Pool Liner Membrane Standards - ISPE€¦ · 4 ISPE MAGAZINE Vol. 25 No. 1 SPATEX 2015 thinks BIG! Michele adds: “Fired up by the success of SPATEX 2014, we are now planning on

June 2010 Vol. 21 No. 2THE INSTITUTE OF

SWIMMING POOL ENGINEERS

• UV Technology

• Newly Qualified Technicians

• Pool Liner Membrane Standards

ISPE mag jun10.qxp 11/6/10 17:23 Page 1

• SPATEX2014&2015

•FiltrationWorkshopReport

•FloodedPools

Vol. 25 No. 1THE INSTITUTE OF

SWIMMING POOL ENGINEERS April 2014

Phone: 01271 378100 | Web: www.goldenc.co

Some of our customer support is nothing but words.Over 68,000 of them so far.

We succeed when you succeed. In fact, we only sell products when you do.

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Click on wetleisure.co and you’ll see it isn’t just buying pools, spas and saunas that we can help you with.

ISPE advet - Jan 14 [Mark].indd 1 3/26/2014 2:12:21 PM

COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT

Officers of the Council

PresidentALLEN WILSON

Honorary TreasurerJOHN ASHER

Company SecretaryCHRIS CARR

Elected Members of the Council

IAN BETTSJOHN CHEEK

COLIN DAYHOWARD GOSLINGCOLIN JENKINSONSELWYN MINDEL

JOHN SCOTTMIKE SHUFF

MALCOLM SHARPBEN STUDDY

*********General SecretaryROSS ALCOCK

NOTICE TO ALL READERSArticles and advice in the ISPE Magazine are for

guidance only. Further professional advice should always be sought before acting upon, or refraining

from acting upon, a course of action. Health & Safety is of paramount importance and the correct PPE

(personal protective equipment) should always be utilised before undertaking any job.

If in doubt, ASK!

The Institute of Swimming PoolEngineers Limited,

P.O. Box 3083,Norwich,

Norfolk NR6 7YLTel/Fax: 01603 499 959

www.ispe.co.ukemail: [email protected]

ISPE. The Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers accepts no responsibility whatsoever in respect of any advertisements appearing herein, or for any opinion or statement expressed in technical articles, correspondence or other items.

Manufacturers and distributors of:• Climexel Heat Pumps• Delta Slatted Safety Covers• SpaFrance Spas• Star Vac 2 Pool Cleaners• Walulock Hydraulic Safety Covers

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Phone 01622 832800 • Fax 01622 [email protected]

www.procopiuk.co.uk

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ISPE MAGAZINE Vol. 25 No. 1 1

INDEX

Front Cover and Editorial 2

SPATEX 2014 - Report 3

ISPE Filtration Workshop Report 6

An Introduction to BS7671 10

Phosphates in Pools 15

The First ISPE Seminar Group Picture 16

Flooded Pools 18

Wilson’s Words of Wisdom 20

Information on RIDDOR Changes 23

News Items 24

Product Profile - Zeoclere 30 25

New Members and Students 26

Cloud Computing for Pools 27

Correspondence 30

Situations Vacant and Next Issue 32

2 ISPE MAGAZINE Vol. 25 No. 1

Front Cover The indoor pool pictured was a Luton Swimming Pools project that was completed around 12 months ago. The pool is a white tiled deck level installation running through an underground balance tank. The automatic cover feeds through a letter box from a sunken pit at the end of the pool underneath the seating area. The customer had requested that we use an ioniser to sanitise the water, so an Aligator unit was fitted along with a Rainbow chlorine erosion feeder to keep the chlorine residual at a comfortable low level. Lighting is led remote controlled with colour changing capability and can also be synchronised with an mp3 player. Air handling has been dealt with by a Calorex Delta machine specified by Certikin, backed up by a condensing gas boiler. The pool building is constructed on a hillside in Mid. Beds. and from the rear there are stunning views of the Bedfordshire landscape and countryside. This really was a fantastic project to work on and we are very proud of the finished result.

Luton Swimming Pools Luton, Beds. LU2 7PD Tel: 01582 454647

[email protected] www.lutonpools.com

Don’t Miss…

SPATEX 2015 at

The Jaguar Exhibition Centre, Ricoh Arena, Coventry

Sunday 1st to

Tuesday 3rd February 2015

By the industry, for the industry.

Editorial I have recently returned from this year’s ISPE Student exams and wish everyone who attempted the exams this year every success. I hope their hard work pays off. There will be a list of the successful students, who will become ISPE Certified Technicians, in the next issue. Now all the dust has settled, what did you think of SPATEX 2014 at the new venue in Coventry? From the Institute’s point of view, we had a good show. It was good to meet some of our members from the Midlands and the North who normally wouldn’t travel down south to Brighton. On the other hand, we missed some of the “usual faces”. Was that because they didn’t find the ISPE stand or because they didn’t visit SPATEX? Did you visit SPATEX and the Pool and Spa Show in Birmingham a week or two later? Did you just visit one, or the other, or neither? It is important to hear the views of our Members on this subject so do let us know what you think. SPATEX has generated a huge amount of money for the pool industry organisations and the Institute has benefitted greatly from this. In 2015 the ISPE will be on stand no. 115, at SPATEX, at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry (Sunday 1st to Tuesday 3rd February) as we were earlier this year. We hope that we will see as many of our members as possible there, too.

Just a Bit of Fun On the ISPE stand at SPATEX 2014 we had an old photograph of the delegates at the very first Institute Seminar back in 1981, and we invited people to name those present. The picture and a name grid appear in the centre pages. How many can you name? Email me at [email protected] and we’ll put names to faces in the next issue. Keep busy! Ross Alcock - April 2014.


The Ricoh Arena put the “X” into SPATEX 2014

Right from the word go, SPATEX 2014 had a great feel about it. From the arrival of the first exhibitor’s lorry to the departure of the last, the Show in its new home at the Jaguar Exhibition Hall at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena was imbued with the X factor and surpassed all expectations. Exhibitors and visitors alike were full of praise and complimented the Show on its professional, well-organised approach and its convenient central location. And the buzz translated into some fantastic Show stats. Attendance figures revealed that the number of visiting companies was up a staggering 46% on 2013. The Show’s move to a more central UK location attracted visitors from a more representative cross section of ALL sectors of the Industry and from ALL geographical areas of the UK.

SPATEX - The place to do business

Reflecting on SPATEX’s move to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, Organiser, Michele Bridle, says: “When SPATEX sold out of exhibition space some two months early and had to extend the floor plans to accommodate latecomers, all the signs were there for a great Exhibition and I’m delighted to say that the reality met the expectation. It was great to see that the Show attracted a broader cross section of the Industry than previous years, with a higher number of visitors than last year from the commercial sector such as, holiday complexes, health clubs and local authorities.” ISPE added to the Show’s success

Michele comments: “Once again the ISPE did us proud with its educational and highly popular workshop programme which is an integral part of the unique SPATEX mix and gives the Show real added value. I’d like to thank Ross Alcock for his fantastic skills in attracting so many Industry experts. This year’s programme was even more ambitious than last and we will be looking to repeat this winning formula at SPATEX 2015.” ISPE General Secretary, Ross Alcock, also reflected upon the success of the Workshops: “With around 480 delegates attending the ISPE-organised Workshop programme over the three days, it shows that there is a great thirst for knowledge. The SPATEX Workshop programme delivers an excellent (free) source of education, training and information, and has become an integral part of the SPATEX package.”

