SPLASH December 2015 - January 2016

Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health

Issue 103

December 2015/January 2016

Natural public pool Wins global award How to conquer The vanishing edge Thrills and chills In waterpark innovation Water safety workshops For physiotherapists www.splashmagazine.com.au

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34

28

Contents 54

Fire and water Peter Rabbidge looks back on four decades in the swimming pool and spa industry, and shares some relevant experiences from his time with the Rural Fire Service.

Thrills and chills keep the customers happy Corinne Teng looks at the most exciting rides and latest innovations helping make water parks more fun and more profitable.

42

31

National body takes stock A rundown of what’s been happening with SPASA Australia during 2015, including the status of national merger plans.

34

Conquering the vanishing edge Cal Stanley provides answers to many questions associated with vanishing edge swimming pool design and construction.

42

The long hot summer According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this could be one of the hottest summers ever as a result of the rare convergence of two significant weather events.

50

Water safety and hydrotherapy Catherine O’Brien describes the informative workshop for physiotherapists working in water.

IAKS presented the 2015 Gold Award to Herzog & de Meuron Architects for the Naturbad Riehen natural pool in Switzerland.

65

A winter renewal Parts of Sutherland Leisure Centre in southern Sydney were shut down for 10 weeks in winter to enable a much needed facility upgrade.

32

Changing industry demands training focus Lindsay McGrath writes about the benefits of improving skill sets and gaining accreditation in a changing industry.

62 Natural pool wins major international award

54

regulars News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Industry moves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Pool DAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Commercial news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Tenders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Expo news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

New products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Global news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Ad index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 9

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Published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd ABN 940 025 83 682 41 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW, 2037 Australia Ph: (02) 9660 2113 Fax: (02) 9660 4419 Managing Director: Simon Grover Managing Director Interpoint Events: Simon Cooper Editor: Chris Maher Phone: 0412 048 639 Email: chrismaher@intermedia.com.au

editorial A skill to last a lifetime

Contributors: Cal Stanley, Corrine Teng Advertising Manager: Karen Jaques Phone: (02) 8586 6135 Email: kjaques@intermedia.com.au

In this issue on page 65 is a story about the renewal of the Sutherland Leisure Centre, and it’s interesting reading to see how they brought the aquatic facilities up to scratch.

Designer: Ben Akhurst Production Manager: Carly Saillard Head of Circulation: Chris Blacklock For Subscriptions Call: 1800 651 422

But this story also had me thinking about a number of other things.

Because this was where I learnt to swim, back in the dim past of the twentieth century – more decades back than I’d care to admit. As a raucous gaggle of six and seven year olds we were bussed to the outdoor pool on foggy weekday mornings, where we’d progress from hanging onto the sides and kicking to actually risking the journey across the width of the pool. I’ll never forget the smell of the sausage rolls warming in the pie oven as we queued up, wrapped in our towels; wet, cold and tired from our exertions.

Copyright All material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers.

Disclaimer: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees.

Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.

I got to practice my new skills with my friend around the corner in his pebblecrete kidney pool, starting in the shallow end until I’d built up the confidence to tackle the bowl. Under the Christmas tree that year was the most exciting present: blue rubber flippers, snorkel and mask. All summer we played Sea Hunt and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, as well as Cowboys and Indians – when you waited in line to be shot so you could die extravagantly, ending with a spectacular splash in the pool. Later, we graduated to games like underwater rugby league with a tennis ball, which sounds pretty dangerous, but this was the old days, after all.

Chris Maher Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.au

While those summer memories may fade, they still have a golden glow about them. This summer, hundreds of thousands of Aussie kids will be creating their own memories in the pool, to be remembered for the rest of their lives. At the same time, they’ll be learning skills that will make them safer, stronger and even smarter according to the latest research (see p48).

This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037.

Copyright © 2015 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.

I hope Santa leaves something wonderful under your Christmas tree – even better than a snorkel and mask – and that a sunny December sets up a great season for everyone.

This issue’s cover

Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health

SPLASH! contains NO advertorial.

Issue 103

December/January 2016

Proudly supported by

Cover shows the international gold winner selected by IAKS, the Naturbad Riehen natural pool in Switzerland. Photography by Helene Schneider. There is more on this pool on page 62.

The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the above supporters, nor should any product advertised in SPLASH! magazine be seen to be endorsed by the above.

Members of

The public natural pool That won an international award How to conquer The vanishing edge Thrills and chills In waterpark innovation

www.splashmagazine.com.au

Water safety and hydrotherapy For physiotherapists

Audited Circulation Average Net Distribution Per Issue: 5,727 CAB Publisher Statement Period ending 30th September 2015.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

11

news

Associations

Victoria walks away from national merger with SPASA Australia SPASA Victoria has rejected the concept of a merged SPASA Australia, which all states had been working towards through the single entity blueprint – a process that involves the de-incorporation on the state bodies prior to the fully national body being set up.

The remaining four states have confirmed their intention to continue with the process.

“The Board of SPASA Victoria has voted to discontinue involvement in the establishment of a single entity for SPASA Australia,” SPASA Victoria said in a statement.

“The Board is prepared to continue discussions and maintain involvement in SPASA Australia, with the current structure as a federation of State SPASAs. The Board firmly believes the prime objective and purpose of SPASA Victoria is to serve its members and the public of Victoria. We

hold the view that any de-incorporation of the current SPASA Victoria entity will result in less beneficial member services and a lower level of support for Victorian consumers.”

However, the statement says SPASA Victoria remains fully committed to ongoing collaboration with SPASA NSW & ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and SPASA Australia. It will continue to share all IP, training, event management, publications, on-line contracts, commercials, digital and promotional materials, as it has done with goodwill over many years.

Rationale for the decision

Outgoing president of SPASA Victoria, Rob Kruber, spoke to SPLASH! prior to the annual general meeting (AGM) at which he stepped down, having

completed his two year stint in the leadership role.

Explaining the thinking behind the board’s decision, Kruber says the Victorian board felt de-incorporation of the association would decrease direct member benefits.

“Obviously a lot of our work has been around local representation with the VBA and even with local councils,” he says. “The board felt that if it wasn’t its own entity there would be the risk of a decrease in local representation.”

He says funding wasn’t the issue and that the board decided it wasn’t about the money.

Criticism had been levelled at the Victorian board for not waiting until the November 11 AGM to give its members the opportunity to decide the future course of the association. When asked why the board made the decision prior to AGM, Kruber says the board felt it already had

enough information to make a decision and had wanted to give the other states fair notice.

“Obviously all the states have to make their decisions – and Victoria wanted the others states to know Victoria’s decision before they made their own, so they could make it on their own merits.”

As well as being president of SPASA Victoria, Kruber had been vice-president of SPASA Australia. He has now relinquished that role and also stepped down as the Victorian representative on the SPASA Australia board. His place on the national board has been taken by Callum Ross (AstralPool Australia). Kruber remains a board member of SPASA Victoria.

SPASA Australia disappointed

SPASA Australia president Lynley Papineau says that the entire

Dad’s Pool by Mark Pokorny

The good life Swimming pools struck a note in the second richest Australian photography competition: Australian Life. Twenty two images were selected from more than 1000 photos submitted via Instagram and shown at the prestigious Art & About Sydney photography competition. The one that caught the attention of SPLASH! is called Dad’s Pool by Mark Pokorny. The photos can be viewed by using the #australianlife tag in Twitter or Instagram. The winning shot was of Adelong Creek by Noah Stammbach.

12

SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

SPASA NSW & ACT has confirmed it is fully committed to the national entity and will continue to dedicate its time in project analysis while seeking out the best result for all members nationally. SPASA has asked all its members to support and allow the process to continue in creating a new and long term business model that will supply better results than have been traditionally achieved.

SPASA Queensland is continuing discussions with the other three states on the possible merger. There is a process under way which they will see What happens now? through. The final outcome will While Victoria’s decision has be decided by the members next meant some changes in the plans year. SPASA Queensland already for a single national entity, many voted in favour of the merger things will remain unchanged. process at the 2014 AGM, with As a founding member of Year old Year new the resolution that SPASA SPASA Australia, Victoria will 2000 Queensland operations transition still be included in the national into SPASA Australia and that awards to be held at SPLASH! 1500 SPASA Queensland de-incor2016. Kruber has confirmed porate by 1st of January 2017, or there is still a current reciprocal 1000 earlier. It is the intention of the rights agreement in place and Management Committee and says Victoria has every intention 500 Governing Council to act on this of maintaining those rights – as soon as the SPASA Australia which includes participation in 0 amended allow the national awards.

Dec Jan Feb Mar constitution Apr Apr June is July Aug SepttoOct Nov for direct memberships.

National supplier members SPASA South Australia is are already members of SPASA 12months-to-November 2014 12months-to-November 2015 disappointed with Victoria’s Australia, and have 5000 been for the decision not to take it to their past two invoiced years and that 4000 members, and says it is in full position will not change, with support of SPASA going into a 100 per cent of the national 3000 single entity, and plans to take supplier members’ fees going to the blueprint to its members SPASA Australia. 2000 shortly so they can have their say.

Papineau says that all the 1000 on that SPASA Western Australia states voted and agreed has also confirmed it is still an proposal some time ago. “So there 0 active participant in the naOctshould Nov be no impact to theNSW VIC QLD WA processSA towards a single national entity. tional supplier membership, and SPASA Australia held a we envisage that won’t change.” meeting on November 4 to fiThe next steps include the nalise and approve the blueprint consultation process of liaisreport for distribution to the ing with the states and their members. There is more on that members to answer any of their meeting on page 31. queries or concerns.

The available September to November 2015 pool DA numbers show an increase of three per cent when compared to the same period last year.

Queensland came off its sustained period of increases with an 18 per cent drop for this period, while Western Australia was down 30 per cent. The other three-monthly comparisons show New South Wales up 41 per cent on the back of a very strong November, South Australia up 12 per cent and Victoria up seven per cent.

The annual figures comparing the twelve months to November show the national market up nine per cent, with Queensland up 49 per cent, New South Wales up 14 per cent, Victoria up nine per cent, South Australia level and Western Australia down 14 per cent.

As always, we remind readers to treat these figures as trend indicators only, and look to the disclaimer below.

Comparison Years-to-November

The other states responses

Three-monthly figures up three per cent

Year old

Year new

2000

500

400

1500

300 1000

200 500

0

100

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

Apr June July Aug Sept Oct Nov

12months-to-November 2014

12months-to-November 2015

5000

Approvals by State

“At this point in time we’re looking to put it to a vote of state members at their AGMs,” she says.

“But that’s yet to be determined by the state boards. The states might determine to put it to their members earlier, but we’re also mindful of the busy season ahead.”

4000 3500

4000

3000 2500

3000

2000 2000

1500 1000

1000

500 0

Three-Monthly Comparison

Aug Sept

SPASA Australia board is disappointed with the decision that the SPASA Victoria board has made on behalf of its members.

“Whilst SPASA Australia acknowledges the Victorian board’s decision, it is disappointing for the Victorian members who have not been given the opportunity to realise the full benefits of a national association but also have not had the opportunity to review the outcome of the merger plan that has been worked on for two years.

“This decision has galvanised the remaining four SPASA states to push ahead with the culmination of the merger plan process and present the draft to their members for comment, debate, voting and progressing forward in 2016,” she says.

“I’m still hopeful that this is only a delay and that Victoria will eventually see the benefits, in the meantime the work towards a single national entity for the pool and spa industry in Australia will continue.”

NSW

VIC

QLD

September to November 2014

WA

0

SA

September to November 2015

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

While these figures give an indication of the way the market is trending, they are not comprehensive and don’t include all pools built or even all DAs lodged. By some estimates, the total national numbers including all types of pools could be almost double these figures. They do not include pool projects that are approved as part of a new home, smaller projects under the cost threshold, renovations that don’t require a DA, or some aboveground pools. Additionally, not all councils are forthcoming with data or report on time; councils in some states such as Queensland and Victoria are particularly reluctant. For further information, call Cordell Information on 1800 80 60 60.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

13

news

Litigation

Beadcrete looks to recover up to $500,000 in costs following patent defence The long running series of court cases between two glass bead swimming pool surface manufacturers has reached its final stages, with Beadcrete attempting to recover what they say could be as much as $500,000 of awarded costs from respondents.

The saga began in 2011 when Beadcrete Pty Ltd (together with Designer Concrete Coatings, Buyrite Steel Supplies and Designerite) commenced Federal Court proceedings for patent infringement against Fei (Crystal) Yu, trading as Jewels 4 Pools, and Jeff McAlister, and also named Pebble Masters, Twin Coast Pools, Melken Development trading as Bayside Pools & Paving and Grin Distributions as respondents.

According to Jeff McAlister, Grin Distributors had distributed Jewels 4 Pools products but had ceased trading a number of years ago, Pebble Masters imported their own glass and also sold a small amount of Jewels 4 Pools product, Twin Coast had been a customer of Jewels 4 Pools but Bayside Pools and Paving had not been a customer.

PLEASE NOTE: Beadcrete is NOT attempting to recover monies from any customers of Jewels 4 Pools apart from those named above as respondents.

The initial case was heard over nine days in October 2012 before Federal Court judge Justice Jagot.

Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter.

1. Free swimming pool equipment sweetens offering from new entrant in the consumer market The new Pooled Energy concept presents competition for traditional sales and service channels.

14

SPLASH!

There was much technical and legal argument about the types of mixes used in the different products, and the sizes of the beads. Particle measurements were taken from four colours in the Jewels 4 Pools range that numbered 10 colours at the time. The judge found that Jewels 4 Pools Green and Ice Blue beads contained the specific average particle size claimed in the patent, but Clear and Cobalt Blue did not.

The result was that on March 22, 2013, the court ordered that Jewels 4 Pools could not supply, sell or dispose of – or offer to sell or dispose of – the Jewels 4 Pools products Green or Ice Blue, either in isolation or in combination with each other.

McAlister says it was only Ice Blue and Green that infringed when used either on their own or together.

“To put it simply, Jewels 4 Pools could not use 100 per cent Ice Blue, 100 per cent Green or any combination of those two colours alone for a pool interior.”

Jewels 4 Pools asserted the patent was not specific enough and lodged a counter claim which was dismissed with an order to pay 60 per cent of the applicants’ party/party costs including the costs of the cross-claim.

Jewels 4 Pools then lodged an appeal against the ruling but it was dismissed by the full Federal Court on September 10, 2014,

with all party/party costs from that action awarded to Beadcrete and associated parties.

Peter Cardin, the managing director of Beadcrete, says that by this time the total legal costs expended by both parties was in excess of $2 million, with approximately $1 million spent by each side.

“In early 2015 we entered the damages phase,” says Cardin, “which would have involved the further expense of forensic accountants, lawyers and barristers and a lot more time so we elected to accept a token amount of around $2500 and finalise the case and look to recover our court costs.”

McAlister disputes this amount, saying it was less than $500.

“In August 2015, the Federal Court awarded court costs to us of around $500,000, and within a few days McAlister and Fei Yu went bankrupt,” Cardin says, adding that his lawyers are now pursuing the other respondents named in the patent infringement action.

McAlister also disputes this amount. His lawyers suggest an estimated range of between $300,000 and $350,000, but McAlister says the other respondents would only be eligible for a small portion of this amount, which he estimates at possibly as small as $50,000.

“The other four respondents named would be responsible

only for the costs involved with the infringement portion of the trial. This means, according to our lawyers, because there was found to be only very minor infringement, a small percentage of the cost order would be awarded to this portion.”

He adds that none of the other respondents paid any fees related to the court action, as Jewels 4 Pools covered all the costs.

McAlister says that contracts for Fei Yu to sell Jewels 4 Pools to Wang-kerr Industries had been exchanged 12 months prior to her going bankrupt.

Jewels 4 Pools still operating

Jewels 4 Pools is continuing to operate with two directors, Xia Minh and Casey Horden, who were not named in the court action and who between them are the new 100 per cent owners of the company.

McAlister says that Yu went bankrupt after the dispute over the costs amount and is now employed by Jewels 4 Pools as a secretary, while he is employed as a technical adviser. He says that neither he nor Yu have any financial interest in Jewels 4 Pools and are now simply sub-contractors to the company, which now has a different ABN to the one prior to the court case.

He says Jewels 4 Pools is continuing to supply their products to a large number of pool clients across Australia.

Top five online news stories

The online stories that made the news over the past two months.

2. SPASA Victoria walks away from national merger with SPASA Australia The board of SPASA Victoria voted to cease working towards a unified SPASA Australia through the single entity blueprint.

December 2015/January 2016

3. National ban on family daycare centre pools proposed Following a tragic drowning, a Western Australian government minister proposed a national ban on swimming pools in family daycare centres.

4. Victoria moves against splitting fibreglass pool contracts SPASA Victoria outlaws its members from participating in the practice known as contract splitting, whereby the owner can install the pool as an owner-builder.

5. Lack of supervision proves key issue in near drowning survey The NSW Study of Drowning and Near Drowning in Children found only 23 per cent of the children aged 0-4 years had an adult supervising within arm’s reach.

