SPN (Swimming Pool News) August 2020

AUGUST 2020

POOLS SPAS HOT TUBS SAUNAS CHEMICALS ACCESSORIES & MORE

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE UK INDUSTRY

HEAT PUMPS

Environmentally friendly water heating solutions

LIGHTING OPTIONS Showing pools and spas in their best possible light

THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH The latest low and no chlorine water treatment products

STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS

Pools, spas and accessories that have stainless steel appeal

PLUS SPN_Aug_20_Cover.indd 3

STA Pool Plant – Safe Facilities | Maximising Pool Use | Britain’s EUSA Entries Water Testing | Pool & Spa Industry | Opinion | 12 Pages Of The Best Industry News 27/08/2020 17:38

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Editor’s LS ACCESSORIES & MORE POOLS SPAS HOT TUBS SAUNAS CHEMICA

AUGUST 2020

SPN incorporating Pool & Spa Industry is the official trade magazine for the UK wet leisure markets and is the only trade publication that invests in the industry it serves.

we have an in depth look at the latest solutions that are keeping the water clean whilst reducing or removing the need for chlorine use. We also take a look at just some of the labour-saving products that are simply and accurately testing the water in swimming pools and spas in both commercial and domestic settings. Plus, we’ve also an in depth look at the latest efficient and environmentally friendly heat pumps that are on the market – products that will definitely take the chill out of the water on grey days.

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE UK INDUSTRY

Editor and Co Publisher: Jon Wadeson Features: Karen Witney Features & Subeditor: Andrea Hartshorne Co Publisher and Sales Director: Tony Weston Production: Cathy Varley Accounts: Sam Bartholomew For editorial enquiries contact Jon on: T: +44 (0)20 8306 8150 E: jon@aqua-publishing.co.uk For advertising enquiries contact Tony on: T: +44 (0)1474 813433 E: tony@aqua-publishing.co.uk For production enquiries contact Cathy on: T: +44 (0)1823 432416 E: cathy@aqua-publishing.co.uk For accounts enquiries contact Sam on: T: +44 (0)1823 430639 E: accounts@aqua-publishing.co.uk Design: Colin Halliday

To subscribe or amend / cancel an existing subscription, please visit our website.

Annual subscription rates (6 issues): UK £30, Europe £50 and ROW £60 SPN is published by W: www.aqua-publishing.co.uk Printed in the UK by The Manson Group Ltd Aqua Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for any insert, display or classified advertisement included in Swimming Pool News. While every reasonable care is taken to ensure that all advertisers are reliable and reputable, Swimming PoolPNews can UBL I Sgive H I no NG assurance they will fulfil their obligations under all circumstances. The views expressed in the articles in Swimming Pool News are the contributors’ own. All rights reserved. Copyright for all materials published in SPN remains with the publishers. Material contained in this publication is not to be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior permission of Aqua Publishing Ltd.

HEAT PUMP S

Environmentally friendly water heating solutions

LIGHTING OPTIONS Showing pools and spas in their best possible light

THE ALTER NATIV E APPROACH The latest low and no chlorine water treatment products

STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS Pools, spas and accessories that have stainless

PLUS

letter

steel appeal

Pool Use | Britain’s EUSA Entries STA Pool Plant – Safe Facilities | Maximising | 12 Pages Of The Best Industry News Water Testing | Pool & Spa Industry | Opinion 27/08/2020 17:38

SPN_Aug_20_Cover.indd 3

Since the last edition of SPN, many public swimming pools and facilities across the country have finally been given the green light to open, however what is clear is that some, indeed many may not do so for a number of months and sadly others look like they will never reopen at all. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected just about every single individual, business and industry within the UK and whilst it’s easy to think it’s all doom and gloom, actually, that’s not been the reality for many sectors. Yes, it’s somewhat of a rather depressing situation and outlook for the commercial side of the wet leisure industry – at least in the short term – but that could rapidly change with more of the British public holidaying in the UK in the future.

Also, as mentioned in the last issue of SPN, on the residential side of the wet leisure sector, there’s been a complete contrast and companies have found it hard to keep up with demand for pools, hot tubs, spas and saunas, with many reporting or predicting record periods plus stock shortages meaning orders in some cases will be fulfilled next year! What this illustrates is there clearly is no such thing as ‘normal’ at the moment and predicting anything with any degree of certainty is tough at best. One thing that should be a certainty though is that the health and wellbeing of all has become more of a priority and that can only be a good thing for our industry going forward.

With people returning to the water and with hygiene being at the forefront of people’s minds, it is appropriate that in this issue

A sector that has changed immensely over recent years is lighting and we take a look at various products which are delivering some truly stunning results both inside and outside the water. The appeal of stainless steel is also focused on again as we look at pools, spas and accessories that are utilising the benefits of what is a flexible, durable and timeless material.

We’ve a piece on enclosures which is timely given the increase in residential garden pools this year plus we are running a heat pump feature as mentioned above, and if that wasn’t enough, Golden Coast’s Jamie Adams touches on the subject of remote working during and post the Coronavirus pandemic, whilst the STA highlight best practice to ensure commercial pools are as clean and safe as possible for visitors during these challenging times.

There’s also useful information from the BSPF, SPATA and BISHTA plus the British entries shortlisted for the 2020 European Pool & Spa Awards hosted by EUSA are revealed.

In addition, we’ve got our round up of all the latest industry, product, people and eco news from both here in the UK and abroad.

So, with our usual wide range of subjects covered, hopefully we’ve provided a bit of something for everyone in this issue of SPN. I hope you enjoy reading it and stay safe in the coming months.

Jon Wadeson - Editor PS – If you are involved within the industry and have some relevant news that you would like to appear within SPN, please do get in touch.

You can now follow SPN on:

Aqua Publishing also publishes: What Pool & Hot Tub magazine – our sister publication – is the only consumer magazine in the UK that provides the complete and crucial information that potential buyers are looking for! For more information visit the What Pool & Hot Tub website at www.whatpoolandhottubmag.co.uk

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SPN August 2020 1 27/08/2020 17:40

CONTENTS

Inside This 40

39

30 COVER

51

LIGHTING OPTIONS

45

HEAT PUMPS

51

THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH

59

STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS

63

Illuminating solutions that show pools and spas in their best possible light The latest environmentally friendly water heating solutions

The latest solutions that are reducing the need for chlorine use

A look at pools and accessories that feature stainless steel appeal

2 August 2020 SPN 2-3_SPN_August_20_Contents.indd 2

FEATURES

POOL & SPA INDUSTRY

29

STA POOL PLANT

36

The industry’s associations dedicated pages Best practice for commercial pools to be as clean and safe as possible

NEWS

INDUSTRY

04

PEOPLE

10

The latest industry news, info, projects and gossip New appointments and updates on industry personnel

Certikin enclosures – products which can extend the residential swimming season

MAXIMISING POOL USE

39

Innovations and new products on the market

PRODUCT / ECO

12

WATER TESTING

40

HOT TUB, SWIM SPA & WELLNESS

17

Labour-saving products for simply and accurately testing pool and spa water

OPINION

Golden Coast’s Jamie Adams looks at remote working during COVID-19 and beyond

72

Dedicated news for this important sector

WORLD

All the latest news from around the world

20

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 27/08/2020 17:44

CONTENTS

Issue Of SPN 59

63 45

20 READER SERVICES DIGITAL EDITION Read this and previous editions online at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk

BUYERS GUIDE For suppliers of products and services in the pool, spa and sauna market turn to page 68

SUBSCRIPTIONS Ensure you receive a regular copy of SPN (Swimming Pool News).

Subscribe online today at www.aqua-publishing.co.uk

FORWARD FEATURES For our forward features, please visit our website at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 2-3_SPN_August_20_Contents.indd 3

Next Issue

• Pool covers (commercial sector) • Tiled spas and swim spas • Hot tubs (commercial sector) • Enclosures • Counter-current systems Plus much, much more!

SPN August 2020 3 27/08/2020 17:44

NEWS

NEWS

All the Latest News, Info, Products and Gossip from the UK Pool and Spa Industry and Beyond

SPATA Membership For Mapei UK As a well-known provider of systems for the construction of swimming pools, Mapei are delighted to have been accepted as members of SPATA, The Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association.

Founded in 1937 in Milan, Mapei is today one of the most important producers of adhesives and complementary products for installing all types of floor and wall and coating materials and is also specialised in other chemical products used in the building industry, such as waterproofing products, special mortars, admixtures for concrete, products for underground constructions and for the restoration of concrete and historical buildings.

With solutions from screed and render, through to concrete waterproofing admixtures, waterproofing membranes and an extensive range of tile adhesives, coloured grout and sealant, Mapei offer full swimming pool and leisure systems from substrate to finish, specialising in fast-track options. They have worked with contractors nationwide on an extensive portfolio of leisure projects.

To become a member of SPATA is a privilege for Mapei UK, a subsidiary of Mapei Group. In Britain, the company produces a wide range of their products at their Halesowen plant in the West Midlands and look forward to contributing to the association

and working alongside fellow members. They have also recently confirmed they will exhibit again at SPATEX 2021.

Mapei UK Ltd 0121 508 6970 www.mapei.co.uk

Don’t Let Swimming Become Leisure’s ‘Forgotten Activity’

Swim England has pleaded with the Government to ensure swimming doesn’t become leisure’s ‘forgotten activity’ – after it was revealed in July that almost a third of public pools could remain closed for another six months.

Indoor pools across the country were allowed to reopen on Saturday 25 July – 128 days after they were forced to shut on Friday 20 March as part of the nationwide effort to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

However, less than 20% of local authority-owned facilities welcomed swimmers back into the water on reopening day – and many of those will have been at a reduced capacity.

New research also shows 30% of public pools may remain closed into 2021 due to the exceptional costs councils face to reopen facilities – coupled with the income lost during the lockdown period.

Jane Nickerson, Swim England Chief Executive, has reiterated her plea to the Government to step in and ensure these facilities are given the financial support they need to survive.

Speaking in July she said: “We’re obviously delighted that pools have finally been given the green light to reopen for the first time in more than four months.

“However, we face the real risk of swimming becoming a forgotten activity for so many people if public leisure centres open their gyms

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first and leave pools closed until next year.

“Before the lockdown, 4.7 million people a month were swimming regularly. It is such a unique activity in that it offers huge physical and mental health benefits – and helps save the NHS and social care system more than £357m a year.

“It would be short-sighted not to provide the necessary financial support to help facilities blighted by the pandemic. The savings made to the NHS alone would quickly more than recover the initial outlay.”

Swim England 01509 618700 www.swimming.org

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 27/08/2020 19:30

AQUASPEED

A new generation of an industry favourite The popular Aquaspeed pump, which is available exclusively from Certikin As well as a modern look, the new model has an upgraded motor which is manufactured using the latest technology to provide an efficient and powerful pump. Despite this upgrade, there are no changes to the dimensions meaning it will still fit in perfectly to the original pump’s footprint and pipework connections.

Aquaspeed Pump

Aquaspeed ECO-V Variable Speed Pump

• Available in a choice of sizes from 0.5hp to 3hp • Solid clear lid for easy inspection of the basket • Comes with 2” quick connect unions • 316 high grade mechanical seal • Suitable for salt chlorinated pools • Hydraulically efficient impeller and diffuser design • Limited 2 year warranty • UV stabilised and corrosion resistant pump body • Straight swap for all old style Aquaspeed pumps

All the features of the Aquaspeed Pump plus: • State of the art permanent magnet brushless motor which uses components chosen for their quality performance and reliability • 3 variable programmable speeds for efficient and cost effective performance • Direct replacement for single speed Aquaspeed pumps • Rapid payback due to huge reductions in running costs

 01993 777200  info@certikin.co.uk

www.certikin.co.uk

MOSAIC SPA CO JUN20.qxp_Layout 1 06/07/2020 07:50 Page 1

NEWS

IN BRIEF SCOTTISH WATERFRONT POOL TO OPEN IN 2022 A contract to deliver a £multimillion pound pool and leisure centre for Helensburgh in Scotland has been awarded to Heron Brothers Ltd. The contract will also deliver strengthened flood defences and improved public meeting space for residents and visitors.

The announcement follows a formal tender exercise run by the Argyll and Bute Council to secure best value for investment in the development which is expected to be open to the public in August 2022.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Policy Lead for Finance & Major Projects welcomed the announcement: “The appointment of Heron Brothers Ltd marks one of the most significant milestones of this complex project. The award of this contract is the culmination of years of planning, engagement, consultation and due diligence.

“It’s a really exciting time for Helensburgh that will not only provide residents with a fantastic facility but also provide a positive draw for visitors and people thinking about moving to the area.”

PLANS UNVEILED FOR UNIQUE SPA ON THE THAMES Water Cures is a proposed naturally filtered and landscaped pool, spa and wellbeing hub crafted onto a 60m x 10m dutch barge moored in West India Quay, adjacent to Canary Wharf.

Project founder Nico Thoemmes has a vision to develop an inspiring facility that benefits the residential and working communities of Tower Hamlets by promoting a meaningful connection to the water space and enhancing biodiversity whilst creating a new habitat too.

Inaddition to the pool, Water Cures will present a sauna and icy plunge cycle as a practical treatment for improving mental well being and providing natural pain relief in the digital age.

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New £20m Pool And Sports Complex For Widnes The North West town of Widnes is set to get a new £20m leisure centre after plans submitted by Halton Borough Council were recently approved.

In addition to a gym, sports hall and other leisure amenities, the new 50,000 sq ft leisure facility will include a 25m, 6 lane swimming pool plus a teaching pool. The swimming pool and sports complex will replace the ageing and outdated Kingsway Leisure Centre and will be located in Moor Lane, just five minutes away from the Kingsway site.

Aquatics specialists Devin Consulting have been appointed by the main contractor Wates Group to provide expert advice on the project.

Managing Director Tom Devin said: “Wates have a proven track record in building leisure and sports

facilities; we’re currently working with them on the Sandwell Aquatic Centre for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games so we know the project and the team is in good hands.” Devin Consulting is looking forward to working with architects, Ellis Williams for the first time too. “They’re the team behind one of our local landmark buildings, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art – it’s a stunning conversion from an old flour mill,” said Tom. Moor Lane Leisure Centre is being delivered on behalf of Halton Borough Council and is expected to open its doors in late 2022.

Devin Consulting 0191 258 1653 www.devin-consulting.com

SPATEX 2021 Set To Be The First In Europe SPATEX, which takes place at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena from Tuesday 2 to Thursday 4 February 2021, is now set to be the first European show of the season following the postponement this year of Piscine Global Europe in Lyon and interbad in Stuttgart.

SPATEX Organiser, Michele Bridle said: “We naturally extend our heartfelt sympathy to the organisers of both exhibitions that have had to postpone their shows in Autumn 2020. These are challenging times for us all and we look forward to visiting their rearranged shows in 2021.”

Michele added: “Fortunately for SPATEX, the industry has

responded well to the timing of our UK show in early February and we have been rewarded with almost 75 per cent of exhibition space already sold. It reveals the fabulous level of optimism in the industry, the value of our annual Show and the inclusive, unifying opportunity it offers, not just for the UK, but Europe and beyond.

Work is currently underway between my team and the Ricoh Arena to ensure the systems are in place to make SPATEX the safest show possible. We are totally

confident of achieving that.”

SPATEX 2021 promises to be a very special event: not only will it provide the industry with the first opportunity to come together in Europe as one, it is also a celebration, as it marks SPATEX’s 25th anniversary. In addition, it will be a milestone for SPATA’s 60th and BISHTA’s 20th anniversaries too. The SPATEX team will be releasing details shortly of some extra special events to set this edition apart from all that have gone before.

SPATEX 01264 358558 www.spatex.co.uk

SPN August 2020 7 27/08/2020 17:49

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NEWS

IN BRIEF SWIM ENGLAND UNVEILS NEW STRUCTURE FOLLOWING REORGANISATION Swim England has unveiled its reorganised structure, way of working and contact details for its new-look teams.

The recognised national governing body announced in July that changes had to be made as the coronavirus pandemic has had a ‘huge impact on its work and finances’.

Following a consultation period, a total of 69 team members are moving on.

Jane Nickerson, Swim England Chief Executive, said: “It’s been extremely upsetting to see so many of the Swim England family who have worked so tirelessly for us – some for a number of years – leave the organisation.

“This has been a tough time for those involved but everyone has handled it with dignity and professionalism.

“Our focus now turns to ensuring our new-look team continues to provide the highclass service we pride ourselves on, to our partners, operators, facility owners, clubs, regions, swim schools, coaches, teachers, volunteers and participants in all our disciplines – in fact all our members and everyone who enjoy all our sports.”