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Right from the word go, SPATEX 2014 had a great feel about it. From the arrival of the first exhibitor’s lorry to the departure of the last, the Show in its new home at the Jaguar Exhibition Hall at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena was imbued with the X factor and surpassed all expectations. Exhibitors and visitors alike were full of praise and complimented the Show on its professional, well-organised approach and its convenient central location. And the buzz translated into some fantastic Show stats. Attendance figures revealed that the number of visiting companies was up a staggering 46% on 2013. The Show’s move to a more central UK location attracted visitors from a more representative cross section of ALL sectors of the Industry and from ALL geographical areas of the UK.

The Ricoh Arena put the “X” into SPATEX 2014

SPATEX - The place to do business Reflecting on SPATEX’s move to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, Organiser, Michele Bridle, says: “When SPATEX sold out of exhibition space some two months early and had to extend the floor plans to accommodate latecomers, all the signs were there for a great Exhibition and I’m delighted to say that the reality met the expectation. It was great to see that the Show attracted a broader cross section of the Industry than previous years, with a higher number of visitors than last year from the commercial sector such as, holiday complexes, health clubs and local authorities.”

ISPE added to the Show’s success Michele comments: “Once again the ISPE did us proud with its educational and highly popular workshop programme which is an integral part of the unique SPATEX mix and gives the Show real added value. I’d like to thank Ross Alcock for his fantastic skills in attracting so many Industry experts. This year’s programme was even more ambitious than last and we will be looking to repeat this winning formula at SPATEX 2015.” ISPE General Secretary, Ross Alcock, also reflected upon the success of the Workshops: “With around 480 delegates attending the ISPE-organised Workshop programme over the three days, it shows that there is a great thirst for knowledge. The SPATEX Workshop programme delivers an excellent (free) source of education, training and information, and has become an integral part of the SPATEX package.”


SPATEX 2015 thinks BIG! Michele adds: “Fired up by the success of SPATEX 2014, we are now planning on making next year’s Show even bigger, brighter and better. For 2015, we have requested Halls 1 AND 2 of the Ricoh’s Jaguar Exhibition Hall in order that we can accommodate many more stands. Some four weeks since the Show closed, a record amount of stand space (55%) has already been rebooked. We’d like to thank all our loyal and dedicated exhibitors and visitors for their fantastic support. SPATEX 2014 owes its success to you! “With our first year at the Ricoh Arena under our belt, we now have a good appreciation of what we can offer both our exhibitors and visitors to make SPATEX 2015 an even better Industry experience. We are planning lots of new networking opportunities and Grosvenor Casinos, the owner of the Ricoh’s on-site G Casino, has extended its licence to incorporate even more gaming ventures for next year. Watch this space!” Read what the Industry said about SPATEX 2014: Dave Foster - Designworks Tiles: “We’re delighted with how SPATEX 2014 went.The venue was first-rate and we like the purpose built exhibition hall with free car parking and excellent facilities. We’ll definitely be back next year.” Jamie Adams - Golden Coast: “Talking to a range of customers, including a lot of new ones, the feedback about Coventry was very positive. We’ve already booked again for next year and are looking for even more space.” Tony Fisher - Waterco Europe: “As usual, Waterco Europe was delighted to be able to exhibit at SPATEX 2014 and even more so this year with the show being at the Ricoh Arena. We saw both existing and new visitors on the stand and a lead book full of new and exciting prospects.” Cath Saunders - Certikin International: “From start to finish SPATEX 2014 was a huge success. The new venue gave a fresh new look to the Show and presented the Industry in a very professional light. The show build up and breakdown were particularly smooth, and we're already looking forward to SPATEX 2015.” Reed Krumrie - LA Spas: “We stopped

attending SPATEX two years ago because of its location but with the move to Coventry we were keen to come back on board. SPATEX is By the Industry, For the Industry which is very important to us and one of the main reasons we exhibit at SPATEX.” Paul Webb - Fairlocks Pool Products Ltd: “The new venue was perfect and made setting up and break down far easier. SPATEX is always about networking and Coventry has the casino and many very good eateries within walking distance or a taxi ride away.” Robin Norris - Astral: “Superb show for us. Professionally run and a great exhibition hall.” Peter Evans - MD, Pollet Group: “SPATEX 2014 was our best to date and we are delighted to be going back to the Ricoh Arena. It’s an absolute 'must' to attend SPATEX”. Mark Osman - Heatstar: “A big thank you from everyone at Heatstar to the SPATEX team for putting on such a successful Show; hopefully the first of many to come at Coventry. We are rebooking for SPATEX 2015.” Tony Welsby - Spa Crest Europe: “Visitors had a hall packed to the brim with quality, relevant exhibitors - no wide isles padding it out. It was well received by all - from ease of set up to good visitor numbers to quality leads. ” Ian Pratt - SCP: “It is what exhibitions are all about: good impressions as you walk through the door not only for the exhibitors but the visitors as well. We experienced our best ever number of customer visits to our stand.” Stephen Crabb - Catalina Spas Ltd: “It was one of the most successful shows we have done. The venue made the Show and the Industry appear professional. Any visitor could not fail to be impressed from the moment they checked in.”

If you have not yet booked your stand space for SPATEX 2015, please contact Michele Bridle

([email protected]) or Helen Mulingani

([email protected]) or Tel: +44 (0) 1264 358558

www.spatex.co.uk


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ISPE - Filtration Workshop has fantastic turn-out at Plastipack!

Back in the autumn, the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers headed down to Plastipack near Hastings for the ISPE Filtration workshop. For several years the Filtration workshop was held at SCP’s headquarters in Gatwick, but due to reorganisation the Institute needed to find a new venue. On hearing the situation, Peter Adlington (a stalwart member of the Institute) M.D. of Plastipack, invited us to use his premises. Plastipack is Europe’s premier pool cover material manufacturer who have developed and patented numerous products. Plastipack is the main supplier to the UK Pool market and some 80% of their production is exported across Europe to the East and to South America to the West.

Peter Adlington, MISPE

The ISPE Filtration workshop is run by Chris Carr, FISPE, previously assisted by Ray Burt, FISPE. However, as Ray sadly passed away last April, Chris sought a suitable replacement ‘hands-on’ assistant and was delighted when Philip Barlow, MISPE offered his services. Chris had originally observed the outstanding workmanship undertaken by Philip when he worked at the UK Pool

Store Company in Maidstone. Some three years ago Philip ‘took the plunge’ and started his own company: Philip Barlow Pools which is growing and now employs several full time staff.

Philip Barlow, MISPE, giving guidance on

the pipework trade test. The ISPE Filtration workshops are usually run annually in the autumn and cater for between 10 to 16 delegates at a time. The main concept of the workshop is that each delegate will have the opportunity to more clearly understand both the theory and the practical elements of domestic swimming pool filtration, plant & equipment. This workshop has proven to help those new recruits, especially students who are due to sit their exams. Delegates arrived from all over the country to a warm welcome from Plastipack staff. Following the safety briefing, coffee and biscuits, Chris started the morning session with a PowerPoint display covering the theory of Domestic Filtration. From the outset, Chris stressed that all delegates would be subject to a practical trade test and a mini exam at the end of the day. Certificates would be awarded with a pass grade for both elements being graded as: pass, merit, credit or distinction.