Upcoming events 2016 Jan 20-23

Southwest Pool & Spa Expo, San Antonio, Texas, USA

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Jan31-Feb1 Spatex 2016, Jaguar Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK Feb 7

Pool & Spa Consumer Show, MCEC, Melbourne

March 11

Chris Dorrity Memorial Golf Day, Melbourne

Mar-April

SPASA SA AGM (TBC)

April 7-14

Australian Swimming Championships

April

SPASA WA AGM (TBC)

May 13-15

Sauna & Spa & Pool China PWTC Expo, Pazhou, Guangzhou

June 4

SPASA Qld Awards of Excellence, Brisbane

June 11

SPASA WA Awards of Excellence, Perth

June 18

SPASA SA Awards of Excellence, Adelaide

June 25

SPASA Vic Awards of Excellence, Melbourne

July 16

SPASA NSW Awards of Excellence, Sydney

Aug 13-14

Spa & Pool Consumer Show (Winter Show), MCEC, Melbourne

Aug 17-18

SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach

Aug 18

SPASA Australia Awards Gala, Gold Coast

Aug 19

Andrew Simons Memorial Golf Day, Gold Coast

Nov 9

SPASA Victoria AGM

Nov 15-18

Piscine Global, Lyon, France

More details at splashmagazine.com.au. Dates are subject to change and should be checked with the relevant organisation.

Send calendar submissions to info@splashmagazine.com.au.

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December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

15

news

Expos

Smell of success in Cologne Expo News SPASA Australia has confirmed that next year’s National Awards of Excellence will be held in conjunction with the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show on the evening of August 18, 2016. Executive director Bryce Steele says that SPASA Australia is delighted to be able to play a significant part in this event as people gather from all around Australia to attend SPLASH! 2016.

SPASA Australia president Lynley Papineau says the award categories have been reviewed with the intent of harmonising them across Australia.

The SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show might be eight months away, but it has almost been sold out – with only 10 per cent of floorspace still available. The show is to be held in a bigger, single hall at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) and will have more floorspace than the previous show at Jupiters – which at the time was the biggest ever Australian swimming pool and spa trade show. The 2016 event seems destined to beat that record. It will be held on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 August, 2016, with many side events and a comprehensive series of education offerings.

SPLASH! sales manager Karen Jaques is urging anyone interested in exhibiting to contact her as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

16

SPLASH!

There was a seven percent increase in visitors at this year’s Aquanale expo, held in October in the German city of Cologne.

The 26,600 visitors came from 117 countries – with the share of foreign attendees increasing by two per cent to a total of 58 per cent. Aquanale once again took place parallel with the FSB, the international trade fair for amenity areas, sports and pool facilities, and additionally, approximately 1000 visitors attended the 8th International Swimming Pond Congress.

The trade fair recorded especially significant rates of increase in trade fair guests from Italy (+33 per cent), France (+30 per cent) and Spain (+29 per cent). Outside of Europe, the highest growth rates came from Asia (+19 per cent) and the Middle East (+12.5 per cent).

With the merging of the swimming pool sections of Aquanale and FSB in Halls 6 and 7, all areas of the private and public swimming pool, wellness and sauna sections were represented.

“The successful bringing together of the swimming pool sectors from Aquanale and FSB’s public pool construction area at the last event showed that joint trade fair concepts are a guarantee for a successful future,” says Dieter C Rangol, CEO of the Bundesverband Schwimmbad und Wellness (BSW).

This year too, the shared roof of the swimming pool sections of FSB and Aquanale was the 6th

December 2015/January 2016

58 per cent of visitors came from outside Germany

Cologne Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum.

Together with the trade associations BSW and IAKS (the International Association for Sports and Recreational Facilities), as well as other partners, Koelnmesse organised an informative and theme-oriented specialised program over four days that is tailored to the target group of public swimming pool operators, as well as to swimming pool builders, hoteliers, planners, architects and interior designers. Over a period of four days, more than 300 participants discussed, among other things, technology, energy efficiency and wellness areas in hotels. The information events about the new European standards for privately used swimming pools also attracted a great deal of interest.

Expos

US pool economist highlights improving outlook Brett Lloyd Abbott from MYM Austin has put together some observations about the most recent International Pool | Spa |Patio Expo (IPSPE) held in Las Vegas in November, attended by 11,556 visitors.

He believes the US industry is improving vastly and quotes Hanley Wood economist Toby Morrison as saying growth predictions for the past two years have come true, and he expects pretty much the same thing in 2016, including: housing growth in the neighbourhood of 10 per cent per year; strong renovation figures; the end of cheap home inventory including old foreclosed homes; and a return to the positive market of 2007. Morrison forecasts a total of 53,700 new swimming pools to be built in the US in 2016.

Abbott says there was good steady traffic on the show floor on all three days – even the litmus test day of Thursday.

“I don’t know about all of the classes, but the classes I visited and/or taught had very strong attendance. In fact, my social media class in the

Hayward Business School was actually standing room only,” he says.

“And yes, there are still (inexplicably) plenty of doofuses who blow thousands of dollars in booth expenses by engaging their mobile phones rather than the human beings walking by their booth.

“Another observation worth noting is what’s happening with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP). I know a lot of people are not fans of APSP, but for the past three years or so, I’ve seen them making a lot of changes, and all of them are clearly at least intended to be good,” he says.

These changes include promoting the swimming pool industry to consumers, helping to facilitate financing for homeowners and investigating the possibility of establishing local consumer shows.

Abbott also raved about the Genesis (formerly Genesis 3) sessions he saw at the show.

Contact: www.poolbuildermarketing.com

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news

Training

Victorian training for 2016 SPASA Victoria has released its training program for 2016.

Brendan Watkins says that SPASA Victoria is Australia’s largest industry trainer, undertaking approximately 300 student/days per year, and is accredited by the Victorian Building Authority as a CPD Provider.

Unless otherwise stated, all courses are held at the SPASA Training Centre at 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill. A minimum of 10 people is required for each session to proceed.

March

• Tues 1st and Wed 2nd March 9am-4pm Country Chapter Training, Moama Bowling Club; • Thurs 3rd March 6pm-8.30pm What Is the Pool & Spa Industry? A Vital Industry Overview; • Wed 9th March 12:30pm-2pm Contract Training (for Restricted & Builder members only); • Wed 16th March 9am-4pm Portable Spa Technician;

April

• Fri 10th June 9am-4pm White Card Training (construction induction);

August

• Tues 9th Aug 8.30am-4.30pm Pool Construction Essentials; • Wed 10th Aug 12:30pm-2pm Contract Training (for Restricted & Builder members only); • Tue 16th Aug and Wed 17th Aug 9am-4pm Hydraulics; • Fri 19th Aug 9am-4pm Chemistry – Basic Members; • Wed 24th and Thurs 25th Aug 9am-4pm Chemistry – Advanced (Students must attend both days; Prerequisite - Chemistry Basic);

September

• Thurs 8th Sep 9am-4pm OH&S Session; • Fri 9th Sep 9am-4pm White Card Training (construction induction).

Contact: Prices and other information is available at www.spasavic.com.au

Spa Tech Tips

Correct pump and pipe size for proper spa jet action Pump size should always be selected from the pump’s performance curve, not from its stated horsepower rating. Spa jets operate efficiently for optimal performance between 8m and 10m head.

• Mon 4th April 9am-3pm Retail Best Practice; • Thu 14th April and Fri 15th April 9am-4pm Hydraulics; • Wed 20th April 8:30am-4:30pm Pool Construction Essentials;

Compare the flow rate of the pump at this pressure allowing for 40lpm per jet. This will match your pump and jets correctly.

May

This however is not the only consideration. If you have a long run from the spa to the pump you may need to take flow losses into account as a result of the friction of the pipe and fittings between the pump and the spa.

• Tues 10th May 9am-4pm Chemistry – Basic; • Thurs 12th and Fri 13th May 9am-4pm Chemistry – Advanced (Students must attend both days; Prerequisite - Chemistry Basic);

June

• Thurs 9th June 9am-4pm OH&S Session;

Paul Jacobson running a training sessions at the SPASA Training Centre in Notting Hill

Renovation

Be aware of asbestos in old marblesheen pools Workcover NSW has sent a warning to pool builders through SPASA to be aware of asbestos in older swimming pool surfaces.

A small number of older swimming pools built before 1980 may have had minute levels of asbestos added to the marblesheen interior when it was first applied. The addition of asbestos to the marblesheen may have been used to provide for a more pliable interior during the application process as well as delivering a smoother finish to the end product.

Pools of this age are nearing the time where homeowners are looking to have them renovated.

SPASA NSW & ACT advises builders and technicians to approach all older marblesheen pools and their surrounds with the possibility that asbestos may have been used in or around the pool environment. If unsure, pool builders and technicians should seek expert advice from a licensed asbestos practitioner.

Some SPASA pool builder members have sent samples to NATA-approved laboratories for testing, at a cost of approximately $100 with a 24-hour turnaround.

Contact: www.workcover.nsw.gov.au; www. spasa.com.au

This can result in needing to increase the pipe size to deliver sufficient water flow to create the operating pressure for the jet to venturi correctly with the expected jet action.

Oversizing the pump to increase flow has limitations and often will not help. Ensuring the pipe is correctly sized in the first place will prevent the potential problem of having to dig it up and start again.

For more information contact Australian Spa Parts 1300 736 025.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

19

news

Regulation

Family daycare pool ban flagged Global news iPool2015, the international online awards competition organised

by French publication EuroSpaPoolNews.com, has wound up with the winners being presented at Aquanale in October.

In all, 14 countries were in the running this year including Australia, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the USA, Belgium, Morocco, Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Netherlands and Venezuela. The winners were the three builders whose pool photos obtained the highest number of online votes. All were from Europe, with Hungarian company Hydropolis winning with 453 votes, followed by French company Renaisens Piscines, and Spanish company Nedapool.

A US pool builder has been sentenced to 15 years in a California state prison after pleading guilty to several counts of grand theft. He was accused of defrauding more than a dozen clients, a government board, insurance funds and insurance companies.

Michael Silverberg, owner of United States Pools in Palm Desert, California, must also pay restitution. He was accused of avoiding payroll taxes and workers compensation premiums, failing to list employees on his workers compensation policy, using clients’ credit cards fraudulently and financial elder abuse by defrauding an elderly couple.

20

SPLASH!

Following the tragic drowning of two year old Lachlan in Perth, Western Australian Minister for Local Government and Community Services Tony Simpson has proposed a ban on swimming pools in family daycare centres.

Family daycare centres are often residential homes where the approved owners look after children who are too young to attend formal schooling. They are regulated by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) across Australia under the National Quality Framework.

The minister says he will make the proposal to ACECQA and, as it is a national body, if it accepts the proposal the ban would apply across the country.

Lachlan’s distraught parents argued for an increase in the height of swimming pool fences in daycare centres from the current 1.2 metres to 1.8 metres, but the minister says this proposal would be problematic as it would have to apply to all residential swimming pool fences in Western Australia.

The minister says that if that proposal failed to gain traction, he would push ahead with a ban at state level.

He says the pool fence in question had been inspected annually for the past five years, most recently in March, and had ticked all the safety boxes.

There has been unconfirmed speculation that Lachlan may have climbed into the pool using toys he stacked up against the fence. The centre has been closed pending a coronial investigation.

Warranties

Qld builder leaves clients in lurch Noosa Cooloola Pools has been placed in voluntary administration, and according to the Sunshine Coast Daily, a number of clients have been left with unfinished pools.

One such client is Chris Fuller of Pelican Waters who says instead of having a swimming pool, he has a concrete pond with incomplete plumbing and no filtration, coping, fencing, lights or covers.

He told the Sunshine Coast Daily he chose the builder based on the company’s 25 years’ experience in the industry, despite the fact it was the most expensive quote.

Administrator Dane Hammond of Worrells Maroochydore told the Sunshine Coast Daily that it was too early to tell the full extent of the company’s debt. However, he says that the company has had its Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence suspended, and that there is no capacity for the administrator to complete the work.

The builder was not a member of SPASA and its work was not covered by the Watertight warranty scheme.

Changes to home warranty in Queensland

SPASA Queensland’s Adrian Hart says that had the state government’s Home Warranty Scheme been modified to include swimming pools according to plans, the home owner would have been covered.

“We did expect the scheme to apply to new contracts signed up from either July 2014 or Jan 2015,” he says.

“For the benefit of all pool construction clients we expect the government to move forward on their initiative and get this started sooner rather

December 2015/January 2016

than later. It now looks as if they may make July 2016 but they may not.”

Hart says that with an offering exclusive to his members (Watertight) he could have been screaming from the rafters that the government’s move to effectively make the SPASA scheme redundant was highly detrimental to SPASA and its members.

“However we have chosen to recognise the push from the old BSA insurance sub-committee and the government’s parliamentary review to provide protection to consumers, for what is likely to be their second largest building purchase, after their personal place of residence.”

He says that with all the talk of the government taking over Watertight, he has seen a significant downturn in the number of pools being covered.

“This will have a serious impact on the fund moving forward, especially when we get to a stage where there will be no new revenue but we will still have to cover claims as they arise.”

Hart says that if the pool builder’s clients had done some research they could have covered themselves for contract completion and defect rectification.

“Once they paid the excess they would not have paid any more than they would have otherwise paid to have the job finished by the builder, with Watertight covering all the additional expenses.

Also, there does not appear to be anything in the QBCC or ASIC records that indicates this business has been operating for 25 years.”

Hart says SPASA is amending its code of conduct to cover issues such as this, and are lobbying the QBCC for recognition of truth in advertising.

SPLASH! attempted to contact the builder, but at the time of publication had received no reply.

news

Retail

Industry moves

Alan Fernandes has joined Pool Controls as business development manager with responsibility for Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, with his extensive managerial and operational experience also being put to good use at head office in Perth. He has already visited customers in Adelaide and will be in Melbourne for the SPASA Victoria consumer show in February. He had previously worked for Monarch Industries and is well-known throughout the pool industry. He is seen here with Pool Controls director Liz Hollingdale.

Sadly, Richard Lawley from Pride Pools passed away in November. He was a long established, well respected industry member working for many years with Pride Pools and previously owning Anchor Pools. SPLASH! offers condolences to his family and friends.

Perth pool retailers win top national franchise award “To think that we’ve come out ahead of some other In 2006, Perth couple Irene and Ian Hughes very impressive franchises across Australia is very ditched their corporate careers and joined the humbling and we certainly didn’t expect it,” Ian says. swimming pool and spa industry by purchasing “We started out with one store, a single Poolwerx franchise added another within two years in Sorrento. and then a partnership in 2010 saw Their business grew quickly to us grow to four stores and we have four stores and five vans servicing continued to grow year on year at an pools across Joondalup, Beldon, average of 20 percent despite some Hillarys, Ocean Reef, Woodvale tough economic conditions over the and Sorrento. Now they have past five years. a multi-million dollar concern “We bought out our partners for with sales in excess of $3 million. another 30 percent in 2011 to become In November they won The 80 percent manager-owners.

Franchise Council of Australia “We left our corporate jobs in pur(FCA) Multi-unit Franchisee suit of being the masters of our own of the Year Award. Ian Hughes destiny, and it is a decision that has says the award was a welcome paid off in many ways for us, both surprise and an indication of the financially and in lifestyle balance dedication and commitment of and flexibility.” their 18-strong team.

Ian and Irene Hughes

Obituary

Placid Pools co-founding director Lynne Spelta passes away Sadly, co-founding director of Placid Pools, Lynne Spelta passed away on December 1, surrounded by family and friends at the Cairns Base Hospital. She had struggled with cancer for the past five years.

Below are some heartfelt words prepared by long-time family friend Des Evans, written on the day of her passing.

“I find myself in tears and with a sad heart as I inform all of the passing of a beautiful, strong and loving lady, Lynne Spelta. Lynne passed away at 12.05 today in the Cairns Hospital losing a five year battle with cancer, a brave lady who not once complained and

Leisure Pools is looking for a dealer sales manager to work closely with the national sales manager based in Yatala, Queensland. Go to page 69 to find out more about the position and how to apply.

22

SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

would always greet you with a smile and if asked how she was going, would always reply that everything was fine.

“Lynne was surrounded by loving Family as she slipped away peacefully this afternoon. Lynne had turned sixty this year.

“Words will not placate the sadness the Spelta family is feeling at this moment so I will say that I am so blessed to have known Lynne and shared many happy memories with Lynne and the Spelta family, Joe, Tanya, Amanda and Mark.”

SPLASH! offers deep condolences to family and friends.

Associations

D’Arcy takes the reins from Kruber A new board was elected at the SPASA Victoria AGM in November. After serving his two-year term as president, Rob Kruber handed over the reins to the newly elected president, John D’Arcy and introduced the 2015/16 board: • President – John D’Arcy (Award Pools & Spas) • Vice President – Callum Ross (AstralPool Australia)

• Treasurer – Lindsay Hartshorne (Lincoln Pool Equipment) • Board members: Ted Martin (Compass Pools Victoria), Rob Kruber (Spa Industries), James Hutchins (The Pool Enclosure Company), Gary Kilworth (Out from the Blue), Brendan Nelissen (Waterco), Greg Op de Coul (Davey Water Products), Grant Symes (Protector Aluminium) and Tim Neish (Kew Swimming Pools).

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news

Safety

Shade makes for safer pool area A controversial measure adopted by some NSW councils is the refusal to approve shade structures inside the pool area - despite this restriction being counterproductive to encouraging parents and carers to provide full and proper supervision.

SPASA NSW & ACT raises this point in its submission to the Independent Review of the Swimming Pool Barrier Requirements for Backyard Swimming Pools in NSW, saying that based on the Pearson v Thuringowa City Council and Medway v Pittwater Council interpretations, shade structures are clearly permitted.

The restriction encourages adult supervision from outside the direct pool environment and preventing a structure within the pool area has no bearing on whether or not a young child gains

access to the pool area.

