The vagaries of the British climate can wreck the plans of many pool owners but now there is a simple, quick fix solution in the shape of the AQBox. As its name suggests, the enclosure arrives in a box and is easily erected by any self-build enthusiast using basic tools.
Manufactured by leading enclosure specialists, Aquacomet and supplied by Certikin International, the attractive AQBox enclosure comes in a low and standard height offering three different lengths for each and two different glazes. The parts are delivered in a wooden box and come with a simple to follow assembly manual.
The flat low level enclosure is available in 0.7m height by 6.7 length; 0.8m height and 8.7m length and 1.05m height by 10.7m length whilst a standard enclosure is available in 1.12m, 1.43m and 1.79m heights and the same aforementioned lengths.
The eye-catching enclosure offers a high specification, which includes a patented child safe locking system; 6mm double wall polycarbonate or 3mm SAN solid, UV protected on both sides. The enclosure parts are made of rounded anodised aluminium alloy with clear or thermo glazing.
The low level enclosure comes with removable front and back walls – both in one piece – with side mounted sliding doors while the standard enclosures feature a front wall, including a French door in the middle and a removable end wall.
Concrete and liner methods of swimming pool construction, of course, have their rightful place but both can be time consuming. If it’s a pool you want, and right now, nothing is quicker than a one-piece pool. As Ian Dolan found out when local pool specialists IED Installations Ltd installed this beautiful Niveko pool at his home in the north-west.
“I was attracted to a one-piece pool simply because I don’t have the time to see through to completion the construction of a traditional pool and after making the decision to have a pool, I wanted it to be up and running like tomorrow!” says Ian. “For me, there is only one, one piece pool …the Niveko. It wins hand’s down on quality, functionality and stunning good looks.”
Within weeks of placing the order, an 8m x 3.7m pool with full width steps was duly delivered to Ian’s home near Liverpool and some three weeks later the family were swimming at home.
“To me, the Niveko is a no-brainer,” adds Ian. “The costs of a Niveko compare favourably to a traditional build and they are a solid unit so there’s no problems with leaks. Plus, I have the reassurance that it comes with a 10 year warranty.
“Installation was very straight-forward and coming as it does, pre-piped and pre-wired, significantly saves on installation costs. I feel I have a tailor made pool as there are so many different models and colour permutations.”
The Niveko stripped down
– The Niveko range is as broad as it is long with styles that include options such as skimmers / overflows / a vanishing edge to name just a few.
– All the pools can be supplied with a slatted automatic cover to help minimise heat loss and associated running costs. Incorporating an in-roller motor, it can be operated with a key switch or remote control.
– Pre-plumbed, all the pools have 30mm of insulation.
– The overflow gutter has a unique levelling system which provides a solution for any unevenness in the base plate without interfering in the pool structure. It is particularly good for larger pools, as it simplifies the installation process.
Alan Shearer CBE with Jessica Robertson, 3, at the official opening of the new hydrotherapy pool at the Alan Shearer Centre
When the Alan Shearer Activity Centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne approached pool specialist, Whitewaters Ltd, to replace an old hydro pool with something bigger and better, naturally it was to Certikin that they turned and, in particular, their trailblazing new filter media: OC-1.
Founded by the retired English footballer, the Alan Shearer Activity Centre situated on the outskirts of Newcastle is a specialist recreational, sensory and social centre for disabled people catering for a wide spectrum of need. It is the only short break centre in the North East with its own on-site activity centre, set within acres of beautifully landscaped grounds.
Having seen better days, Whitewaters Ltd set about stripping out the old hydrotherapy pool, replacing it with a £500,000 state-of-the-art facility. Six months in design, the construction took a further six months to complete. Twice the size of the original hydrotherapy pool, it offers a mix of fun and relaxation with interactive mood lighting and water and music features. A distinctive full-length window looks out onto the beautiful grounds and turns opaque at a flick of a switch. The pool features an array of water features including a Certikin water cannon, and fluvo air pad and swimjet.
MD of Whitewaters, Mick Guthrie says: “The new hydrotherapy pool offers all the grandeur of a top quality spa, but it also plays a serious role in providing therapeutic benefits to disabled people of all ages.”