Later in the morning all delegates set off to Plastipack’s workshop for the practical trade test which was to make a pipework set. The pipe set test is designed to be awkward, but a good test to measure accuracy in cutting pipe, glue preparation, perfecting glued & threaded joints and general cleanliness. All delegates were monitored throughout the test and each completed item was marked against key criteria to ensure a good standard of workmanship and time taken. A key area of the day’s events is the importance of correctly sizing the pipework to comply with the standards for suction and return velocities. This seemed to be a bit of an eye opener for some delegates, as it seemed that many older pools may have undersized suction pipe-work.

Pipework Test Jig -

Inspection of the final component

The morning session ran like clock work and delegates enjoyed an excellent buffet lunch before moving on to the afternoon practical session.

In the afternoon, delegates were split into groups for the ‘hands on’ session – filter & pump – strip down and re-build. Each delegate was instructed to empty and refill a filter of its media (in this case Zeolite – donated by MSI). Philip was able to give a great deal of advice on pump & filter servicing having worked on pool pumps and filters for over 20 years. As well as bailing out the sand, delegates were instructed to remove all internal pipework & fittings, checking and inspecting for damage. Any faulty components were replaced as should be the case in a typical service scenario. Likewise, Philip had prepared a variety of different pumps which were to be completely stripped down, with Philip & Chris giving additional guidance as to how to test & change a mechanical seal. The delegates (some more experienced than others) enjoyed the team sprit, working together in groups and a fair amount of useful knowledge was exchanged between them making the day even more valuable. Later in the afternoon, all delegates sat a twenty minute – multi-choice exam paper. Whilst these exam papers were being marked, interested delegates had the opportunity to have a tour of Plastipack’s Research & Development and Manufacturing facilities. It was clear from the results that the day’s events had paid off, as all members had more than adequately reached the

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minimum pass mark. Top of the class went to: Andy Lester, TnISPE(Cert.), of I.J. Cannings - Devon with excellent pass marks of: 88% in the practical Trade Test and 95% in the Multi-choice exam. Andy was presented with a bottle of Champagne donated by Golden Coast – Pool Equipment Distributors. Well done Andy!

The Institute wishes to formally thank Plastipack for allowing the Institute to use their facilities for this event as well as Plastica for their continued support in supplying all the pipework, MSI for supplying the media and sponsoring the lunch, Certikin for supplying tools and equipment and CPC for various Chemical Booklets and gifts. The next ISPE Filtration will be held in October, so be sure to contact Ross (at ISPE office) to get your name on the list as this has become a very popular event. With grateful thanks to Chris Carr, Philip

Barlow and Kim Mumford.

To book your place on the next ISPE Filtration Workshop contact

[email protected] Andy Lester, TnISPE(Cert.) with a bottle of Champagne donated by Golden Coast or telephone 01603 499959

Staxil Limited, Unit 8, Borers Yard, Borers Arms Road, Copthorne, West Sussex RH10 3LHTel: 01342 859198 Fax: 01342 718279 Website: www.staxil.co.uk E.mail: [email protected]

Distributors to the Trade of Swimming Pool Equipment

ISPE MAGAZINE Vol. 24 No. 3 9Water Leisure•Residential Pools•Commercial Pools•Spas and Hot Tubs•Wellbeing

MARKET LEADERSThe industryʼs number one choice

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An Introduction to BS7671 We are grateful to Paul Harris, who spoke at the ISPE Seminar in November 2013, for providing the following article. BS7671 2008 (2013) including amendment 2 is the current version of the national wiring standard of the UK. Those persons with Green copies of BS7671 stating amendment 1 (2011) need not immediately panic as in the main, with the exception of a free issue July 2013 corrigendum relating to Section 710 Medical Locations, Amendment No2 relates only to Section 722 Electric Vehicle Charging Installations. This amendment is not a full reprint and is available free to view only or a nominal £5.00 charge as a printable version from the IET website (www.theiet.org). Therefore, if Medical Locations and Electric Vehicle Charging are not in your normal duties you may be, subject to the requirements of your relevant trade association, excused for only having amendment No1 2011.

BS7671 2008 (2013) from IET Wiring Regs Digital

Being the national wiring standard gives BS7671 an amount of authority as to the standard of work that is provided in its completed state along with a number of requirements that require good workmanship, practices and materials to be used throughout the installation. Compliance with BS7671 will normally ensure compliance with the installation standards of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989(EAWR1989), and where applicable, the installation requirements of Approved Document P (Part P). However, both the EAWR1989 and Part P have other requirements which need to be complied with that are outside the scope of BS7671. Special Locations BS7671 contains 17 Special Locations along with Section 700 General, which is an explanatory section. Three very relevant sections for wet leisure industries are:

Section 701 Locations containing a bath or shower Section 702 Swimming pools and other basins Section 703 Rooms and cabins containing sauna heaters

Section 700 although it is not a special location in itself, it identifies how the information in the specific sections is to be applied. It clarifies the purpose of special location requirements, which is provided to supplement or modify the general requirements contained in other parts of the regulations. In other words, there is no shortcut to reading how to comply with the requirements for a pool, sauna or hot tub by flicking to Part 7 and hoping to have a complete understanding of the requirements. The whole of the standard applies with modifying


clauses to meet/mitigate the additional risks presented in that type of environment, which is taken into account by the relevant regulatory sections, typical examples being: Section 522 Selection and erection of wiring systems in relation to external influences, or Section 414 Protective measure: Extra-low voltage provided by SELV or PELV. Within the wet leisure industry, there are additional risks due to electric shock in environments and their surrounding zones due to the reduction in body resistance and by good contact with Earth arising from wet, partially clothed, bodies. Therefore to address this additional risk, Section 702 for swimming pools and 703 for saunas have been identified. An area where there is no dedicated Special Location is the hot tub. Often, contractors are seeking advice as to the requirements for this ever-growing market. In the absence of any internationally agreed special location, the general advice given is that if the hot tub is located indoors in a garage or extension or similar, then in addition to the general requirements of BS7671, the requirements of Section 701 should apply. Where the hot tub is outdoors, then it is logical to apply the additional requirements of 702. In all instances, the application of the Regulations is supported by guidance documentation. These are provided in a series of eight IET guidance documents ranging from selection and erection of equipment, through earthing and bonding, to inspection and testing of general installations. Looking at the level of service provision, the following diagram can be considered representative of any industry:

Service delivery model

Further examining of the documents available to the wet leisure industry, the following is representative of available documentation:

Hierarchy of documents

BS7671

HSG 179

HSR 25

HSG 179 is not mandatory but is deemed good practice

EA WR 1989

HSE InterpretationNot a true ACOP

Part P where applicable

Guidance Note 7


The preceeding diagram is a hierarchy of documents indicating the status of documents that may be used in wet leisure industry installations. However, if we examine the level of service that we can provide against the documents, the diagrammatic comparison would look like below:

Comparison of Service Delivery with available publications

With ACOPs etc., providing the minimum legal requirements, British Standards providing expected good practice, which is usually the normal contractual standard and with published guidance providing additional detail to support the legal and contractual requirements. An amount of supporting information can also be used to provide the best practice or used to exceed both contractual and customer expectations.