Moreover, the government’s own findings and recommendation within the 2008 Review of the Swimming Pools Act 1992 stated that given the absence of evidence linking drownings to structures within swimming pool fences on residential properties, it is recommended that no change be made in regard to structures within the bounds of barriers around non-exempt private swimming pools (ie. that structures continue to be permitted within barriers surrounding such pools).

The shade structure restriction is not consistent with the “arms-reach” supervision message.

Go to the QuickLink tab at splashmagazine. com.au to see SPASA’s full submission.

Safety

Queensland safety standards comes into effect From December 1, 2015, all Queensland pools must meet the state’s new safety standard.

The key changes are: • Replacing 11 different pool safety standards with one pool safety standard for all pools (Queensland Development Code, MP 3.4); • Wider application of pool safety laws to include indoor pools and pools associated with hotels, motels, caretaker residences, caravan parks, backpackers, hostels, mobile home parks and home stays; • A phase out of child-resistant doors used as pool barriers for existing pools (self-closing and self-latching doors); • A requirement for the prescribed CPR sign

(Guideline 7 -Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) published by the Australian Resuscitation Council to be displayed near each pool; • Fencing of all portable pools and spas capable of being filled with 300 millimetres or more of water; • Mandatory inspections by local governments for immersion incidents of children under five in swimming pools; • A pool safety certificate, issued by a licensed pool safety inspector, is required when selling, buying or leasing a property with a pool. Pool safety certificates are valid for one year for a shared pool and two years for a non-shared pool.

Contact: www.qbcc.qld.gov.au

Safety

NZ moves towards inspections The New Zealand Parliament has had the first reading of the Building (Pools) Amendment Bill which will, amongst other things, usher in mandatory five-yearly pool inspections.

However, the government has backed away from lowering the depth at which pools need to be fenced after the public expressed reservations about the effect on paddling pools and councils became concerned about compliance costs.

Another change in the proposed legislation is that spa owners will no longer need to worry about fencing if they have a lockable cover. Previously, if they had a lockable cover they had to apply for a fencing exemption at a cost of $455.

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says the existing regime is cumbersome and frustrating and the new bill will be perfor-

mance-based, providing greater flexibility and he is confident the bill will result in fewer drownings because he says the principle problem with the current regime is the lack of compliance.

Changes to existing legislation include: • No longer requiring spas and hot tubs to be fenced off if they have a lockable cover and meet certain specifications.

• Require councils across the country to carry out five-yearly inspections of swimming pools.

• Make infringement notices the preferred way to deal with pool owners who fail to comply, with court prosecutions only in serious breaches.

The first reading passed parliament with cross-party support and the Building (Pools) Amendment Bill will now be heard by a select committee.

In Brief A NSW discount retailer has been prosecuted for selling inflatable swimming pools that fail to meet mandatory safety standards. Calmex Pty Limited t/as KM Best Bargain, operating in Toongabbie and Wentworthville, has been ordered to pay $2474 fines and costs in Parramatta Local Court for supplying inflatable swimming pools without the specified safety warning labels permanently printed or embossed on both the pools and their packaging.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) used new powers aimed at stopping repeat offenders from working in the building industry by seeking an injunction preventing Ricky Allan Heath from carrying out, or undertaking to carry out, building work without the appropriate licence. Heath already owes more than $11,000 in outstanding fines for previous offences and is again under investigation by the QBCC in relation to building work. If he breaks the injunction, Heath faces the possibility of imprisonment.

A South Australian homeowner, Leonidis George Flourentzou, had to pay $55,000 in fines and legal bills after failing to seek approval before building a backyard swimming pool.

A Victorian landscaper has been fined $10,000 and had his registration cancelled by the VBA after he carried out non-compliant building work.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

25

POOL RANGER

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feature

Still plenty of fires to put out: Peter Rabbidge has retired from the industry, but will continue his 47-year relationship with the Rural Fire Service

Fire and water:

four decades in the industry

P

eter Rabbidge was originally from England but went to New Zealand when he was 13, then moved to Australia in 1967. He settled in Cobbitty, in the historic Macarthur region southwest of Sydney, following his wife Pam whose family had lived there for generations.

He obviously liked it as he is still there now, nearly half a century later.

One of the first things he did was join the Bush Fire Brigade, which is now known as the Rural Fire Service.

Three years later he joined the swimming pool industry and his life since has been devoted to water: using it to save homes and lives through the fire service; and helping families enjoy life more through swimming pools.

“I got involved in the pool industry in 1971 with Purex,” says Rabbidge. “They did chemicals and filtration, bringing in stainless steel filters from America. I started with them on the grocery side doing bleaches and other cleaners, but an opportunity came up on the pool side and I took it.”

He attended the first national pool conferences on the Gold Coast in 1972 and 1974 which were run by Barry Vercoe (who passed away recently), assisted by Ben Smith and a few other people.

“It went for four days and was fairly sociable,” he says. “They were a lot of fun; John Herez was the

28 SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

serjeant-at-arms and you’d fine each other for various misdemeanours and the money went to charity.”

After a couple of years at Purex he moved to Mermaid Industries, an offshoot of Mermaid Pools, which was run by Robert Savell’s father Michael.

He then moved to aboveground pool company Driclad which at that stage was owned by the Adelaide Steamship Company. When it was bought out by Clark Rubber he moved across to Quipmaster, which was also part of the Clark Rubber Group. In 1980, he followed Quipmaster R&D engineer Neil Howlett to Poolrite.

“At that stage Poolrite was in NSW, a private company owned by Peter Wolpert and others. It had distributors in each of the states and I was national sales manager. When I left, the only distributor was Pool Power in South Australia – we had branches in all the other states.”

Rabbidge says that while he enjoyed watching Poolrite grow, he became tired of the internal politics after it was sold to GWA. Later, of course, Poolrite was sold to GWA board member Ross Palmer who took the company to Queensland.

“I think in life if you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, look for something else.”

He found something else in the shape the legendary John Dick of Poolstore. Based in Sydney, Rabbidge handled the lower part of New South Wales and the ACT for about four years.

“Then in about 1984 I went from there to Rolachem when it was owned by Noshi Irani. He had bought it from Keith Branwood and later sold it to Hurlcon before they were bought by AstralPool.

“Getting to know dosing equipment puts you in good stead, because then I can go into a plant room and know exactly what’s what and why it’s working and also why things aren’t working.”

Following the stint at Rolachem he moved to Zeolite Australia in 2002, where he has spent the past 13 years.

“They wanted someone who had been in the industry

One thing Rabbidge believes needs to be addressed in the industry is consumer education about chemical storage and handling.

“People don’t realise how dangerous chemicals can be,” he says.

“You see them come out of Coles or Bunnings or somewhere with a mix of chemicals in their trolley and they don’t realise.

“We had a problem in the Rural Fire Service here where someone had two containers of chlorine, and they thought they may as well just put them in one bucket and be done with it. But one was cal hypo and one was tri chlor – and it blew up and it blew the garage up and everything else. Made a hell of a mess, and the guy was lucky he didn’t lose his eyes. He was in hospital for quite a number of days.”

He believes pool shops should take the time to provide proper verbal advice, as customer often don’t read the instructions.

“Some pool shops have a lot to answer for. I’ve been in some where people buy cal hypo and they buy hydrochloric acid and the person behind the counter hasn’t taken the time to quickly explain to please make sure one’s not stored against the other. Even a simple thing like that can help,” he says.

“There was a case several years ago where somebody bought a bucket of chlorine and put it in the boot of a car and it stayed there for some time, quite a number of days, and then they were involved in a motor vehicle accident and the fuel tank ruptured and that person was actually killed. They tracked it back and the retailer was dragged up in court for not explaining how to store and transport the chlorine safely.

“Then you’ve got the Coles and Woollies, where people can fill up a shopping trolley with all sorts of things and have a bomb. Now, the dangerous goods people won’t tackle Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings or Masters, but they will go into a pool shop and they’ll have a go at the pool shop.”

He believes that the fire service could have a role to play in helping educate the public about chemical safety – covering the whole gamut of household chemicals, not just pool chemicals.

Changes in the industry

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Rabbidge says there have been a lot of changes in the industry over his time. Pool surfaces moved from paint to marblesheen, now to fibreglass and glass beads; while filtration has gone from predominantly DE to a whole raft of alternatives.

He says that when recycled glass media first came on the market, it took some market share from zeolite.

“But a lot of people tried the products and our biggest distributors are back with us now, so it’s gone in a cycle. The glass was not a new product. It had first been put on the market in the early 80s by the Australian Glass Company in Queensland. And they had so many problems with it that they took it off the market.

“One thing that frustrates me is a lot of people make claims but they won’t back them up by saying who has done the studies. That’s why we always state who’s done our tests. Originally we wanted to compete with DE so we were looking to come in at five microns, but the Australian Water Quality centre said, hey, you know you came in at two microns!

The tests were carried out by professor Paul Monis in Adelaide.”

Now he’s retired, Rabbidge plans to travel around Australia seeing those parts of the country he hasn’t visited yet, and continue his work with the Rural Fire Service.

But it might not be the last we see of him.

“Zeolite Australia has asked if I can be a consultant if anything comes up, and I’ve got a couple of projects I’m working on. And one of these projects looks like it might develop into something big.” n

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for a while, knew their way around the industry and could set up the distributor network. The first people I signed up were Davey and Hurlcon and it went from there. We started with national distributors, then filled in the gaps with state distributors.

All the products for the backyard pools now go through distributors.”

A DIVISION OF

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

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feature

National body takes stock

W

hile the story of SPASA Australia has taken some twists and turns over 2015, president Lynley Papineau says that there have been a great many achievements thanks to a number of people who have volunteered their time, including the SPASA directors, and industry members sitting on standards and policy committees.

“SPASA Australia is still in its development stages and building the foundations and structure to ensure a sustainable industry presence across the country. We are doing the ground work for a vision that generations of our industry will see the benefits from,” says Papineau.

She summarised the work that SPASA Australia has been engaged in during 2015.

Merger to a single entity

The merger blueprint was finalised in October 2015 and was provided to the state boards for review and feedback. A new constitution is being drafted and will be available in December for review. It is envisaged that the state boards (with the exception of SPASA Victoria who have chosen not to participate) will vote on whether to take the single entity model to the members in early 2016.

“We understand that this time of year is really busy for everyone and as such we will be holding information sessions in January and February 2016,” she says. “Our time frame is to take the single entity model to the vote at the AGMs of each state in March and April of 2016.”

Sector group recommendations

March 2015 saw the first National Sector Group (NSG) meeting. The NSGs have been developed to progress issues identified as having national importance and significance to the industry. Currently there are three National Sector Groups in operation, each chaired by a current SPASA Australia board member: • Pool/Spa Builders: Andrew Jakovac • Retail & Service: John O’Brien • Supplier/Manufacturers: Callum Ross The three NSGs met at the SPASA Australia Convention held in Sydney in August, 2015 and below is a summary of the recommendations and/or actions that came out of each meeting.

Retail & Service NSG

• Develop a training white paper regarding harmonised training across all states on chemistry and hydraulics; • Review retail sector award categories; • Harmonisation of award categories.

Supplier/Manufacturer NSG

• Harmonisation of CPR charts; • Pursuing a mandatory star rating for pool and spa pumps; • Preparing a white paper in relation to providing a sound foundation for retail practitioners on Chemistry (Basic and Advanced), Hydraulics (Basic and Advanced) and Industry Introduction.

Pool/Spa Builder NSG

• Coordinate the aggregation of any technical sheets; • Explore the commissioning of “The effect of prolonged poorly maintained water on swimming pool surfaces and surrounds”; • SPASA Australia website to become a knowledge base for industry; • Increase social media presence; • Progression of a pool builder’s course; • Develop a digital business system and make it available to all states for use; • Conduct national member survey to establish what is important to the members; • Develop harmonised marketing/PR member guidelines.

The SPASA Australia Board met in November 2015 to review the outcomes from the NSG meetings and developed actions to be able to deliver on the recommendations.

These items will be incorporated into the 2016 SPASA Australia strategic plan.

A common theme to emerge from the NSG meetings was the need for the industry to develop both industry-accredited and nationally accredited training programs for members.

It was identified that there was merit in developing and offering both streams of training but it was considered imperative that an industry accredited course could result in recognised prior learning (RPL) under a nationally accredited training course/traineeship. Members want to see one nationally uniform training standard.

“A true test of our ability as an industry to develop this will be to get consensus from the retail, pool builder and supplier sectors on the training content,” says Papineau. “A white paper is being developed to identify the training priorities under each sector.”

Policy and standards

“In our industry we are privileged to create beautiful backyards with glistening water for families to enjoy,” she says.

“But with the sale of any product or service also comes the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the customer and communicat-

ing guidelines to assist with creating a safe environment and minimise accidents in and around the pool or spa.”

SPASA Australia developed a pool safety policy that reinforces the importance of education, supervision, preventing access, learning CPR and maintaining healthy water. It is also the position of SPASA Australia that mandatory and regular inspection of the safety barrier ensuring compliance should be introduced across the country.

SPASA Australia has also developed a Standards Guide for AS1926.3 – 2010 to assist with the interpretation of the standard along with participating in the review of AS3000 in relation to equipotential bonding.

These two reviews are in addition to representation and meeting attendance with the APVMA, CPSISC, BIPD and various other interested bodies.

Expos, awards and fees

In August, the Convention, trade expo and 2015 national awards were held at the Sydney Olympic Park precinct.

Work is under way for the 2016 awards night to be held at the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show on the final night of the show.

SPASA Australia is working to harmonise the award categories across all states. This is in its final stages and the new categories announced before the end of the year.

SPASA Australia will also be working with SPLASH! to provide an education and training program over the course of the show, held on August 17 and 18 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC).

SPASA Australia will also look to harmonise membership categories and fees.

Papineau says there is a great disparity across the country on differing fees and categories and that SPASA Australia is in the final stages of developing a recommended membership category and fee schedule to be considered by the state boards.

“We understand that allowances will need to be made in some states where their fee schedule is significantly different to other states, but as we continue to work together across the country it makes sense that we offer the same membership categories to our members.”

She says the focus on the year ahead will be bringing the development of a single entity national association to finalisation along with continuing to further develop member benefits.

“SPASA Australia grows stronger every year and will continue the tireless work in 2016 to make our industry better,” she says.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

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Changing industry demands a focus on training Offering staff a career path retains and builds loyalty to your firm. Employers, if you have no problem attracting, retaining and keeping your staff engaged, then continue your current path.

If not take a quote from the Beechworth Bakery icon, Tom O’Toole, when asked the question: “What if you train them and they leave?”

His answer: “What if I don’t train them and they stay?”

By Lindsay McGrath

National impetus

B

usiness is dynamic. There is no static: you are either growing or shrinking.

It is the same personally – in an ever-changing world and an ever-changing industry, each of us must look to grow our skill set and the personal value we offer to our clients or employers.

Consumers have access to so much written material on the internet, even accessible on their phones, so if you are not striving to set a high standard, then you may already be behind what the consumer can learn from a simple Google search.

How will you justify a more expensive offering than your competitor or an internet supplier if not for articulating the value than comes from being better informed than the latest blog posting.

“Gone are the days where a car licence and a pole made you a service tech.”

Education on industry services and products has been available as long as there have been suppliers.

Hundreds of employees and owners go to pool schools, trade days, conferences and workshops each year to stay abreast of what is new. This in part has kept the proactive at the forefront of the industry but it won’t be enough for 2016 and beyond.

The industry is changing. Gone are the days where a car licence and a pole made you a service tech or failing TAFE got you into Dad’s building business. The consumers are seeking professionals, qualified and certified to provide a level of comfort and security around their decision to choose your value offering.

Hundreds of industry people now have a trade qualification with the introduction and acceptance of the Certificate III and IV pool service qualifications.

The marketing of a qualification wins business over the “cowboy down the road”.

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SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

I have no doubt the building sector will move toward an updated certificate curriculum once a national SPASA body is formed and the state fears and self-interests are overcome.

You should seek out suppliers that offer continuously improved training. Don’t accept the same hydraulics or chemistry spiel that was written decades ago. The national qualifications set a standard of information to be provided. The government does not set how far a trainer can take you above this standard or how it can be delivered in an engaging and useful way. Choose the education supplier that suits your needs, to grow you and your staff.

BioLab is renowned for setting the standard in training independent retailers and service technicians. In recent years, hydraulic expertise and hands-on training has been added to improve the retention of the theory.

Understanding the importance of pH and calcium levels and knowing how to estimate resistance and flow rates is one thing, but without the sales techniques to translate this into consumer understanding you have missed the point of training.

The industry must improve its training options to meet the various learning styles of its members. Online is great for providing information but a holistic approach to training is better. Incorporating face-toface, on-site and hands-on will always deliver a better result to both the trainee and – in the final analysis – to the consumer.

There is an opportunity with SPASA Australia that the separate states cannot provide alone. It can offer not simply training, but true career path development while providing public awareness of the skills and professionalism of our industry trades people.

I encourage all to participate raising the industry standard whether you train your own staff monthly or utilise the many options this proactive industry offers. n Lindsay McGrath is vice-president of SPASA NSW & ACT and managing director of BioLab Australia & New Zealand. He has also been president of SPASA SA, has served on the SPRAA board, is a Certificate IV qualified trainer and assessor, holds a Master’s Degree in Business and has been heavily involved in the development of industry training and accreditation, especially through his roles at SPRAA and BioLab.

