An ever-increasing number of counties avail themselves of FORCE Technology’s offer on mapping of the maintenance demands in public swimming pools.

With a multi-annual maintenance plan and a pertaining budget for restoration, operation of the swimming pools stays afloat, and the municipal economy is not flooded.

FORCE Technology has established an interdisciplinary expert team specialising in providing consultancy on the specific requirements that apply to construction, operation and maintenance of public swimming pools.

As it turns out there is a need to view the public swimming pools’ technical and structural conditions in a wider professional perspective than the one applied traditionally. And there are actually several reasons for this.

Firstly, public swimming pools constitute extreme environments where technology and buildings have to match each other extraordinarily well.

Secondly, many public swimming pools were built years ago, and are not always dimensioned to accommodating all the activities going on in a modern public swimming pool.

Thirdly, FORCE Technology and several counties have experienced that both time and money may be saved by establishing a coherent plan for the future restoration.

Modern technology

This experience is well-known in Korsør Public Swimming Pool Bath where pool inspector Arne Jensen relates that together with FORCE Technology the county has developed a long-term plan with pertaining budget for the restoration work required for a number of years to come. He says:

”Some years ago we had to acknowledge that our heating and ventilation plant was totally worn out. We contacted FORCE Technology, who carried out some examinations and subsequently proposed a plan to replace the systems. This plan was an innovation of the whole system which included the latest technological breakthroughs in its field. Today we have a dimension on our system that suits our needs, one which aside from huge financial savings also renders a satisfactory indoor climate for our guests and staff".

Corrosion in supporting pillars

As known, misfortunes never come alone. During the work with the technical system in Korsør public swimming pool FORCE Technology also ascertained corrosion and other defects in the concrete in the supporting pillars and at the promenade deck.

In addition, Arne Jensen often received complaints from the guests that the shower room facilities could not supply the sufficient amounts of hot water

“Bearing in mind future municipal grants we had a great need to create an overview of the swimming pool’s condition and the maintenance task that was needed both in the long and short terms. And we needed a financial estimate and a time-schedule for the works, which FORCE Technology then prepared for us. At the moment, we work and restore according to this plan, which provides everybody at the swimming pool with quieter working days. Now we can plan regular maintenance instead of “dealing with emergencies” and concentrate on providing our guests with a nice experience when they visit the swimming pool”,says Arne Jensen.

Complex problems

FORCE Technology sees the cooperation with Korsør public swimming pool as an example which may be repeated in several counties and very advantageously so.

Since the public swimming pool systems are technically complex it requires great insight into the many different technical and building specifications that are part of its operation and maintenance.

Public swimming pools are extremely energy-intensive buildings, and half of the energy consumption is typically spent on water treatment and ventilation. This also entails that much money may be saved by correctly managed installations and dimensioning.

In the event of restoration, it is often possible to achieve reductions in electricity and water of almost 25 % of the total energy consumption according to the experience of FORCE Technology.

Operational reliability

The high temperatures in public swimming pools may result in decomposition of structural parts as in the example from Korsør, where FORCE Technology proposed optimal technical and financial restorationmethods within concrete repair work.

In addition hereto are all the issues as regards regulatory requirements such as energy and electricity consumption, water quality, etc. Those are good reasons for getting an overall estimate of the technical and structural conditions of the public swimming pool and at the end of the day, it is a question of operational reliability.

And a shut-down of the public swimming pool is probably the nightmare of any bath attendant, responsible engineer and local politician as today the public swimming pool represents not only a swimming pool for uncommitted splashing of water.

Health and social events

Today many people assemble for numerous activities at the public swimming pool, which this way has developed into a water-based activity centre.

The great majority of public swimming pools in Denmark were not planned for this versatility from the start which is the result when senior citizens, exercising swimmers, disabled persons, competition swimmers and ordinary water enthusiasts use the water slide, the hot water pool, the jumping pool, the 50-metre pool and the paddling pool, the sauna, the showers and the cafeteria.

Thus the public swimming pools have often been extended in time with the demand for new activities. And not all of the public swimming pools’ technical installations are geared for such new situations.

The public swimming pools have undergone a change, from previously focusing on swimming only, to now also focusing on health and social events, and the guests do not appreciate that the swimming pool will have to be shut down due to lacking maintenance or technical failures.

Restoration by stages

In the Odsherredshallen they have also experienced the advantages of working with restoration plans by stages.

In 2003 they launched a restoration of the technical installations in the public swimming pool in order to improve the interior climate and the water quality. FORCE Technology was in charge of planning and projecting a completely new ventilation plant improved air distribution in the pool area.

In 2005 restoration of the water treatment plant continued so that the capacity and water purification capacity have increased. Both restoration stages also focused on reducing electricity consumption and the chloride compositions in the water and air in order to improve the indoor climate.

Peter Ankarfeldt, engineer with the Odsherred county and FORCE Technology have worked closely together on the restoration plan.

“It has been very sensible to work together with a consultant who was able to include all the professional aspects of the task. I think that we have received satisfactory consultancy and good sparring and we have established an ambitious plan for increasing the water quality in the Odsherredshallen. The restoration plan by stages also means that we avoid acutely arising problems and may now concentrate on the planned activities. We have got a practical plan for maintenance, investments and their financial issues within all essential fields of the swimming pool”, says Peter Ankarfeldt.

An interdisciplinary assessment of the restoration requirements and a finance plan may be the way to make the budget watertight.

Fact box

FORCE Technology provides interdisciplinary and comprehensive advice and consultancy for public swimming pools.

• Condition assessment, energy optimisation and planning of water treatment and ventilation
• Condition examination of concrete and cathodic protection
• Corrosion examinations of metallic materials and surfaces, i.e. stainless steel
• Statutory control of water slides and climbing walls.