The IET, in conjunction with SPATA and the BSPF are developing a specific guidance document which is aimed specifically at the wet leisure industry. The aim of this book is to satisfy the design and installation queries that surround the electrical installation requirements of swimming pool, sauna and hot tub installations. The book would look to provide:

Focused design guidance Regulatory matters interpreted Testing and Certification Case studies Myths busted

This book aims to provide expert information to assist designers and installers reach the peak of their service delivery by providing the above requirements in a dedicated book targeting specifically the wet leisure industry. The book is currently seen as a necessary addition to the designer and installer’s toolkit and is aimed to be completed later in 2014. Supporting ISPE, future articles on specific electrical topics are planned for the future. About the Author:

Eur Ing Paul Harris BEng (Hons) CEng

FIHEEM MIEE MCIBSE Paul Harris works for Harris Associates Ltd which is a small but influential independent consulting engineering practice that specialises in technical design solutions for specialist installations and locations. Paul is a member of JPEL 64 (UK Wiring Regulations Committee), JPEL 64 Panel D (External Influences) the JPEL 64 representative for EN 16582-Domestic Swimming Pools and a recognised IET Technical Author. For technical queries or further information, please visit www.harrisassociates.ltd.uk or Tweet @harrisassocltd.



The increase of Phosphate levels in the UK water system spells bad news for pool owners

By Colin Day, MISPE The UK has been quite strict on water purity for over 120 years and continues to set new standards in the market. Throughout this history, products have evolved to address new guidelines, legislation and best practice in the industry. For most pools, testing the parameters to achieve “Balanced Water” (pH; Total Alkalinity; Calcium Hardness; Total Dissolved Solids; and Temperature) constitute the most common tests. A range of photometers, visual comparators and meters available on the market provides a variety of options to achieve these results. Now and again things do change in the industry which renders additional tests more important both for the commercial pool maintenance manager and the domestic pool tester. Recently, Allen Wilson (FISPE) spoke out about the new EC Directive 80/778/EEC on the contents of lead in drinking water and how water utility companies are adding phosphates to water to inhibit resultant corrosion. It has been found that the addition of Phosphate to a potable water supply can significantly reduce lead and copper levels – helping us to meet these EU directives on drinking water standards. But there has to be a “But” The immediate effect of this is already being noticed in swimming pools with increased outbreaks of algae – phosphates are, basically, fertilizers. Increased Phosphate levels

- Encourage algal growth - Affect pool appearance - Impact pool performance

Increased algae require increased Chlorine dosage which incurs increased costs, so testing for Phosphate is becoming more and more important. Since

additional Phosphates in pool water have an effect on both the pool appearance and performance, it is essential that the levels are controlled and kept very low. Measuring Phosphate levels can be carried out easily using Phosphate tablets and then reading the results either on a comparator system or a photometer. Now for the next “But” Care has to be taken, however, as a number of tablets used for other tests such as DPD No1 also contain Phosphates. Using a tube that has been used for Chlorine testing, therefore, can result in a false positive reading, as the tablets pick up the residual Phosphate that has adhered to the tube. Testing for Phosphate Made Easy

- Always use a set of tubes specific for the test

- Rinse tubes immediately after use with deionised water (some tap water contains Phosphates) and drain dry

- Occasionally rinse tubes with a weak acid (vinegar) to remove deposits.

Dates for Your Diary

The 108th ISPE One-Day Seminar

Thursday 16th October at The Watermill Hotel,

Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

The 109th ISPE One-Day Seminar

Tuesday 25th November at The Shrubbery Hotel

Ilminster, Somerset.

More details to follow.


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Flooded Pools

We asked ISPE Council members, John Asher and Howard Gosling about the best approach to dealing with flooded pools. CLEANING FLOODED POOLS If you get a call out to clean up a pool that has been flooded over these last three months then be very careful whether the pool is a liner or a tile finish. Remember, even if the flood has receded, there may still be a very high water table around the pool shell. If a pump pit was put in place when the pool was built then you are able to check straight away just what water table pressure is behind the pool shell. If in any doubt and you cannot

check water levels outside the shell then try and clean up by vacuuming and chemicalisation. If during flooding you had sewage ingress or damage to the pool shell or pipework, then you have no alternative but to dig a pit at the back of the pool shell and pump out to remove pressure off the shell before any work is started on the pool. You may find you will have to keep the pump going, while the repair is in progress. Obviously this is a good time to bring the pool up to new SPATA Standards if required. Tile pools - check for any loose tiles or shell cracks. If a liner pool, take extra care to clean down the liner both inside and out if necessary before refitting and filling. If you have to dig a pit outside the shell, do this work, then leave a large pipe on some hardcore with the pipe 4-6 inches (10-15cm) below the deepest point of the pool, large enough to take an automatic pump that can be used if the problem arises again.

Pump Pit Better still, for what extra it costs, put these pump pits in all your pools when installing from new, both indoor and out, and be prepared for our English weather! John Asher, Hon.FISPE March 2014.

01245 422800

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FLOODING OF OUTDOOR POOLS

Now the weather is improving a little, thoughts are turning to the opening and re-commissioning of outdoor pools, both domestic and the few public ones. Everywhere the water table will be high and some liner pools will be floating. Pools cannot therefore be drained and so chemical cleansing will have to be done, more than ever. One thing that causes concern is the flooded pools, many of which are already green with algae because of the mild winter, may well have all sorts of sewage and field run off in them. It would be a wise precaution to carry out super-chlorination of all pools in advance of their use by bathers so as to try and inactivate any Cryptosporidium that may be in them. Advice on super-chlorination is on the PWTAG website, (see www.pwtag.org/technical.php). In Technical Notes, number 23 covers super- chlorination of swimming pool water and was updated in February. It would be appropriate to dose at 20 mg/l for at least 13 hours with the pump and filter running. The quantity of rapid dissolving calcium hypochlorite (65%) required is 0.033 g/l or if using sodium hypochlorite, 0.156 ml/l. There should be no problem in using these quantities of chemicals in a tiled pool, but if it is a liner pool, check with the liner manufacturer and take particular care with older liner pools. Please note that in theory, it is possible to reduce the concentration to, say, 10 mg/l and double the contact time. However, it is best to use maximum chlorine concentration to inactivate Cryptosporidium. Aquaflex for example, say that there is no problem with their liner material when carrying out a 20 mg/l 13 hour super-chlorination on an

emergency basis. It is important to check the Free chlorine residual (DPD1) every few hours (using dilution method to avoid any bleaching out) and since both forms of hypochlorite will tend to increase the pH of the water, it is essential to keep the pH down towards 7.2 in order to maintain chlorine activity (i.e. hypochlorous acid). Bathers should not enter the pool until the chlorine level has fallen to 5 ppm and it is best to do that by natural decay by leaving any covers off the pool rather than trying to use sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate and running the risk of removing all the chlorine, or indeed creating a chlorine demand. Good luck and remember to explain to the pool owner what is being done and why.