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feature

Conquering the vanishing edge

By Cal Stanley

This pool had to be cantilevered by more than a metre to overcome the main sewer than runs underneath the site

34 SPLASH!

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hat should we really call these pools: vanishing edge, negative edge, infinity edge, overflow edge or something else?

One thing is certain, the edge doesn’t really vanish, it is not really negative and it is certainly not infinite. It does overflow but overflow edge doesn’t sound as sexy or exotic as vanishing.

Although the edge doesn’t vanish the water certainly does, so I’m sticking with “vanishing edge”.

This article is based on my vanishing edge tutorial, which will hopefully provide answers to many questions associated with this form of swimming pool design and construction.

Elements of design

The overriding principle of a vanishing edge pool is the view.

December 2015/January 2016

A vanishing edge pool should not be designed or constructed where there is no view beyond it, unless the overflow wall itself is the view. The view in question can be panoramic scenery, a lake or the ocean, or it can be as simple as a dense, high area of planting very close to the pool. The entire concept will likely fail without a view of some sort.

I once had a client who spent well over $150,000 ($250,000 today) on a large fully tiled pool and he insisted on a vanishing edge as the pool overlooked the Swan River in Perth. I advised against it, because although the site was quite high up, the roof of the house in front was the most prominent feature in the “view” – the river was there but its view was spoilt by that roof.

The client agreed with me about the roof so he proceeded to increase the boundary wall height to block it out. He succeeded in blocking out the roof and the riv-

The overriding principle of a vanishing edge pool is to capture the view. To enable that to happen with this pool, a six metre retaining wall had to be built

er view entirely. There was space between the wall and the pool collection pond so I then advised that he plant it out entirely so the water would seem to be vanishing into a mini jungle – somewhere at least.

In the end he simply paved the area and the entire 25m vanishing edge was an absolute waste of money!

Always keep the view in mind when your clients ask for, or you propose installing, a vanishing edge pool.

The edge level

It almost goes without saying that the edge should be level yet it is amazing how often it doesn’t work well because it isn’t level. It must be checked repeatedly during the final tiling stage with a water level to ensure its accuracy.

If a vanishing edge look is all that matters and the volume going over the edge is minimal then anything over a 1 mm variation will be a problem. Where more water is in transit over the edge perhaps another mm in variation could be accommodated – but no more!

Carefully allow for render and tiles when setting the levels of the concrete shell.

The edge slope

Sloping it away from the pool: Where the outer face of the wall is not clearly visible from key vantage points around the pool then it is acceptable if desired, for the edge to slope away from the pool. This away slope creates the sharpest “vanishing effect”. However I don’t consider it to be a good look when viewing the overflow face from the outside or from the pool ends. Some prefer this method because, when viewing the pool from

the side furthest away, the “edge” is not marred by the appearance of a tiled sloping wall underneath the water at the edge. This is the preferred design in the US. Sloping into the pool: Sloping the edge back into the pool gives the overflow edge a sharp look when viewed from any direction. The tiled slope at the edge can be disguised best by using tiles of a colour as close as possible to the interior of the pool.

How much slope? If the pool will have a fully automatic retractable cover that rolls up into a pit at the pool end, then minimise the slope such that the inside edge is only 40mm to 60mm lower than the outside edge.

If such a cover is not used then the slope can be anything up to 45-degrees. A steeper slope will discourage any efforts of children to walk or sit on it and maybe slip off.

This pool designed by Sydney architect Justin Long is an excellent example of how vanishing edge pools can make the most of an already stunning location. Set high above Palm Beach, Long added a swimming pool to a home that had previously underutilised the outdoor space, in the process providing a transition from the house to the blue Pacific, via the shimmering Morocco glass tiles.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 35

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Sloping the edge back into the pool gives the overflow edge a sharp look when viewed from any direction – as do most vanishing edge pools in Australia

A flat topped overflow wall? NEVER EVER!! Don’t even think about it.

Swimout seats? Swimouts and seats under a vanishing edge have their attraction but should be discouraged from a safety point of view. They only make it easy for kids to gain access to the top of the wall where there is an accident waiting to happen.

The outer wall

This wall should always be sealed and faced with tiles or stone and if left as concrete the concrete must be waterproofed. When using rough stone as a water wall this wall should be 50mm to 100mm thicker at the base than at the top with the slope all on the outside of the pool.

The vanishing edge flow

A water wall: Flow over the edge is usually either minimal to give the effect to the vanishing aspect of the water wall on the outside and/or used where the prime focus is the vanishing edge itself because little is seen of the outer wall and collection point.

A waterfall: Designed with a higher flow to appear more like a waterfall. A waterfall effect is more likely to be used on a sloping site with the pool at a level above the house or prime viewing point or where it spills down on to another entertaining or playing area below the pool. This is a very noisy option however and may even require an additional pump and different hydraulics. I never recommended this option.

Determine which type is required early on so the hydraulic design can suit the application.

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December 2015/January 2016

For the remainder of the article I’ll assume such configurations are not used in the domestic pool market.

The catchment

Design characteristics: This may be a simple channel that collects the water and directs it by gravity to an underground balance tank or it may be an open catchment pond that acts as a balance tank. Regardless, there are certain basic design features required even before we get around to the actual capacity of a balance tank.

Depth of the pond water: It is quite possible to design a catchment pond with a maximum water depth of no more than 300mm and locate it 1200mm below the overflow edge so that neither the pond nor this part of the pool wall require additional safety barriers. (Be sure to check local requirements.)

However, such ponds have their drawbacks: They may need to be wider than the available space to have the necessary capacity; with greater pool activity they can overfill and lose water through the overflow or even over the top; and the suction covers can be seriously compromised by flow restrictions caused by their entrapment of leaves unless the vortex level can be minimised.

(I’ve added further information on pond depths in the calculations in the sizing section of this article.)

Length of the catchment: The catchment length should extend beyond each end of the vanishing edge by 40 per cent to 50 per cent of the drop. This is a general guide only as the rougher the outside face is, the more the falling water will travel sideways in its descent and may miss the catchment entirely.

This extension of the catchment can be avoided if the edges of the overflow wall are “framed”. The framing needs to have a smooth and waterproof surface on the side that comes into contact with the water.

How wide?

A minimum width is difficult to predict because it is related to the height of the fall and the volume in that fall or the force by which it is projected over the edge.

When water is projected over an edge as a waterfall, it falls in a parabolic curve with a greater projection angle near the top and a lesser or even zero projection angle at the base.

Assuming reasonable pool use and a drop of 1200mm, the pond width should be a minimum of 2/3 – but preferably 75 per cent to 80 per cent – of that 1200mm. It can be less if the pool use is expected to be very gentle and may need to be more to cater for more boisterous use.

However when using the wall of the pond as the 1200 mm pool barrier or a collection gutter, because the top of the catchment wall is much nearer the overflow edge, an absolute minimum width of 100 per cent of the drop is necessary.

Regardless of all this, clients must be advised that these pools are not designed to and cannot cater for bombshells and other boisterous activity.

Lap and other narrow pools: A lap pool or other

narrow pool with a vanishing edge on the side will require a catchment or catchment pond of width equal to or greater than the vertical drop, because in normal use much more water tends to flow over the edge and it will project even further out from the wall.

No room for a catchment pond? Some pools do not have the space for a lower catchment pond large enough to act as the balance tank. These can have a 250mm wide x 200mm deep stainless steel gutter

Determine which type is required early on so the hydraulic design can suit the application. attached about 300mm down from the edge with outlets through which the water will gravity feed to a remote balance tank. Such a gutter needs to be sealed along its length to prevent water loss down the outside face of the wall.

Unfenced and deeper than 300mm? There are two ways to build a deep unfenced catchment pond: • a. Build the catchment pond so that its outer wall is 1200 mm high; or • b. Build the catchment pond 1200mm below the vanishing edge and fix stainless steel (316) grating

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This lap pool has the vanishing edge at the wider part of the pool where the view is better captured

over it. The grating can also be set down enough so that river stones can be placed on it. A nice feature!

Note: Be sure to check local regulations and interpretations. In NSW for example there are questions regarding fencing requirements with vanishing edge pools.

Sizing the balance tank (catchment pond)

There is a precise formula available to calculate the capacity of the balance tank, but it can get all stuffed up under certain usage conditions so we won’t use it.

Broadly speaking, the pond must have sufficient minimum operating depth to prevent vortexing, to which we should add the volume of expected maximum daily evaporation over the surface of the pool and the pond, then an amount for bather displacement and a final allowance for freeboard. Factoring in evaporation and room for rain is not necessary where an overflow and automatic water leveller is provided.

Preventing the vortex The minimum operating level (the vortex level) can be as low as 30mm if the number of outlets and the pipe size is increased sufficiently so that the flow through each is reduced to about 25lpm. In addition the outlets need to be in a sump with a depth equal to 1.5 times the pipe diameter. (See more information in the hydraulics section.)

In practice it is normally easier to have a higher operating level using multiple 50mm outlets with compliant push-in covers.

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December 2015/January 2016

Bather displacement and freeboard Bather displacement is easy. Estimate about 5 to 8 persons in the pool at any one time and multiply by 70 litres each.

The real guessing starts when we try to anticipate how the bathers will be using the pool. The more active they are the more water will be sent over the edge and likely at a rate faster than the pump is putting it back in the pool.

The easy way: For most domestic pools less than 40sqm in surface area, assume the bather displacement capacity is the pool surface area multiplied by 50mm.

For every increase in pool area of 5sqm decrease the 50mm factor by 10 per cent or 5mm.

Example of calculation Pool surface area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45sqm Vanishing edge wall length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8m Length of catchment pond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9m Maximum water depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300mm Assumed vortex depth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150mm Filter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cartridge Calculate Pool surface area x 45mm = 2025 litres (2.025cm) Divide 2.025 by 9 x 0.15 (0.15 is the available depth after the vortex depth) This shows that the pond needs to be 1.5m wide – which is likely to be impractical or impossible so a minimum depth of 300mm may not be possible on this pool.

Here we also begin to see the benefits of multiple outlets with very low flow so that the vortex level is at

an absolute minimum. With a 30mm vortex level this pond could be reduced in width to as little as 850 mm.

Assuming pond width at 75 per cent of 1200mm wall height Assumed pond width at 75 per cent . . . . . . . . . 900mm Vortex volume: 9 x 0.9 x 0.15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.215cm Displacement volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.025cm Total required capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.240cm 3.24 divided by pond surface area of 8.1sqm results in a required water depth of 400mm To this it is a good idea to add a further freeboard factor of 75mm to 100mm Assume pond wall is the required 1200mm pool barrier Assume pond now has an internal depth of 1050mm from which we will deduct 100mm freeboard leaving the available depth at 950mm.

Assume less suction outlets and a vortex depth of 300mm Now the displacement volume of 2.025 cm has to fit into the remaining 650mm of available depth.

Dividing 2.025 by 9 x 0.65 gives a required width to the pond of 350mm approx.

This will work OK if the top of the pond is not more than 350mm above it. If more, then widen the pond accordingly.

Balance tanks Calculations are basically identical when trying to size a separate balance tank. However you will be calculating the required cubic capacity only, then finding or constructing a tank to suit. Due to the design of most balance tanks, the freeboard height required will generally be much more (150mm to 300mm).

Sand filters When the filter pump is sucking from the catchment pond or a balance tank and using a sand filter then an allowance in capacity of the pond or tank must be made for the amount of water used in backwashing the filter.

For domestic pools, allow about two minutes at the pump operating flow rate and add it to the capacity required.

Hydraulics

Overflow outlet Every drop of rain that falls on the pool will end up in the catchment pond! Rain that would otherwise raise the water level in a pool by 10mm can raise the level in the pond by 50mm to 100mm. So every pond or balance tank needs an overflow outlet near the top.

Water top-up Every vanishing edge pool requires an automatic top up device to be installed in the catchment pond or balance tank – NOT in the pool! This is non-negotiable!

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

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Suction outlets In an accessible catchment pond (< 300 mm deep): AS 1926.3 requires approved suction covers be installed.

Leaf problems can be largely overcome by using multiple suction outlets.

Where, for aesthetic reasons, water is required in a catchment pond that would otherwise gravity feed to a remote balance tank, this can be achieved by having the water flow out through several 80mm plus diameter stand pipes set to the desired water level.

In an inaccessible catchment pond (>300 mm deep) and balance tanks: In these ponds I prefer that the outlet pipes remain open – no covers. This is mainly to assist in the removal of debris to the pump H & L pot or a leaf canister.

When a vanishing edge goes wrong The pool is a good illustration of a classic vanishing edge design fault.

It is a 25m pool with a 14m vanishing edge where the pool is only 2.5m wide.

Such a narrow pool does not have the surface space for the disturbed water from lap swimming to at least partially dissipate prior to finding its way over the edge. When the owner swam laps, most of the overflow water would land up to 900mm away from the pool edge, well past the 300mm wide collection gutter.

The solution The builder was fortunate that the owner was happy to have and pay for, the installation of a glass panel across the whole width to ensure that the water dropped into the gutter.

Next problem With the entire overflow going into the balance tank under the plant room that is hard against the end of the pool it then became evident that the tank was too small – water was going in faster that it could be filtered and sent back to the pool. The excess water went out an overflow pipe and was thus lost from the system. There was then insufficient water in the tank to replace the displaced water from the pool.

The next solution The fully tiled pool was emptied and two 50 mm pipes were core drilled through the end of the pool into the equipment area. A second suction line was installed in the balance tank and the pipes were then connected to a second 2hp pump that simply pumped all the excess water directly back into the pool. Because this pump was not needed unless the pol was in use it was controlled by a specially adapted Water Witch water leveller to turn on the pump when the water rose in the tank and off when it fell. The reverse of a normal water leveller.

The result This was a case of having to think outside the box. It all worked perfectly, the pool owner was and remains happy with his pool.

40 SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

The suction line When a pump is located at a higher level than the catchment pond or balance tank it is drawing water from, it is necessary to install a foot valve or non-return valve (NRV) as low as possible in the line.

I discovered many years ago that a single NRV could get held open by a leaf or other bit of debris passing through the valve at the time the pump shut off. When this happens it is possible for the water in the pool to syphon back to the pond or tank, overflow it and generally create a real mess. My solution has always been to install two such valves quite close together as the chance of both being held open by a leaf at the same time was very remote. So far it has worked well but the day may come when the valves wear out with dire consequences.

The NRVs of course enable and maintain prime to the pump so at least one of them can’t be done away with. But the best protection from a syphon accident is for the filtered water return line to be looped just above the pool water level with a vacuum breaker device at the top of the loop. This means that if the NRV was to fail only the water in the pipes would fall back to the pond or tank as the breaker would open to atmosphere and prevent syphoning.

I developed my double NRV system because in many cases I could not find a place for the vacuum breaker loop.

Gutter gravity flow outlets Gutters should have several outlets into a manifold pipe. The outlets will exit more quietly if they are horizontal through the side of the gutter. It is generally not necessary to slope the actual collection gutter unless you want to get all the water out in a hurry through one large outlet at one end.

Gravity flow pipes There are tables and charts available to size gravity flow pipes. In most domestic pools with some variation for the distance and slope involved, 80mm or 100mm pipe is sufficient. Pipes should have a minimum 1-in-50 slope to the balance tank. Where a lesser slope is necessary a larger pipe diameter is required.

Pool heating Falling water is cooling water and every vanishing edge pool has some falling water, some more than others.

This may present challenges when trying to heat a pool.

Solar heated pools: With a solar heated pool, calculate the surface area of the overflowing wall, double it and add that figure to the surface area of the pool when determining the required square metres of the solar system.

Gas and other heaters: I have always plumbed into the suction system an alternate suction line direct from the walls of the pool – you could do it with one or two skimmer boxes as well. This suction line is valved in at the front of the pump allowing the overflow system to be isolated during heating cycles.

Trouble shooting

High debris pools Normally, the vanishing edge is one giant skimmer and the leaves, etc. that flow over the edge will – unless there is a barrier of fine stainless steel mesh or river stones to prevent it – end up blocking the suction outlet covers in a collection pond. There is no easy solution to this problem other than to remove the leaves on a daily basis.

Where water and leaves flow out of a collection gutter that gravity feeds into a

balance tank, debris can be collected in a removable stainless steel basket at the gutter outlet point.

Balance tank size restrictions Sometimes there are physical restrictions that limit the size of balance tank that can be provided. This should not necessarily prevent a vanishing edge pool. Twice I built pools with too small a tank and was forced to retrospectively find a solution to the problem.

The first pool had an open catchment pond that was too small. My solution was to drill an 80mm-diameter hole low down in the wall of the pond and install an 80 mm pipe. I then had to rip up the timber decking in on an adjacent gazebo and install a low polyethylene tank in the ground under it, and connect it to the 80mm pipe thus doubling the effective capacity of the catchment.

On the second problem pool I could not increase the size of the balance tank so after much consideration I determined that I that the solution would be to get the overflowing water back into the pool at about twice the rate the filter return system was capable of doing it. Unfortunately I couldn’t sim-

ply install a larger pump as the pipework wouldn’t handle it; but fortunately I was able to install a second suction line into the balance tank, found space for a new pump and then was able to core drill two new 50mm return pipes into the pool wall. I then set up a specially configured Water Witch leveller such that it would activate the pump when the water level in the balance tank approached the overflow pipe. (See box on opposite page.)