The key Swim England changes are available to view on the organisation’s website.

NEATH TO GET NEW LEISURE CENTRE AND POOL A new, two storey leisure centre is to be built in Neath, south Wales after councillors approved the plans which include a swimming pool, health suite, gym and other facilities.

The development is part of Neath Port Talbot council’s plans for the regeneration of Neath town centre which was originally granted back in 2013.

According to the planning application, development on the site must begin within the next five years, and construction company Kier have been appointed to build the project.

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Therme Group Announces Plans For UK Wellbeing Resorts Following approval to build a £250m wellbeing resort in Manchester, Therme Group has revealed plans to develop the concept in other major UK cities.

The roll out will create over 3,000 new direct jobs and represents a major investment in the health and wellbeing of the population.

The development plan includes projects with a similar concept to Therme Manchester in Wales, Scotland and London. Work begins on the 28-acre Manchester resort next year. All of the projects will be developed at sites located near to city centres.

The concept, combining nature, sustainable technology and culture, has been phenomenally successful in Europe for over 20

years. It offers a fun and relaxing experience that also focuses on mental and physical health, including tackling the growing issue of obesity.

Guests can experience thermal bathing traditions from around the world, fun and healthy activities for all ages and affordable wellbeing therapies in a biodiverse natural environment. Therme Group believes that wellbeing should be accessible to all, and the scale of the resorts allows entry prices to be set at a level that is socially inclusive. The physical and mental health benefits visitors experience support preventative healthcare in communities.

The UK development will be a significant driver for economic

growth, also enabling new technology and R&D partnerships.

UK Chief Operating Officer, James Mark, said: “Our resorts provide a vital piece of social infrastructure in our cities, creating relaxing and fun places to meet whilst also nurturing mental and physical health. Our aim is to ensure that a Therme Group wellbeing resort is within easy reach of 90% of the UK population.”

Therme Group is at an advanced stage of discussion with local authorities and stakeholders in several locations in Wales, Scotland and London.

Therme Group 020 7769 6761 www.thermegroup.com

Top Marks For STA With A Net Promoter Score Of 84.3%

STA’s first Net Promoter Score® of 84.3% has exceeded all expectations, and the way above average score is testament to all the hard work the association’s team have put in over the last six months to help members and swim school partners through the coronavirus pandemic.

To put STA’s score into perspective, only around 10% of UK brands get an NPS of 40% or more – and this can be further drilled down when benchmarking against the leisure industry which averages a score of 45% and the education / training sector’s 71% score average.

Zoe Cooper, STA’s Commercial Director, who organised the NPS survey with Leisure-Net Solutions, to measure the willingness of customers to recommend STA products or services to others (on a scale of 1-10), said: “The team at STA have always taken customer service very seriously and we pride ourselves on

our friendly and responsive approach. However, the last six months have taken its toll on everyone in leisure, professionally and personally, and our approach right from the beginning was to try within our means to provide as much support as we could.

“We are therefore extremely proud to have achieved a very high NPS of 84.3% (as a result of more than 90% of our customers scoring us a 9 or a 10 for our support through the pandemic) – it is testament to all the hard work and commitment our teams have shown through this difficult time; and work will we continue to do, as we move onto the next crucial phase with the reopening of pools, including a soon to be announced new partnership with Bigwave Media.”

STA 01922 645097 www.sta.co.uk

SPN August 2020 9 27/08/2020 17:49

PEOPLE NEWS

Community Leisure UK Appoints Mark Tweedie As New CEO Mark Tweedie has been named as the new CEO of Community Leisure UK (CLUK), the organisation representing charitable leisure and culture trusts.

Tweedie joins CLUK after spending the past 10 years as CEO of two trusts – Active Tameside (from 2011 to 2018) and Active Northumberland (2018 to 2020). He began his career as a PE teacher before moving into sports development and leisure service management.

“Community Leisure UK is a highly respected, values-based organisation with a powerful vision and a great team,” Tweedie said.

“I have the responsibility of building upon Cate Atwater’s (the outgoing CEO) fantastic achievements, and I’m looking forward to doing my absolute best to represent and support the members’ interests and needs. This has never been more important, given the current COVID-19 crisis.”

Community Leisure UK was rebranded and changed its name from Sporta in 2018, to highlight the social and charitable purpose of the organisations it represents.

Outgoing CEO Cate Atwater said: “Over the past 24 months our organisation has worked hard to crystallise our purpose for members and partners, developed our presence and sharpened our teeth to the benefit

of members. We hope we have become nationally respected for our work – which is to give a voice to communityfocussed, non-profit-distributing leisure and culture organisations. We know Mark will continue this legacy brilliantly and lead the organisation with kindness and pride in our values.”

Community Leisure UK is a membership organisation representing more than 3,700 facilities across the UK – including gyms, swimming pools, libraries and museums.

Its 110 members operate more than 3,800 facilities, which in total received 233m customer visits in 2019 and have a combined turnover of around £2bn.

Community Leisure UK 020 7250 8263 www.communityleisureuk.org

Free COVID-19 Officer Awareness Training STA’s new COVID-19 Officer Awareness Training programme is now live – and it’s free!

By completing this online programme, participants will gain the knowledge needed to provide an auditable and effective COVID-19 process, specifically within the aquatics leisure industry.

The programme will show anybody how to keep auditable records to prove compliance with both public and private directives on creating a safe operating environment. Compliance enables any organisation to demonstrate that, as far as practicable, it has created a COVID secure environment – a crucial step to regaining the confidence of both clients and employees.

This online programme will provide: • Information to help you recognise the virus • Actions to mitigate transmission • Tasks to ensure fully auditable records are kept.

On completion, participants will also be able to download a COVID-19 Officer Awareness Training certificate.

Claire Brisbourne, Director of Safety Training Awards, said: “Throughout this pandemic our focus has solely been about proactively supporting our members and swim school partners, and in May through our best practice guidance we recommended the concept of appointing a COVID-19 officer, which has since been adopted on a wider scale. To further support this, we have created this FREE new COVID-19 Officer Awareness Training CPD to help organisations gain the knowledge needed to provide an auditable and effective COVID-19 process.”

Safety Training Awards 01922 645097 www.safetytrainingawards.co.uk

Golden Coast Voted People’s Choice In South West

Devon-based company Golden Coast has won the People’s Choice Award for South & South West Family Business of the Year 2020, following an open online vote.

The category was part of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2020, an annual event organised by Family Business United. Winners were announced during a live online premiere on Thursday 25 June.

Golden Coast was established by David Adams in 1977 originally as a pool, spa and sauna installation business, and has since grown to become the UK’s largest independent distributor to the wet leisure industry. The company is now run by David’s sons Jamie, Shaun and Dominic, who lead a team of 32 staff from their premises in Barnstaple.

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“All of us at Golden Coast are very pleased to have won the People’s Choice Award for South & South West Family Business of the Year,” said Jamie Adams, Managing Director of Golden Coast. “We are dedicated to supporting our industry and customer service is at the heart of everything we do. To have that recognised is extremely encouraging we would like to thank everyone who voted.

“This award is really a credit to our whole team, because it is their hard work and commitment that has enabled us to provide such a high level of service. I like to think that Golden Coast acts like a family by supporting each other and looking after each other, and to know that other people see TeamGC that way is something for all of us here to feel justifiably proud of.”

The accolade has bolstered Golden Coast’s already shining reputation as a major player in the wet leisure industry, and the company plans to build on its success.

Golden Coast 01271 378100 www.goldenc.com

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PRODUCT / ECO NEWS

Plastica Water Treatment Overflows Into New Premises With increasing growth for their water treatment business, East Sussexbased Plastica have made the decision to take on new premises to expand their water treatment facility.

Despite the Coronavirus outbreak, the ISO 9001 Certified company have managed to continue manufacturing throughout the lockdown, while of course adhering to strict social distancing rules and with decent weather and high demand, the orders have been rapidly escalating. Therefore, a decision was made to expand into a nearby premises, which will enable more storage space and room for an automated filling and capping machine. Starting from September, their new 5,000 square foot warehouse will be run by a team of experienced water treatment staff. The extra space will increase the company’s manufacturing capacity while still allowing for the maintaining of social distancing protocols.

The extensive Relax water treatment range – which contains products for swimming pools, spas and hot tubs – consists of dozens of products to ensure the effective year-round treatment of water plus items to help maintain equipment and make ownership easier.

With a product for every occasion, visit the Plastica website to see exactly what’s available and for any further information or enquiries.

Plastica Pools 01424 857857 www.plasticapools.net

Before

After

The Results Are Obvious With Gaffey’s iFLOC® Xact For commercial pools, getting the fundamentals of efficient flocculationfiltration and disinfection right are key to producing great water quality with low energy demand and low environmental impact. If opportunities to optimise the basic treatment steps are overlooked when designing or refurbishing pool plant, high chlorine consumption, high chloramine levels and dull looking water are often the result.

A large proportion of the bather pollution in pool water is too small to be removed by filtration alone; colloidal substances such as mucus, body oils, cosmetics, proteins etc. These substances can be removed by flocculation, a simple and highly cost-effective treatment step. The flocculation process causes microscopic substances to bind together into larger macro-flocs which can be removed by filtration. When correctly implemented, optimised flocculation-filtration treatment can produce very impressive results which become visible underwater when looking through the length of the pool.

Removing a far higher percentage of pollutants from the pool also results in a significant reduction in chlorine and pH donor consumption, along with lower chloramine levels and pool odour. To achieve these results the flocculant dosing pump must be capable of precise and continuous dosing of very small amounts of liquid floc, which for an average 25m pool could be as little as 15ml per hour. Overdosing is not only wasteful but may cause irritation to bathers and result in compaction of the filter bed, so selecting the right equipment will pay big dividends in the long run.

The iFLOC® Xact dosing pump is designed specifically for this task and allows easy, precise set-up and automatic calibration of the dose rate without any manual measurements. The iFLOC® Xact also provides peak and off-peak dosing capability, an essential feature if the pool turnover rate is reduced during night-time hours.

Gaffey Technical Services Ltd 01254 350180 www.gaffey.co.uk

Maestro – Remote Access And Control Of Pools From Pentair Available from SCP UK and new to the distributor for 2020, the Maestro from Pentair allows users to control and remotely monitor the water quality of a swimming pool. The system connects wirelessly to a home internet router to provide remote monitoring and control anywhere, anytime from a computer, smartphone or tablet.

Pool owners are informed in real time about the condition of a pool and any equipment whilst pool professionals can remotely monitor and perform maintenance from a computer, smartphone or tablet.

The Maestro will allow: • Control of the filtration cycles, water

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temperature and lights Filtration control • Control salt chlorinator (provided separatelly) by ORP regulation • Adjustment of pH set point and digital display of pH value locally and remotely • Adjustment of ORP set point and digital display of ORP value in mV locally and remotelly.

The easy-to-use system comes with a two-year warranty and should a variable speed pump be installed, Maestro can be upgraded if necessary.

The Maestro joins a wide range of products from SCP UK which have been specifically chosen to make pool ownership easier, and sits between the ControlPro and IntelliPool systems in the company’s Pentair Control Systems line-up.

SCP UK 01293 546126 www.scpeurope.com

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PRODUCT / ECO NEWS

Pool Adventures Increase The Underwater Excitement

Transform A Pool With EVAstream Wet Leisure distributor Golden Coast is now supplying the new, innovative EVAstream counter-current unit from Dutch manufacturer EVA Optic.

EVAstream allows users to make the most out of a pool by creating a powerful jet of water to swim against.

Whether it is used for improving swimming technique, enhancing physical fitness, or adding variety to a regime, EVAstream makes an outstanding difference to a pool. It is designed to be compact yet powerful, with a flow rate of 8.5 m/s (> 30 km/h) and has the option of using pre-programmed training modes – providing a challenging workout even for athlete swimmers.

The flow of water can be adjusted between 10% and 100%, so EVAstream can also be used for lower level activity such as rehabilitation, or just to aid relaxation when unwinding in the pool.

The unit can be built into new pools, or retrofitted onto a fixed or moveable module for use in existing pools.

Kids will love EVAstream too. When the unit is wall mounted it can create an underwater current that turns a pool into fun rapids, or when placed vertically on the bottom of the pool it becomes an eruptive water volcano.

Importantly, owners get complete peace of mind when using EVAstream, as it has been extensively tested to ensure it meets the most stringent safety standards, including DIN EN165821/2/3, EN16713-2, EN13451-1/3.

Shaun Adams, Director at Golden Coast said: “EVAstream is very versatile. It can help swimmers develop their ability, or just adds a bit fun to time spent in the pool.

“Precision engineering and smart design mean EVAstream is highly energy efficient, with a consumption of only 2.2kW. Fitted to a standard 16A 230V connection, it is easy to use and can even be remotely controlled or synced with pool lighting.”

For those who’ve got the blues swimming through the same old pool hues, there is reason to rejoice. Pool Adventures’ unique underwater graphic products bring pools alive with splashes of colour. From installed imagery that adds excitement to the entire basin to portable pieces that make a central statement.

The Pool Adventures high-impact, high-value offer is simple: graphic décor for swimming pool and water features, installed as a liner or with portable stay-in-place pieces.

“We’re really proud that our products are limited only by our customers’ imagination,” said Pool Adventures Managing Director Arjen Poot. “We can fill a pool with one of our elaborate seascapes, or, as we did on a project in Austria, envelope the underwater environment in images of trees in an abstract custom graphic.”

With millions of swimming pools across the globe and with recent times placing renewed focus on cocooning and enhancing the experience of private spaces and the new reality of life in public places, the 8-year-old Rotterdam-based enterprise sees increasing scope for work on private projects and collaboration with distributors worldwide.

Lively underwater art that motivates kids learning to swim. Branding as backdrops for social media-ready images in hotels, water parks or villa rentals. Custom visuals that elevate events and celebrations. Aquatic games for bonding while chilling at the pool with family and friends – the list goes on.

Poot has ambitions to enrich aquatic experiences everywhere and the company has launched a global effort to attract distributors, even as the company heads into the uncharted waters of the post-pandemic landscape.

Pool Adventures +31 (0)10 2821656 www.pooladventures.com

Golden Coast 01271 378100 www.goldenc.com

Pre-measured And Colour Coded Tablets From Impact New for this season and available through SCP UK, the Impact range of water care tablets is a friendly approach to maintaining proper water chemistry with pre-measured and colour coded tablets.

The range consists of six treatments specifically for swimming pool water: • CLARI CLEAN and CLARI ONE are problem solving and preventative maintenance water clarifiers, with the latter trapping the smaller, microscopic dirt particles • CALC TAB is a sequesting agent designed to prevent calcium and plaque deposits on the walls and bottom surface of in-ground pools. These deposits can make the pool

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surface feel rough and abrasive • FLOCKY is a water clarifier tablet developed especially for smaller aboveground pools with cartridge filters • ROBOT TAB completes two simultaneous actions during the cleaning cycle of a pool robot. It instantaneously releases a powerful flocculent which will retain the finest particles in the robot filter (bag or cartridge) and also diffuses a preventative waterline cleanser using the robot impeller for a better dispersion

• BUZZ OFF is a tablet designed to repel all insects (including bees, wasps, flies, mosquitoes and more) from pool water Wrapped individually to prevent damage, Impact also use biodegradable boxes to eliminate plastic bottles as the company wants to provide an eco-friendly approach and provide a positive impact on everyone’s swimming enjoyment.

SCP UK 01293 546126 www.scpeurope.com

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SPATEX represents all sectors of the wet leisure industry from pools, spas, saunas to hydrotherapy, steam rooms and play equipment, in both the domestic and commercial arena.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK YOUR STAND VISIT:

WWW.SPATEX.CO.UK OR CALL +44 1264 358558

HOT TUB, SWIM SPA & WELLNESS

SCP UK Add Almost Heaven Saunas To Their Wellness Line-up In addition to expanding their Sentiotec range of saunas, SCP UK have added further outdoor options for those looking for some heat therapy with the addition of barrel options from the Almost Heaven Saunas brand.

Almost Heaven have been at the forefront of setting the standard for quality barrel saunas for over 40 years. The company uses only the finest materials to create the best, most authentic sauna experience for true sauna lovers. Skilled, experienced artisans craft each sauna using only high-grade, thick sections of lumber. Once fitted together in a traditional cooperage fashion, the cedar expands to form a tight seal and constantly circulates the air for a sauna environment that heats quickly and consistently.

The company’s Barrel Saunas are designed to be used outdoors.