Howard Gosling, FISPE - March 2014.


Wilson’s Words of Wisdom It was in 1954 when I obtained, for want of a better description, a criminal record. My offence: larceny, or to be more accurate, scrumping. Scrumping is a colloquialism for taking apples from an apple tree not belonging to you. My Dad was bound over in the sum of three shillings and nine pence (19p) to ensure my ongoing good behaviour. He did however dish out some instant justice by giving me a clip around the ear for bringing ignominy on our family. All of this took place sixty years ago and since then I have led a relatively stain-free existence, well that is until two weeks ago. I was working in Abu Dhabi for an American client on a pool beset with problems and was staying approximately 1000 metres away in a decent (5*) hotel. I fortunately arrived on a Saturday and as I did not start work until Monday, I had to amuse myself over the weekend. Providentially the HSBC sponsored Abu Dhabi golf tournament was on and as a HSBC premiere account holder I was able to spend two days there with free entry, food & Stella Artois plus a seat in the hospitality box overlooking the 18th hole.

Allen (in disguise) relaxing in Abu Dhabi

After an enjoyable weekend that would have been a whole lot better if Rory McIlroy had not incurred a two stroke penalty, I arose Monday morning and set off on a balmy morning to work. The hotel concierge gave me the following directions, “turn right by the Maserati showroom and carry on down past the McLaren Garage until you reach the Aston Martin dealership. Cross over at the traffic lights and then turn right just before the Ferrari showroom. Be careful crossing as it is four lanes in each direction”. The traffic there was something else, everyone driving V8s and roaring around like deranged F1 drivers. So at the first half of the crossroads I pressed the pedestrian button and waited, and waited and waited. Half way across the carriageway I could see the green man (obviously not a real green man, but simply an animated sign) indicating that it was safe to cross the other section. Eventually the green man (see above definition) on my section reluctantly beckoned me across and over I sauntered. Once I was on the centre island the green man (and again) that had been indicating a safe passage for me abruptly stopped. Seeing as no traffic was coming I carried on walking across, not realising that ‘U’ turns are positively encouraged in Abu Dhabi. As I meandered over, a guy in a Porsche Cayenne wearing an Arabic headdress wound down his window and screamed, “Waj ab zibik ” which literally translates as ‘An infection on your genitals.’ Breaking into my version of a trot (more early Forest Gump than the Usain Bolt) I finally reached what I thought was safety. But no sooner than I had recovered my breath when a police officer, his hand resting menacingly on his pistol butt, emerged from behind a tree taking a perverse delight in issuing me with an ‘on


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the spot’ fine of 100 Dirham (about 20 quid) for jaywalking. He then took a photo of me and of my passport and relieved me of 100 Dirham. My Dad would have been overwrought and I consoled myself with the thought that he had avoided my latest shameful episode by conveniently dying thirty years previously. Anyway, the pool in question, a deck level, wasn’t a deck level. The water level was maintained 100mm below the edge because the overflow pipework to the balance tank leaked. This meant that 100% of the water was removed through the two sump outlets. I tested the suction on these outlets by tying a rope to a plastic dustbin lid and pushing it down onto one of the outlets that immediately grasped it in a deathly embrace. Attempting to remove it, I managed to snap the dustbin lid handle off. In desperation I was only able to remove it by shutting down the circulation pumps. Strangely the staff at the site had never heard of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act or even the Abigail Taylor law. Both of these laws were enacted in the USA following incidents involving entrapments around 2008. If you need more info on these acts and laws, do yourself a big favour and buy yourself a copy of Wilson’s Essential Pool & Spa Plant Handbook (4th edition), only £23.95 from the ISPE, 220 pages of what you need to know.

Following my advice, “ if you want to stay open, you need to get an anti-vac valve fitted”, they contacted Bob Kent and it amazingly arrived via Fedex within days, allowing me to oversee its fitting by their own maintenance staff. You know what they say ‘those who can do it, do it, those who can’t, teach!’ This was a good but short term solution, what they needed to do was replace the overflow pipework and whilst they were at it, to fit automatic dosing, a floc dosing system and ideally a UV unit to give them proactive and reactive protection against Cryptosporidium and Giardia (see pages 26 & 27 of above mentioned manual), plus some bunding. Strangely or fortunately, as it was January, very few people were swimming as the pool water temperature had dropped to a hypothermia-inducing 29oC. Some people in reality, do not know when they are well off! The major problem when carrying out refurbs is that the pool users cannot see any difference and are annoyed that their pool has been closed preventing them from swimming. One thing that will make them see a difference is to replace the underwater lighting units; the Ford Cortina headlamps, with LED replacements and these same customers will be delighted with the improvements to their pool as these LED lights change colours, enchanting them.


Cal Hypo was added from a semi opaque day tank, (no bund!) that was adjacent to a dry acid day tank, again no bund. The dosing was controlled by good quality Seko positive displacement pumps simply plugged into 13 amp sockets. On a visit to the local Carrefour I purchased two 13amp plug timers for 25 Dirham each (about a fiver) and using these, was able to exert some form of control over the dosing by simply setting them up with on/off running periods. In Abu Dhabi, unlike Qatar, they did not appear to have an equivalent of EHO or HSE or if they did, they had certainly not inspected this site. I personally have always maintained that if you get involved in American pools you need to set your watch back twenty years, yet I was still surprised that an American organisation was running things so poorly. The site was serviced, for want of a better word, by an employee of a local pool company. Now I have often heard that half the world’s population are on a dollar a day, well if this guy was on a dollar a day, they were overpaying him and to quote 10cc’s classic track, ‘un nuit a Paris’, “he isn’t worth a centime”. This guy would religiously test the water and enter the readings but do absolutely nothing about reacting to these readings. If the pH was too low, he would not turn off the acid. If the chlorine was too low he would not turn on the pump or even ensure that the tanks were ‘topped up’. As Walter Chrysler once quoted: “I feel sorry for the person who can't get genuinely excited about his work. Not only will he never be satisfied, but he will never achieve anything worthwhile.” Walter must have known this bloke. The Pool Manager, Indika and the other staff, in fairness to them, managed to keep the pool within operating parameters as far as pH and chlorine levels were concerned but they too, realise that this elderly pool has now reached the stage where it needs a serious plant makeover.

This view was at least supported by the present management of the facility and hopefully they will implement the changes that I have advocated. One of the major changes already implemented was that all staff are now trained to an ISPE-endorsed level in pool plant operation.

More satisfied clients (Allen 2nd from right) I did not need to go to Abu Dhabi to find faults such as I have described. I commonly come across them in the UK and a positive start is to train all staff to an Institute-endorsed level. Training is everything! and it is recommended in the new PWTAG code of practice for pool plant operation, especially site-specific training. Following my newly-acquired criminal record I have had to take measures to disguise myself and this is why many of the colleagues and old friends I bumped into at SPATEX (the best show ever) in Coventry recently queried “why have you grown that stupid beard?” Now you know!

Allen J Wilson Tech IOSH, MAPLT, FISPE. President ISPE.

CALLING ALL MEMBERS!

We still do not have all our members’ email addresses.