I was so impressed with the result that I actually pre-installed the pipework for this system in several other pools in case it became necessary. In fact it didn’t but it gave me peace of mind as in those cases a retro fit would have been nigh on impossible. n For these articles Cal Stanley draws on his 30 years’ experience and success in pool construction, having run award-winning pool construction company Neptune Pools in Western Australia for three decades. For the past five years he has worked as a pool consultant and trainer and delivers hydraulics courses for the swimming pool industry. If you have a topic you think Cal should delve into, contact him on: neptunepools@westnet.com.au.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

41

feature

Tips for the long hot

summer T

he swimming pool industry loves a hot summer – it gets conPhosphates and pH sumers thinking about building pools, and encourages those The humidity, heat and long hours of sunshine means potential issues who own pools to spend more time – and money – on them. with pool water – including algae, which thrives in the heat.

And according to the Bureau of Meteorology this could be “The best defence against algae is chlorine,” says Fitzmaurice. one of the hottest summers ever as a result of the rare convergence of “With ongoing hot weather, pools don’t get the chance to cool down two significant weather events, one in the Pacific Ocean and the other overnight, so the chlorine demand remains high.” in the Indian Ocean.

Another demand on pool water is the level of phosphates in the The coming El Nino in the Pacific Ocean is caused water, as algae love phosphates and feed on them. by some of earth’s warmest waters around north-east Phosphates enter the pool from a variety of sources “According to of Papua New Guinea near the equator shifting closer including dust and rain, runoff from lawns and to South America. This pulls the cloud and rain away gardens, bird and bat droppings, dogs swimming in the Bureau of from Australia. Meanwhile, in the Indian Ocean, the pool, fill water and leaves.

Meteorology this surface temperatures are cooling down near us while However, chlorine alone can’t eliminate phoscould be one of the warming up near Africa causing a dipole or clash of phates, but Starver can eradicate the phosphates opposites which drags the rain away from Australia. so the chlorine can work on killing the algae. hottest summers These events will mean very dry, hot weather.

“Water balance is key to a healthy pool and to ever as a result of Of course, despite the advantages of a hot sumchlorine working effectively,” says Fitzmaurice. “If the rare convergence the pH is too high, chlorine becomes less effective mer there are many disadvantages – from burning your hand opening a car door to the devastation of and the water can become dull and cloudy. This of two significant deadly bushfires. can be addressed by adding acid to the water. If weather events.”

For swimming pools too there can be issues. too low, the water will start to hurt eyes and skin “Excessive heat leads to water evaporation and and make you feel itchy. more swimmers using the pool to cool down – both “It can also etch away the surface of the pool of which result in increased chlorine demand, which then affects pH and and cause scaling on the surface of your pool and salt chlorinator. water balance,” says Chris Fitzmaurice, Swimart’s Australasian manager.

This can be fixed by adding buffer or alkali. Correct pH levels “To save having to add more water to the pool, you can add calcium within the range of 7.2 to 7.6 make the pool comfortable to swim hardness reducer which will ensure the calcium hardness value stays in. If pH levels are incorrect, it can affect the efficiency of the within the range for your type of pool,” he says. chlorine in the pool.”

“Not only that, but the weather patterns in many parts of Australia It is also important to keep biofilm in check. Biofilm is created are fluctuating – which is quite normal at this time of the year – from by bacteria forming a layer of slime in which they shelter, feed and cooler temperatures one day, hail storms the next, to humid, hot days. breed. Over time this slime increases in thickness, creating serious This can really muck up your pool chemistry, which means pool ownhygiene problems. ers need to keep a close check on their pool water.”

Contact: www.swimart.com.au n 42 SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

NEW features make the very good just AWESOME:

Mobile pool service technicians can now work even better with the NEW features of Mobile WaterLink Spin®. l Apple connectivity l Cloud-based software l Job Scheduling Excessive heat leads to water evaporation and more swimmers using the pool to cool down – all of which results in increased chlorine demand, which then affects pH and water balance

Tips to help pool owners handle a hot summer • Check your chlorine and pH level every two days. Pay particular attention after a period of heavy usage of the pool or after a very hot day.

• Check and clean your skimmer basket, and hair and lint pot in your filtration pump weekly.

• To re-balance pool water, take a sample from elbow depth away from the pool returns to your local pool store to be professionally tested.

• Use a quality algaecide to keep algae at bay.

• Operate the filtration system six to eight hours a day.

• Regularly check sanitiser levels, ideally on a daily basis.

• Check the Total Alkalinity (TA) weekly.

• Have your pool water checked at your local pool shop every two weeks.

• Thoroughly backwash your sand or DE filter or remove and clean the cartridge from your cartridge filter, depending on pool use.

Not only do you get your poolside water testing done quickly and accurately, you now get your test results into a cloud-based platform. This means that the test results not only get into a central database, but you are also now able to get your work orders from the pool shop.

And, now with Apple connectivity, you can easily work on a smartphone or tablet of your choice— Android or Apple iOS. Remember, you get to test nine different parameters of pool water quality in just 60 seconds. All done, without the hassle of crushing tables, washing test tubes, or other boring chores. A small pool sample is all you need. The laboratory-grade photometer does the rest.

The upgraded DataMate Web is the new cloud-based system that does all the work. A unified platform means that the shop gets all your info and keeps a history of each swimming pool you service.

• Maintain the water level at least half way up to the skimmer box opening.

• Clean the pool and vacuum the walls and floor of the pool regularly.

Vendart Pty Ltd p 02 9450 0466 l f 02 9450 0755 www.vendart.com.au December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

43

17-18 August 2016 Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Australia Since 1998 SPLASH! has become the must attend event for manufacturers, retailers, pool builders, contractors, architects, landscapers, engineers and service technicians to stay ahead of market directions as the wet industry continues to expand and take on new dimensions and international trends. Australasia’s foremost pool & spa trade show provides the opportunity to showcase your company, launch new products, network, build existing relationships, meet the press and build brand awareness while meeting the key decision makers in the wet industry.

NEW VENUE

VISITORS FREE TO ATTEND

FIRST TIME INTERNATIONAL SWIM DISABILITY CONFERENCE

International Swim Disability Conference

NEW FOR

2016

‘Swim Australia recognises the great potential for people with disability to participate in all aspects of the great activity and sport and is committed to making inclusion simply part of what they do.

Swim Australia believes in taking a social approach to disability inclusion by putting the swimmer first, adapting to individual need and addressing both physical and attitudinal barriers to participation.

With the help of other partner organisations, Swim Australia deliver programs and resources to support and develop Swim Schools and teachers to understand the needs of people with disability and how they can create a positive and welcoming environment. People with disability should have the same opportunities to swim as everyone and SPLASH! 2016 will have a special focus via an International Swim Disability Conference for swim schools and teachers and a display of swim disability equipment, to support swimmers to learn and improve.’ Ross Gage CEO Swim Australia.

Education Various educational seminars will be held during of the show.

These seminars have been designed to attract all participants in the wet industry. For those people residing in States that have the CPD system in place, these seminars will provide vital points towards accreditation requirements.

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

New Venue - more space, easier access SPLASH! has secured more than 5,000 square metres of exhibition space across the ground floor, large spacious foyers showcasing 180 degree views of the Broadbeach skyline, over 1,400 undercover car parks – the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre provides the flexibility to stage SPLASH! under the one roof.

ONLY 10 STANDS LEFT

Key facts

More than 2000 visitors had the chance to see 105 exhibitors and attend educational sessions in 2014. SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show is the largest trade event for the industry in Australasia. All states of Australia were represented and visitors also attended from China, England, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, UAE and USA.

SPLASH! provides one of those rare opportunities to showcase the innovation, technology and dedication of the eclectic talents of the aquatics industry. The organisers of SPLASH! are to be greatly commended and encouraged to grow this fabulous and relevant event – Les Mole, Vici

EDUCATION SESSIONS

GOLF DAY

NETWORKING DRINKS GOLF

DAY

SPLASH! Andrew Simons Memorial Golf Day

Lo-Chlor Chemicals is proud to announce its partnership with The Intermedia Group and SPLASH! to once again sponsor The Andrew Simons Memorial Golf Day. Andrew Simons founded Lo-Chlor Chemicals in 1979 and pioneered water chemistry and water treatment in the Australian Pool and Spa Industry. Today, Lo-Chlor Chemicals and Poolcorp International are run by Paul Simons (Andrew’s son) and it remains the market leader and innovator in water treatment technologies. An avid golfer and industry member himself, Paul is committed to supporting SPLASH! and other industry bodies to ensure these events continue to grow and attract attendees to the show and associated events.

Back by popular demand, The Andrew Simons Memorial golf day will be based on an 4 man ambrose with a twist. Lo-Chlor Chemicals will be co-ordinating the day which will not only include the ambrose event but a unique sudden death playoff format.

This revolutionary system revolves around a super six draw which occurs at the end of the days play where six holes are chosen at random from the eighteen played.

The eight teams with the best scores then playoff over two holes creating a unique professional tournament atmosphere where finalists of the day will play in front of a gallery made up of the days former combatants.

Prizes for the ambrose event will be presented after lunch at the course (TBA shortly) and the winner of the shootout will win 2 x airfares and accommodation to Las Vegas, Nevada USA for 4 nights where you can attend the International Pool I Spa I Patio Expo 2017.

REGISTER NOW - 1300 789 845 or www.splashexpo.com.au Silver Sponsors

Media Partner

Golf Sponsor

Exhibitor List

SPASA Australia 2016 National Awards of Excellence SPASA Australia is pleased to announce that the 2016 SPASA Australia National Awards of Excellence are to be held as part of the 2016 SPLASH! Pool and Spa Trade Show on August 18th 2016.

The SPASA Australian Awards promote achievement in design, construction and innovation across the industry, and give recognition to SPASA members who have demonstrated a high degree of competency and professionalism.

Making the announcement SPASA Australia Executive Director Bryce Steele said, “SPASA Australia is delighted to be able to play a significant part in this event as people gather from all around Australia to attend SPLASH! 2016.” Bryce added “With SPLASH! Making the move to the Gold Coast Conference and Convention Centre, the SPASA Australia National Awards of Excellence will be held at Jupiter’s on the Gold Coast.”

SPASA Australia President Lynley Papineau said “We had a fantastic night this year celebrating the 2015 best of the best and I am really looking forward to seeing what our industry has to showcase in 2016. Lynley added “SPASA Australia have gone through a rigorous process to review the award categories to have these harmonized across Australia to ensure the best opportunity is given to those gold award winners from the respective state awards programs. We have also looked at how each sector is represented within the award categories. We are delighted that we can again be part of SPLASH! and will be working together to ensure the success of not only the National Awards of Excellence but also the very important training and education program that will be on offer throughout the course of the two day trade show.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AB Phillips Abgal Achlor Liaocheng Ltd AIS Albatross Pools Aqua Action Aquaneo & Industrial Test Systems Aquarius Technologies Associated Controls Pool Products Astralpool Australia PTY Ltd Australian Energy System Australian Leak Detection Australian Spa Parts Automatic Pool Cleaners Autopool BioLab Aust & NZ Bioniser Blueglass Pebble Company Boss Polymer Brisk Australia Pty Ltd Cixi Cunhui Plastic Electrical Appliances Co. Ltd Cixi Handsome Classic Pools Continental Water Cooke Industries CPA Pool Products Inc. CSN Global D4 Data Pty Ltd Daisy Pool Covers Davey Designerite P/L Driclad Pool Technology Easycare Products Elite Pool Covers Emaux Enviroswim Evo Industries Evolution Fairland Electric (China) Limited Filtermaster Focus Guangdong Phnix Eco Energy Solution Ltd Guangdong Wotech Renewable Energy & Technology Co., Ltd Hayward Heliocol Hydrocare ICH Roboter Australia International Quadratics International Specialty Aggregates Jewels 4 Pools Juancheng Elite Industry & Trade Co.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Kreepy Krauly LATICRETE Pty Ltd Lincoln Lo-Chlor Lovibond Luxapool Pool Paints - Colormaker Magnum Filters Maytronics Neptune Benson Newline Pool Products Ozone 1 Pal Lighting Palintest Paramobility Pentair Polymaster Pool + Outdoor Design Pool Controls Pool Pro Pool Ranger Pool Systems Pool Water Products PoolLock Prominent Fluid Controls Puyang Cleanway Chemicals Ltd Remco Rheem Shangai Henglijie Bio Tech Co. Ltd Shangai Openchem Co. Ltd Skimmer Lids Pty Ltd Solartech Solartherm International Pty Ltd Spa Craft Spa Electrics SR Smith Sterns Playland Sunbather Sunlover Supreme Heating Swan Analytical Australia TBWS Aquatic/Pulsar The Pool Enclosure Company The Pool Tile Company Traxion & SPASA NSW Universal Magazines Vendart Waterblade Waterco Weltico Wonder Light Industry Machinery Electronic Products Co. Ltd • Zelbrite Filter Media • Zodiac

Correct at time of printing visit www.splashexpo.com.au for updates.

REGISTER NOW – PHONE

A word from our sponsors...

GOLD SPONSOR

Pentair Aquatic Systems are excited to be the Gold sponsor of SPLASH! for 2016, and as the world’s leading manufacturer of pool and spa equipment and accessories, we are excited about the opportunity to show case our products and services at this great show.

At Pentair, innovation stands at the centre of our strategy and this has led to the development of some exciting new products which you can discover at SPLASH!! show this year.

2015 was a great year for us at Pentair in Australia and we enjoyed some fantastic growth in the market, and 2016 is shaping up to be even better! With not only some new and exciting product launches, we also expanded our sales team with some new team members, completing our great team who are focused on new and exciting plans to better service our customers around the country. New and improved branding strategies and marketing material is also underway to best show case our Pentair, Sta-Rite and Onga brands….. making it easier for our customers to sell our products to pool owners, new and existing.

All in all we are very excited about the upcoming changes and the year ahead! With our renewed customer focus, new branding and marketing plans, along with our new and exciting products, 2016 is going to be a great year for Pentair. If you would like to learn more about the world’s leading manufacturer of pool and spa equipment and accessories….. come and visit the Pentair team located at booth 186. www.pentair.com

SILVER SPONSOR

2016 marks Kreepy Krauly’s 40th anniversary providing Australian designed and manufactured pool cleaners. We are an Aussie proud company who never compromise on quality and simply put, we are engineered to last.

Our latest model, the new VTX-7 harnesses Kreepy Krauly’s Vortex technology to suck, scrub and skim making pool ownership a breeze.

This year we proudly support Make-a-Wish with the help of our trade family in the pool industry to help grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses.

We are also excited to support SPLASH! magazine and the 2016 show. So come and join our Kreepy Krauly family and clean up today or simply come visit us at the show in August.

For more information visit our new website, www.kreepykrauly.com.au

SILVER SPONSOR

Australian Innovative Systems’ (AIS) to showcase new products at 2016 SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show The company’s ever increasing range of award winning, Australian manufactured, salt, fresh and mineral water chlorine generators will be on show at SPLASH! 2016 including the new, freshwater EcoLine HOME chlorine generator.

With AIS’ EcoLine technology already operating in the commercial market, the new EcoLine HOME is able to disinfect water at TDS levels as low as 1200ppm. Its arrival to market is expected to create a home pool chlorination revolution. In fact it is already making waves after being recognised (prior to its official launch) with the #23 spot in the prestigious, national BRW 50 Most Innovative Companies Awards. AIS also took home the title of Best Innovation Culture.

Joining EcoLine HOME will be other new AIS products including the AutoChlor Midi (for salt or mineral water semicommercial applications such as swim schools and aged care facilities) and the AutoChlor CHROME salt water chlorine generator (for residential pools). Since launching CHROME has become an overnight success story. The system has proven to be so popular AIS now offers two models to choose from, the CHROME Starter and CHROME Premium.

In speaking about her company’s reputation for innovation AIS CEO Elena Gosse said that AIS’ capacity for agility meant that it was able to quickly satisfy market opportunities, nationally and abroad. Elena said that innovation goes way beyond the products AIS produces however.

“We are a proud Australian manufacturer with a commitment to leading the way when it comes to water disinfection technology but our leadership extends to education for the benefit of the broader industry. I look forward to meeting fellow delegates at SPLASH!, not just to discuss AIS’ products but to discuss the various issues AIS is passionate about as part of our ongoing educational campaign.”

To find out more about AIS visit www.aiswater.com.au

1300 789 845 OR VISIT www.splashexpo.com.au

commercial news

Training

Ince appointed NSPF rep Commercial

news Global news . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Anti Wave opens in Middle East. . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Tenders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Genesis and NSPF merge. . 51 WhiteWater wins international awards. . . . . . 51 Safety training for hydrotherapy practitioners. . 52 Thrills and spills in waterpark innovation. . . . . 54 IAKS awards natural pool. . . 62 Winter renewal in Sutherland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

continues being a part of the country’s The US National Swimming Pool pool and spa journey, contributing as Foundation (NSPF) has appointed a reviewer during the development of Shane Ince as Australian liaison officer the national qualifications. Now, with for the non-profit group. The NSPF Ince representing NSPF, continued supports the Australian industry’s support to Australia’s evolving industry goals to grow and encourage more is enhanced, with a direct resource aquatic activity. ready when needed.

