and landscapers.

“We choose Certikin as our supplier because we like the fact that we can order a large proportion of our equipment from just one source and there is a uniformity of premium quality. The Aquaspeed pump and Roldeck automatic slatted cover are our favourite products. Certikin’s friendly staff, who are always happy to help with both quotations and after sales, are also an important factor.”

For the most part, the Concept Pools’ team managed to continue working throughout the two lockdowns but as a lot of pool contractors found, commercial work inevitably dried up, whilst enquiries from the domestic sector rocketed, fuelled by a public intent on pursuing health and wellness in the safety of their own homes.

Built over the course of six months and completed in August, this purpose-built pool hall in Sutton Coldfield was in construction during the first lockdown but its owner says that it proved a ‘godsend’ for keeping the family amused in the second lockdown.

Given the brief to build a pool and spa for family exercise and fun, Concept Pools installed a 14m x 5.5m level deck pool with a varied depth of between 1.4m and 1.7m, then added a 2.5m GRP tiled integrated spa pool, operating on a separate filtration system.

The perfect solution for new build or refurbishment projects, the tiled spa comes with the option of being delivered in two halves, making it one of Certikin’s bestselling products. Fully tiled from the factory in eye-catching glass mosaics, the spa is re-joined on site and the joint hidden by tiling over with the matching tile strips provided. Available in any size, shape or design, they vary from a two-person spa to one capable of holding a football team. On-site installation is quick as there are no stoppages for curing etc and the design allows access to all fittings after installation. Its high specification includes water hydrotherapy jets, air tracks, an underwater light, a floating heat retention cover and full support leg kit.

Other featured Certikin equipment includes an Aquaspeed 2hp pump, plsc300c lights and Vision filter. Heating and ventilation is provided by a Calorex Delta 4. Featuring touch screen technology in a unique multi-functional single unit, the Delta takes full control of the pool’s indoor environment and pool water heating.

The pool is topped off with a Roldeck white slatted automatic cover in a floor pit. Enhancing the minimalism of the pool hall, the made-to-measure Roldeck ticks every box: heat insulation, evaporation control, durability and aesthetic appearance. It is manufactured in interlocking sections similar to a Venetian blind. Fully automatic, the Roldeck comes with a touch pad switch and remote control for easy operation.

The Roldeck’s standard PVC slats come in white, blue, cream, grey, solar and transparent (with a slight blue tint). The solar model, with a black base, collects heat from the sun and transfers it directly into the water, greatly reducing heating costs. The translucent slats allow under water lighting to shine through. Plus, there is the Eclipse range which is available in solar blue, solar clear, solar aluminum look, lagoon and ocean.

t. 01484 950279 | w. concept-pools.co.uk

Now for some serious swimming. This spectacular residential pool demonstrates the prodigious talent of Wearside-based pool contractor, Whitewaters, in creating spectacular, technically-advanced swimming pools and the lengths it goes to, to achieve the desired result. Certikin takes a bow in being the supplier of the project’s filtration, environmental control and auto chemical dosing system.

This is no ordinary pool. Complex, both in build and operation, this 25m x 5m residential training pool, is fitted with a sophisticated lap pacer system. Whitewaters’ Managing Director, Mick Guthrie, explains: “The client is an avid swimmer and required a number of competition-style features. Our challenge was to incorporate these features without compromising the general aesthetics of this high specification property. I am satisfied we achieved it and we certainly have a very happy customer. The project displays excellence in both aesthetic design and technical complexity and we welcomed the part that Certikin’s products and technical expertise played in it.”

As Theodore Roosevelt once said: “Nothing worth having comes easy” and so this pool proved! What should have been a nine month build, turned into 18 months due to difficult site conditions and the delays wrought by Covid-19.

Every detail of the project was meticulously researched and executed. A single storey contemporary hilltop home, a large-scale extension was added to form the pool hall which, when you enter, you are bowled over by its striking 35m feature wall adorned with 3m slabs of Corten-effect porcelain. Porcelain is also used in the pool’s contrasting black lane markers and turning crosses. Bespoke stainless-steel channels are recessed into the pool’s lane markers to carry LED light strips which allow pace, stroke and tempo to be set at the poolside via a smartphone app. This permanent built-in solution was designed and installed by the Whitewaters team using technology sourced from the US. The starter blocks are another bespoke feature, again manufactured from stainless steel inset with porcelain to match the pool surround.

Less obvious, but nonetheless integral to the pool’s performance, is its environmental control system, and for this, Whitewaters turned to Certikin to supply a Calorex Delta 12. Featuring touch screen technology in a unique multi-functional single unit, the Delta takes full control of the pool’s indoor environment and pool water heating. Mick adds: “The system is designed to provide the environmental comfort and moisture related structural protection necessary for a pool of this size and all very economically.”