When an authentic sauna experience is needed – a beautiful, highquality sauna that performs beyond expectations – a barrel sauna from Almost Heaven Saunas is what’s required.

SCP have made three models available: the 4 person Pinnacle and Audra models plus the 6 person Weston. All three models come complete with a sauna kit which consists of a heater with integrated control unit, stones and sauna accessories.

Manufactured in the USA from rustic Western Red Cedar, each barrel sauna is easy to assemble and features: • Pre-assembled walls and benches • Interior LED light • Stainless steel banding and hinges • Tempered glass door • 35mm thick solid staves.

An optional floor kit and rain jackets are also available.

Sales Success Results In Team Expansion At Superior Spas Due to the continued Sarah Elphick (LEFT) with sales success this year Andy Peach and Amy at Superior Spas, the Littlewood team is growing with new roles recently created.

Sarah Elphick commenced with the Chesterfield-based business on 1 July as the new Head of Marketing. Sarah’s role is to help the business grow further by increasing brand awareness and sales. Sarah has a wealth of experience and was previously Head of Marketing & Sales at Forest Holidays. Over the coming months she will develop and lead the marketing strategy for Superior Spas including the brand, email marketing, social media and the websites.

Also joining Superior Spas in July was Mick Eaton whose position is as the new Continuous Improvement Specialist. Mick brings 36 years’ experience in safe systems at work and his role is to implement risk assessments, safe systems at work and warehouse procedures.

Amy Littlewood has joined as Logistics Administrator and brings a wealth of on-sea and airfreight logistics to the expanding Superior Spas team. Amy’s role is booking in orders, arranging deliveries of hot tubs and assisting the team where needed.

Andy Peach also joined as Digital Sales Administrator within the sales team. Andy has a wealth of experience working for Taylor Wimpey, B&Q and Euro Car Parts on their huge stock systems. Andy will help to develop the accessories and products side of sales as the stock systems integrate with the company’s new Warehouse Management System.

Superior Spas 01246 559071 www.superiorspas.co.uk

SCP UK 01293 546126 www.scpeurope.com

Enjoy Happy Hour With Darlly!

When Darlly Europe were asked to consider launching, marketing and distributing their own range of spa essences into the hot tub sector, it was a complete blast-from-the-past for Phil Moseley, one of the two founders of Europe’s leading cartridge filter manufacturers.

“This was Déjà-Vue,” said Phil: “As the reason I entered the hot tub market 28 years ago was because of my involvement in studying how Aromatherapy can have a synergistic effect with Hydrotherapy which was then the setup of Giardino Aromatherapy for Whirlpool Baths and is still going strong.

“The benefits of essential oils are now well versed and proven, however, it is the way in which those therapeutic benefits can be transported into your body that is so endearing when using a hot tub.”

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We all now know the fabulous effects Hydrotherapy has on the body in a hot tub, however, adding essential oil blends with salt carriers adds yet another dimension in giving the bather aromatic delights and further therapeutic benefits.

Whilst the history of hot springs and thermal medicine, including ‘fragrance water’, goes back to Hippocrates, Darlly have taken a more modern approach with their products, introducing the Spa Cocktail range.

As with all such creations the idea of cocktails was formulated at an innocent family gathering, the essences were being tested in the hot tub and his daughter said: “That looks just like the Daiquiri I have just made!“

So based upon the colours and not the taste or smell, it should be added that the range includes Daiquiri, Margarita, Moscow Mule, Blue Lagoon, Gin and Tonic, Purple Rain and Pink Gin Fizz.

And the aromas are simply the best yet.

Enjoy – cheers!

Darlly Europe Ltd 01952 580500 www.darllyeurope.com

SPN August 2020 17 27/08/2020 17:58

HOT TUB, SWIM SPA & WELLNESS NEWS

New Superior Spas Website Now Live As the UK’s largest hot tub supplier and with a need to support a growing network of dedicated partners across the UK and Europe, Chesterfield-based Superior Spas recently launched their new website as they start to invest more in marketing to consumers across the country and further afield.

The website focuses specifically on their Superior Spas branded products including the Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago range of hot tubs, their swim spas and the holiday let hot tubs.

With full product specs and videos available.

New support features for customers include Frequently Asked Questions and hot tub manuals. There is a comprehensive section on becoming a partner including the benefits and an application form to join the team.

It is also much easier to locate a Superior Spas showroom with a search function to find the nearest one by entering a postcode.

The website will evolve over the next few months and more features will be added. Future content to be added will include an inspiration gallery with new imagery from customers around the UK. The website launch comes at a busy time for the company which reported a record summer of business in 2020 where sales more than doubled compared to last year with interest for both hot tubs and swim spas seeing a huge surge with much of the country spending more time at home due to the lockdown or being furloughed.

Superior Spas 01246 559071 www.superiorspas.co.uk

Tiled Luxury At Northern Ireland’s Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort The Mosaic Spa Company recently headed up a huge project with the Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort in Northern Ireland, as the luxury hotel recently underwent a major enhancement of its well-known spa facilities and Thermal Village.

As the deluxe hotel had closed its doors in line with government safety restrictions in March, they saw it as an opportunity to invest and commence work on further enriching the experience of their guests – something Galgorm Collection Managing Director Colin Johnston advise that the resort actively seek and strive for.

The impressive £2m expansion saw a host of new additions and experiences for its visitors including a new salt room for halotherapy, two person spas, heated loungers and wooden hobbit style saunas all designed and supplied York-based specialists The Mosaic Spa Company.

However the real gem of the project comes in the form of the 6-metre mosaic tiled deck level vitality spa with water features that sits on the bank of the River Maine, providing visitors a tranquil escape full of opulence amongst the dense forest scenery – again designed, produced and manufactured by The Mosaic Spa Company.

Something that stood out even throughout the resort’s latest extraordinary features, was the speed at which The Mosaic Spa Company was able to design, produce and manufacture all the new installations for the facility.

All production and manufacturing of the hotel’s new attractions was complete and ready in under six weeks, all without compromising their industry leading standard.

The Mosaic Spa Company 01759 321135 www.mosaicspa.co.uk

Park Leisure Solutions Launch New Eco Friendly Hot Tub National water leisure manufacturer and supplier Park Leisure Solutions Limited have announced yet another industry first with the launch of their new Eco-PKS, 4-5 person hot tub model. Whether for relaxation, therapy or just good fun the new Eco-PKS circular hot tub is outstanding value-for-money and offers the lowest carbon footprint on the market. UK designed and built, the Eco-PKS is fully HSG282 compliant and has all the features operators and owners would expect including: quick drain for handover days, park safe controls, thermo insulation, tough one-piece shell and cabinet structure with unique lifetime warranty, plus Climacube Water Heating System compatibility for even greater savings.

The new Eco-PKS offers full depth seating for 4-5 people and a generous footwell for the most natural resting position. In addition, the entry step provides easy access and doubles as a child seat. Affordable with high level specification, offering the ultimate massage experience come sun, rain or snow – 365 days of the year.

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As the model name implies the Eco-PKS has some impressive environmental credentials. One hundred per cent recyclable and made in Britain, it is the most recyclable spa available in the UK today and the advanced thermo insulated shell design will significantly reduce heat loss and energy consumption, lowering carbon footprints still further. The new model has also been purposely designed to be portable, meaning no expensive crane or installation costs for delivery. Powered from a standard household electrical supply will negate the need for expensive electrical work, the Eco-PKS is literally plug in and play! Should owners decide to relocate the Eco-PKS, the tub can be simply unplugged and moved to the desired location.

Park Leisure Solutions Ltd 01202 691166 www.parkleisuresolutions.co.uk

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WORLD NEWS

Penetron Goes For A Swim At The Haikou Shangri-La Hotel Messe Stuttgart Postpones interbad Event Until 2021

When a swimming pool is a luxury hotel’s most popular spot, the construction engineer looks to ensure a durable structure. The Haikou Shangri-La Hotel in Haikou, China was officially opened in June 2020 and Penetron ensured that the expansive outdoor pool is waterproof for decades to come.

Located in Haikou, the capital and largest city of the island province of Hainan, the Haikou Shangri-La Hotel features 318 rooms, three restaurants and bars, as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

“When the local Penetron team was contacted by the project engineers, it quickly became clear they had very high construction standards for the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool,” explained Jozef Van Beeck, Director of International Sales & Marketing for The Penetron Group. “They required not only a robust waterproofing solution but also a product that was completely safe in a pool environment.”

All Penetron products are non-toxic and contain no VOCs (NSF 61-certified for potable water applications). After a demonstration on the performance of PENETRON ADMIX, the crystalline admixture was specified for the entire concrete structure of the outdoor swimming pool. When added to the mix, PENETRON ADMIX reacts with the moisture in the concrete, generating an impermeable crystalline network that becomes an integral part of the concrete matrix.

“One of the key benefits of PENETRON ADMIX is the ability to self-heal hairline cracks,” added Jozef Van Beeck. “Where chlorine-laden water could enter through cracks and penetrate deeply into permeable concrete causing corrosion and related deterioration, PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete is impermeable, stopping water and harmful elements from entering the concrete, thus preventing any damage from occurring – for the life of the concrete.”

Together with the German Association for the Recreational and Medicinal Bath Industry and after consultation with exhibitors and close partners, Messe Stuttgart has decided to postpone interbad until 21 to 24 September 2021. interbad would have been the first industry showcase for swimming pools, saunas and spas that was planned since the Coronavirus restrictions and could have been held subject to conditions after the current relaxations of the regulations. A hygiene and safety concept was developed to ensure that the trade fair could be safety staged, however many exhibitors were unsure on account of the current situation in Germany and other countries.

This uncertainty recently manifested itself in the form of cancellations. In spite of extensive preparations, this development was reflected in the demand and booking level for interbad. The discussions between Messe Stuttgart and interbad exhibitors revealed that there was no adequate basis for interbad this year.

Messe Stuttgart was therefore forced to postpone interbad until 21 to 24 September 2021. “Our objective is to stage a successful trade fair. A trade fair to which we can welcome exhibitors and visitors from the areas of swimming pools, saunas and spas without any worries and where profitable business contacts are forged,” said Andreas Wiesinger, a member of the Board of Management of Messe Stuttgart. “This cannot be reliably guaranteed at present. We very much regret the developments since the industry is therefore losing its central platform for exchanging information this year. This platform would have been important after the months with the corona crisis.”

This decision was taken in close cooperation and after amicable discussions with the German Association for the Recreational and Medicinal Bath Industry, partners and exhibitors.

The regularly scheduled interbad in 2022 will now be held in Stuttgart in 2023.

B+W Awarded The Address Jumeirah Resort & Spa In July, B+W were pleased to announce their success at being awarded the fit-out contract for the spa thermal facilities within the stunning Address Jumeirah Resort & Spa beachfront property. The development integrates a hotel branded by premium luxury five-star Address Hotels + Resorts, fully serviced apartments and luxury residences within an iconic 77-storey architectural sensation.

The Resort is situated in one of the most prime locations in Dubai, along JBR Beach in the Dubai Marina District. The project at 290m will be the tallest tower on the Jumeirah Beach Walk skyline. The podium will include a wide selection of specialty restaurants, an all-day dining restaurant and destination bars within the tower. It is scheduled to be completed in the fourth

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quarter of 2020.

The two-tower complex will feature a signature Spa on the 75th floor and a roof-top destination restaurant, bar and infinity pool with breath taking views on to Dubai Marina, Bluewaters Island, The Palm Jumeirah and the surrounding beach and sea.

B+W are delighted to add a Sixth Address Hotel to their project portfolio having previously worked on the Address Boulevard, The Address Downtown, The Address Sky View, The Address Fountain View and The Address Dubai Harbour Point.

Barr + Wray 0141 882 9991 www.barrandwray.com

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WORLD NEWS

IN BRIEF US EXPO MOVES TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, co-located with DeckExpo (PSP/DeckExpo), is reimagining this year’s event.

The decision to transition the event was not reached easily, however, based on feedback and the support of the show’s community, the event’s organisers felt it was the right choice for partners, sponsoring associations, attendees and exhibitors. PSP is excited to host the virtual event over the same dates, 11–13 November, with registration opening later this autumn.

The PSP/DeckExpo has consistently been a central hub to network, learn best practices, and discover new technology – and the organisers stress that this year’s event will be no different. While they will miss seeing everyone in person, they are excited about a new way to engage and interact. A virtual event will allow attendees, speakers and exhibitors to have a great experience and capitalise on the strong momentum in the industry.

PLEATCO’S SEARCH FOR PERFECTION GOES DIGITAL Adjusting to the current Coronavirus situation, the search for the Pleatco Perfect Pool Guy and Gal has gone digital for 2020.

Pleatco’s annual competition pays tribute to service professionals in the pool and spa industry and this year, the nomination process, voting and announcement of the winners via an online ceremony later in the year will all be conducted digitally.

For over a decade, the annual search for the Perfect Pool Guy and Perfect Pool Gal has revealed some the industry’s most compelling stories and has highlighted numerous accounts of customer service dedication and excellence.

If you would like to compete with the best around the world, submissions are now being accepted.

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Ezarri Helps Create A Five-star Pool Paradise In Costa Rica Specialist Ezarri has taken on a professional challenge with its glass mosaic tiles at Hacienda Altagracia in Costa Rica. The hotel opened five years ago and is managed by the Auberge Resort Collection hotel chain.

This tourist complex has been recognised on multiple occasions as the best resort in all Central America.

As if that was not enough, it stands out as one of the 100 best in the world, according to the magazine Travel +Leisure. It is classified as a five-star hotel, as a result of the work between Hacienda Altagracia and Ezarri.

With its aquatic colours, the outdoor infinity swimming pool breaks with the green of the surrounding environment. The views it offers, both day and night, are simply breathtaking.

The swimming pool has two outdoor spas. The surfacing applied is 2501-B by Ezarri, from the Niebla collection.

A mosaic in hazy colours, particularly appropriate for swimming pool surfaces.

The 2545-A mosaic by Ezarri, from the Lisa collection, has also been used for the outdoor swimming pool while the outdoor

children´s pool has been surfaced with the Azurita option from the company’s Metal collection.

The indoor spa area, Central America´s largest, is fully equipped with saunas, steam rooms and massage parlours. The indoor swimming pool – which also includes two spas – has been built with large windows to

enjoy the landscape.

All the products chosen are from Ezarri’s Iris collection, where Zafiro offers a cobalt blue mosaic and Ambar is a mosaic with yellow iridescent effects, Azur is a bright blue and Perla is white.

Located in the country´s southern region, Hacienda Altagracia is in one of Costa Rica’s last hidden paradises and Ezarri has taken care of the pool areas, one of Hacienda Altagracia’s big attractions.

Ezarri Mosaico +34 943 164 140 www.ezarri.com

Fully 6 Opens At Australia’s Biggest Theme Park WhiteWater World WhiteWater World, located on the Gold Coast right next to Dreamworld, continues to release new water rides and slides that are suitable for kids of all ages and those that are kids at heart. Inspired by the big waves and tubes of the Gold Coast surf, the ‘fully sick’ slides are the Gold Coast’s first waterpark attractions to be built in five years, boasting the only tower in Australia with six body slides, each offering unique experiences. Guests can now take the plunge across five unique adrenalin experiences which are guaranteed to make a splash. Not only will the slides be exciting to ride but they’ll also provide a unique visual experience as they are decked out with multi-coloured natural light effects.

A team of more than 40 local contractors are behind the development of Fully 6, including the creators Swimplex-Polin Australia.

“As a waterslide supplier, we are not only doing waterslides; rather, we are able to offer a complete guest experience package,” said Sohret Pakis, Polin Waterparks Director of Marketing and Communications. “We are in a position to offer more to our clients by integrating different

parties, products and technologies to benefit them and delight their customers, the park guests.”

As part of a AUS$7m investment into WhiteWater World, Fully 6 features six body slides with five unique ‘splashtacular’ experiences and multi-coloured natural light effects. Work is also currently underway on refurbishing the waterpark’s existing slides and attractions, including fresh paint which will restore the slides to ‘as new’ condition. Polin’s attractions fulfill guests’ expectations for sure. The newest of these waterslides is the Fully 6, six individual body slides which offer varying thrill levels.

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WORLD NEWS

IN BRIEF NEW DATES FOR PISCINE GLOBAL SHOW With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting many exhibitions around the world, the wet leisure industry’s largest show has also suffered from the current uncertainty. Piscine Global was due to take place in November in Lyon, France however changes to its website reveal that the event will be postponed until next year.

At the time of writing, no official announcement had been made to the press, however SPN understands that exhibitors have all been notified of the change and the new dates appear to have been confirmed as 9-12 February 2021.