Silvia Uribe, global mission devel“We realise that Australians have opment director, says NSPF saw an Shane Ince been incredibly proactive in driving important need for representation the direction of the profession,” says in Australia as the country’s aquatic Uribe. “By coming together as one unit and industry was looking to come together to form the driving national qualification requirements, AusSwimming Pool and Spa Association of Australtralia is elevating the industry to a new standard ia Ltd (SPASA Australia). The NSPF training of care.” programs can be used as a pathway to receiving “As close as we are in spirit with our Australian either the Certificate III or IV in Swimming Pool friends, we remain many time zones apart,” says and Spa Service. Thanks to Ince’s engagement, the Tom Lachocki, CEO of NSPF. “Having a leading NSPF will be better represented and advocated in educator on Australian soil is the next logical step Australia. He has been an NSPF certified instructo help us better serve those in Australia as they tor for six years. continue to shape and change the industry.”

Uribe says NSPF took notice of Australia’s amContact: shane.ince@nspf.org. bition to improve the industry eight years ago and

Training

Austswim gets ISO accreditation Austswim has gained ISO accreditation for its swimming and water safety training scheme, meaning its 33,000 accredited swimming and water safety teachers are at the forefront of industry best practice.

The new CEO of Austswim, Jennifer Schembri-Portelli, says ISO standards give consumers the confidence that products

Health spas

Vitality for both sexes Pictured here is the female vitality spa at Crown Casino in Melbourne – there is also a vitality spa dedicated solely to males.

Elite Bathware was contracted to produce this customised project for Crown Group by the design group Michael Fiebrich, based in Singapore. They worked closely with the design team to create a relaxing degrade of colours from Sicis tiles to complement the natural stone used in the project.

48 SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

and services are safe, reliable and of good quality.

“Surprisingly, until now there have been no standards applying to the accreditation of teachers of swimming and water safety,” Schembri-Portelli says. “Best practice guidelines exist, but none have the quality and assurance of an international

ISO Standard. We undertook a rigorous four-year process to attain ISO 17024, and now parents and carers who want the best water safety instruction for their loved ones have a benchmark to help in their choice of teacher. The services provided by all Austswim accredited and licenced teachers conform to this international standard.”

LTS

Kids safer on the back of formal lessons Swim Australia CEO Ross Gage says that for a long time he’s personally watched the benefits young children can experience physically, emotionally and socially, simply by learning to swim.

“But now it’s very exciting to finally reveal proof, pinpointing the holistic advantages assisted by swimming from a young age,” Gage says.

“First, aquatic savvy kids are safer kids.

An American study by the National Institute for Health has concluded children aged between one and four who participated in formal swimming lessons were up to 88 per cent less likely to drown,” he says.

“Furthermore, recent world first research performed by Griffith Institute for Educational Research, part funded by Swim Australia, proved regular and ongoing pool practice from a young age could help make kids smarter.”

Around 7000 parents of children aged five years and under from Australia, New Zealand and the US were surveyed. The results found children who had learned to swim from a young age were anywhere from six to 15 months ahead of the normal population when it came to cognitive skills, problem solving in mathematics, counting, language and following instructions.

Associate Professor, Peter Reaburn from

it’s about clarity..

Learning to swim can make kids stronger, smarter and safer

CQ University confirms swimming can also make your kids stronger.

“Regular physical activity in childhood provides the foundation for an active lifestyle. Swimming improves strength because it provides resistance training in the water.

Swimming improves cardiovascular fitness because it stimulates the heart, lungs and muscles to not only improve circulation to working muscles, but it increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and the muscle’s ability to take up and use oxygen for energy production. Critically, swimming also improves the blood lipid profile by keeping the blood fats, cholesterol and triglycerides at levels that help prevent heart disease,” he says.

Only Zelbrite® produces pool water of crystal clear clarity. Zelbrite® is suitable for use in all types of media filters and is endorsed by Australia’s leading filter manufacturers and swimming pool product suppliers.

Zelbrite® also saves over 50% water usage through fewer and faster backwash and rinse cycles. Australian water Quality Centre tests prove Zelbrite® outfilters sand with as little as 2 microns.

MANUFACTURED IN AUSTRALIA BY: ZEOLITE AUST PTY LTD

In Brief The public swimming pool in the remote WA settlement of Fitzroy Crossing is gaining publicity for its unique, aquatic based solution to a serious social problem . It is opening at midnight on welfare paydays in an effort to spare indigenous teenagers from alcohol-related abuse and to remove them from the temptation of petty crime .

RLS WA’s Aaron Jacobs, who manages the pool in the majority Indigenous town says: “There’s always been an issue with a lot of youth walking the streets at night time, sometimes getting up to no good . I just wished to provide them with a good supervised and safe spot to be, and hopefully be a good mentor .” He says the kids have embraced the program .

Michael Griffin, CEO of Pool Ranger, recently attending the 2015 Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) Conference in Melbourne and says he managed to debunk a few myths about inline chlorination through electrolysis . “The way it works is that chlorine is produced automatically, onsite, and within the pool system itself, using the salts and minerals already present in the water . It means that commercial aquatic facilities or home pool owners can trust that their water is clean and safe for swimmers and bid farewell to the endless and dangerous cycle of chlorine transportation, storage, dosing and handling forever .”

This unique filter media has received accreditation from Savewater W.A.Water Corp Waterwise & Smart Approved Water Mark

NO other filter media can make this claim.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

49

commercial news

Anti Wave products in action at the 2012 FINA World Championships in /Beijing

Global news The owner of a US waterpark chained himself to the top of a slide tower for several days in a futile attempt to stop foreclosure . Kevin Dumont of Liquid Planet in Candia, New Hampshire, said he wasn’t looking for a handout, just a person or group of people to work with him to help prevent the auction of his park . “I plan to stay up here until the bitter end,” he said . Two 12m slides at the park were closed in August when regulators found high levels of bacteria and said Dumont opened the attractions without the required review . The park was eventually sold for $US950,000 to NLI who owns two other New Hampshire waterparks .

Competition

Aussie manufacturer opens in UAE Brisbane-based aquatic sports and pool deck equipment manufacturer, Anti Wave, has commenced production in the Middle East.

Since October 2015 product has been rolling off the process line at their new facility in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirites (UAE), where they are well positioned to service the Gulf states and other Middle Eastern markets. Anti Wave products are now produced in eight countries on five continents.

Owner Anti Kajlich says the emphasis will still be on supplying the highest level of customer service and product quality, and points out that Anti Wave performance swimming and water polo equipment complies with all current FINA regulations.

“Anti Wave Maxi Racing Lanes and SuperBlock 800 starting blocks were approved for use at the FINA World Cup in September at the Beijing

The International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) has inducted 12 individuals and Koelnmesse as an organisation into the IAKS Hall of Fame . All of them have rendered special services to sports facilities development or IAKS over the past 50 years . Honours have gone to Prof . Frieder Roskam, Dr Willi Weyer, Gert Abelbeck, Roswitha Thibes, Ernst Hirt, Dr Pino Zoppini, Prof . Dr Carlos Vera Guardia, Siegfried Hoymann, Werner Krems, Peter Gattermann, Prof .

Geraint John, Bill Stonor and Koelnmesse .

Meanwhile, Dr Stefan Kannewischer was annointed as the new IAKS president .

50

SPLASH!

December 2015/January 2016

Watercube and the Maxi Racing Lanes were also used at the FINA World Cup in Singapore in October,” he says.

“Anti Wave is the largest producer of starting blocks, racing lanes and polo goals in the world, and our family and company have been involved internationally in competition swimming and water polo equipment production and development since 1972.

“Since 2002 we have held the patents in a number of countries for the new generation of swimming racing lanes and also the starting block TrackStart system. We continue to develop new concepts and products that will be used in international competitions long into the future.”

Contact: www.antiwave.ae

Latest tenders Weddin Shire Council Request for Tender: Weddin Aquatic Centre Redevelopment - Stage 1 Design and Construction The Project includes (but is not limited to): Redevelopment of the existing pool into a new 50m long six lane swimming pool with an access ramp and concrete drained concourse .

Replace the plant room and filtration system, making provision in the design for the later installation of a separate filtration system for a splash pad and play area with interactive play equipment and program pool to be constructed in a later stage three of the re-development .

Closing on the 18th December 2015 at 12pm .

Documentation and further information: https://www .tenderlink .com/weddin Weddin Shire Council, Ph: 02 6343 1212, www . weddin .nsw .gov .au

Guyra Shire Council Expression of Interest: Guyra Aquatic Centre Children’s Pool Upgrade

Upgrade the children’s pool to incorporate play equipment and water features that are suitable for children 0-10 years old and have provision for parents to actively participate with children .

This is to include the replacement/covering of the sides of children’s pool with rock features or water features or similar .

Closing: 4 .00pm, 15 December 2015 .

Documents available via http://guyra .local-e . nsw .gov .au Guyra Shire Council Ph: (02) 6770 7100

Nambucca Shire Council Request for Tender: T021/2015 Operation & Management of the Macksville Memorial Aquatic & Fitness Centre Closing: 2 .00 pm Wednesday 16 December 2015 Documentation and further information is available from http://www .tenderlink .com/nambucca Nambucca Shire Council, Ph: 02 6568 2555, http://www .nambucca .nsw .gov .au

Join the health revolution today

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Ozone Swim Pool Purification Systems ‘The smart, environmentally friendly solution’

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MINERAL/SALT + OZONE

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Waterparks

White Water wins at WWA WhiteWater has taken home three awards at the World Waterpark Association’s Leading Edge Awards in October. The awards were presented for the contributions to Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark, Vana Nava Water Jungle and the first Slideboarding installation at Wet‘n’Wild Las Vegas.

The Leading Edge Awards are presented by the World Waterpark Association to park and supplier members, who through their combined efforts have brought a project, product, service or program to fruition, thereby creating industry innovation and leadership.

Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark of Pennsylvania was one of the seasons most anticipated resort destinations and is now the largest indoor waterpark in the Eastern USA. Across the Pacific Ocean, Vana Nava Water Jungle in Thailand has three hectares of leisure, entertainment and award-winning adventures, inspired by nature and in harmony with nature.

Recipient of Aquatics International’s Most Valuable Product recognition, Slideboarding has swept the US, after the first installation at Wet‘n’Wild Las Vegas.

Global

Genesis merges with NSPF

The US National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) and swimming pool training organisation Genesis 3 has merged their operations to deliver a broader spectrum of training programs effective January 1, 2016.

They will continue their existing roles: Genesis will continue their attempts to elevate and transform the residential pool and spa design and construction industry; while NSPF will continue their work keeping public pools safer and open. They look to merge their respective swimming pool service professional certification programs to accelerate training to the service sector. Both organisations operate globally and are accredited by the InterBrian Van Bower and Skip Phillips of national Association of Genesis, presenting one of their well Continuing Education & attended seminars at SPLASH! 2010 Training (IACET).

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Proud Partner of

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

51

commercial feature

Water safety and hydrotherapy

T

he Australian Physiotherapy Association together with the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland (RLSSQ) presented a one day workshop for physiotherapists working in the hydrotherapy industry.

Physiotherapists often work in pool environments where they are not only the therapist, but are also the lifeguard and solely responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their clients. For this reason RLSSQ provided the professional skills required to recognise an emergency situation, rescue a client safely from the water and commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation if required. Many physiotherapists work with individuals who are not competent swimmers, who are fearful of water, have physical or cognitive disabilities or chronic illnesses, which can increase the risk of a harmful event. It’s therefore essential that these skills prepare therapists for such a circumstance.

The workshop was held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Southport which is the swimming and diving venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The day began with two hours of theory which included primary assessments of casualties, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other resuscita-

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By Catherine O’Brien

TOP: Susan Devlin from RSLSQ demonstrating a hold during pool rescue RIGHT: Rescue of suspected spinal injury using spinal board BELOW: Rescue of suspected spinal injury when spinal board not available

Susan Devlin and colleague from RSLSQ teaching CPR to Aquatic Physiotherapy Group

unique properties of water, such as buoyancy, turbulence, hydrostatic pressure to facilitate movement, strengthen muscles, relieve pain, off load joints and enhance posture, function and recreation.

The warmth of the water is an essential component to optimal rehabilitation, which is between 33°C and 35°C. Many physiotherapists are trained in pool operation and have a thorough understanding of optimal water chemistry and hygiene.

Considering that some clients in the water can be frail, immune-suppressed or recovering from surgery, the pool requires precise regulation to ensure all swimmers remain safe and healthy.

Physiotherapists are also consultants in pool construction to ensure the pool environments, such as change areas and access into the water, meet the needs of disabled clients. Hospitals pools are now being constructed within or alongside other departments so that in the event of an emergency there is quick access to medical and nursing care and resuscitation equipment.

Hydrotherapy is a rapidly growing industry as more and more people seek the opportunity to participate in water-based exercise.

Hospital and community leisure centre pools are a hive of activity as people gain the positive benefits of water which we now know are scientifically based.

Leading Australian physiotherapists are proud to be involved with the SPLASH! International Swim Disability Conference 2016 to discuss the skills of rehabilitation, exercise and swimming with clients who have a disability. See you there! n Catherine O’Brien APAM is Senior Physiotherapist at Austin Health, Melbourne and the APA Victorian Aquatic Chairperson.

tion initiatives, self-preservation, recognition of casualties in the water and suitable rescue techniques – especially for those with disabilities, are overweight or if a spinal cord injury is suspected.

The next two hours were in the water demonstrating the use of supportive equipment, safe entries and exits, priorities of rescues, safe manual handling, airway maintenance and spinal injury management with special techniques.

Together with careful medical screening of clients before they enter the water, these rescue and resuscitation skills enable physiotherapists to develop individual action plans to suit their facility and clients to ensure the risk of injury is minimised.

Hydrotherapy is a form of physical therapy and simply means “water healing”. The use of hydrotherapy dates back more than 2000 years when ancient Romans, Egyptians and others used thermal waters for their healing properties. Towards the 20th century these thermal waters were scientifically studied to find out how and why water is such a powerful healing tool. This is now what we know as aquatic physiotherapy, an evidence-based practice and specialty area of physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists are the leading experts in hydrotherapy as we study the comprehensive physical properties of water and the physiological effect of the human body during immersion. The skills are applied to clients across the lifespan from newborns to the elderly, from the most physically and cognitively impaired to the elite sporting athlete. It is essential to have a broad range of neurological, musculoskeletal and respiratory rehabilitation skills especially when working with clients who have multiple chronic illnesses; such as is the case in our aging population.

Physiotherapists have the skills help clients be comfortable and safe in water for whatever the purpose is – to keep fit, to play in the backyard pool, to swim at the beach with friends or to learn a new skill following a life changing accident. Physiotherapists can also use the water to teach clients to walk, run, hop, skip and swim despite their disability.

The water is also an important tool to help relieve stress and anxiety and promote wellbeing and function. Physiotherapists can use the December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 53

commercial feature

Thrills and chills keep the customers happy

By Corinne Teng

W

aterparks are making big waves all around the world, especially in Australia and South East Asia and of course, the home of waterparks, the United States.

As their popularity grow, we see the new parks surpass existing ones in terms of size, capacity, type and number of attractions, as well as the level of thrill and technological innovations.

But what really goes into designing and building a park that would draw throngs of enthusiasts?

A multi-generation recreational ground

Building a waterpark is no child’s play. It involves heavy strategising to put together an incorporative design that combines the elements of both “water” and “park” seamlessly, while providing a sustainable thematic experience to engage the masses.

Every component in the waterpark is designed to captivate the wider senses and make visitors return. This includes the material used for its attractions, such as waterslides. Should the budget allow, translucent waterslides are sometimes preferred to enhance the visual and entertainment impact for both riders and spectators.

Now, tube enhancement has gone a step further with Polin Waterparks’ new range of slide materials to fuse waterslides with art – offering guests a thrilling ride experience and also fully decorated slides that seamlessly reflect a park’s theme in ways never before available.

And these themes are an important element in the overall customer experience.

At Forrec Ltd, a Canada-based entertainment design company that creates recreational destinations, director of waterparks, Glenn A O’Connor says that creating a memorable visitor experience requires more than water.

“It requires a strong clear storyline, creative concept, theming and attractions that are supported by both strong front-of-house and back-of-house support facilities,” he says. “As well as great rides and attractions.”

In Asia, a number of waterparks use distinct themes that set them apart. In Seoul

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Slideboarding at the Great Wolf Lodge, Poconos Mountains, USA

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 55

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grounds because they offer high entertainment value to a wide demographic. This means having a varied selection of rides suited to visitors with different risk appetite and age.

To engage families with babies and toddlers, waterparks carry components like water buckets, geysers and dumping buckets at spray grounds or shallow pools.

Families with older children particularly enjoy winding rivers that can accommodate two to four riders. Other family-oriented attractions include water slides, lagoons, rivers and splash pads. Finally, thrill rides with heart-throbbing loops and jaw-dropping drops are a big hit among teenagers and adults who crave the adrenaline rush.

Among the many attractions, wave pools are crowd-pleasers and are extremely popular. These pools can hold many visitors at one time, allowing the young and old to be kept entertained without having to queue at an attraction for their turn.

The Summit Plummet is a thrill ride that sends the daring on a high-speed adventure down a 106m slide at up to 88kph

for instance, Caribbean Bay Waterpark boasts a strong Caribbean theme. In Pattaya, Thailand, the Amazone waterpark offers meet-and-greet sessions with Cartoon Network characters and Cartoon Network live entertainment shows on top of the many rides and slides. This partnership between Turner International Asia Pacific, the owner and operator of Cartoon Network, and the developer of the waterpark is not only Thailand’s debut international water theme park, but also Cartoon Network’s first foray into an overseas waterpark.

But waterparks are mostly multi-generational play-

Planning for excitement

A waterpark is an engineered facility that requires the expertise of architects, builders, engineers and manufacturers. The design must be well deliberated and executed, ideally consisting of beautiful landscapes and innovative attractions, and should provide provision for future expansion.