To enable us to keep you informed (but

not bombard you) please email us at [email protected]


As colleagues, customers or similar, please find below details of changes to this H&S law:

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 came into force on October 1st 2013. The HSE consulted on proposals for new, simplified regulations, based on recommendations from the Lofstedt report.Here is an overview of the alterations to the regulations, provided by Studies In Work. The main changes made by these Regulations are: 1. A more simplified and abbreviated list of specified reportable major injuries to workers sustained as a result of a work-related accident. 2. Clarification of reportable dangerous occurrences (near-miss events). 3. Clarification and a shortened list of reportable ill-health conditions in workers (replacing 47 specified ill-health conditions with 8 categories of work-related diseases). 4. A simplified list of dangerous occurrences within the rail-sector, and removal of the requirement to report suicides on railways.There are no changes to: 1. The recording requirements; 2. The reporting of fatal accidents; 3. The reporting of accidents involving non-workers including members of the public; 4. The reporting of accidents which incapacitate workers for more than seven days; 5. Requirements to preserve certain incident sites at mines, quarries and offshore workplaces pending investigation and subject to overriding safety needs. Some changes in wording have been made to the requirements for reporting gas hazards and injuries. It remains a defence in proceedings to prove that the relevant organisation was unaware of the circumstances which gave rise to a reporting requirement, provided they have taken reasonable steps to be made aware. There is no longer a requirement to report the same incident twice, provided that all the information required in respect of the multiple reporting requirements has been

Information on RIDDOR ChangesBy Allen Wilson, FISPE.

given and timescales are met.New categories of reportable injury to employees

The list of major injuries is now contained within regulation 4 rather than within a schedule. Fractures other than to fingers, thumbs and toes are still reportable though with the caveat ‘as diagnosed by a medical practitioner’. ‘Any amputation’ as a category has been replaced with ‘amputation of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe’. Dislocations, chemical/hot metal injuries to the eye, electric shock-related injury, heat induced illness, hypothermia, unconsciousness (in general), injuries requiring resuscitation in general and those requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours are no longer reportable as major injuries. The sight loss category has become, ‘any injury diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner as being likely to cause permanent blinding or reduction in sight in one or both eyes’. There are now some new categories: 1. Any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs in the chest or abdomen; 2. Any burn injury (including scalding) which covers more than 10% of the whole body’s total surface area or causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs; 3. Any degree of scalping requiring hospital treatment 4. Loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia is an altered category (previously loss of consciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to substances was reportable). 5. Any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness; or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.Note: The over seven day’ category is also retained.


requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours. Note: The over seven day' category is also retained. Changes to Reportable Disease Categories Reportable occupational diseases are now summarised as follows: 1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, where the person's work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools; 2. Cramp in the hand or forearm, where the person's work involves prolonged periods of repetitive movement of the fingers, hand or arm; 3. Occupational dermatitis, where the person's work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitizer or irritant; 4. Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, where the person's work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools, or the holding of materials, which are subject to percussive processes, or processes causing vibration; 5. Occupational asthma, where the person's work involves significant or regular exposure to a known respiratory sensitizer; or, 6.Tendonitis or tenosynovitis in the hand or forearm, where the person's work is physically demanding and involves frequent, repetitive movements. Two further categories are now added 1. Any cancer attributed to an occupational exposure to a known human carcinogen or mutagen (including ionising radiation); or 2. Any disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent. Conclusion: The regulations have essentially been redrafted with some sections imported from the old regulations into the new structure. Even where requirements are very similar such as in the list of general dangerous occurrences there are subtle differences in wording. In some cases the use of new words within the regulations will require clarification within the new guidance and it is hoped that this will not leave scope for misinterpretation. What do you need to do? Look at your policies on accident reporting and review their content now to ensure continued correlation with the legal requirements.

*************

Builder fined £10,000 with £10,000 costs after wet concrete injuries A builder has been fined after two labourers sustained second degree chemical burns after working knee-deep in wet concrete for more than four hours in London. Neither worker were aware of the risks associated with the work they were undertaking. Neither were they provided with suitable items of personal protective equipment (PPEs). One of the workers required skin grafts to both ankles as a result of his prolonged contact with the material, in October 2010. He and his colleague were left in severe discomfort after working as casual labourers on a project to demolish five garages and erect two semi-detached homes in their place. Geoffrey Cinko was prosecuted on the 11th March 2014 by the HSE after an investigation found he failed in his duty of care as an employer to ensure suitable instructions, personal protective equipment and welfare facilities were provided. Comment by ISPE President Concrete contains cement, a highly alkaline material and its use should be risk and COSHH assessed.

************* Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012,

ACoP L143 – five key changes New revisions came into effect in December 2013. It contains the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and guidance text for employers about work which disturbs, or is likely to disturb, asbestos, asbestos sampling and laboratory analysis. Two ACoPs, L127 (The management of asbestos in non-domestic premises) and L143 (Work with materials containing asbestos) have been consolidated into this single revised publication. The Regulations set out your legal duties and the ACoP and guidance give practical advice on how to comply with those duties. The Regulations give minimum standards for protecting employees from risks associated with exposure to asbestos.

For the full articles and further details contact [email protected]

Thanks to Allen Wilson for the above.

Changes to Reportable Disease CategoriesReportable occupational diseases are now summarised as follows: 1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, where the person’s work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools; 2. Cramp in the hand or forearm, where the person’s work involves prolonged periods of repetitive movement of the fingers, hand or arm; 3. Occupational dermatitis, where the person’s work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitizer or irritant; 4. Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, where the person’s work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools, or the holding of materials, which are subject to percussive processes, or processes causing vibration; 5. Occupational asthma, where the person’s work involves significant or regular exposure to a known respiratory sensitizer; or, 6. Tendonitis or tenosynovitis in the hand or forearm, where the person’s work is physically demanding and involves frequent, repetitive movements.Two further categories are now added 1. Any cancer attributed to an occupational exposure to a known human carcinogen or mutagen (including ionising radiation); or 2. Any disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent.Conclusion: The regulations have essentially been redrafted with some sections imported from the old regulations into the new structure. Even where requirements are very similar such as in the list of general dangerous occurrences there are subtle differences in wording. In some cases the use of new words within the regulations will require clarification within the new guidance and it is hoped that this will not leave scope for misinterpretation. What do you need to do?Look at your policies on accident reporting and review their content now to ensure continued correlation with the legal requirements.

*************


Product Profile “Zeoclere 30 - AN ENORMOUSLY BRILLIANT PRODUCT”.

