DEHUMIDIFICATION
Creating The Perfect Indoor Environment
Without effective dehumidification and ventilation, indoor pools can suffer from overly humid conditions which can lead to condensation, mould, corrosion and even potential structural damage. For pool users, there can also be an uncomfortable environment to contend with too. So getting the environment right is essential for owners and users alike and in this issue, we take a closer look at some of the solutions on offer By Jon Wadeson
C
reating and maintaining the perfect environment for indoor pools and spas is no easy task. It’s one thing ensuring the water is clean and heated to the desired operating temperature, but providing the correct atmosphere outside of the water is an entirely different challenge. Without providing effective dehumidification and ventilation, problems can arise for both users of the pool and the fabric of the building itself. One of the most obvious issues is condensation, something which if not dealt with will ultimately lead to damage of either the décor or even the structure of the building where the pool or spa are located. So it’s essential that an indoor environment should have a well-planned and appropriate dehumidification and ventilation system which will provide comfortable conditions for swimmers, bathers, spectators and just as importantly, one that also protects the building itself. It is a specialist area, but thankfully there’s plenty of advice and product choices available which will solve numerous operating challenges under the single heading of ‘environmental control’ and in doing so, save energy and therefore costs for owners and operators. With the wealth of expertise that’s available in the sector, designers and installers should find that choosing the most energy efficient way to manage indoor pool and spa environments whilst satisfying building control regulations isn’t as daunting a task as
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they had feared. In fact, when compared to the not so distant past, creating the perfect operating conditions are now a breeze and in this issue, we look at just some of the solutions that are available.
HEATSTAR – TOTAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS For 40 years Heatstar have pioneered the innovation, design and manufacture of modern, highly energy efficient, climate The Phoenix EC from Heatstar is a hybrid heat recovery ventilation system for indoor commercial and domestic swimming pools
control systems for swimming pools and spas. The company are aware that in an environmentally conscious industry such as ours, responsible pool installers and owners are always looking to utilise the most energy efficient ways to manage and control indoor wet leisure environments, with building control regulations laying down strict guidelines for energy efficiency to enforce this. Given present fuel costs it is essential that the environmental control system dehumidifying a pool hall environment, such as the Phoenix EC, must utilise methods of energy recovery to condense out excess humidity without unnecessarily throwing away warm air that could otherwise be utilised, thus saving owners and operators money. The Phoenix EC from Heatstar is a hybrid heat recovery ventilation system for indoor commercial and domestic swimming pools. It incorporates different, highly effective technologies to achieve what the company says are the highest energy efficiencies and the lowest operating costs of any similar systems. These technologies focus on three main areas: The fans used in the units, optimising heat recovery (‘free’ heat) and energy efficient dehumidification via a refrigeration heat pump system. Due to the typical pool hall condition of high temperature / high humidity, a heat pump dehumidifier can absorb a high proportion of latent energy from the pool hall converting vapour into water. This
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