The crux of a waterpark design is creating a space that combines the right number of attractions to draw the target demographic while remaining easy to maintain, efficient to operate, and providing a safe environ-

Tallest waterslide in the world Taller than Niagara Falls, the Verrückt (German for insane) speed-slide shattered all existing records with a height of 168 feet, 7 inches (53 metres). The three-person raft ride opened in 2014 but 2015 is its first full season.

Verrückt has been a viral sensation from its inception, with millions of people around the world viewing early construction photos and videos of the slide. It was also featured on the Travel Channel’s Xtreme Waterparks TV show.

Three riders on a specially designed raft plummet down the equivalent of a drop from a 17-storey building, then take on an additional 16 metres uphill blast.

The ride was developed by waterpark innovator Jeff Henry. Henry holds numerous patents for ride innovations and has brought inland water surfing, uphill water coasters and endless tube rides to the industry. The Henry family operates four Schlitterbahn parks around the US.

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Timeline: Two years from concept to opening day Ride Height: 51m Ride Fiberglass Length: 183m Stairs to climb: 264 Stairway Length: 135m Design: Jeff Henry Construction: Schlitterbahn Development Group Location: Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark

ment for guests. It should provide maximum entertainment impact while generating sustainable revenue. Taking into account a host of factors including the local climate, feasibility studies must first be conducted to ensure that it is a viable investment.

The phases involve intensive planning, taking into consideration a waterpark’s entertainment value, its capacity, size, guest flow and budget, amongst other things.

According to O’Connor, designing a waterpark always starts with the overall anticipated annual attendance, guest demographic or profile and desired guest experiences.

“The decision to create an indoor, outdoor or combined indoor and outdoor waterpark facility depends partially on region, climate and the ability to support the warranted investment – whether seasonally or year-round. Waterparks are complex entertainment experiences designed for guests to spend their precious leisure time.

Designing a successful waterpark facility requires collaboration from professional team members with a broad range of skills,” he says.

“From a guest standpoint, a waterpark is a place where a family

“In any waterpark or entertainment facility, overall guest experience is the key to success.” visits for a day or several days – such as when it is in a resort. As such, the design requires a creative, as well as the practical considerations of guest needs, from the level of entertainment through to administration, aquatic systems, safety, structural and play value. A well-designed and planned waterpark combines all of these requirements together seamlessly. When properly designed, these create a positive and memorable guest experience.”

Entertainment value aside, a waterpark must meet its visitors’ broad range of practical needs. With regard to this, O’Connor pointed out that in every region of the world, there are local considerations which must reflect cultural preferences, guest expectations for comfort, quality, user density, food and beverage, thrill level, regional competition, level of spending per person and overall guest expectations.

“In any waterpark or entertainment facility, overall guest experience is the key to success.”

In view of such considerations, many waterparks across Asia must be designed to accommodate cultural and religious obligations. For example, halal food and prayer rooms are a must in waterparks in Malaysia. In Asia, these considerations must be made to cater to the Asian way of life, and be incorporated in the design blueprint. The placement of such features is important as it affects the traffic flow in the facility as well.

Latest innovations

Waterpark enthusiasts are always on the hunt for the next new adventure to embark on. This challenges manufacturers to come up new innovative breakthroughs and help the waterpark owners get repeat visitation from customers who otherwise may become bored with the same experience.

Currently, an attraction that is creating a lot of excitement in the industry is slideboarding.

Slideboarding creates an x-sport culture that is a game, a sport and a physical thrill, while using a tate-of-the-art ride vehicle with an embedded game controller. It integrates gaming into a waterslide for an experience that will define waterparks of the future.

An industry first by WhiteWater West, a global designer and manufacturer of waterpark products and services, slideboarding debuted at Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas earlier this year.

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 57

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Slideboarding (seen here at Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas) is the newest combination of technology and watersliding

According to Megan Krentz, marketing coordinator at WhiteWater West, the launch of slideboarding took a traditional waterpark product and enhanced it through technology and a mobile application, allowing WhiteWaterWest to elevate the guest experience to a new level and extend operators’ reach beyond the park gates.

“At this time, slideboarding is a predominantly North American technology, mostly to do with the language

barrier,” she says. “The app and interface is completely in English and would require additional versions in other languages, which are not currently available at this time. All installations are also currently in the US.” However, there is hope it will soon be available in Australia and Asia.

Another innovation by WhiteWater West is Raft Battle. This comprises of round rafts equipped with water cannons, where riders and spectators aim and fire at one another in a fully interactive adventure themed river ride.

Such innovations provide waterpark enthusiasts with plenty to look forward to when they enter the Australian and Asian scenes in the near future. And with the appetite for adrenaline-charged water rides on the rise, there is every reason to believe that newer innovations would enter our region sooner rather than later.

Another innovation from Polin is the Space Race.

Coffs Harbour based aquatic amusement company, Swimplex, will be handling the product in Australia.

Swimplex’s ex-Polin sales manager, Oz Ikiz, says the Space Race is a real winner.

“We know the future of large parks is focussed on high capacity, unique and visually stunning rides and Space Race ticks all the boxes,” he says.

“Obviously such an awesome slide is not going to fit every park’s budget or available space but we expect

“Wet‘n’Wild is embracing technology and we need to incorporate things like Slideboarding to stay current” -Takuya Ohki - General Manager, Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas Slideboarding opened May 2015

DISCOVER THE THRILL World’s Leading Waterpark Designer and Manufacturer

www.whitewaterwest.com

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December 2015/January 2016

In Australia, Swimplex will be handling Polin’s exciting new ride, Space Race

52nd Annual Conference & Trade Show 20 - 21 June 2016 Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley Featuring • Key note Speaker Peter Thurin • Professional Development sessions for Cert 3 Modules & full AUSTSWIM ASO Course • All the latest products • Management & Operational Streams Trade sponsorship Packages available Extra Early Bird Rate (up to 20% discount) for Dec & Jan Registrations Register at www.eventbrite.com.au - search ARI Conference www.aquaticinstitute.com.au

eo@aquaticinstitiute.com.au December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 59

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WhiteWater West’s Triple Fusion in Hasunuma

Polin’s Graffiti slide.

The design application includes customizable, hand-drawn, exclusive illustrations that will create a strong and unique visual impact. All Graffiti designs are tailormade to a park’s theme

Polin’s Honey Comb specialty pattern is cut and applied to Polin’s slide components to create a honeycomb appearance. A surprising number of metal patterns can be created from this option 60

SPLASH!

strong interest from the big parks this year especially considering the great value for money that Polin Waterparks offers.”

Signature rides in South East Asia

In Asia, as in other parts of the world, big headline attractions are needed to really draw large numbers. So as well as embracing a theme, waterparks usually set themselves apart with signature rides.

In Malaysia, for instance, Sunway Lagoon’s waterpark offers a high adrenaline-charged ride by housing one of the world’s largest water rides that descends 11 storeys (from 30 metres above ground level). Another key attraction is the Waterplexx 5D, a virtual ride set in a cinema-like cabin to provide a multi-sensory experience.

But it is Waterbom Bali that has been garnering the most accolades in the region. According to figures released by IAAPA in July 2014, Waterbom Bali attracted about one million annual visitors since it first opened in 2007. Having gone through a series of expansions ever since, and spread over an area of about 3.8 hectares now, Waterbom Bali continues to lead the region’s waterparks by attempting many firsts – one of which is the world’s first Constrictor + Python Fusion waterslide from WhiteWater West.

Elsewhere in Asia, China recently welcomed its largest waterpark with Yinji Kaifeng Water World.

Before the waterpark formally opened in Henan, it had already made headlines for being the largest contract in the waterpark industry. This waterpark comprises indoor and outdoor portions, totalling nine waterslide complexes with about 50 waterslides, and is also home to unique Fusion Waterslides including a Fusion AquaLoop + Flatline Loop and the first AquaSphere + Constrictor.

December 2015/January 2016

Another significant waterpark in China is at Xishuangbanna International Resort. It is the first major theme and waterpark in Jinghong City in the tropical Yunnan province. The waterpark was designed as part of a large entertainment destination resort anchor, surrounded by hotels, cultural theatre, commercial centre, hospital and a tourism town. The waterpark is a second gate to the theme park and has a botanical theme.

Most waterparks in Asia are outdoors. They are designed around the natural elements and terrain that the site inherits. These elements could pose some constraints to the overall design of the waterpark, but could also add distinct character if well integrated.

One popular exception is the 33-hectare Happy Magic Cube in China, Beijing. Disregarding weather changes, if any, indoor waterparks can open all year round. To many, indoor waterparks are perceived to be a good escape in the chilly months. Formerly Beijing’s Olympic Aquatic Centre, an architectural icon widely known as the Water Cube, Happy Magic Cube serves just that purpose after having undergone a radical transformation.

Today, this iconic structure envelops a family-friendly fantasy underwater world, complete with abstracted aquatic elements such as air bubbles, seaweed, coral and jelly fish in large colourful shapes that seem to float within the space.

Unlike most indoor waterparks that have slides that extend beyond the enclosed premises, Happy Magic Cube challenged the designers to contain all the rides in the enclosed space. Utilising the high ceiling heights, the designers were able to take advantage of, and plan for, attractions and thematic elements that work well with the three-dimensional volumes n

Chilly summer Walt Disney World in Orlando is home to Blizzard Beach, a 40 hectare themed water recreation attraction inspired by the mythology of a snow ski resort that didn’t exactly find a suitable climate in Florida.

Mount Gushmore is the snow-capped, 30m high peak that is the park’s visual centrepiece, on top of which sits the platform “launch pad” for the park’s most-talked-about attraction, Summit Plummet.

– POOL WATER SLIDES – POOL SPORTS – DESIGNER HAND RAILS – – WATERFALLS – DIVING BOARDS – WATER FEATURES – – POOL-SPA TABLES – UMBRELLA STANDS –

The Summit Plummet – starting a further 10m above the peak of Mt Gushmore, is the platform for a thrill ride that sends the daring on a high-speed adventure down a 106m slide. At 40m high and up to 88kph, it is one of the world’s fastest free-fall waterslides.

Other rides include the Downhill Double Dipper, the Slush Gusher, Teamboat Springs, Toboggan Racers, Snow Stormers and the Runoff Rapids.

SUPPLYING TO THE TRADE

POOL BUILDERS – POOL SHOPS – LANDSCAPERS CALL: 1800 754 337 www.aquaaction.com.au

ORDER NOW FOR SUMMER anna@hydrocarepools.com.au

02 9604 8396 December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 61

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Natural pool wins major international award

T

he International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) presented the 2015 Gold Award to Herzog & de Meuron Architects for the Naturbad Riehen in Switzerland.

The old public swimming pool in Riehen had to be closed and torn down in 2007 due to a new road tunnel being built beneath the premises, and the township decided to build a new pool on the site which potentially offered long hours of sunshine and an idyllic setting on the periphery of the binational and well-developed nature and recreation area.

Public surveys were held followed by a public referendum in 2010 in which 68 per cent of the citizens voted for a new pool. They chose to build a natural swimming pool based on biological water treatment in order to stand out from the conventional swimming pools in the area. Riehen’s new natural swimming pool, a part of which is located above the new road tunnel, is divided into two sections, one incorporating the actual pool, the other a functional area serving ancillary uses and accommodating the water treatment plant.

The conventional, square-shaped swimming pool was transformed into a bathing pond surrounded by aquatic plants; it is subdivided into a 25m pool with four lanes, a recreational area with a grassy beach section and a waterslide; and a diving pool with a one-metre board and a three-metre platform. The different pool areas are linked with each other by a system of footbridges, ladders and stairs. A disability access lift is included, and there is also a children’s pool furnished with a number of play features.

The wall along the northern and western boundaries is furnished with a 200m long timber sundeck incorporating changing booths.

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The biological water treatment basins are embedded cascade-like in the green sloping landscape on the opposite side of the road. This area also offers various, all-season recreational and sports facilities as well as parking facilities for bicycles and cars.

Unlike normal outdoor baths that depend on chemical additives, natural swimming pools rely on biological-mechanical water treatment processes based on the assimilative capacities of natural waters, in other words, on ecological processes. It is strictly a natural pool, using aquatic plants and reeds as a biofilter with the addition of plankton in the regeneration zone, and gravity-fed sand and gravel filtration with a fine-grain substrate. There is no ozone or any other additional disinfection. The water is filtered daily.

In line with this ecological approach, the designers also paid particular attention to the question of sustainability and local habitat as far as the timber used for construction and the surrounding vegetation are concerned. In addition, the heat recovery system covers a part of the energy demand. The planted shallow waters surrounding the main pool and the 1200sqm external filter basins help to speed up the water heating process.

The pool is geared to nominal load of 1000 visitors per day and maximum load of 2000 visitors per day.

In its first season in 2014, the Riehen Natural Swimming Pool drew an attendance of 42,622 visitors, surpassing expectations and figures of the old facility.

It appears that after only one year in business, the Riehen Natural Swimming Pool is quickly becoming one of the most popular recreational and sports facilities in the area, and in 2015 it played host to 68,400 visitors. n

ABOVE: In 2015 Naturbad Riehen played host to 68,400 visitors.

BELOW: Arial shot of the site showing the completed layout

Naturbad Riehen Architects: Herzog & de Meuron

Operating costs 2014: €250,000

Commissioning: March 2014

Contacts: www.naturbadriehen. ch; www.herzogdemeuron.com; www.riehen.ch

Construction costs: 8 million Client/Operator: Gemeinde Riehen Abteilung Kultur, Freizeit und Sport

ABOVE: The conventional pool is surrounded by a recreational swimming area and aquatic plants

ABOVE RIGHT: A 25m four-lane pool is included for lap swimmers

Photography: Arial shot of the site by Christoph Junck, all other photography by Helene Schneider.

RIGHT: The diving pool has a one-metre board and a three-metre platform

December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 63

Pool of Poolies UPDATE

Swim Australia are the learn-to-swim experts and the leading swim school authority, with around 600 registered swim schools nationwide.

Sadly, accidental drowning claims more young Aussie lives, than any other tragedy. However, through ongoing swimming lessons, water safety education and community engagement, drowning can be averted.

That’s why the “Pool of Poolies” was created; mutually beneficial Partnerships between Swim Australia and like-minded industry-based organisations, keen to increase water safety knowledge and practice, while reducing drowning fatalities.

If you’d like to take the plunge and become our latest Poolie, please contact Swim Australia CEO, Ross Gage at Ross.Gage@swimaustralia.org.au.

Greater agreements …

Water treatment experts, Brauer Industries – Ozone 1, have not only renewed their contract with national learnto-swim authority, Swim Australia, but have significantly increased their support and partnership agreement.

Such reinforcement - designed to encourage and promote the activity of learning to swim, and the life saving benefits of possessing water safety skills – will also help to ensure more Aussies are SAFER, while enjoying a ‘splash’ in the home pool.

“We couldn’t be happier with the relationship we’re growing with Swim Australia, and truly support their plight in making water activity a safer, cleaner and more enjoyable experience,” said Brauer Industries – Ozone 1 CEO, David Brauer.

The re-defined deal, will also include further discounts in water treatment products, to Swim Australia registered swim schools located nationwide, exposing their brand and superior products to the thousands of customers enjoying swimming lessons.

Swim Australia’s CEO, Ross Gage, has praised Brauer

Industries – Ozone 1, for their commitment to the industry – one that he believes, will help contribute towards a safer, smarter, stronger nation of swimmers.

World First at ‘Splash Expo’ Swim Australia has been busily working alongside Splash, to ensure the inaugural International SwimDisABILITY Fest, is world class.

To that end, leading USA swimming inclusion-expert, Erin Seal-Grande, is set to present as keynote speaker.

Erin brings a rare blend of academia, teaching and swim school experience to the event. She will be joined by local experts in physiotherapy, and teachers of learners with a disability, to swim and/or experience the many wonderful benefits of being in water; all in all, world’s best practice will be on show.

The 2016 Splash Pool and Trade Show, will certainly be the place for those interested in DisABILITY swimming.

A special thanks to Splash, and Australian Innovative Systems, for their essential support in helping make this world leading event possible.

commercial feature

A winter renewal

T

he plant and filtration system at Sutherland Leisure Centre in southern Sydney was in real need of renewal, so a project was set up to deliver a high quality and high technology result. They decided the best approach was to shut the pool over 10 weeks during the less popular winter months.

The old ozone disinfection plant had been installed in 1999 and needed to be replaced with a new efficient UV system. Also required was a replacement of the aged and deteriorated underfloor sand filtration vessels which had been installed way back in 1991. They were replaced with an ultra-fine filtration (UFF) system that is more serviceable at plant room level.

This project also included overdue maintenance to the indoor building structure and replacement of the swimming pool water features.

The project cost was approximately $3 million with an even cost split in the plant room (completely gutted and rebuilt) and the pool hall (major renewal of fittings and finishes).

The area affected was the large 1.6 megalitre combined indoor program pool, aquatic play area and spa. Unaffected areas remained in operation during the project, including the outdoor 50m and 25m pools and the indoor dry space such as the gym, fitness area and café. All works were completed within the 10 week program.