MSI, the suppliers of Zeoclere 30, premium grade filter media have introduced a new design service label for pool engineers. As strange as it may seem, Zeoclere30 sales, even in these difficult trading times, have increased dramatically within the past 24 months. Most tonnage has come from the commercial section where it’s been shown that notable savings have been made to companies’ bottom line. As a good example, 25m Fareham leisure pool and teaching pool have shown an average annual savings of £10,000 a year against their previous medium. And with no safety issues. Fareham first installed Zeoclere in 1996. In 2008 they recharged the filters with new. The new MSI Regeneration service label is designed specifically to enable the installer company to indicate when Zeoclere30 was installed. The label also incorporates the dates when the medium was last regenerated. Zeoclere30 tests show that turbidly is 60% better than accepted standards. The world of commercial spas is also agreeing with these benefits. Zeoclere is available from Certikin, Pollet Pool Group and most professional pool servicing companies. Mineral Supplies International Ltd [email protected] 01825 790524


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Jarvis, S. Omnia Estates Ltd. Keyhoe, T. Independent Pool & Spa Advisory London, C. Capital Contract Services CCS Luckman, S. Meddings Thermalec Lycett, S.J. London Borough of Bromley Mead, E. EPS Mitchell, S.F. Royal Tunbridge Wells Spa Co O' Sullivan, W. Pollet Pool Group Panaitescu, I. V. Romania Pearce, J. Pollet Pool Group Perry, J. Rockingham Swimming Pools Pickstock, M. Tanby Pools Preston, T. EPS Sedgwick, D. H20 Fun Shah, M. Desert Group Sharwood, L. Mildenhall Swimming Pool Spear, G. Surrey Spencer, M. SPS Swimming Pools + Spas Spencer, S. SPS Swimming Pools + Spas Steptoe, D. Certikin Int. Turnbull, P. Pollet Pool Group Watson, L. Tanby Pools Witney, M. Pollet Pool Group Young, M.A. Apex Pool Engineers


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Cloud computing is all the rage. It has taken over half a century to get here, so it must be great, good and glorious. Fifty years ago, the British pool industry was just starting to blossom, and at that time the ASPC (later transplanted as SPATA) suggested there might be 35,000 pools already in use throughout the Kingdom. At about the same time, the American pool industry was beginning to ripen, giving scope for the NSPI to report that there were 100,000 pools installed throughout the States … every year! In those distant days, computers were much bigger than double decker buses. In fact, Leo (Lyons Electronic Office) needed an entire bus depot, with a hundred or so operatives, to work, day and night. It was the first computer employed for commercial business activity. It grew greatly and was then able to propagate Leo I, II and III for the likes of Joe Lyons, Ford Motor Company and Ilford Films, etc. Today, if we want to know anything, or find something out, we can go cloud computing. If you ask Google, “How many swimming pools are there in the USA?” … Wiki answers with 10 million. Try the same question for the UK and we are told, “This question has not been answered yet. ANSWER IT.” Being a super-sophisticated iCloud system, it does go on to say, just like Hal the 2001 computer, “Ask the question: How many gallons of water in a swimming pool?” Obviously, any clever computer can calculate that capacity. But, it fails to tell you whether the Wiki–answer is in Imperial or US gallons! So, we still have some way to go before we can accept our brightening great virtual world. Of course, if you know where to

Cloud Computing for PoolsJohn Dawes, FISPE, March 2014

seek your solution for your subject, you will be able to establish the printed answer … whether it is a justifiable one, depends upon the quality of the published source. But, at least, it is a real world statement. Why do we want to know how many pools there are anyway? In practice, the business-efficient pool practitioner will know the market situation already. It is the newcomer who needs that numerate market survey, often supplied at considerable cost. An academic researcher exists to catalogue and find unknowns, especially by number crunching for government departments. After all, why did William I want a Domesday Book? It was really the ‘Day of Judgement’ Survey to find out what he had got, where it was, and


how much it was worth, in order to tax the vanquished. The Norman manuscript is written in mediaeval Latin, making it impossible for an English-speaking peoples to understand the scripts. There was no appeal for the lone individual, just like the Planning decree of today. But, back to pools and information published in print. The Swimming Pool Directory 4th Edition offered a national survey, which concluded with a Britain & Ireland Pool Park 1985 figure of 110,000 (see also London’s Cocktail Belt from the Directory for a picture of a marketing affect). Then more recently, in Volume 17/2 ISPE Magazine, it was guesstimated that the UK Pool Park in 2005 had reached 200,000.

London's Cocktail Belt 1985

How can we get reliable information on ‘How many’ and ‘Where are’ the swimming pools in the UK? Obviously, go Googling and you can spy out your local area. But, to explore the entire UK is more than a task-and-a-half. Recently, student Benedikt Gross, working for his Master’s degree with the Royal College of Art, was flying into Los Angeles for the first time, and he was mesmerised by hundreds of blue pools in the landscape below. A few months later he bumped into Joseph Lee, a UCLA geography graduate, and he wondered, “How many pools there were in LA”.

One year later, the pair, having embarked upon a digital mapping iCloud analysis of the Los Angeles basin, counted 43,123 pools. In truth, the job was farmed out to a crowd sourcing service in India, paying workers $300 to draw the outline of every pool to be catalogued in an agricultural aerial imagery programme, cross-checked by another crowd sourcing service in Turkey at $350, in order to produce the Big Atlas of LA Pools amounting to 600pp across 74 printed volumes – a veritable Domesday spatial analysis. They would have had much greater difficulty in finding and counting swimming pools, if they had decided to examine the eastern seaboard of the States (see New York’s, Central Park aerial photograph).

New York’s Central Park 2012

The Internet, i.e. cloud computing, facilitates crowd sourcing to build-up


resources rapidly from all around the iWorld. This global portal for information research, makes it possible to access and organise the power of crowd funding to raise, for example, $2million in an entrepreneurial iCancer campaign to get a Swedish engineered virus out of the lab and into application research to target glandular tumours – the type of cancer that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died from. In a more prosaic campaign, there’s a Microgenius crowd funding platform to launch a share issue for an investment fund to renovate Hastings Pier (see the seaside photo).

Hastings pier to be refurbished

Or consider, with its SF inspiration, Boston-based Spike Aerospace that is generating eworld publicity via a crowd funding campaign to raise new cash to help complete the next phase of their $60million project to build a 1200mph private jetplane, employing advanced composite materials, avionics and propulsion technologies. But, it is not all plain sailing for the present-day, almost entirely American-based, data routing systems via the Internet. Chancellor Angela Merkel has been sparked by being ebugged on her mobile ‘phone, and she has therefore announced separatist plans to set-up an autonomous European communications network, an independent Euronet.

Crowd sourcing via iCloud is fine to find all those outdoor pools, but there is a fast growing number of indoor pools today. No problem: use LiDAR – a mix of laser and radar beamed from an aircraft to pierce through buildings, to expose ground water beneath when suitably computer processed. It was one of those ‘geophys’ techniques employed by Channel Four Time Team, to strip away all modern structures over the Norman conquest battlefield, in order to prove where William I killed Harold II … and it’s not the place where everyone had always thought it was on Battle Abbey’s soggy grounds, but 400 yards away set off 90 degrees by the mini-roundabout at the top of a mound by Marley Lane, leading down to Rutherford Pools of Battle in 1066 country. NB. There are no swimming pools recorded in the Domesday Book, only fishponds.

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A Personal viewpoint from Colin Jenkinson, MISPE.