CPSA BOARD APPROVE AFFILIATION WITH PHTA In an effort to build upon the value it provides the industry and ensure its sustainability, the California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) Board of Directors has voted to affiliate with the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA).

“Together, CPSA and PHTA will continue to elevate our industry’s professionalism through best-in-class education, tools and resources,” said PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE. “Additionally, we will work together to protect the interests of the pool and hot tub industry through an unprecedented network and united advocacy voice in California.”

As part of the affiliation, PHTA will support CPSA’s government relations, meetings and events; administer the management, accounting and planning for the association; and employ a fulltime director dedicated to CPSA. “The affiliation with PHTA will provide CPSA with the financial resources necessary to continue our government relations program and enhance our ability to provide professional development and educational opportunities to the California swimming pool & spa industry,” said CPSA Chairman Jerry Wallace.

The agreement came into effect on 1 July 2020.

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Stonetech Helped Create An Award-winning Resort Stonetech partnered with Aman Zoe Resorts & Spa, an international resort chain, to build their stunning Greek Porto Heli resort which overlooks the Aegean sea.

Stonetech spent a year building the extensive project which included 600-700 square metre villas each with a swimming pool, beach cabanas and pavilions, along with four main swimming pools including one indoor pool.

The company played a key role in the resort’s development by providing limestone and marble. Their quality stones were used to build wall cladding, stairs, landscape architecture and swimming pools in the ancient Greek design.

The architects requested Stonetech source Fossil Pearl limestone, Silver Cloud marble and Verve Rajasthan marble, which created one of the biggest challenges in this project.

Stonetech had to source each of the requested materials from different countries and as part of the quality control process, Stonetech worked hard to ensure that their products complied with international regulations for anti-slip and water

absorbance (less than 0.5%) to guarantee all products met these requirements. Stonetech collaborated with IGM, a Greek national laboratory, to conduct a chemical analysis to study the water absorption, abrasion and strength of their stones.

After a year of hard work, the project was complete.

Aman Zoe was very impressed

with the finished result and commended Stonetech on their ability to provide quality natural stones within a tight timeframe, requesting that Stonetech bid on all future international projects.

Cranbourne Stone – a leader in swimming pool surrounds, landscape and interiors – is the UK’s exclusive distributor for Stonetech and stone the full range of Stonetech products including those used in the Aman Zoe project.

Cranbourne Stone 01264 810813 www.cranbournestone.co.uk

Ezarri Mosaics Cause Sensation In New Zealand Ezarri has had to tackle the tiling of a spectacular private home in New Zealand. The space at this architectural project is distributed brilliantly and what it has achieved gives new meaning to the spectacular ocean views.

What´s interesting, is that the wet leisure facilities combine with the theme of total transparency. Because the house, with several levels of varying heights, features expansive windows throughout. The residence ends at the wellness area, which comprises a fully integrated swimming pool and spa.

Fior di Bosco, from Ezarri´s Zen collection, is the mosaic chosen for this private home. It is a matte mosaic in grey tones with marble effect.

It is an option particularly suitable for interiors, swimming pools, spas, saunas and wellness areas.

In addition, it has the guarantee of being a non-slip mosaic.

Sometimes simplicity is the expression of complex elegance.

The architect had

a number of ideas with his designs. For example, around the swimming pool he created an infinity edge that merges with the sea. A solution that adapts to the vegetation planted around the perimeter of this home.

As if that wasn’t enough, in a daring proposal, the architect decided that the swimming pool would be in one of the lower modules of this peculiar home. Thus the importance of choosing an adequate surface to balance the whole design.

Ezarri has caused a sensation in this private home facing the ocean. With an innovative and daring design, a spectacular result has been achieved.

Ezarri Mosaico +34 943 164 140 www.ezarri.com

SPN August 2020 25 27/08/2020 18:06

WORLD NEWS

Fluidra Creates Unique Pool Project With AntiCOVID-19 Measures

Waterco Provides Commercial Filters For FINA-certified Pool To qualify as FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) certified, a

swimming pool must provide the best possible environment for competitive use and training. Stringent regulations have to be met and impeccable standards must be maintained.

For Queensland’s prestigious Sunshine Coast Grammar (SCG), constructing a 50m FINA-compliant pool would create a world-class aquatic centre for students and a facility fit for international sportspeople. Combine that with a new learn-to-swim indoor pool and you have the perfect combination to create a pathway from junior swimmer to professional athlete.

To satisfy global guidelines and be eligible to host aquatic meets, the short course competition pool was required to maintain impeccable water quality year-round – especially with high bather loads.

“We needed to provide a costeffective filtration system that could ensure the highest of water quality,” says Gerrie Baldwin from Baldwin Aquatic. Specialists in commercial swimming pool construction, filtration and maintenance, the family-owned company is the preferred choice for

reputable institutions including St Andrew’s Anglican College, Bond University and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

To ensure consistently clean and hygienic water for students, coaches and competitors, Baldwin Aquatic installed Waterco’s high-performance Commercial Sand Filters – 3 x MD5500 models in the 50m Pool, 2 x S1200 models in the indoor, learn to swim pool.

“Elite institutions like SCG have reputations to uphold, so installing Waterco’s commercial filters provide enormous peace of mind,” says Gerrie.

“They’re not only durable, reliable and efficient but are easy to maintain for facility managers.”

Less than a year after opening, Sunshine Coast Grammar’s 50m pool was an official training base prior to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Furthermore, it has not experienced any downtime.

In June, Fluidra presented the ‘Perfect COVID-FREE Pool’ project at Spain’s Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta (CNAB) to show various measures which maximise safety.

“In addition to the usual measures that make any pool safe, such as correct water treatment, respecting the minimum distance and carrying out proper hygiene, at CNAB we have implemented other additional elements that are applicable to any pool, such as automatic entry control, shower tunnels for ‘extra’ sanitising, equipment to disinfect the pool environment and UV equipment to disinfect the air in the indoor pool,” said David Tapias, Director of R&D EMEA at Fluidra.

The additional measures implemented in the CNAB and adaptable to all pools are divided into the following: Water quality: the water conditions must be within the parameters established by Spanish law Royal Decree 742/2013 and ensure that the water is disinfected and has sufficient disinfecting power to eliminate all pathogens that may be introduced into the water.

Air quality: in the indoor pool, UV lamps have been installed in the ventilation ducts to disinfect all the air recirculated by the ventilation equipment.

Transit of people / automatic access control: automatic gauging controls have been installed that allow the number of people in the pool to be known at any time.

People’s hygiene: installation of timed shower arches to carry out previous sanitation of all bathers before going in the water.

Internet of Things: Fluidra Connect allows continuous collection of water quality parameters and uploads them to the internet, thus allowing maintenance people and ideal management in real-time.

Surface cleaning: the CNAB has been equipped with portable equipment to sanitise all surfaces and accessories using a specialised product ‘Surfosan’.

For CNAB, the ‘Perfect COVID FREE Pool’ project represents an opportunity to show that they are at the forefront of developments.

NIVEKO Pool Provides Happiness For Everybody!

Kolsås in Norway is a wooded mountain ridge in the municipality of Bærum, nearly 20km away from the capital, Oslo. This region, which is as close as you can get to nature while still living in reach of the city, is for many, the ideal place to live. It might seem completely inconspicuous at first, but the opposite is true. It is a place full of contrast and beauty. It’s also the location of a recent swimming pool project which saw a NIVEKO pool installed for the Horner family who enjoy the privacy of their home within the picturesque region.

Mr Horner’s family – who wanted to provide their close friends and family, especially the children, with a place to enjoy sport, relaxation and fun, as well as refreshment on those sweltering summer days – can rightfully be happy with their choice of a NIVEKO Skimmer Invisible swimming pool.

Developed in-house by NIVEKO, the

26 August 2020 SPN 25+26_SPN_August_20_World_News.indd 26

Skimmer Invisible model allows the maximum possible water height and achieves an almost invisible transition between the wall of the pool and the water drainage.

“We wanted a pool that would bring happiness to everybody, including our children, friends and even our pets,” said Mr Horner.

The undisguised joy of the youngest members of the family, including the four-legged ones, is proof that the project has lived up to the family’s expectations. By having the pool follow the relief of the garden nothing disrupts its character. In fact, it looks very natural and enhances the perfect appearance of the family house down to the very last detail.

NIVEKO s.r.o. +420 572 693 246 www.niveko-pools.com

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 27/08/2020 18:06

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POOL & SPA INDUSTRY

Industry Reacts To Current Challenges In this latest issue, BSPF Managing Director Chris Hayes provides an update of what’s been happening across the industry and what’s on the horizon

W

hen there have been so many traumatic events this year, it is always heartening to be able to provide positive news. The industry campaign #everydaycation has been making some excellent progress in promoting the products and services our industry can offer to create lifestyle opportunities for consumers. You can read more about the campaign (overseen by PIP) and being delivered by Sallie Leslie-Golding on page 34.

A huge amount of guidance has been issued in our industry from various organisations, and my thanks are expressed to the members of the various Boards, Councils and Committees for their superb contributions to providing information for the industry.

This work will need to continue to evolve as government guidance changes over time.

There has been a deliberate policy decision from BISHTA and SPATA, where applicable, to work in a multi-agency approach to provide industry guidance and a good example is the materials in many of the recent Technical Notes from PWTAG, as this helps to avoid duplication of information.

During this uncertain time, the importance of workforce development and education has never been higher. After realising that even with some lockdown easing, there might be many people preferring to receive their training online, there are plans underway to offer at least some of the courses as live

online sessions. A number of the courses may still require elements of physical attendance at a venue to undertake a practical assessment (but this will, of course, follow social distancing guidance in smaller groups, than usual). Examples of courses under discussion for online or a blended course also involving physical attendance include BISHTA’s water hygiene management and the final electrical connections course provided by NICEIC. It is hoped to have at least some Dangerous Goods courses also available online. Some face-to-face training for venues such as holiday parks is essential and will need to take place with adjustments.

Similarly, SPATA will be reviewing which of its industry courses can be provided online.

In keeping with the current views of members, BISHTA and SPATA will be offering their annual Information and Networking Days in October as online-only events. SPATA will be holding their online day on Thursday 1 October, and BISHTA will be holding their day on Tuesday 13 October. Details for these events will be available at the end of August, so please look on the respective BISHTA and SPATA websites for more information. News of the events will also be shared in BISHTA News and SPATA News (now being sent out on a Wednesday).

With the 2021 British Pool & Hot Tub Awards now being open online for BISHTA and SPATA members to enter, Sallie LeslieGolding explains more about the value of entering the awards on page 33. Some of the British Pool & Hot Tub Award winners have been shortlisted for entry into the European Pool & Spa Awards 2020 which will be announced at Global Piscine Europe (now taking place in February 2021). The organisers are still finalising further details

A huge amount of guidance has been issued in our industry from various organisations, and my thanks are expressed to the members of the various Boards, Councils and Committees for their superb contributions”

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 29_SPN_Aug_2020_CH.indd 29

of the exact date and time of the ceremony.

Congratulations to all of the members that have been shortlisted, please see pages 30 to 32 to view the British entries.

The BSPF is heavily involved in promoting the pool, hot tub and wellness industry, not only in the UK but overseas.

Working collaboratively to support colleagues in Europe (through the European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations – EUSA) and through the World Alliance of Pool and Spa Associations (WAPSA). The next EUSA meeting takes place on Monday 21 September, and the next WAPSA meeting is scheduled for Monday 14 October 2020. Valuable lessons can be learned (and shared) with our colleagues around the world and put into practice for the benefit of members and the wider industry.

With exhibitions being permitted to reopen in England from 1 October this year, SPATEX 2021 preparations continue in full swing.

Michele Bridle and Helen Mulingani are in discussions with the Ricoh Arena about the COVID-secure measures that will be put into place and what will be the expectations on SPATEX as an organiser. The government and venue guidance will continue to evolve, and both SPATEX exhibitors and visitors will be able to keep up to date by visiting www. spatex.co.uk as soon as the information is confirmed.

Stay safe.

DIARY DATES 2020 21 Sep 23 Sep 24 Sep 28 Sep 1 Oct 6 Oct 13 Oct 5 Nov

EUSA Meeting, Zoom SPATA National Council, WebEx BSPF Board, WebEx BISHTA Committee, WebEx SPATA Information Day, WebEx SPATA Technical Committee, WebEx BISHTA Annual Information Day, WebEx SPATA National Council & AGM, Andover

2021 2 – 4 Feb SPATEX, Coventry

SPN August 2020 29 27/08/2020 18:21

POOL & SPA INDUSTRY

The Best of British, Showcased in Europe Revealing the British entries shortlisted for the 2020 European Pool & Spa Awards, the winners of which will be announced early next year at Piscine Global in France

S

ince 2013, the European Pool & Spa Awards have been putting a spotlight on the most innovative domestic pools, spas and hot tubs on the continent.

The eighth European Awards, hosted by EUSA (European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations) are set to be announced at the swimming pool show Picine Global (Lyon,

France) now rearranged for February 2021.

There are seven categories to represent the spectrum of work undertaken by the EUSA members with 181 entries from 11 participating countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK. The award categories are all currently for Domestic

Domestic Indoor Pools – Falcon Pools

projects: Indoor Pools, Outdoor Pools, Pools with an Enclosure, Pools with an Automatic Cover, Pools by Night, Spas and Hot Tubs.

Leading the way for the UK, the following companies have all been eligible for the EUSA Awards due to being previous winners in the British Pool & Hot Tub awards (hosted

by BISHTA and SPATA).

Domestic Outdoor Pools – XL Pools

Domestic Pools By Night – XL Pools Domestic Outdoor Pools – Falcon Pools

Domestic Outdoor Pools and Domestic Pools By Night – Tanby Pools

Domestic Outdoor Pools – Gillingham Pools

30 August 2020 SPN 30-32_SPN_Aug_20_EUSA_Entries.indd 30

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 27/08/2020 18:12

e

POOL & SPA INDUSTRY BACKGROUND The primary purpose of EUSA is to support the development of a stronger and more prosperous business community throughout Europe by: • Lobbying on behalf of the industry, on topics such as the development of European standards (thus highlighting safety).

• Promoting the industry via the European Pool and Spa Awards (recognition from the industry for the quality of the work being entered from members across Europe).

The EUSA Awards are open to all National Associations that are EUSA Members, to send in entries from their respective member companies. Each entry submitted by an EUSA member must comply with the relevant European (and National Association) Standards, as applicable.

Judges for the EUSA Awards will assess the entries on their visual impact, innovation and aesthetic appeal. The identity of each entry

The BSPF is proud to nominate BISHTA and SPATA members for the EUSA awards to be held at Picine Global in France. This European spotlight is a fantastic opportunity for companies to raise their profile at home and abroad” is not revealed to the judges; this means that they can vote for any entry, based on which ones they believe to be the best. The EUSA judges will aim to have a Gold, Silver and Bronze award winner in each category, subject to there being sufficient entries, of suitable quality.

REPRESENTING BRITAIN On behalf of BISHTA and SPATA, the BSPF wishes the shortlisted entries from both trade associations the ‘best of luck’ in this year’s competition. Chris Hayes (BSPF Managing Director) commented: “The BSPF

is proud to nominate BISHTA and SPATA members for the EUSA awards to be held at Picine Global in France. This European spotlight is a fantastic opportunity for companies to raise their profile at home and abroad. The quality of shortlisted entries across Europe in 2020 is exceptionally high, and the bar continues to rise year after year; we look forward to finding out whether any UK companies will be amongst the winners to be announced in February 2021 and we congratulate all of the shortlisted entries on their accomplishment in the competition so far.”