Project objectives: • Works were performed in such a way as to minimise disruption of the other parts of the leisure centre which remained open during the renewal works; • Replace pool filtration and disinfection systems with state of the art energy efficient and sustainable systems; • Works were completed and plant commissioned prior to third term learn-to-swim classes commencing Project Constraints: • Council purchased long lead items and novated to the works contractor to install and commission to mitigate project delivery risk; • An unplanned shutdown will damage reputation – avoid the risk and undertake the project; • The project was undertaken in the winter months when leisure centre patronage is lowest.

Aquatic Centre Design Theory: • Aquatic centres are complex and unique buildings with multiple specialists involved in their design and delivery; • Experienced and knowledgeable design consultants will intuitively develop intelligent responses that address critical issues of corrosion resistance, durability, functionality and longevity in the buildings they deliver.

Benchmarking: • Awareness of and physical inspection of similar facilities assists in the finalisation of design. The project team visited other local government aquatic facilities either recently completed or under construction to discuss the

performance of major plant installed and aquatic design consultants/building contractors with aquatic centre experience.

• The benefits included having a preliminary design brief ready for the design consultant, including preferred major plant and finishes. This resulted in reduced time for preparation of tender documentation for issue to market.

Pre purchase of long lead items: • One of the major project risks was ensuring that all long lead items (up to 22 weeks) were delivered in a suitable timeframe. All were imported and included filtration units (USA) LED lighting (Germany) water features (Canada) and concourse tiles (Germany).

Pool Filtration: Three automated Neptune-Benson Defender ultra-fine regenerative filters were installed.

Pool hall: SP49-48-1548 (2) 112.5sqm filter area, flow rate 137-384 cum/hr; number of tubes: 1548 Spa: SP27-48-487(1) 35.6sqm filter area, flow rate 43-121 cum/hr, number of tubes: 487 The Defender filter utilises the ultra-fine filtration perlite media to form a 3mm cake over the internal flextubes of the filter. Water is then forced through the caked flextubes and particulates down to 1 micron in size are captured by the perlite.

Pool Disinfection UV radiation is a safe, chemical-free, reliable method of modern water treatment. Three UV system Prominent Dulcodes S, Flow rate up to 569 m3/h were installed.

The project was undertaken during winter to minimise disruption for patrons

Project Project Management: Project Delivery Division Sutherland Shire Council

Water Features: Parke Equip Waterplay

Aquatic Consultant: Calibre Consulting

Plant Room Fitout- Hydraulics: Southern Aquatics

Design Consultant- Pool Hall: CO-OP Studio

LED Lighting: Advanced Lighting Technologies

Quantity Surveyor: MBM Lighting Consultant: Electrolight

Ultra-Fine Filtration: Defender Australia

Mechanical Ventilation: Umow Lai

Pool Disinfection: Prominent

Building Contractor: Bermagui Constructions

Pool Tiles & Installation: Metz Tiles Contact: www .sutherlandshire .nsw .gov .au

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new products

Mastering outdoor cooking

Australians crave outdoor time and love eating with their friends. And while the concept of the outdoor room has been popular in Australian garden design for a while, it largely relies on the idea of a green lounge room, while the outdoor kitchen has often been restricted to a barbecue in the corner of the yard.

Granite Transformations has created a series of sophisticated and functional outdoor kitchens and family areas, taking into consideration space, entertainment requirements and budget.

Home owners can now enjoy the balmy summer months with all the essential utilities, secure in the knowledge the materials are durable as well as stylish.

Additionally, the engineered stone range combines the finest quality quartz, granite and recycled glass with a stateof-the-art polymer base, producing diamond-polished surfaces.

Contact: www.granitetransformations. com.au

Pre-fab pool room

Ozshacks has been building fully wired and insulated “wooden tents” for caravan parks and camping grounds for the past two years from its base in South Australia. Now they’ve designed a pod for the residential market.

The Ozpod is a 15-square-metre outdoor room designed to be used as a pool room, guest bedroom, home office or rumpus room.

The manufacturers, Adelaide couple Jon and Nicola Bingham, say these products are high quality and are all fully wired, well insulated and built to last.

Contact: (08) 8294 5150; www.ozshacks.com.au

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Hydrostar Plus

pumps

Swim style for everywoman

Although it is designed and made in Australia, the Bravura Swimwear collection draws on classic European style, championing curves and encouraging women to be bold, brave and beautiful.

From a family of seamstresses and designers, Marlena Gabriel has created and designed a swimwear range that flatters and supports the body.

“The design process comes easily to me. I design swimwear that I would want to wear and be seen in,” she says. “Most of the supportive swimwear on the market I don’t find appealing, so for me it was important to create bathers that women of all shapes and sizes could wear while feeling comfortable and looking beautiful.”

The Bravura collection is created with quality materials and all tops are underwired.

Contact: www.bravuraswimwear.com.au

Hydrostar Plus pumps are high performance thermoplastic pumps purpose built for aquatic facilities, water parks and large commercial swimming pools.

In comparison to traditional steel or cast iron commercial pumps, Hydrostorm Plus’s glass reinforced thermoplastic body possesses superior mechanical and chemical resistance.

Its lid lock ring is equipped with ergonomic handles, allowing simple removal and replacement of the lid without the use of additional tools.

Available in 7.5hp and 10.0hp

Waterproof bean bags

The Bondi Hibiscus sun chairs from Furniture Runway’s Relax range are made with bold designs in 100 per cent Olefin water resistant fabric and 100 per cent waterproof lining, making them durable for poolside settings.

Relax sun chairs are supplied with polystyrene beads and come in sizes 700mm x 750mm x 900mm. They are made in Australia and come with a one-year workmanship warranty and a three-year fabric warranty.

NsW (heAd office) 02 9898 8686

Qld 07 3299 9900

vic 03 9764 1211

sA 08 8244 6000

WA 08 9273 1900

NZ 09 525 7570

www.waterco.com

Contact: www.furniturerunway.com.au December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 67

new products

A better catch for swimmers

Australian representative swimmer Craig Riddington noticed that untrained swimmers tend to drop their elbows at “the catch”, and also start their catch under their body with a straight arm rather than near the surface in front of the body.

Competent swimmers will have a firm hold on the water out in front of the body and will be streamlined – allowing the elbow to remain high and the hand to drop, creating a definite bend in the elbow up to 90 degrees. This allows the swimmer’s body to move over the hand with greater ease and less resistance.

In response to this, Riddington developed the Swimfassst device, which attaches to the elbows prior to undertaking a series of drills. It forces correct elbow angles for all swimming strokes (except backstroke) and trains the correct muscle memory for swimming. After even a short session with the aid, your stroke can improve considerably.

Contact: (02) 9907 7650; www.swimfassst.com.au

Shine in the pool and out of it

Misfit has partnered with Speedo to launch the new Speedo Shine. Designed with swimmers in mind this Speedo branded device tracks activity, swimming and sleep. Now you can now focus on your swim without having to count your laps!

Lap counting algorithms embedded in the device’s firmware track a swimmer’s lap count with industry-leading accuracy for all stroke types. It wirelessly syncs with the Misfit app for iOS and Android and will soon also work with Speedo’s personalised swim tracking app, Speedo Fit. Speedo Shine is made from durable and stylish aircraft-grade aluminium, is waterproof to 50 metres, thin and comfortable, and is meant to be worn both in and out of the water. It also tracks walking, running, cycling, and light and deep sleep. It even tells the time!

Contact: Pica.com.au/misfit

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Position Available

DEALER SALES MANAGER Leisure Pools, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of fibreglass swimming pools, is going through a period of substantial growth and is looking for a Dealer Sales Manager to expand its’ sales team.

Based in our Australian head office in Yatala, Queensland, the Dealer Sales Manager will work closely with the National Sales Manager on all aspects of: • Growing the Leisure Pools Dealer network in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Asia; • Mentoring new and existing Dealers in all aspects of their business; • Maintaining, supporting and growing our existing Dealer network; and • Supporting existing retail customers.

Robust and reliable

The new AquaNaut 250 & 450 suction pool cleaners from Hayward feature patented self-adjusting variable vanes (known as V-Flex technology) that maximise power at almost any flow and allow for easy passage of large debris.

No matter the pool surface, AquaNaut 250 & 450 manoeuvre with patented robust tyres and an adjustable roller skirt that maintains optimal suction, even when encountering obstacles.

The AquaNaut 250 & 450 are exclusively available to Totally Hayward Dealers. To find out more about how you can get exclusive rewards contact your DSM or local Hayward branch.

The successful applicant will have extensive experience in the swimming pool industry including sales, construction and contracting. Some travel will be involved.

A salary package commensurate with the skills and experience of the successful applicant will be negotiated.

This is a rare opportunity to join a market leader in the swimming pool industry. If you are interested please email your resume including a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) demonstrating your alignment to the role to Jason.Smith@leisurepoolscorporate.com For more information please call (07) 3807 6366.

Contact: 1300 POOLS 1; www.hayward-pool.com.au

Low profile cleaning, high profile results

The all new AquaVac 500 scrubs, vacuums pool floors, coves, walls and waterlines with computer efficiency.

Featuring an integrated recurring timer, this unit allows you to choose cleaning frequencies every 24, 48 or 72 hours and includes a “clean now” option that doesn’t repeat.

Working independently of the pool filtration system, it uses 94 per cent less energy than most pressure cleaners and can pay for itself in little over a year, depending on local energy rates. The AquaVac 500 is exclusively available to Totally Hayward Dealers.

Contact our Sales team

To find out more about how you can get exclusive rewards contact your DSM or local Hayward branch.

Contact: on 1300 POOLS 1; www.hayward-pool.com.au December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

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new products

Safe comfort fit for a resort

Life Floor is a resilient tile designed to improve the comfort and safety of aquatic environments, from pool decks and splash pads to showers and locker rooms. The tiles are durable enough to withstand millions of footsteps, yet soft underfoot and comfortable to stand on.

is also impact absorbing, boasting a one-foot critical fall height.

The closed-cell construction, along with proprietary RepelCell technology, makes Life Floor antimicrobial, waterproof, virtually impossible to stain, and easy to clean.

The foam-rubber tiles come in textures designed to mimic natural materials like wood, slate and even brain coral. These textures help give the tiles their characteristic slip-resistance. The material

By the end of 2016, Life Floor will come in 30 colours, offering a wide range of options for patterns and other design options.

Discreet antivortex channel

The new QuikClean Anti-Vortex Single Channel (AVSC) Drain sits flush with the pool floor and virtually disappears beneath its own pebble, render or tile lid.

Secondary safety suctions are obsolete with the AVSC and it removes debris more effectively because it’s an approved single-suction floor drain.

Cooke says the AVSC was the first drain to be recognised as “unblockable” by the NSF testing authority in the USA and was so advanced at the time of its introduction that VGB compliance tests are based on its performance.

The AVSC can connect to two pumps drawing a combined 860lpm. Dual suction ports also make the AVSC an obvious choice for spas.

The AVSC is available in five colours – Black, Blue, Gold, Grey and White – and colour inserts allow you to change the drain colour if clients change their mind.

Contact: 1300 652 076; www.cookeindustries.com.au

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Contact: www.lifefloor.com

THE NEW POLYMER FIBRE FILTER MEDIA BEST FILTRATION PERFORMANCE EASY HANDLING SUSTAINABLE

ENERGY SAVINGS (40%) COSTS SAVINGS LIGHT WEIGHT

Residential hybrid ozone range

Brauer Industries has scaled down its commercial ozone technology to produce an innovative residential line of ozone swim pool purification systems. Ozone Swim systems combine the power of ozone with a premium mineral/salt cell to create soft, hygienic and odour-free water for backyard pools and spas.

Ozone Swim systems use patented corona discharge technology to produce ozone which is then introduced into the water via a unique multi-flow injection manifold to rapidly destroy organics, impurities, bacteria and viruses. They also destroy chlorine by-products (chloramines) that cause skin, eye and respiratory irritations, as well as chlorine resistant parasites such as cryptosporidium.

In addition to being a natural flocculent, ozone performs the majority of the sanitation workload therefore lowering chlorine demands by up to 80 per cent. The systems can either replace or complement existing sanitation systems and come with a five-year warranty.

EXPECTIONAL FILTRATION ABILITY

BLUE THE NEW

GREEN

www.ďŹ balon.com

Contact: 1300 696 631; www.ozoneswim.com.au

Smart Controls Power point automation made easy Smart Controls allow you to remotely turn on and off any electrical appliance around your home, backyard, pool or spa from a distance.

With Smart Controls you can:

Sensorex goes Android

Sensorexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SAM-1 Smart Aqua Meter is now globally compatible with Android devices. Already popular with Apple iPhone and iPad users, the SAM1 measures and records pH, ORP, conductivity and temperature values.

It plugs into the headphone jack of virtually any smartphone or tablet, and easily connects to Sensorex smart analytical sensors. The free SAM-1 App instantly recognises the smart sensor and provides an easy-to-use interface for taking measurements and managing data.

Readings can be tagged with GPS location and user comments. Stored data can be securely transmitted via email and opens in Excel for analysis and reporting, eliminating data transcription errors.

> Turn on pumps and chlorinator from your lounge or deck > Activate your lights and water features remotely > Start the spa blower and jets from the spa > Start and stop your solar heating > Pre set filtration and sanitation times (with remote overide)

No wiring is needed. Simply plug in your appliances to Smart Controls and begin operating them with the remote control.

Available at your Swimart 1300 991 104

www.swimart.com.au

Contact: envirosensors.com.au; SmartAquaMeter.com; (02) 9904 3316 December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH!

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new products

Hopping mad over cane toads Turmion unit relaunched

Ascon Pool has relaunched its Turmion unit which can turn on appliances remotely.

With a range up to 200 metres, homeowners can switch their devices on and off from their lounge chair, car or tractor. With the master control system they can preset their devices to come on and off as many times each day as they like. Their programmed sequences can be overridden by the remote control at any time.

Cane toads have massively impacted on populations of native predators including quolls, snakes, monitor lizards and even crocodiles.

And pool owners donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like them either when they encroach on their backyards providing a risk to pets.

HopStop is the only product approved to kill cane toads. Developed in Australia, it is an easy-to-use aerosol that kills toads safely, quickly and humanely. The aerosol is sprayed directly onto toads without any need to touch the animals. It anaesthetises the toads within seconds and kills within 30 to 60 minutes.

Any device with a 10 amp power point (or optionally, a 15 amp power point) can be stopped and started remotely.

HopStop is safe to use around people and pets when used in accordance with the approved product label. Its active constituent, chloroxylenol, is an organic compound safe to use around children and most pets but can be toxic to cats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but then, so are cane toads!

Contact: (02) 9642 4922.

Contact: www.hopstop.com.au

DigiQuatics for pool managers

DigiQuatics is a mobile and web based app designed specifically for pool managers. Developed by former aquatics professionals, the service aims to eliminate paperwork, automate operations, and manage staff scheduling and communications all in one place.

Smart photometer gets smarter

Industrial Test Systems (ITS) have added automatic calculations to their smart device application. Calculations for Langlier Saturation Index (LSI) and magnesium hardness have been added.

It can bring a facility into the digital age by enabling managers to focus on managing the pool, not on paperwork. We offer a three-month free trial and will work personally with you and your staff to hit the ground running. Request a demo at www.digiquatics.com today!

Using a smart device as the brains of the eXact iDip photometer system allows for limitless upgrade possibilities. The most recent upgrade of the eXact iDip application will provide users with the ability to determine LSI and magnesium hardness without doing any written calculations.

DigiQuatics is a US-headquartered mobile/web based company that operates independently of distributors and manages projects in many countries.

The device will seamlessly interpret data collected by the user, calculate the desired values, and display the values both on the device and in the application.

Contact: www.digiquatics.com

Contact: www.sensafe.com

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A tidal chair

Contemporary furniture maker Tait has unveil Tidal, a poolside cosmopolitan chair collection which makes a distinctive reference to the Australian lifestyle of the 60s and 70s.

Susan and Gordon Tait observed that international outdoor furniture can appear quite formal, and set out to capture a fun Australian style.

“We were looking for a design concept that would evoke not just the aesthetic of the 60s and 70s but the mood and the freedom of running around without technology.”

Contact: www.madebytait.com.au

More powerful excavator

The Takeuchi TB280FR excavator has been released. It has more power, greater dig depth and better reach as well as higher tractive forces than the model it supersedes.

The new Tier IV final specification of the Yanmar 4TNV98CT diesel engine provides 51.6.kW Gross power for potentially a 10 per cent productivity improvement. Owners of the TB280FR are able to optimise fuel consumption with the excavator’s auto engine idle system. Other potential fuel savings can be made by selecting from a menu of work modes.

The new TB280FR retains its unique full zero turn capability, thanks to its patented side shifting boom system which enables the machine to work effectively between two walls, excavating at the front and being able to load a truck placed behind the excavator.

Protect Pool, Protect Your Your Pool, Protect Kids Protect Your Your Kids View our online video showing common pool fencing faults and how to spot them at View our online video showing common pool fencing faults and how to spot them at www.kidshealth.chw.edu.au/projects/drowning-prevention/swimming-pool-fencing www.kidshealth.chw.edu.au/projects/drowning-prevention/swimming-pool-fencing

KIH1025/0811/SC KIH1025/0811/SC

Contact: www.semcogroup.com.au; www.takeuchi.com.au December 2015/January 2016 SPLASH! 73

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AUSTRALIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADING POOL BUILDERS CHOOSE PARAMOUNT IN-FLOOR CLEANING SYSTEMS Paramount In-Floor Cleaning Systems offer you and your customers the perfect cleaning solution when working together to create the perfect outdoor oasis. Astonish your clients with the incredible effectiveness of an in-floor cleaning and circulation system.

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