Water quality is, of course, of vital importance and at the heart of this pool’s filtration system is the ground breaking new OC-1 filter media for which Certikin is the world’s exclusive distributor. Unique in its methodology and performance, OC-1 works through settlement as opposed to entrapment, and harnesses the recent advances in pump technology and variable speed pumps/controllers.
Mick reports: “The pool has been running for over a month now and the water clarity is crystal clear. Being extremely lightweight, OC-1 is so much easier than any other filter media to handle and work with. Although it’s early days, I am highly impressed with OC-1 and its distinct benefits.”
OC-1 gains momentum in the marketplace
Since the launch of Certikin’s OC-1 Filtration Media® in 2016 sales have been growing steadily and its success is no surprise when you realise just how much of a game changer for water leisure filtration this really is. When compared to traditional media, it has outstanding benefits:
Reduced energy consumption – OC-1 maintains constant flow rates, even when the media is dirty, so pumps can run at lower speeds. No downtime required for heating/salt chlorinators/heat pumps going out on low flow.
Huge capacity for debris collection – over 20 times the capacity of sand or glass.
Reduced requirement for backwashing and a more efficient backwash – reduces water consumption, chemical usage and No need to backwash on start up with new installations.
Lightweight – can even be shipped inside a filter, easy to handle, super quick and easy to install.
Filtration quality Removes 80% of 10 micron particles on one turnover and even removes particles as small as 1 micron.
Suitable for – domestic, commercial, outdoor or indoor, new installs or existing filters.
Once upon a time this pool hall in Witney, Oxfordshire, housed a 10m by 5m pool before it was boarded over by a retired train engineer to house his £100,000 train set. The house has been sold again and, wishing to resurrect the old pool hall, the current owner called in the services of Gloucestershire pool builder, New Dawn Pools, who produced this stunning result.
Accountant, Angela Caiger, bought the house last year with the express aim to unearth and expose the old indoor pool. New Dawn Pools reduced the size of the pool to 6m x 4.5m and built two walls on top of the pool shell to divide the building up to create a small annex for guests, consisting of a kitchen/lounge, bedroom and bathroom plus a second bathroom in the pool hall area.
The pool hall’s most striking feature is the wall mural depicting a picture that Angela took last year on holiday in the Seychelles. This was lovingly reproduced on tiles and it was the job of New Dawn Pools to fix all 957 of them! The pool features five mini Certikin LED lights, stainless steel fittings, a Vision filter, Starite pump, Calorex Variheat, a white slatted Roldeck cover and a Fastlane counter current unit.
The Fastlane for va-va-voom!
Ideal for small pools, the Fastlane, when it’s at full tilt, has been described as being akin to ‘swimming up river in a flood. It’s incredible!’
Easily installed, this fit-anywhere counter current unit lets you swim for as long as you like without turning. Adjust the Fastlane to your pace and enjoy swimming in an even, river-like current. Simple hydraulics means that no electricity is required poolside – simply roll the Fastlane across the pool deck and drop it into the water. Or with a new pool you can build it into the pool wall as seen here where the Fastlane was cleverly built into the wall giving a sleek and modern finish.
It’s suitable for almost any pool – free form or rectangular; gunite, vinyl or fibreglass; new construction or retrofit. Swimmers love the adjustable speed swim current and children love it because it’s pure fun!
Two new filters now compliment the OC-1 filtration media that is taking the Industry by storm. Introduced last year, OC-1 is stealing a march on traditional media with its outstanding benefits now eclipsing the likes of sand, gravel and glass. Lightweight and easy to transport, it is ideal for use with variable speed technology and maintains a constant flow even as it collects debris. In fact the debris capacity is more than 20 times that of sand!
Two new filters, specifically designed to work in perfect harmony with OC-1 media for both domestic and commercial installations, are being introduced for 2017.
For new installations the OC-1 Filters are the obvious choice. The Commercial version can be supplied complete with the OC-1 media already preloaded and allows quicker installation and avoids having to load sand or glass into the tanks on site. The Domestic version comes ready for the media to be installed and is easy to ship and quick to install. The OC-1 Filter range covers all applications from small domestic to the largest commercial installations.