Domestic Outdoor Pools – Portrait Pools

Domestic Pools with an Enclosure – XL Pools

Domestic Indoor Pools – New Dawn Pools

Domestic Pools with an Enclosure – Cresta Leisure

Domestic Indoor Pools – XL Pools

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 30-32_SPN_Aug_20_EUSA_Entries.indd 31

Domestic Indoor Pools – Rigo Spa

SPN August 2020 31 27/08/2020 19:32

POOL & SPA INDUSTRY Domestic Indoor Pools – Portrait Pools

Domestic Spa – Cresta Leisure

Domestic Indoor Pools – A19 Pools and Spas Domestic Spas – Gillingham Pools

Domestic Pools By Night and Domestic Outdoor Pools – Mermaid Swimming Pools

Domestic Hot Tubs – Outdoor Living

Domestic Hot Tubs – Hot Tub Suppliers

Domestic Hot Tubs – Euphoria Lifestyle

Domestic Hot Tubs – North Spas

Domestic Hot Tubs – North Spas

32 August 2020 SPN 30-32_SPN_Aug_20_EUSA_Entries.indd 32

Domestic Hot Tubs – Concept Spa

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 27/08/2020 18:12

POOL & SPA INDUSTRY

The Winning Mentality Entry to the 2021 British Pool & Hot Tub Awards is now ‘live’ and provides trade association members with fantastic PR and marketing potential

B

eing the longest-running and most well-established industry awards, the annual British Pool & Hot Tub Awards plays a crucial role in promoting the industry, not only to the trade but more importantly, to a broader regional and national consumer audience. These awards have been established to appeal to a broad cross-section of the consumer press with coverage for awardwinners gaining more and more momentum both locally and nationally. The British Pool & Hot Tub Awards are run for the benefit of promoting and celebrating the excellence of BISHTA and SPATA members (nationwide and overseas) endorsing companies who strive for the best, as members working to the recognised industry standards and the respective Association’s Code of Ethics.

AWARDS JUDGING Comes directly from top industry specialists, who regularly work with BISHTA and SPATA. Installation entries are anonymously judged, based on the design, quality and technical attributes along with most importantly working to BISHTA/SPATA Standards, with winners awarded with a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Merit awards (where applicable) for each category. With a selection of specialist categories (highlighted later in this article), each entry is awarded points based on the criteria, with one overall winner chosen by the judges. Judges award entries on a transparent points-based system, making a British Pool & Hot Tub Award a highly regarded recognition of excellence for your company.

HIGHLIGHTS Recognising what’s new and exciting about the industry and moving with the times, each year BISHTA and SPATA work with their various committees to look at new opportunities to spotlight. This year sees some exciting new categories introduced

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 33_SPN_August_20_BSPF_Awards.indd 33

for BISHTA members which include ‘#everydaycation Hot Tub Happiness’. A fantastic opportunity to celebrate with lifestyle images of people enjoying time in their hot tub or exercise spa, tied in with this year’s national industry marketing campaign ‘everydaycation’ initiated by Pool Industry Promotions (PIP) – more details of which are detailed on the following page of this issue.

New for 2021, BISHTA has also added a ‘Best New Product’ category, a chance for members to enter a product introduced to the market for use in hot tubs and exercise spas.

SPATA has made some fresh changes to the indoor and outdoor pool categories for 2021, giving members more options to enter.

Plus everyone entering has the chance of winning one of the top SPATA accolades; the Dick Milward Pool Contractor of the Year Award and the Oustanding Pool of the Year Award. Both of these awards are highly regarded by the industry and are awarded for exceptional entries. You will still find the highly respected industry awards such as the ‘Peter Geekie Award for Retail Excellence’ (sponsored by Certikin International) where the overall winner receives the much-prized trophy and a cheque for £750. Plus the ‘Paul Kite Award for Pool Star of the Year’

These awards have been established to appeal to a broad crosssection of the consumer press with coverage for award-winners gaining more and more momentum both locally and nationally”

(sponsored by Nsure) which recognises enthusiasm, willingness to learn, talent and promise in pool staff with less than ten years’ experience in the industry, with the winning staff member receiving a cheque for £250.

This year, both of these awards are available to be entered online for the first time, making them even more accessible.

PUBLICITY Every winner receives press coverage with a complimentary press release distributed to their local area and guaranteed coverage in the industry trade press. Following the awards, winners receive promotion across a variety of social media channels and online. Along with potential coverage in related industry press such as self-building, landscaping, holiday park, homes and gardens – making these awards a winning opportunity for your company!

Even when business is good, and turnover is healthy, you should never stop marketing your business, and this is where the strength of the British Pool & Hot Tub Awards can help showcase your company and give it the spotlight it deserves. Plus, entering also opens the door to Europe! As award-winning companies are eligible to be shortlisted for the European Pool & Spa Awards hosted by EUSA (European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations).

Award entry is now live online; this is your chance to celebrate your company successes with industry accolades in 2021. Entry closes on Friday 30 October 2020, but don’t delay, if you have entries ready, we urge you to enter them now by visiting the BISHTA or SPATA websites.

Good luck!

BISHTA / SPATA 01264 356211 / 01264 356210 www.bishta.co.uk / www.spata.co.uk

SPN June 2020 33 27/08/2020 18:15

POOL & SPA INDUSTRY

#everydaycation – The Buzz Word Of 2020!

Sallie Leslie-Golding explains PIP’s industry campaign to promote the Water Leisure Industry

P

IP is a committee of professionals drawn from the hot tub and pool industry to help shape and guide the marketing and promotion of the industry, both to the trade but also to the end-user (including consumer). Funding is provided primarily via SPATEX profits, and there are also contributions from BISHTA and SPATA members plus Aqua Publishing Ltd who produce this very magazine.

As you will have read in the last issue of SPN, the #everydaycation campaign began in June with the mission of making waves for the UK Hot Tub and Pool Industry. The brief has been to create a campaign that generates positive noise in the media and capitalises on the surge in demand for water leisure products in 2020. PIP has been able to harness the expertise of Speed Communications to provide messaging that has been shared in the press and media, highlighting hot tubs and swimming pools as the ‘must-have’ items this summer (and beyond).

The campaign has been constructed to promote the whole industry, giving every company working within the industry the chance to capitalise on the press and media coverage. The campaign has hit the ground running and is building positive momentum, so please read on for what’s taken place so far and what’s to come!

STATISTICS ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR To kick off the campaign, the first thing we needed to understand was how consumers have been using their gardens during lockdown and what their interests and desires are for their outdoor spaces. Our campaign agency got to work and put out a survey to 2,000 people tapping into consumers lifestyles. This information not only provided us with some great consumer insights to tailor the #everydaycation campaign, but it also offered interesting stats to gain press and media interest. Read the full survey results for yourself on the BISHTA / SPATA Blogs section of each website.

FEATURED IN NATIONAL PRESS AND ONLINE Press coverage is an enormously effective way of broadcasting the #everydaycation campaign to the masses and a press endorsement to drive consumers to our

34 August 2020 SPN 34_SPN_August_20_BSPF_Everydaycation.indd 34

various campaign channels. So far, we have received some great press and media coverage as listed below: • Sunday Telegraph (circulation: 429,346 print / readership 1,372,000 online) • Daily Mirror (readership: 25,490,000) • Tech Investor News (readership: 117,000) • Shiny Shiny (readership: 200,000) • The Sun (readership: 33,900,000) • The Sun – Twitter (reach: 17,000,000) • The Scottish Sun (circulation: 5,300,000) • The World News (readership: 564,000) • Head Topics (readership: 1,290,000) • Daily Star Sunday (readership: 167,601) • Sustain Health (readership: 9,750)

HARNESSING THE RADIO WAVES On Thursday 25 June, #everydaycation spread across the airwaves as Chris Hayes was interviewed live on a number of BBC radio programmes. Chris was asked to discuss the surging demand for hot tubs and swimming pools during lockdown. These radio interviews provided us with a fantastic opportunity to promote the #everydaycation message, products and price ranges, dispel some myths, and promote BISHTA and SPATA as a safe route to purchase. The interviews were a great success with the media, loving the #everydaycation name. We thank Jason Smith from RotoSpa, who joined Chris for two of the interviews below: • BBC Radio 5 – Wake Up to Money • BBC Radio 5 – Your Call • BBC Radio 4 – You and Yours • BBC Radio WM – Afternoons on WM with Paul Franks • Plus: Apple Podcasts, Listen Notes, Stitcher, Acast, TuneIn, Radioline.

GETTING SOCIAL The #everydaycation message is being promoted across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as the BISHTA and SPATA Facebook pages. We are spreading the hashtag #everydaycation far and wide along with eye-catching lifestyle images and links to the campaign website to inspire consumers’ to purchase, educating them along the way with water leisure tips and lifestyle improvements.

Celebrity Posts - With big thanks to Mark Ramsden and Scott Barnett at Complete Pool Controls Ltd, who have provided access to the sporting celebrity they help to sponsor. Jack Laugher MBE was BISHTA and SPATA’s VIP

at the Industry Gala Evening earlier this year and joined the ‘#everydaycation’ campaign to post out through his social media channels.

Jack is an Olympic diving champion who competes for Great Britain, and he has a significant following on his social media channels. The results of his post so far are 18.1k likes on Instagram and 3.4k likes on Facebook Social Adverts – we are currently running a variety of social media adverts across Facebook and Instagram to boost our following and gain increased post-interaction.

We’ve seen some very successful results through increased followers, likes and website traffic.

DRIVING ONLINE ACTIVITY We’ve built a campaign website www.everydaycation.co.uk as well as making updates to the BISHTA and SPATA websites to align them with the campaign.

As the PIP campaign works for the benefit of the UK Hot Tub and Pool Industry as a whole, we needed a landing website to drive consumers through from our campaign activity. The #everydaycation site provides a tool to engage and inspire visitors, then push them through to the BISHTA and SPATA websites to find lots of free information and to find their nearest BISHTA/SPATA members. The most significant engagement to the #everydaycation site during July has been from Facebook with 8,312 visitors to date. The site also features a Leisure Quiz, providing the most Facebook advert engagement so far, with a reach of 33.3k, and 467 likes to date.

WHAT’S PLANNED GOING FORWARD? • Working with social media influencers • Launch of the campaign competition • Sell into luxury publications • Sell into lifestyle publications • Plus, more of the above!

BISHTA / SPATA 01264 356211 / 01264 356210 www.bishta.co.uk / www.spata.co.uk

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 27/08/2020 19:33

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STA POOL PLANT – SAFE FACILITIES

Management Of Pool Equipment In Swimming Lessons With swimming pools now being accessed by members of the public, in this edition, the STA looks at best practice for commercial pools to make them as clean and safe as possible for visitors during the Coronavirus pandemic.

W

ith the re-opening of swimming pools now taking place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (and potentially Scotland in September), the question of using, and the methods for cleaning pool equipment, is a prevalent one, especially for those who run public swimming lessons.

The use of swimming equipment has been discussed in-depth previously in relation to bacterial growth if cleansing regimes are not managed properly, but swimming lesson providers now face a new challenge with COVID-19.

In May, STA published its ‘Best Practice Guidance for the Re-Opening of Swimming Pools’, and then in July, the government further updated its guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings in England, which STA subsequently reflected in the cleaning section of their guidance. The government’s guidance served to clarify and simplify the process for cleaning and sanitising pool equipment.

WHAT DOES STA’S GUIDANCE STATE? • Remove, where possible, all toys, kick boards and teaching equipment until safe to use again.

• If toys and equipment are to be used, they must be cleaned and sanitised regularly, after each lesson (in-between uses) as per the government’s guidance using normal cleaning and sanitising procedures. At the end of the day, STA would then recommend full disinfection takes place, where the equipment is cleaned, sanitised, disinfected, rinsed and dried ready for the next day.

• No sharing of equipment between swimmers – discontinue the loan of goggles and encourage everyone to bring their own equipment.

• Ask swimmers to bring their own equipment to the lesson.

• Consider having two separate sets of equipment and using them in alternate

lessons; then while one is being used, the other can be disinfected by an appointed member of staff.

• Review the amount of games planned within a lesson, can the games be played whilst social distancing is maintained? Do the games require lots of equipment which will be shared between swimmers?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLEANING, SANITISING AND DISINFECTION? • Cleaning: the removal of visible soil, debris, micro-organisms and organic substances from surfaces; will not eliminate germs but reduces their numbers by removing some contaminated matter. Cleaning is just the first step in a complete decontamination process, but it’s a step you can’t skip. Even if you intend to sanitise or disinfect the area, cleaning away visible soil, dust or debris beforehand makes it easier and more effective to remove microscopic germs with more intensive methods later.

Cleaning is typically done using clean water in combination with a universal detergent.

• Sanitisation: the reduction of bacteria to safe levels (set by public health standards) to decrease the risk of infection; may not kill all viruses. A step beyond cleaning, sanitisation kills a greater number of bacteria. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) explains that “a sanitiser is a chemical that kills 99.999% of the specific test bacteria in 30 seconds under the conditions of the test”. An example would be Milton’s Sterilising Tablets or Fluid www.milton-tm.com/en/consumer/ covid-19-guidelines • Disinfection: the elimination of pathogens and disease-causing micro-organisms, except bacterial spores. Disinfection is a stronger decontamination method because of its ability to destroy pathogens.

The use of swimming equipment has been discussed in-depth previously in relation to bacterial growth if cleansing regimes are not managed properly, but swimming lesson providers now face a new challenge with COVID-19” 36 August 2020 SPN 36_SPN_Aug_20_STA.indd 36

STORAGE How equipment is stored and maintained is another vital aspect for managing both bacterial cross-contamination and the spread of COVID-19.

• Invest in secure, well-drained baskets/ boxes for storing equipment i.e. arm bands and toys. Use different storage baskets for foam items, i.e. floats, woggles.

This allows for the items to be stored in relatively dry conditions. Also ensure the storage boxes are disinfected daily.

• Cleanse and sterilise all cleaning utensils, brushes and cloths etc. after each use.

• Stock dilute solutions can be mixed from Hypochlorite based commercial disinfectants - however careful mixing is essential to dilute correctly and, ensure bather and staff safety. Mixing should only be carried out following a thorough risk assessment and stringent risk controls being applied, and by following the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) data sheets for the chemicals being used.

• Suitable personal protective clothing should always be worn as per risk assessment.

TIP: Operators could consider Milton sterilising fluid as a chlorine based cleaning agent, providing a risk assessment is carried out and necessary risk controls are applied.

To ensure swimming pools can safely re-open, knowledge is essential, which is why training is so important. As such, throughout the lockdown, STA has been running free weekly webinars with experts from across the industry. More recently this included a webinar titled ‘Reopening and risks after lockdown in relation to wet leisure facilities’, which was hosted by pool plant experts Robbie Phillips and Martyn Hardy and is available for anyone to view via STAOnline. As further support, STA has also developed a free COVID-19 Officer Awareness’ Training CPD. For further information on all of STA’s COVID-19 resources please visit the STA website and follow the links from the home page.

STA 01922 645097 www.sta.co.uk

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The perfect add on

for year round benefits A pool enclosure is the perfect answer to the changeable British climate as it allows an outdoor pool to be converted to an enclosed pool in a matter of minutes. Not only that, the year round benefits extend to easier pool maintenance and cost savings.

From advanced low lying designs to sleek telescopic sliding mechanisms, Certikin’s range of pool enclosures deliver unrivalled performance while also blending seamlessly into any home or garden.

Year round swimming 365

Easier maintenance Improved safety and security Reduction in chemical usage Energy cost reduction UV

Less UV exposure

 01993 777200  info@certikin.co.uk

www.certikin.co.uk

MAXIMISING POOL USE

Certikin Have Got It Covered!

With residential swimming pools seeing a surge in popularity this year, in this edition, we look at some of Certikin’s enclosure solutions – products which can extend the swimming season for pool owners across the UK

W

hen installing a swimming pool, most people will envision long summer evenings spent relaxing in the water or sunny Saturdays playing with the family. But when the cooler months arrive, many outdoor pools are left collecting leaves and debris, unused until the warmer seasons return.

A pool enclosure can be a highly worthwhile investment to help make the most of a swimming pool all year round, keeping it covered and warm well into the winter and keeping out leaves and snow.

The polycarbonate material used for most enclosures also helps to protect swimmers from harmful UV rays in the height of summer, as well as sheltering from any unwanted insects and wildlife.

As well as protecting the pool environment from the outside elements, an enclosure decreases the amount of chemicals that are required to look after the water. Additionally, cost savings can be made with the addition of a pool enclosure; they shelter the water meaning less water evaporation and with a reduction in heat loss, owners will see utility bills are reduced.

Safety is a number one priority when owning a pool and enclosures have a number of proven safety benefits. Many of the models come with secure locking systems, making it almost impossible for children to be in the pool unattended. By keeping children (and inexperienced swimmers) away from the edge of the pool, unnecessary accidents can be easily prevented. Slips and falls can also be reduced by keeping the surrounding ground covered from ice and rain.

Certikin offer a huge range of enclosures, which are suitable for any pool size or shape and will fit into most environments due to the colour options and styles that are on offer.

Ranging from low-level enclosures to the

AQ Box Enclosure

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Endless Summer Enclosure

full-height fixed style with wood effect finish, there is something for everyone and here’s a selection of three of the enclosure solutions that are available:

AQ BOX DIY POOL ENCLOSURES Certikin’s entry-level enclosures – the AQ Box – are supplied flat-packed and ready to build.