At the opposite end of the hall, Whitewaters constructed a small leisure pool featuring an inset sunken spa  complete with bench seats, massage jets, a lounger with twin air strips and a shallow children’s play area.

Elsewhere in the pool hall is a hot yoga room, with large floor-to-ceiling frameless glass panels, lined with Abodo Vulcan timber with benches to match, concealed LED strip lights, and a 24kw exposed stone feature stove.

Fundamental to the overall beauty of both pools is Certikin’s automatic dosing system which provides a reliable source of pristine clear water combined with minimum maintenance. Mick adds: “We used two Certidos WCP dosing systems, one for each pool. We use these on the majority of our high-end projects as we know it will do everything we need at a reasonable cost but, and more importantly, in the event of there ever being a problem we know we can always rely on Certikin and its excellent service record to sort it out. It’s called buying peace of mind.”

Certikin’s exclusive Vision bobbin wound domestic filters are bestsellers in their sector so it’s no surprise that this plant room features three. The filter offers unrivalled features such as a large 10-inch wide clear lid making sand changes quicker and easier and a dual dump port arrangement means a small outer cap can be removed for drainage and a larger secondary cap assists with the removal of the media. The Top Mount Vision is the only one of its kind to feature a clear valve mounting ring, allowing full view of the filter in operation whilst the pump is running. And for peace of mind, both side and top mount models come with an impressive ten-year full tank warranty for residential installations.

t. 0191 551 2048 | w. whitewaters.co.uk

Receiving the brief to convert this old dilapidated barn in Lutterworth into a state-of the-art swimming pool hall could have been regarded as a daunting task but not for Northampton pool builder, Mosaic Pools. For them, it was all in a day’s work or, rather… three years’ work!

With four decades of working in the wet leisure industry under his belt, Mosaic Pools’ MD Stephen French was more than up to the task of taking on this challenging barn conversion. He knew exactly where to start… a loyal customer for 30 years, he turned to Certikin to supply the pool’s main ingredients.

“I choose Certikin as my supplier because I know my customers will be getting the best, highest quality goods in the marketplace,” says Stephen. “It’s my belief that if you buy cheap, you buy twice but, in any case, Certikin goods are not overpriced. Based in Milton Keynes, I am only 45 minutes away from Certikin in Witney so it’s handy for dropping by to pick up some last-minute pieces of equipment or chat over a technical problem. The technical backup is second to none and gives great peace of mind and I have always found the company and its personnel to be very fair.”

Stephen says: “The family behind this pool were looking for a ‘sanctuary’ to relax in after a hard day’s work. At times, I thought we were never going to finish it but I am delighted to say that it surpassed their expectations, and on completion, they described the pool as ‘perfection.’ It’s great to know that it’s much loved and in daily use.”

The project stands as a fine example of how Certikin equipment can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The 13m x 6m concrete and tile pool with a 1.5m depth features a PSS block system with 75ml insulation. From its Delta 4, Pool Pilot and Blue Lagoon salt UV System, Top Mount filter, 2 HP Aquaspeed pumps, stainless steel skimmers, sand filter to its Roldeck automatic cover – it is Certikin from top to bottom.

Full steam ahead with Harvia

An added note of luxury is the Certikin Harvia 3m x 2m steam room. With more than half a century of experience in developing the best Finnish sauna and steam products, Harvia knows the key to wellness. The Harvia range, exclusive to Certikin, expertly combines the relaxing elements of nature – wood, stone and water.

Certikin offers eight different standard steam rooms as an ‘off-the-shelf’ product, suitable for domestic or commercial applications. They come flat packed, ready for assembly on site.

In addition, Certikin offers a whole variety of bespoke solutions for steam rooms from supplying the room only to all the equipment. Complete rooms with all the equipment include: ceilings, walls, seats, steam generator, LED down lights and transformer, vents and steam cover. Domestic and commercial rooms are available which come flat packed in sections ready for assembly on site for tiling in the customer’s choice of tiles. Choose from a wide range of steam generators from 4.5kW up to 30kW.

Calorex Delta – the full package

The Calorex Delta featuring touch screen technology in a unique multi-functional single unit, provides the ultimate environmental control system. It is designed to take full control of the whole indoor environment and pool water heating. A comprehensive range, there’s a Delta to suit pools of every size. The systems are specifically designed to economically provide the environmental comfort and moisture related structural protection necessary for a pool.

The Delta is an excellent system for use with distribution ductwork, automatically controlling: humidity level, air and water temperature and ventilation.

The Calorex 14 and 16 benefit from ECA Scheme approval meaning they are recognised as being able to provide low carbon and energy efficient environmental control. They are the only swimming pool heat pump heat recovery machines to be included in the Government Cash Back Scheme.

 

 

t. 01280 843101 | e. mosaicpools@hotmail.com