OC-1 media really excels in the commercial sector. Potential savings in running costs come from the ability to reduce pump speeds and reduced
backwashing. Add to that the advantage for new installations of the filter arriving with the media already installed and you can see that OC-1 is the obvious choice for the commercial application.
OC-1 filtration media is suitable for use on all pools and spas, be they domestic, commercial or hydrotherapy. It is easy to convert an existing sand filter for use with OC-1 with a simple lateral modification and take advantage of its benefits over traditional media such as sand or glass. Further details of the conversion can be found here.
OC-1 has been independently tested to EN16713-1 by the IFTS (Institut de la Filtration et des Techniques Séparatives). It passed all tests with flying colours and indeed surpassed certain tests to levels not seen before by the IFTS.
Certikin’s Commercial Manager, Steve Nelson says: “Since the launch of OC-1 we have had great feedback on the product and have good results with upgrading of existing sand filters and new installations going in every week. The growing popularity of the media is really starting to show. The advantages for the installers i.e. saving them time and giving a competitive advantage in the marketplace are beginning to be fully appreciated. This is backed up by the test results from IFTS that speak volumes for the performance of OC-1.”
Contact Certikin on 01993 777200 for your free sample.
Reduces energy consumption – OC-1 maintains constant flow rates, even when the media becomes dirty. No downtime is required for heating/salt chlorinators/heat pumps going out on low flow. 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 the capacity of sand or glass.
Reduced requirement for backwashing and a more efficient backwash – Reduces water consumption, chemical usage and heating.
Lightweight – Can even be shipped inside a filter, easy to handle and super quick and easy to install.
Less Maintenance – lasts longer than sand, reduces pressure in the system, extending the life of equipment.
Filters to International swimming pool standards.
Suitable for ALL installations – domestic or commercial, outdoor or indoor, new installations or existing filters.
With energy and cost savings on offer, Patrick Thorpe takes a closer look at variable speed pumps and uncovers the benefits behind their use.
When asked about variable speed pumps, I often start by saying I think the name is misleading! It gives the impression that the speed is constantly changing day in and day out. We all know we need a constant flow so what is the point?
I prefer to refer to them as speed adjustable pumps. Most Variable Speed pumps have three settings each capable of being adjusted to an exact speed. For the moment let’s concentrate on using just one of the three. By being able to set one speed to the exact flow rate set by the pool designer, we end up with a perfectly balanced pool, then as almost a by-product, we have all the advantages of the pump affinity laws.
Let me give you an example: let’s say you are building a 10m x 5m x 1.4m (average depth) domestic pool (70m3), and you would like to have a turnover rate of 6 hours, then you are looking for a pump capable of producing 12m3/h.
You look in your supplier price list and find a 1½ hp pump at a 10m head is not quite powerful enough, so you have to select a ¾hp. That in itself creates another issue, instead of being able to use a 600mm filter you are forced to go for a 750mm.
OK now let’s consider using a 1hp Variable Speed pump. The first saving is we can stick with using a 600mm filter, as it will comfortably deal with the 12m3/h required.
The concept of Variable Speed is as simple as one, two, three:
ONE: Any change in speed directly changes the flow at the same rates, i.e. 50% of the speed = 50% of the flow. Changes in flow rate are to the power of ONE.
TWO: Any change in speed changes the head in the system to the power of TWO. i.e. 50% of speed = 10m head x 0.5 x 0.5 so the head changes to 2.5m.
THREE: Any change in speed changes the power used to the power of THREE. i.e. 50% speed = electricity used x 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 therefore 1kW becomes 125kW
Now let’s go back to our example of a typical ¾hp pump that uses about 820 watts. We are running a heat pump and want to run the pool say 10 hours a day:
3/4hp pump 820W x 10 = 8.2kW. Say 180 days x 8.2kW = 1476kW. At 12p kW/h = £177.12
1hp Variable Speed pump 1,050 watts at 2,850 rpm producing 17m3/h. Flow required = 12m3/h. Speed required (Power 1) 12/17 x 2,850 = 2,012 rpm (this will depend on the actual hydraulic efficiency of the system, but the calculation should give an excellent indicator of the saving). 12/17 = 70% of the speed. Power used = 1,050 x 0.7 x 0.7 x 0.7 = 360W. Pump 360W x 10 hours = 3.6kW. Say 180 days x 3.6kW = 648kW. At 12p kW/h = £77.76
So where are we? We are using a pump producing exactly the flow rate set by the pool designer working at a power consumption commensurate with that flow rate and at the same time, no dead area issues, no flow rate issues, yet still saving £100 per year. Not forgetting a saving on buying the smaller filter of at least £350 at retail, which means, you will be well on the way to covering the extra cost of buying the variable speed pump. No compromise, just perfection.