These enclosures come in three different sizes with a choice of two glazing options.

Everything is supplied in a box together with an assembly manual making them a fast and cost-effective way to fit a high quality pool enclosure. With a uniquely low profile and solid design, the AQ Box enclosure is perfect for those looking for a simple yet durable solution.

THE ENDLESS SUMMER ENCLOSURE The most popular model in Certikin’s range is the Endless Summer enclosure. It is fixed along its length, which allows the windows and wall sections to slide up into the roof, leaving the sides open – a key advantage over traditional enclosure models. The rigid and durable structure offers elegant and graceful aesthetics while still retaining key

safety and protective features. Each Endless Summer enclosure comes equipped with a double wall polycarbonate roof, while the side doors and wall endings of the pool enclosure are constructed from solid, transparent polycarbonate panels.

THE HORIZONTAL ENCLOSURE For those who desire the least intrusive pool enclosure possible, the Horizontal pool enclosure combines an ultra-low telescopic design with durable construction in order to produce one of the most powerful solutions on the market. The Horizontal enclosure is perfect for spaces where height may be an issue without compromising on strength and flexibility.

The use of an enclosure is not limited to covering a swimming pool, with options for people to enjoy their hot tubs and swim spas all year round as well as models that can be used to extend the home and create an additional living space.

Certikin International 01993 777200 www.certikin.co.uk

Horizontal Enclosure

SPN August 2020 39 27/08/2020 18:22

WATER TESTING

Testing Times!

Thanks to numerous innovations, the testing of water in pools and spas is now more accurate, sophisticated and convenient than ever before. It’s a sector which doesn’t stand still for long and embraces the. latest in technology. The result – numerous products that have literally revolutionised what was once a laborious process. With water testing always a high priority for owners and operators alike, we take a closer look at a number of the latest solutions By Andrea Hartshorne

C

lean and safe water is an essential part of the wet leisure experience but the last thing owners and operators of pools and spas want to do is spend unnecessary time and energy testing and monitoring water.

In a normal season, hot summer weather gets people going to pools, lidos, spas and splash parks. However, with many facilities closed on the commercial side, some of the slack has been taken up by first-time domestic purchasers who will be new to looking after pool and spa water. So straightforward and accurate testing has become even more essential. Of course, commercial facilities are reopening and will continue to do so, therefore regardless of the setting, both users and owners need to be able to trust that the cooling waters that are being enjoyed are safe and in the best possible condition.

Considerable money and time is spent developing and producing more efficient and user-friendly testing systems. That’s not surprising as for commercial operators in particular, where there is the possibility of infection, only the best procedures and latest products are good enough as down time or bad press should an infection occur could spell disaster to both revenue streams Lovibond’s MD100 / MD110 range of professional photometers are available in 3 and 6 parameter models

and reputation – a scenario to be avoided at all costs, particulalrly if the pool has only recently reopened!

Whether it’s a newly purchased hot tub or an established Olympic-sized pool, wet leisure products are major investments for their owners and they need to be kept in the best possible condition – especially in these times where cleanliness is of paramount importance and at the forefront of peoples’ minds. Therefore having the correct products to test water conditions is essential and in this issue, we take a look at just some of the solutions.

ACCURATE WATER TESTING IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER The last few months have shown us how important it is to control hygiene in all areas of life. This is also essential for swimming pool water. Although no one is certain how COVID-19 is affected by chlorine, it is generally thought that providing levels of free chlorine are sufficient and pH value is correct, then the virus is rapidly inactivated.

The advice is to run free chlorine at the upper limit of a desired range and the pH as low as possible to ensure the chlorine is running at maximum efficiency. Above all, keep levels tested and correct.

Today’s Lovibond® range of test kits have units suitable for all types of pools and spas.

Backed by over 70 years of water testing experience each kit is designed to give accurate, reliable and repeatable readings.

The range includes: • PoolTester Introductory Kits for measuring chlorine, pH and other parameters. These easy to use visual kits are suitable for small domestic pools where quick testing is required.

• The Scuba II Electronic Pool Tester which measures five different parameters. This small handheld device allows you to test like the professionals and give a direct digital readout.

• Lovibond’s MD100 / MD110 range of professional photometers are available in 3 and 6 parameter models. The meters are easy to use, they only have four buttons, and use top of the range optic to give the best possible accuracy. Used by pools up and down the country the units are supplied in a handy carrying case complete with all accessories. The MD100 also has Bluetooth connectivity so stored results can be directly downloaded to a tablet or laptop.

All Lovibond systems use tablet reagents supplied individually sealed meaning the last used is as accurate as the first. The company also offer a range of free online training courses to help users ensure testing is carried out correctly.

Remember pool water testing is essential: Keep Testing, Keep Control, Keep Safe.

THE POOLLAB 1.0 – THE ONE FOR EVERYONE! Testing your pool water can be a real pain. Is my pH-value balanced? Is there still enough chlorine in the water? Is the alkalinity (acid capacity) and cyanuric acid (stabiliser) in an acceptable range? Test strips and Pooltesters are frequently used as Photometers seemed to be reserved for professionals simply because they are expensive. Luckily, time has changed and an inexpensive Photometer is offered that everyone can afford! The PoolLab 1.0 Photometer by Water-i.d. is

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WATER TESTING

The PoolLab 1.0 Photometer gives accurate results of 11 pool parameters and even comes with Bluetooth, a powerful app and software which both synchronise via a cloud server, free of charge

easy to use, gives accurate results of 11 pool parameters (tested on 3 wavelengths) and even comes with Bluetooth, a powerful app and software which both synchronise via a cloud server, free of charge. Test results can be downloaded via the app/software and individual water treatment chemicals can be stored and used to let software and app calculate a dosage recommendation for the water in a swimming pool or spa.

The built-in cuvette can be changed if required and the PoolLab is waterproof to IP68 – it simply needs to be dipped in the pool to scoop the water used to perform the test.

Six buttons allow direct access to all 11 test procedures and each PoolLab purchase comes with reagent tablets (for most common parameters), a stirring rod and a syringe.

If PoolLab isn’t your first choice, Water-i.d. also offers a wide selection of pooltesters and test strips plus the company recently introduced FlexiTester – a product which allows the user more flexibility than traditional pooltesters and which can test 25 different parameters through the use of various reagents and colour sticks that are inserted into the tester.

DUAL SIDED COM-360 OFFERS PROFESSIONAL WATER HOT TUB WATER Available to both the trade plus end users through 1 Stop Spas, the COM-360 from HM Digital is a new breed of professional tester aimed at users within the hot tub and swim spa market. It has a unique combination of pH/EC/TDS/ Temperature measurements and features different sensors on each end of the meter. Easy to use, it is The COM-360 from HM Digital is a new breed of professional tester aimed at users within the hot tub and swim spa market

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equipped with a gyro sensor that detects the product’s orientation, meaning the COM360 automatically switches from pH to EC/ TDS mode and vice versa with results being displayed clearly via an LCD panel.

The product measures in four scales (mS, µS, 0.5ppm and 0.7ppm) and includes two selectable non-linear EC to TDS conversion factors, making it one of the most advanced handheld TDS/EC meters available.

As with any product aimed at the professional, accuracy is a must and the COM360 offers users precision results as follows: +/- 0.1 pH, +/- 2% EC/TDS and +/- 1 °C/°F. One-touch automatic calibration is also included to pH 4.0, 7.0 and 10.0 plus digital fine-tuning is available to any point within its range.

Powered by two AAA batteries, the COM360 weighs in at only 110g and joins a wider range of HM Digital handheld water testing products offered by the company.

RELAX AND LET AQUACHEK® PRODUCTS DO THE WORK! The Pocket Pro and Pocket Pro+ testers from AquaChek® use sensor technology to deliver quick, accurate results for electrochemical parameters in a broad range of water applications.

The family of 12 testers offers convenient portable solutions for pH, ORP, conductivity, TDS, salinity and temperature, delivering results you can be confident in.

The Pocket Pro+ series offers all the benefits of the Pocket Pro standard

testers, plus convenient backlight and replaceable sensors.

Users can have confidence in results thanks to easy calibration steps and builtin diagnostics for pH testers which take the guesswork out of calibrating the sensor to keep it in optimum condition. Save time and money with easy-to-replace AAA batteries plus a convenient sample cup make maintenance and measurements simple.

For ease of use, the large LCD screen is simple to read; backlighting is included on Pocket Pro+ models, allowing measurement in almost any lighting environment.

These durable meters come with a one-year warranty and can be easily calibrated with a few clicks of a button. Calibration solution is included with each meter; additional solution can be purchased separately.

When it comes to spa water, the AquaChek® TruTest® Spa Digital Test Strip Reader eliminates all the guesswork required with interpreting colour results by combining the ease and accuracy of the company’s test strips with advanced digital technology. It’s so simple – just dip a test strip in the spa water, insert into the test strip reader and get fast, accurate digital results in seconds.

The TruTest Digital Test Strip Reader is also ideal for customers who aren’t comfortable distinguishing colour.

Tests are for total bromine, pH, and total Designed for testing alkalinity but if chlorine convenience, the Pocket Pro+ from AquaChek® is being used, try the allows measurement blue AquaChek® TruTest® in almost any lighting environment Digital Reader.

CHAUVIN ARNOUX LAUNCH LONGPROBE PH TESTER Test equipment specialist Chauvin Arnoux launched last year its new CA10001 portable pH tester which is fast and easy to use in a wide range of applications, including swimming pools, spas, water treatment, hydroponics, agriculture, life science, drinking water applications, aquariums, food and beverage manufacture and many more.

Whether it’s a newly purchased hot tub or an established Olympicsized pool, wet leisure products are major investments for their owners and they need to be kept in the best possible condition” SPN August 2020 41 27/08/2020 18:23

WATER TESTING It is currently the only long-probe pH tester (120 mm) available on the European market and it boasts an IP65 (‘waterproof’) ingress protection rating, two key features that make it equally suitable for use in the field and in the laboratory.

The CA10001 requires just one click to calibrate and one click to measure, allowing users to obtain accurate pH values in moments. User convenience is further enhanced by a multi-parameter LCD screen that shows temperature and pH value simultaneously, and by automatic temperature compensation of the displayed pH value. pH can be measured over the range 0.00 to 14.00 with a resolution of 0.01 pH, and the automatic temperature compensation is effective over the range 0 to 60ºC. Lightweight, portable and featuring a highly ergonomic design, the CA10001 is primarily intended for spot measurements and rapid testing of pH. It is calibrated simply by immersing it in a pH buffer solution and clicking once on the CAL key. Then, after it is immersed in the test sample, one further click is all that’s needed make the measurement. Because of its long pH electrode, the CA 10001 is ideal for measurements in small diameter receptacles such as vials or test tubes.

Chauvin Arnoux ‘s CA10001 requires just one click to calibrate and one click to measure , allowing users to obtain accurate pH values in moments

CLEAR RESULTS EVERY TIME WITH PALINTEST As a long-term distributor of Palintest water testing products to the wet leisure industry, Golden Coast provides a range of photometers, electrochemical sensors and visual test kits to provide pool and spa

owners with clear indications of water quality.

Historically, visual testing kits have been popular for use with domestic pools. They offer cost-effective, easy-to-use methods to test a range of parameters.

But digital products have been on the rise for some time, due to their much greater accuracy and the ability to test for varied chemicals, including chlorine, bromine, alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid and pH levels.

“Palintest offers sophisticated products for commercial or domestic pools,” said Adam Clark, Sales Director at Golden Coast. “Visual testing kits are cost effective and easy to use, but digital photometers like the Palintest Pooltest 3 and 6 are also gaining popularity as they can test for varied chemicals, including chlorine, bromine, alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid and pH levels.

“For service engineers and managers of commercial pools, the Pooltest 9 and 25 have Bluetooth connectivity for easy data download and For service engineers and managers of commercial pools, products such as Palintest’s Pooltest 25 have Bluetooth connectivity for easy data download and sharing

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sharing. This allows multiple users to take readings which can be monitored and tracked from a central hub.”

As an authorised Palintest service partner, Golden Coast offers an all-inclusive photometer maintenance programme that covers repairs, calibration, software upgrades and cleaning, to ensure equipment stays in top condition.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS: 1 Stop Spas 01522 300737 www.1stopspas.com Chauvin Arnoux UK 01924 460494 www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk Hach Lange +800 227 4224 www.aquachek.com Golden Coast 01271 378100 www.goldenc.com Lovibond Tintometer 01980 664800 www.lovibond.com Water i.d. / Pool i.d.

01722 322566 www.water-id.com / www.pool-id.co.uk

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FAIRLOCKS FP AUG20 Lighting.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 06:25 Page 1

The WT Range of Stainless Steel LED Lighting From

LED lighting is now acknowledged as the world’s number one choice for all lighting applications. Fairlocks are pleased to offer this latest technology using high powered LED’s, with low energy consumption, combined with the quality your customers require.

WT1

WT2

WT3

WT4

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UK MANUFACTURED • BESPOKE 316 STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION • LINER AND CONCRETE VERSIONS AVAILABLE UP TO 50,000HRS LIFE SPAN • RGB COLOUR CHANGE OPTION WITH WI-FI CONTROLLABILITY • DMX CONTROL OPTION SIMPLE INSTALLATION – EITHER PUSH OR SCREW FIT VERSIONS • 20M CABLE AS STANDARD (LONGER LENGTHS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST)

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, QUALITY PRODUCTS 14 Hanborough Business Park, Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire, OX29 8LH, UK T: 01865 988346 | E: info@fairlocks.co.uk | W: www.fairlocks.co.uk

LIGHTING OPTIONS

Showing Projects In Their Best Possible Light Lighting has developed at a fantastic rate over recent years and thanks to some advanced and innovative technologies, lighting solutions are now enhancing a wide variety of wet leisure environments. Installations, both new and old, are benefiting from the latest energy efficient products, which when combined with highly creative ideas, provide some truly incredible settings. This issue, we take a look at some of the latest illuminating options By Andrea Hartshorne

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ith a wide variety of options now available for an even wider range of wet leisure settings, it’s no exaggeration to say that the current lighting technologies have literally transformed the look of many of today’s pool and spa installations in both domestic and commercial environments, allowing them to be seen in their best possible light.

Highly efficient LED’s have quite rightly become the accepted choice of professionals across a variety of projects and their use has meant that the plain yet functional white lights with the occasional coloured filter on show – something that was regularly seen not all that long ago – are sights that thankfully are now few and far between.

And it’s easy to see why – a mix of cleverly installed lighting can provide dramatic effects inside a pool or spa, enhancing features and project aesthetics plus they can also be used externally to soften walls and other finishes too. Whole areas can be improved with thoughtful and imaginative lighting, providing both safety and style to complement the surroundings. With plenty of choices available on the market from a variety of manufacturers, this issue, we take look at a number of the many solutions which are lighting the way in 2020.

CERTIKIN DEVELOP LIGHTING SOLUTIONS BASED ON FEEDBACK For pool lighting, you will find no greater range than that offered by leading manufacturer and distributor, Certikin. Over the years they have continued to develop an ever-expanding range which includes the Certikin PU9 and PU6 lights. These are some of the most popular and reliable lights in the industry, with various benefits for the pool builder and customer alike.

The company are keen to remain at the forefront of lighting design and deliver products that the industry demand. It is through this close customer liaison, that Certikin took on board the need for a small pool light, and in partnership with the manufacturer delivered the very successful

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Certikin took on board the need for a small pool light, and in partnership with the manufacturer delivered the very successful PU2 Mini LED Light

PU2 Mini LED Light. Available in both RGBW and white, these highly efficient lights are easy to install, have a high output, the neatest of finishes and are controllable via a smartphone using the free app. The full 316 grade stainless steel body fits directly into a standard 1.5-inch pipe, leaving just the 2mm thick stainless steel fascia on display in the pool.

When launched last year these lights were only available for concrete pools, however, again after listening to feedback from customers, Certikin have developed a liner version. These are now available ready to order alongside the existing range of lights for concrete pools, both of which are an ideal companion to the Flolux range of stainlesssteel fittings available from Certikin.

WATERCO’S BRITESTREAM ADDS A SPLASH OF COLOUR The BriteStream Multicoloured LED lights have been cleverly designed to produce a myriad of colours without the need for coloured lenses. They have an in-built colour memory which means that it always defaults to its last colour selection. There are nine different colour programmes to create the perfect pool side ambience.

Waterco has developed the new stateof-the-art range of BriteStream LED lights for use with concrete, wooden, liner and fibreglass pools. Available in both surface

and niche mounted versions, this complete range offers a light for every installation.