Will it be Coventry or Birmingham in 2015?Having been introduced in the previous edition as a new Council Member for ISPE, Ross suggested I write an article for this edition based on my recent experiences that may be relevant and of particular interest to readers. Unlike certain other contributors to this magazine I am by nature a rather reserved and somewhat sceptical individual whose work alas does not take me around the world to solve pool problems, neither do I have the distinguished looks of authority to allow me to make guest appearances on national television programmes. Therefore writing an article that will interest readers is a challenge but one I have accepted. So I referred to my diary to recall what excitement I have had in my life recently that I could share with readers. The diary confirmed that I have not been to any far flung destinations, but it did provide an unlikely source of inspiration for my writing as it highlighted my trips to Coventry and Birmingham for the Spatex and the UK Pool and Spa Expo. Well who would have believed that two trade exhibitions, held within three weeks and sixty miles of each other, would both have been such a resounding success? Well, that’s according to what I read in the trade press from the organisers of both exhibitions, who have reported positive 2014 shows with record numbers of exhibitors signing up for 2015. (Did I previously mention I am, by nature, always sceptical?) For me these two shows at the same time raised some intriguing questions; 1. How did the situation ever arise in the first place? 2. Which show do I choose? Is it worth visiting both or indeed should I choose to stay away altogether? With regard to the first question, I have discovered the answer depends on who you ask, so given my role with ISPE I think

Correspondenceit’s wise not to comment further. How the industry can continue to support two shows for many more years in the future in the same area at the same time is beyond me, unless of course organisers and sponsors of both events have access to unlimited resources. The second question of which show to choose…Well, I looked for the discernable differences between the two shows in terms of who their target markets were, no help there. They seemed similar to me and I appeared to be in demand, being targeted by both organisers through their pre-event publicity material. So I then considered the number of exhibitors, 94 at Spatex and 70 or so at UK Pool & Spa, so similar numbers and again they appeared to cover a very similar range of products and services, so little help there either. Both offered educational workshops for those seeking continuous professional development, the Spatex programme however being organised once again by ISPE, appeared to be more comprehensive with a number of leading industry speakers. What swung it for me was the fact I lived in Nottinghamshire this meant I was actually able to visit both shows. I am sure the organisers had this in mind when choosing Coventry and Birmingham with the research suggesting that 75% of the population is within a 2 hour drive of the venues. Unless of course the West Midlands was chosen as it has the largest concentration of spas and hot tubs in the country, particularly important I guess for the public days of the events. Whilst I did make the effort to attend both shows it was interesting to note that only 20 exhibitors or so committed to both. I may be naïve but this suggests to me that either exhibitors don’t think there is the demand for two shows or more likely they cannot afford to do both. Unfortunately I have no immediate data to hand to see how many visitors like myself attended both exhibitions this year, but if any readers did I would be interested to know what benefits were gained to justify the two separate visits.


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From my visitor perspective, both shows could have been combined into one. I am aware that each event also has its Gala Dinners, Awards evenings and social networking opportunities and this undoubtedly influences some individuals. Based on what I experienced this year it’s unlikely I will be visiting two shows again next year, so I will again be left with the choice, Coventry or Birmingham in 2015, or maybe neither.Colin Jenkinson, March 2014.

*******************and from ISPE Member, David Lowe:

“The views expressed are not necessarily those of ISPE”For years my chum (business partner John) and I have made our eagerly anticipated winter pilgrimage to Brighton - regardless of the weather. And a couple of years ago it was certainly a tad testing, what with the unusually heavy snowfall! People we have met there over the years frequently marvelled at our resolute determination, considering we come from Haggisland. But let me tell you - we wouldn’t have missed SPATEX for anything. It’s that good I was planning to include our February trip on the annual holidays schedule my wife and I draw up each year. So what did I think about Coventry’s Ricoh show? The stands displayed their customary high standard of colourful presentation and knowledgeable advice from industry friends, old and new. The ISPE workshop presentations were interesting, informative

and often entertaining - as always. Parking was perfect. But where was the buzz? The heart of SPATEX has been lost in the desert of the Ricoh where evening networking and general socialising were absent come 5pm chucking-out time. The big Brighton bonus was the close proximity of so many bars and restaurants where smiling faces were put to voices that had hitherto been telephone business relationships. John and I spent our first evening last month in a Nuneaton bar with local football viewers and the next evening in a deserted Beefeater, where thankfully some lovely Lovibond people arrived and shared a table.

This socialising opportunity is an area that, for whatever reason, has been ignored and put aside. That is a real disappointment. Next year? Maybe. While this year’s SPATEX was slick and well organised, we’ll be looking around first to see if there are alternatives that offer the holistic attractions that the Brighton venue had. Bang goes my wife’s holiday on the English Riviera. And her annual stick of Brighton Rock!David Lowe - Director,Flowman Leisure Ltd. (March 2014)

Editor’s Note:We welcome correspondence from our members on all subjects. Just for the record though, the ISPE will be supporting and exhibiting at one pool show only in 2015, that being SPATEX 2015, at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry (Sunday 1st to Tuesday 3rd February) and we are delighted to have been asked to organise the Technical Programme.


Situations Vacant

Swimming Pool & Hot Tub Engineer

Aquatech Pool & Water Services are currently looking for somebody to join our growing small family run business. We will consider an already experienced Engineer or a Trainee who would work alongside our experienced Engineers, assisting them in carrying out the service & maintenance of pools and spas. Works would also involve the renovation and construction of new swimming pools. Our customer base includes both domestic and commercial clients and we are currently working on some very specialised projects. Applicants must have at least 1 year’s building/labouring experience and have GCSE grade C or above in Maths & English. Good communication is essential for this customer facing role. Experience of working within the swimming pool industry is an advantage, as is knowledge of other trades (e.g. plumbing/electrical etc). An engineering mind would also be advantageous as would a full, clean driving licence. To succeed in this role you must pay high attention to detail with the ability to work on your own initiative and be completely trustworthy. Previous experience, an ISPE certificate or having the full Plantroom Operators certificate would also be of benefit. For further details or to apply please email [email protected] or send your CV with covering letter, stating salary expectations to The Old Pumphouse, Unit 24 Stoke Mill, Mill Road, Sharnbrook, Beds MK44 1NN.

Experienced Swimming Pool Engineer ISPE qualified as a preference

Swimming pool filtration knowledge essential Swimming pool refurbishment experience required

Including all elements of pipework installation Installation of plant work equipment

Some knowledge of automatic pool covers and air handling systems (Calorex & Heatstar) essential

Fault finding skills Capable of handling repairs to equipment and pipework

General maintenance skills Full clean driving licence

Ability to communicate well with both clients and colleagues Ability to follow verbal and written instructions

Ability to understand technical pool and spa drawings Presentable - uniform will be provided

Swimmer 42.5 hours per week (8.00am - 4.30pm) Salary dependant on experience

Please forward CV’s and brief covering letter to Kathy Gowland – [email protected] The next issue of the ISPE Magazine will be sent out in late June. We welcome new advertisers, articles, correspondence, information, news or advice from all our members. We offer a limited number of free Product or Company profiles, opportunities to report on case studies or how a problem was solved. Please send anything you would like to be considered, including situations vacant adverts (free to ISPE members) to [email protected] before Friday 6th June.

SPATEX 2015 RICOH A5 ISPE_Layout 1 18/03/2014 09:08 Page 1

Documents

Pool Liner Membrane Standards - ISPE€¦ · 4 ISPE MAGAZINE Vol. 25 No. 1 SPATEX 2015 thinks BIG! Michele adds: “Fired up by the success of SPATEX 2014, we are now planning on