Obviously greater savings can be made by running a much lower speed for part of the day, as long as you ensure you have sufficient flow to operative such items as the heat pump and dosing, etc., not to mention numerous other benefits like medium rate filtration.
Go on give them a try!
Viron Variable Speed Pump
Aquaspeed Variable Speed Pump
E.Swim Variable Speed Pump
Patrick Thorpe
This article was written by PATRICK THORPE, and first published in the December 2016 edition of Swimming Pool News. Patrick is former Managing Director of AstralPool UK Ltd, former Chairman of Certikin International Ltd and a key member of SPATA’s Technical Committee.
1 UV light is effective against all micro-organisms
Water purification by UV-C light is the most effective sanitising method available today. UV light destroys micro-organisms in domestic pools up to 99.9%.
2 UV pool sanitisers contribute to crystal clear water
The most important culprit of cloudy water, micro-organisms such as algae, will be eliminated by UV pool sanitisers. But also chloramines can be the indirect cause of cloudy water, especially when the disinfection level of free chlorine in the water is too low. UV-C lamps destroy micro-organisms up to 99.9% and breaks down chloramines up to 80%.
3 With UV purifiers, you reduce the use of chemicals for water treatment
UV-C purification makes sure there is more stability in pools and spas, therefore adding extra chemicals can be prevented. It is always necessary to maintain a residual of chlorine in the pool water though that level can be reduced through the use of UV.
4 You will have lower costs in chemicals, energy and maintenance
Materials in and around the pool suffer from chemicals added to the pool water. Because UV-C radiation destroys most of the harmful chloramines in the water, the materials in and around the pool get affected much less.
5 There is no risk of overdosing with UV pool sanitisers
Overdosing chemicals in pools and spas can cause serious health problems and even foamy or cloudy water. UV radiation cannot be overdosed and destroys all of the micro-organisms.
6 UV is a green, non-hazardous technology
Last but not least – UV light is an environmentally friendly way to sanitise pool water.
The opening of the new Dartmouth Indoor Swimming Pool next month comes after many years of hard fund raising by the local community. For installers, Westcountry Leisure the new OC-1 filtration system, with its promise of reduced energy consumption and much-increased efficiency, was a natural choice.
Speaking at the “topping out” stage of the new Dartmouth Indoor Pool in early March, the Mayor of Dartmouth spoke of the enthusiasm within the community as they have watched the pool taking shape. “There are people here who have contributed to the swimming pool fund over the last 50 years. For a coastal town, it is essential that people learn to swim and feel safe and confident, both working and taking part in activities on the river. Dartmouth town is proud to be part of this development.”
Devonshire pool specialists, Westcountry Leisure installed the beautiful 25m swimming pool using Certikin supplied equipment and, impressed with the claims of the new ground-breaking OC-1 filter media, felt that this would be an excellent occasion to put it through its paces.
Embracing the recent advances in pump technology and maximising the benefits of variable speed pumps, the ingenious OC-1 works through settlement, as opposed to the traditional method of entrapment. By replacing commonly used media (such as sand and glass) with OC-1 Filtration Media 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 energy costs as it can be used with a smaller pump or a variable speed pump or controller. All this whilst still filtering to the equivalent standard for traditional filter media.
Certikin’s Commercial Manager, Steve Nelson, went into consultation with Westcountry’s Mark Gilpin and estimated that using OC-1 compared to sand would in terms of electricity consumption save 71.73kW per day, which over the year equates to 26,181.45 kW. Assuming a price of 12p a kW, this amounts to a massive saving of £3,141.77 each year!
Mark Gilpin says: “Of course the system has still to be fully tested when the pool opens to the public but thus far I have to say I am hugely impressed. OC-1 has reduced the pump current and running costs dramatically. To be honest, I am amazed at just how efficiently it does work and the results it achieves. I think it justifies the title of a revolutionary product.”