Both versions are available in multi-colour RGB, BriteWhite or Tri-series colouring.

The BriteStream LED are energy efficient, super bright, long-life LEDs operate on only 15% of the energy required for a halogen light. The BriteLux diffuser lens significantly boosts colour saturation and increases light transmission by 50% ensuring light radiates throughout the entire circumference of the lens.

Available in new installation kits and replacement light kits that can be used to upgrade older halogen or LED pool lights.

Britestream LED Replacement Kits includes a retrofit connector and a universal pool light adaptor, cleverly designed to adapt the Britestream to convert a majority of lights.

Available in surface (as shown here) and niche mounted versions Waterco’s BriteStream Multicoloured LED lights produce a myriad of colours without the need for coloured lenses

COMPACT AND POWERFUL LED SOLUTIONS FROM LIGHTHOUSE Zodiac’s compact and powerful ‘NL’ nicheless LED lights are easy and fast to install for unparalleled lighting of any swimming pool or spa.

The attractive design shines a wide light beam that fully lights the pool. The lamp is discreet and powerful with no visible parts.

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LIGHTING OPTIONS Lighthouse’s Zodiac nicheless NL LED lights high-end design and compact size allows flawless integration with a secure, screw fit into any 1.5” inlet fitting

Made of a 100% waterproof, one-piece over moulded aluminium body, NL LED lights screw directly into the pool wall fittings and are compatible with salt water settings.

The NL LED lights high-end design and compact size allows flawless integration with a secure, screw fit into any 1.5” inlet fitting. They can be seamlessly placed in several locations in the pool for high-quality lighting, while saving energy thanks to the LED technology. The lamp is in constant contact with pool water, meaning it always operates at the ideal temperature to optimise its lifespan.

They are available in a pure white or multicolour ‘RGBW’ model that provides a choice of nine static colours and five automatic sequences to enhance any pool.

With RGBW LED, there is no need to choose between white and colour as white is added

CASE STUDY

to the three primary colours. This enables the generation of an infinite colour palette, for more natural shades or pure, white lighting.

The lights are also compatible with Zodiac’s iAquaLink system and can be controlled by eXO iQ, Hydroxinator® iQ or AquaLink TRi. Top this off with three levels of intensity, and pool and spa owners do not have to choose between power and eco-responsibility anymore as 6W, 12W and 24W options ensure infinite pool lighting configurations are made possible. The LED technology provides an average of 90% energy savings, while delivering the same lighting intensity with better distribution.

For peace of mind, NL LED lights are also offered with a three year warranty.

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Light manufacturer HydroFlux have wanted to add a battery pack to their original FlowBright for some time. They knew that whilst they and many professionals within the trade loved their original product, following customer feedback received at several trade shows, the innovative product did have some minor imperfections that they wanted to eliminate – e.g. the light did not function when the filtration system was turned off; the flow at the inlet needed to be around 6,000l/h to generate sufficient energy to power the LED array; the output was restricting the product’s implementation to only smaller pools etc.

With this feedback in mind, Hydro-Flux started working on a rechargeable battery pack to solve these issues back in November 2018. Unfortunately, some things are never easy, however after almost a year and a half of development and testing, they have finally arrived at a design that they can be proud of.

The latest model – FlowBright Plus – uses the same high-flow, low resistance patented turbine technology as the original FlowBright,

Hydro-Flux’s FlowBright Plus has been installed with a large NI-MH rechargeable battery to solve a number of performance challenges

WIMBLEDON POOL BENEFITS FROM DESIGNER TOUCH

The Light Projects group has worked with lighting designer Kate Beard on a stunning lighting scheme for a new residential swimming pool complex in Wimbledon using fibre optics from Danish manufacturer Roblon.

46 August 2020 SPN

BATTERY SWITCH SOLVES PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS FOR HYDROFLUX!

Fibre optics have been installed in the ceiling as well as in the swimming pool itself to complement the different areas and create a sense of uniformity and continuity..

Two IP-rated, 150-watt fibre optic light generators, located outside the building, are used to feed the 40 fittings from Roblon’s Avant-Garde Collection which are housed in the pool ceiling.

These discreet but powerful fittings provide a wall wash across the feature stonework and interact with the wall’s stippled surface by highlighting shadows and irregularities. This creates a perfect contrast to the symmetry of the pool area and the rectangular design of its space and windows.

The pool itself is cleverly illuminated using three projectors, each of which serves a different function. Two 250W light generators are used in an alternating pattern for the main body of the pool and are attached to Aquarius 70 fittings via 8mm fibre. Another, 150W generator illuminates the pool steps using smaller 6mm fibre and Aquarius 35 fittings. In the main body of the pool, the fittings alternate between focussed and wide so that different effects can be achieved by having one or both projectors in operation.

This combination provides either a subtle decorative low-level illumination or a more concentrated effect as required.

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LIGHTING OPTIONS

Available exclusively from Lights Projects, Wibre’s Centum°° range comprises a range of built-in and surface mounted underwater spotlights

however, it has been installed with a large NI-MH rechargeable battery. Instead of sending the energy directly to the LED, all the power generated will be stored within the battery.

Now, when the light is turned on, it will draw its energy requirements from the battery and not from the real time coil generation.

The switch of battery chemistry types from Lithium-Ion to NI-MH was a main driver of design improvements. While this style of battery is only used in about 3% of overall rechargeable battery applications, they were perfectly suited for this situation. NI-MH has removed the vast majority of performance stumbling blocks and enabled HydroFlux to develop a battery pack that really punches above its weights in terms of power and functionality.

SHINING A LIGHT ON UNDERWATER LIGHTING Wibre’s Centum°° range comprises a range of built-in and surface mounted underwater spotlights which use the very latest technology to offer industry-leading light outputs at 166 lumens per watt.

This, coupled with temperature monitoring and integrated surge protection, ensures optimum operation, long life cycle and low maintenance.

Exclusively available in the UK via Light Projects, Centum°° includes four recessed IP68 underwater fittings from 5 to 47 watts.

The light sources used are particularly

Plastica’s Chroma (shown here) and Mini Chroma Lighting feature ‘Power LED’ technology for more powerful and brighter lighting

powerful and compact LED modules available in 3000K, 4000K and 6000K as well as RGB-W and Dynamic White. Two surfacemounted spotlights complement the range for use in fountains and water features. These feature similar colour temperatures and lumen efficiency with the added versatility of distribution angles of 25° to 30°.

Thanks to effective thermal management and low-loss light radiation, CENTUM°° features permanent temperature monitoring and an integrated surge protection ensure the optimum operation of the LED technology.

The watertight housing with protection class IP68 consists of V4A-stainless steel 1.4571, 316L while the light output is sealed by a highly transparent, ultra-white glass.

Wibre products sit perfectly alongside Light Projects’ own ranges and also complement Roblon’s fibre optic lighting solutions also exclusively distributed by the company in the UK. With a range of products for every situation, Light Projects are one of the most knowledgeable, complete and qualified companies in the country for underwater lighting product solutions.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT POOL LIGHTING FROM PLASTICA Plastica believe that any swimming pool light sold should be LED. Not only are they far more efficient and therefore cost effective than the old 300W bulbs – the range of colours and features available means you

...a mix of cleverly installed lighting can provide dramatic effects inside a pool or spa, enhancing features and project aesthetics plus they can also be used externally to soften walls and other finishes too” www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 45-48_SPN_Aug_20_Lighting.indd 47

can completely change the look and mood of a swimming pool, creating the perfect ambience for the pool owner to relax in.

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) have been around since the 1970s but in recent years they have really come to the forefront of lighting technology. Not only are LED lights energy efficient and inexpensive, LED lighting also contains no toxic chemicals.

This makes it a much more environmentally friendly option.

Plastica have made a conscious effort to adopt and understand the concept in order to give the best possible service and support in planning and specifying LED lighting projects. They are able to offer a full range of options, from standard like for like PAR56 replacement, all the way up to multi-light configurations which all link into a central controller to ensure synchronicity during colour changes.

Plastica are able to supply this cuttingedge synchronisation across the size range allowing projects to have large PAR56 LED lights in the bulk of the pool, and details like steps or spas can be illuminated using much smaller units that all change colour instantly together at the touch of a button.

The Eolia RGBW LED bulbs that Plastica supply are equipped with very powerful and energy saving colour LED. These are also available in white. They are fitted in standard PAR56 niches present in almost every pool and they replace incandescence floodlights, creating a lot of different atmospheres within the pool.

Manufactured in Europe, Plastica’s Chroma and Mini Chroma Lighting feature ‘Power LED’ technology – more powerful and brighter than LED lights that utilise conventional mini-LED technology. The remote control syncronisation kit can be activated via an iPhone app giving an impressive array of lighting mood and atmosphere.

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LIGHTING OPTIONS Water-Tec offer the very latest technology – high powered LEDs with low energy consumption combined with the contemporary look that customers desire

LIGHTING OPTIONS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF SETTINGS

LED LIGHTING THAT LASTS FROM GOLDEN COAST

The latest range of products from WaterTec – which are available through Fairlocks Pool Products – have been developed with recent environmental issues at the forefront of their design. LED lighting is now the world’s number one choice for all lighting applications and with Water-Tec, Fairlocks are able to offer the very latest technology – high powered LEDs with low energy consumption combined with the contemporary look that customers desire.

Some of the benefits of the Water-Tec LED lights include, all 316L stainless steel bodies with electro polished front face, high powered energy efficient LED power of 2000 lumens for WT4 and WT5, up to 50,000 hours life span, colour changing RGB options with full digital control (DMX and Zigbee).

LED lighting is now the go-to option for swimming pool lighting as it offers the safest, most cost-effective option. The Water-Tec light range features options for either Warm or Cool lenses and standard 20m cable length. All are controllable to suit the mood / ambience of the pool with both Wi-Fi and / or a smart device (both White and RGB) options.

The team at Fairlocks can advise on the number of lights required to provide the best lighting display for the size of pool, and type of atmosphere the lighting design can provide. There really are unlimited options with swimming pool lighting and it comes down to style, design and the ultimate look of the finished pool that will determine the light installation.

Pool owners can now easily upgrade and enhance any pool with the dynamic LED lighting options available from Golden Coast.

For example, the new Duravision Spectra is an ultra-flat underwater light that has 11 RGB colour modes and six tuneable white modes. Duravision Spectra lights are powerful and efficient, with a bulb life of 30,000 hours.

Golden Coast is also the exclusive UK supplier of a range of lighting options from Dutch pioneers EVA Optic. This includes A12 LED underwater lights, which are designed for large recreational pools as they have a range of 12m and can illuminate areas of up to 30m2, as well as A6 LED underwater lights which are ideal for smaller pools.

“EVA Optic underwater lights use a combination of wide-angled and narrow beams, so visibility in the water is outstanding,” said Adam Clark, Sales Director at Golden Coast.

For commercial facilities, EVA Optic offers direct ambient LED lighting designed to withstand the heat and humidity of pools halls. The range includes EVAline individual or modular lights, downlights, Hydra spotlights and pendant lights. All products

Avalable from Golden Coast, the new Duravision Spectra is an ultra-flat underwater light that has 11 RGB colour modes and 6 tuneable white modes

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have a Unified Glare Rating of less than 19 due to a microprism cover that allows powerful yet glare-free light. EVA Optic lights have a life expectancy of 50,000 hours (assuming 18 hours a day for 7.5 years) and are extremely energy efficient thanks to the use of Constant Light Output technology.

“EVA Optic lights have been used in hundreds of pools around Europe and the UK,” said Jamie Adams, Managing Director at Golden Coast. They are high quality, durable and reliable, so it’s no wonder that these lights have such a great reputation.” SPN

FOR FURTHER DETAILS: Certikin International 01993 777200 www.certikin.co.uk Fairlocks Pool Products 01865 988346 www.fairlocks.co.uk Golden Coast 01271 378100 www.goldenc.com Hydro-Flux 01924 472665 www.hydro-flux.com Lighthouse 01752 253525 www.lighthousepools.co.uk Plastica 01424 857802 www.plasticapools.net Light Projects 020 7231 8282 www.lightprojects.co.uk Waterco Europe 01795 521733 www.waterco.eu

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HEAT PUMPS

Heat Pumps – Still A Firm Favourite

For a while now, heat pumps have been a firm favourite within the UK industry and they’re often the go-to choice for heating the water in pools and spas in an environmentally friendly way. With manufacturers constantly refining technologies and releasing increasingly efficient models, it’s a sector that boasts a wide range of options. Choosing the right one is essential though so this issue, we put various heat pump options under the spotlight. By Jon Wadeson

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or numerous swimming pools and spas up and down the country, heat pumps have, for many years now, been accepted as an ideal solution to heat water efficiently, whilst extending what are normally short seasons here in the UK. With models producing many times more energy than they consume, heat pumps effortlessly outperform many types of more conventional heating methods – so it’s easy to see why they are a popular choice for both owners and installers alike.

With impressive energy and therefore cost savings to be made, the latest heat pump models have become increasingly sophisticated and intelligent in their operation. Many designs now feature some form of Inverter technology and a number of them can now also be controlled and monitored remotely via smart device apps too. As the technology improves, so too does their flexibility and ease of use, all of which further add to appeal.

With various brands, models and options available from a variety of sources, careful research, planning and advice is a must, but there’s usually a perfect heat pump

solution on offer for virtually any pool or spa configuration. With options aplenty from a variety of suppliers, in this issue, we take a closer look at what’s on offer.

HEATSTAR’S AQUARIUS – THE RISKFREE INVESTMENT For 40 years Heatstar have continued to innovate and have pioneered the design and development of a wide range of modern, highly energy efficient pool climate control systems and their ‘Aquarius’ heat pump continues to be a major product in Heatstar’s portfolio. Today’s Heatstar Aquarius heat pump has built on the company’s pedigree and has taken full advantage of all the changes in materials and technology to produce a state-of-the-art heat pump that is the highest quality heat pump on the market.

This Aerothermal heat pump utilises ‘direct contact’ technology to transfer heat from the refrigerant directly into the pool water and also incorporates an ultra- quiet ‘low energy’ digital air fan.

These ‘top of the range’ Heatstar Aquarius heat pumps maintain their visually unique appearance due to the utilisation of an anodised aluminium frame chassis.

Specified and applied for its long-term corrosion resistance and physical strength this eyecatching aluminium profile instantly serves to reflect the true quality offered from the Aquarius. Underscoring the quality of this heat pump Heatstar offer a 20 year anticorrosion guarantee on the Aquarius’ heat exchanger and a 20 year guarantee on the anodised aluminium chassis.

Heatstar were among the first companies in the world to offer the concept of a dedicated heat With the Aquarius, Heatstar has taken full advantage of all the changes in materials and technology to produce a state-of-the art heat pump

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pump for use on swimming pools, with the Aquarius also continuing to be manufactured only in the UK, utilising the finest quality components.

The Aquarius range now also extends to encompass large capacity models for nonresidential pool applications so for a client looking to make a risk-free investment in a product of known quality with proven heritage and genuine after-sales support, which will provide many years of dependable service, then the Heatstar Aquarius is the clear and obvious choice.

The Eco Inverter is one of three new Thermotec models that are now available from HeatPumps4Pools

OFFERING A SOLUTION FOR EVERY SITUATION – HEATPUMPS4POOLS HeatPumps4Pools continue to establish themselves as a leading specialist supplier of swimming pool heat pumps and have expanded their Thermotec range by adding the new Eco Inverter, Eco Fun and Penguin mini heat pump models to join the existing Thermotec Inverter offering.

The Thermotec Inverter range from HeatPumps4Pools are a fully inverter driven, high specification range of swimming pool heat pumps distributed to pool builders and pool retailers. The Thermotec Inverter range are available in 9kW through to 34kW options in both single and 3-phase. They have fully variable speed fans and compressors

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HEAT PUMPS to deliver the benefits of inverter driven heat pumps with high COPs and very quiet operation.

All models have an easy to use 5-inch colour touch screen control panel which is protected from the sun and the weather by a protective flap. The keypad can also be locked to prevent tampering with the temperature and settings, which is ideal for rented properties and families with young children.

With the ability to operate in air temperatures as low as -15oC, the Thermotec Inverter range can be used all year round for indoor and outdoor pools.

Wi-Fi connectivity allows the unit to be controlled and monitored from any iPhone or Android based smartphone as well as allowing HeatPumps4Pools to offer remote technical support worldwide.

The new additions to the range now

New for 2020 and available from Golden Coast, the compact yet powerful Dura Vi will warm the water within pools and spas all year round

include the Thermotec Eco Inverter models.