Polly Nicholson, the owner of this stunning pool, knows a thing or two about gardens and landscape design being the highly respected flower grower and proprietor of Bayntun Flowers. So it’s little wonder that the pool in Blackland, at the foot of the Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire, blends so comfortably into its surroundings. Installed by Gloucestershire pool builder, New Dawn Pools, it is brimming with Certikin equipment, from its Roldeck cover down to its Pacelite finish.
Like the ceremonial smashing of a bottle of champagne over the bow of a new ship, the inaugural swim in a newly built pool is a ‘christening’ and a memorable celebration. For the Nicholson family that moment came on Christmas Eve 2015 when the pool, which began construction in April, was given its final touches. The four Nicholson children declared it the best Christmas present ever!
Installer, Richard Adams of New Dawn Pools says: “Polly project managed the whole garden project under the design and guidance of Arne Maynard Garden Designs, London. Polly, understandably, has exacting standards and a high level of perfection but the project was, in addition, challenging with a brook running through the property causing severe water table problems.”
The stunning 15m x 7m pool set in natural Portland stone has a varying depth of 1.4m to 2.6m and features a Roldeck in cave cover with new polycarbonate solar slats and a safety ledge. Adding to the sense of luxury, stainless steel fittings are featured throughout, including ten Certikin stainless steel mini LED lights. The pool, which has a Midnight Sky Pacelite internal finish, also features Certikin deep bed filtration and ozone sterilization.
The pool is heated with a Certikin 50kw Genie gas boiler. In addition, a 35kw Genie dual partly heats the pool water as well as under floor heating, showers, and hot water in the changing rooms. Richard adds: “An efficient and economical method of heating is essential as the pool is in operation 52 weeks of the year.”
Looking to inject the X factor into their holiday cottage business, Ruth and Gordon Christopher installed two beautiful CalderaSpas hot tubs and it proved to be one of the soundest business decisions they ever made.
Holt Farm is an independent, family owned business set in the stunning Herefordshire countryside, offering luxury accommodation in four holiday cottages.
Two years ago, owners Ruth and Gordon took the decision to install two Caldera Vantos hot tubs. “They were installed in January in a cold winter,” says Ruth. “We had the best swim ever a couple days later because it was snowing which gave it such a magical feel. Some guests, who have not used a hot tub before, think you have to have fine weather to use one so I love telling them about how the best times are the dark, the snow and the rain!
“We chose two seven-seater hot tubs between our four cottages and it works well for us as they are situated on outdoor patios. They are strategically placed as most of our customers book at least two cottages so we have great flexibility to give them at least one cottage with a hot tub. Then in quiet times we can offer a hot tub to customers whose cottage might not have an adjacent one – they are usually delighted by the added value to their booking.”
So why Caldera? “We were attracted to the brand’s price and superb quality. Plus, the sales team at our local retailer, Three Counties Pools & Spas, recommended Caldera because the hot tubs are robust and economical to run. What really clinched the deal for us was attending a seminar at Three Counties, and they invited customers who had already installed Calderas and their testimonials were very encouraging.
“The hot tubs have proved a real boon to business,” says Ruth. “Potential customers are always looking for an added value fun facility when they make their booking and the hot tubs fit the bill perfectly and have broad appeal. Hen and stag parties love them as well as the big birthday gatherings, reunion groups and walkers. We find our customers use them all times of the day and night. Small families and couples enjoy them too for relaxing – more in the evenings rather than in the day. The great beauty of a CalderaSpas hot tub is that it is not seasonal. The majority of our guests stay for weekend breaks but families who book longer stays in the school holidays use the hot tubs all week long. And of course, mid week walking groups love relaxing in one after a long day in the hills.
“Maintenance takes just a few minutes per day; refilling is more lengthy but having two tubs is good in that they can fill simultaneously! For us, getting the Caldera hot tubs has been a great investment and we’ve not looked back.”
Emma Garrett of Three Counties Pools & Spas says: “CalderaSpas is a brand which offers both peace of mind to owners and dealers. The brand’s reputation for build quality and design provides reassurance in providing a reliable, durable and efficient spa – ideal for the holiday let industry.”