In sizes from 7kW to 19kW they offer high specification full inverter heat pumps for extended season use at a very competitive price point.

In addition, the new Thermotec Eco Fun range provide on/off heat pump models from 5kW to 15kW which can be used for in-ground or above-ground pools plus the new Thermotec Penguin 4kW plug and play mini heat pumps for above-ground pools up to 10m3 water volume.

ALL-SEASON SWIMMING AND BATHING WITH DURA VI New for 2020 and available from Golden Coast, the compact yet powerful Dura Vi will warm the water within pools and spas all year round. It has an innovative vertical ventilation design and can efficiently heat pools and spas. It even operates in ambient air temperatures as low as -10°C. The Dura Vi heat pump is easy to install and is available in four models from 11 to 24 kW, all featuring a titanium heat exchanger.

“Dura Vi is the latest addition to our range of propulsion heat pumps and uses full inverter technology that can reach an impressive COP of 14.7,” said Adam Clark, Sales Director at Golden Coast. “Dura Vi is easy to use as it can be remotely operated via the LINK Touch Control panel. Plus, despite its power, the multi-speed fan is actually very quiet.”

Dura Vi is extremely efficient and uses FullFlowTM to ensure maximum water flow through the heat pump. It uses a smart CondensFluxTM design that gathers condensed water and drains it to avoid puddles around the pump. The pump also benefits from NoFrostTM technology to ensure that it does not freeze during winter. Any frost that does form is removed in three minutes, without abruptly cooling the water, thanks to HotDefrostTM, making it ideal for a spa or small pool.

Unveiled earlier this year to great acclaim, Certikin’s new Calorex I-PAC and V-PAC inverter heat pump ranges

DESIGNED FOR THE UK CLIMATE – CALOREX’S NEW I-PAC AND V-PAC MODELS Unveiled earlier this year to great acclaim, Certikin’s new Calorex I-PAC and V-PAC inverter heat pump ranges are of the highest quality and are specifically designed for the UK climate. British designed and available exclusively in the UK from Certikin, they are eco-friendly and such is the confidence in the new heat pumps, they come with a five year on site parts and labour warranty.

Replacing the Pro-Pac range, these stylish looking heat pumps come in a side and top outlet with the I-PAC (‘X’) and V-PAC air temperature range from -5°C to 43°C and the I-PAC + (‘Y’) range down to -10°C. They feature an increased range of power ratings from 8-25 kW. Inverter heat pump technology allows for efficient control of the pool temperature

CASE STUDY DURA PRO EXTENDS SWIMMING SEASON AT KENT POOL When a domestic customer in Kent was looking to convert their outdoor pool for use throughout the year, they approached Oasis Swimming Pools for a potential solution.

Samantha Miller, Managing Director at Oasis Swimming Pools has a close working relationship with distributors Golden Coast and discussed the enquiry with the team.

Golden Coast recommended the Dura Pro heat pump for its impressive array of customer benefits.

The pump can operate in air temperatures as low as -15°C and comes complete with a winter cover – making it ideal for year-round pool use. At the same time, its inverter technology and automatic optimisation means Dura Pro can reach an extremely high coefficient of performance, allowing for much lower all-round operating costs.

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Dura Pro also has a soft start with a low noise multi-speed fan that operates below 50dB and boasts a silent night mode which reduces the fan speed.

“We were very impressed with the price of the heat pump, and it was a perfect fit for the customers’ requirements,” said Samantha. “The lead time was short and the installation itself was swift and straightforward.”

The customer is delighted with the easyto-use digital control panel, which allows them to adjust the water temperature to their exact needs – raising or lowering it in 0.1°C steps.”

Oasis Swimming Pools 01304 619 705 www.oasisswimmingpools.com

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HEAT PUMPS with the I-PAC/V-PAC only using the energy required. High efficiency with modulating step-less inverter compressor gives an average COP of 10.3 (I-PAC+), 9.7 (I-PAC) and 10.7 (V-PAC), which is twice as efficient as the older on/off models.

Complying with the new European F-Gas regulations, the heat pumps use the low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant R32. It requires less refrigerant volume per kW and is easier to recycle. The heat pumps are of a compact size with a small footprint and compliant with permitted development rights. The I-PAC is made from aluminium alloy and the V-PAC from ABS. The I-PAC side outlet models have Wi-Fi capability for remote control with the app available to download for both Android and iOS devices.

The new Calorex inverter heat pumps can also be set to two modes, ‘boost’ for quick start-up and ‘whisper’ for super quiet day to day running. ‘Whisper’ mode will achieve a sound reduction of 9-11 dB(A), compared to a traditional on/off heat pump.

Everything about the Norsup heat pump range has been focused on satisfying Bosta’s customers’ high expectations

FOR FURTHER DETAILS: Bosta UK Ltd 01284 716580 www.bosta.co.uk Certikin International H&V 01993 778855 www.certikin.co.uk Golden Coast 01271 378100 www.goldenc.com Heatstar 01983 521 465 www.heatstar.com HeatPumps4Pools 01268 206560 www.heatpumps4pools.com

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For numerous swimming pools and spas up and down the country, heat pumps have, for many years now, been accepted as an ideal solution to heat water efficiently, whilst extending what are normally short seasons here in the UK” NORSUP’S PX AND PV HEAT PUMPS FROM BOSTA 2020 has been an exceptional year so far for Bosta UK’s Norsup brand. More and more installers have been choosing the Norsup range over traditional brands in the market and this growth has been led by the boom in heat pump sales. Everything about the Norsup heat pump range has been focused on satisfying Bosta’s customers’ high expectations and there are a number of ways in how Bosta achieved that.

Firstly the design of the units is ultramodern, giving pool owners confidence in the quality and precise methods of manufacture.

The large colour touch screen display is both functional and pleasing to the eye. Secondly, the Norsup unit offers unrivalled levels of performance. They are full inverter heat pumps which means that the compressor and fan motor fluctuate in frequency to work as efficiently as possible to achieve the perfect pool temperature. In peak months even the largest 35kW single phase unit only uses 0.5kW per hour of electricity to maintain temperature. The working parts slow down using a fraction of the power and in turn create almost inaudible sounds levels at just 22 decibels.

Finally, in addition to all their performance and aesthetic benefits, Bosta offer both the pool owner and the installer the reassurance and comfort of a full four years parts and labour warranty should anything go wrong.

This period is also extended to ten years on the heat exchanger and compressor thanks to the top brand components used. With support like that, it’s clear why Norsup has become one of the leading choices of heat pumps for many pool companies across the UK.

COST EFFECTIVE HEATING WITH WATERCO’S ENERGY EFFICIENT INVERTER TECHNOLOGY Compared to gas and electric heaters, models within the Electroheat ECO-V pool heat pump range from Waterco use just a fraction of the energy to generate the same amount of heat; and unlike solar heating, there is no reliance on the sun as the latent heat in the air is used. For every 1kW of electricity consumed, Electroheat ECO-V can produce up to 8kW of heat.

These inverter pool heat pumps utilise a variable speed compressor to regulate the pool water temperature automatically and independently.

This inverter technology is similar to a car’s engine in that it slows down and speeds up as needed to hold a selected

Compared to gas and electric heaters, models within Waterco’s Electroheat ECO-V range use just a fraction of the energy to generate the same amount of heat

desired temperature or speed. The desired temperature will be reached more quickly and maintained more efficiently and the inverter technology provides a more precise water temperature without the fluctuations and power wastage of fixed speed systems.

Inverter technology is significantly more energy efficient with energy savings of between 15 - 30% over fixed speed systems, and the speed control of the compressor and fan motor also means quieter operation.

Electroheat ECO-V inverter pool heat pumps feature automatic de-icing for situations where frost or ice may develop on the evaporator as part of normal operation.

Common in cooler climates or winter months, when a build-up of ice is detected the heat pump shifts temporarily into cooling mode to reverse the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator coils. Hot refrigerant moves through the outside coils, melting ice and defrosting the system. When the defrost cycle is complete, the unit shifts back to heating mode.

THE HIGHLY EFFICIENT HEATWAVE SUPERQUIET® VARIABLE SPEED HEAT PUMP US-based AquaCal AutoPilot, Inc., part of the larger HornerXpress Group, has just released what they claim is the world’s most efficient swimming pool heat pump. The HeatWave SuperQuiet® Variable Speed heat pump can reach a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of

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HEAT PUMPS less than three years. Running at reduced speed lowers wear on the compressor, extending its service life. Even pair it with a variable speed pool pump to achieve the highest efficiency pool system possible.

Also released is the PoolSync™ Wi-Fi Controller. This Wi-Fi antenna connects AquaCal® heat pumps to the internet and allows them to be controlled through the PoolSync™ App on a smartphone. Heat pump owners can change the mode of the unit from heat to cool to autotemp, when applicable, and adjust the temperature setting. It also allows owners to set up schedules of when to turn the unit on and off and at what temperature. The PoolSync™ Wi-Fi Controller and app work with all AquaCal® heat pumps manufactured with the advanced HP9 controller, which was released in early 2019.

The HeatWave SuperQuiet® Variable Speed heat pump can reach a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 10.5 or higher

10.5 or higher.

AquaCal’s advanced variable speed heat pump technology will automatically adjust its speed, precisely matching the heating demand to maximise efficiency.

The reason pool owners buy heat pumps in the first place is for the efficiency, which greatly reduces the cost of heating a pool.

This variable speed technology calculates the speed required to sustain the desired pool temperature in the runtime allotted.

This approach can save up to 40% more in heating cost over a single speed heat pump.

Pool owners can expect to recoup the investment of this unit in energy savings in

Joining SCP UK’s tried and tested range of inverter heat pumps for 2020 is the new Vertical Invertech Turbo

VERTICAL INVERTECH MODEL JOINS SCP’S HEAT PUMP OFFERING SCP UK offer a number of heat pump solutions and one of their popular lines is the InverTech series from Garden Pac. Joining this tried and tested range of inverter heat pumps for 2020 is the new Vertical Invertech Turbo which is available in three models – meaning pools with volumes of water from 35m3 to 95m3 are all covered.

During standard use, each heat pump runs at the capacity needed to maintain heat levels and keep running costs as low as possible.

However, as the name suggests, each Vertical Invertech Turbo model has a unique booster function meaning heating performance can be 20% higher than the label capacity. By pressing the ‘boost’ button, the heat pump can run at full capacity which allows for the quick heating of any pool. This is possible thanks to larger compressors and evaporators.

With an average COP 10.6 at 50% capacity (Air 26°C / Water 26°C / Humidity 80%) and a maximum COP 15.5, double energy savings are provided.

The Mitsubishi DC inverter compressor and Full Inverter Fan motor offers owners a six times quieter swimming environment when maintaining pool temperatures and with heating and cooling functionality, owners can heat up the pool water or cool it down during hotter weather.

Produced using robust aluminium casing, the Vertical Invertech Turbo is built to last and also comes with a seven year warranty on the Titanium Heat Exchanger and Compressor, plus a two year parts warranty.

Soft start standard on all models, as is Wi-Fi too, meaning real-time monitoring and control from a smart phone or device any time and from anywhere.

CASE STUDY LONDON HOTEL DELIGHTED AT DELTA ADDITION A Calorex Delta is delighting guests at a popular London hotel eager to enjoy the on site leisure facilities.

The Holiday Inn in Shepperton had been in need of a new dehumidification system for several months, and a Calorex Delta was specified for their smart indoor pool and spa facility and installed with the help of Central Heat Pumps Ltd. The performance of the Delta is already having an instant impact on staff and their guests as Tim Biss, of Kew Green Hotel Group explained.

“The Delta is already doing a fantastic job,” he said. “We are delighted with the improvements it has made and the results are so noticeable, even

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before you step into the building.

“When you arrive to the hotel, you can view the main windows to the leisure club from the car park. I remember visiting the hotel to start work on installing the new Delta and you couldn’t even see anything inside from the steam and condensation on

the window.

“Now when you pull up outside the hotel, you’re greeted to a more welcoming view and some of the great swimming pool and facilities inside.

“It was a pretty urgent job that needed to be undertaken and the Delta that Calorex have installed is a welcome addition to our facility.”

The Calorex Delta is a popular choice when it comes to leisure centres, clubs or domestic pools and with its new touch screen technology and a remote internet connection, the upgraded system allows owners to control a pool room directly from a smartphone.

Central Heat Pumps Ltd 01869 320692 www.centralheatpumps.co.uk

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HEAT PUMPS

With its sleek lines and two colour options, the Zodiac Z400iQ ups the game on the design of air source heat pumps

MODERN DESIGN OF ZODIAC HEAT PUMP MODELS HELP THEM TO BLEND IN The Zodiac Z400iQ ups the game on the design of air source heat pumps, with its sleek lines and two colour options, the Z400 iQ disappears elegantly into any pool’s surroundings.

The traditional horizontal air-discharge of other heat pumps, require several metres of space in front of them but the Z400iQ, with its vertical air outlet, reduces this free area footprint by 70%. This discreet machine, fits around most pools, even in confined spaces the Z400iQ knows how to go unnoticed, halving the noise with its silence mode, which reduces the fan speed at the touch of a button.

Add to this the smartphone capability allowing users to set temperatures remotely and consult the Z400iQ’s different modes of operation and you truly have an air source heat pump which ticks all the boxes of the modern pool owner.

The ever-more popular Zodiac ZS500 range

of heat pumps is continuing to please pool customers across the land too. The elegant, modern, clean shape of the ZS500 allows it to be placed into the garden and not look like the blocky chunk of steel which this sector often seems to be burdened with. The vertically mounted, top venting fan allows for the machine’s small footprint (610x670mm and 980mm high) to make the most of its clean lines. Centre front offers a large easy to read digital display with the set point and current running temperature shown. The unit is ideally placed into tight corners where a conventional heat pump would struggle to perform, as the ZS500 only requires a 500mm air gap around its base, its cold discharge air is blown into the sky where the 5m clearance is usually not a problem.

Add to this an inverter driven fan and compressor and you get a machine that doesn’t wake the neighbours when it comes on in the evening, in fact it is so quiet it’s almost easy to forget that it is even there.

HEATSEEKER® FROM PLASTICA – AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SOLUTION Inverter heat pumps have quickly become more widespread as customers become aware of fuel price increases and they prefer more costeffective and energy efficient ways to heat their swimming pools. The new Plastica HeatSeeker® Inverter Heat Pump can consume less than 12% of the electricity of conventional electric pool heaters maintaining the same heating capacity.

The new HeatSeeker® range of Inverter Heat Pumps produce a COP of an average five times for every one kW of electricity consumed, running with an air temperature of only 15°C. If the air temperature available increases, The new Plastica HeatSeeker® Inverter Heat Pump can consume less than 12% of the electricity of conventional electric pool heaters

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the efficiency can be over eight times the supply power.

Plastica’s new range comes with new inverter technology that not only gives a low start-up current eliminating any power surge but also the variable fan speeds allow it to keep the pool water at an optimum temperature while maximising efficiency.

Another benefits of this is a much quieter operating noise level than any previous ranges, making conforming to environmental legislation no problem.

The integral variable fan draws air across an evaporator, heat from the airflow is captured by the refrigerant flowing through the body of the evaporator. This refrigerant is of an R32 type that is acceptable under all new regulations. Having extracted the heat from the air, the refrigerant is condensed and its heat then transferred to the passing pool water via the titanium heat exchanger.

Plastic’s comprehensive range of HeatSeeker® Inverter Heat Pumps will cover the full heating requirements of pools from 25m³ up to 85m³ of water volume and will work efficiently for the whole season.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS: HornerXpress Worldwide +1 954 938 5355 www.hxworldwide.com Lighthouse Pools 01752 253525 www.lighthousepools.co.uk Plastica Pools 01424 857802 www.plasticapools.net SCP UK 01268 273040 www.scpeurope.com Waterco Europe 01795 521733 www.waterco.eu

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THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH

Reducing The Need For Chlorine In Leisure Water Whether it’s through the use of chemicals or systems such as UV and Ozone, when it comes to the treatment of pool and spa water, there’s now a number of tried and tested low and no chlorine solutions on offer. With options often providing a much gentler wet leisure environment, it’s easy to see why they are increasingly popular and in this issue, we take a closer look at what’s available By Jon Wadeson

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ollowing feedback from pool and spa owners and operators particularly in commercial settings, manufacturers within the wet leisure industry have, over recent years, been put under pressure to come up with safe, trustworthy ands effective disinfection solutions that don’t rely solely on large doses of chlorine for effective sanitisation.

As a result of this challenge, there is now a wide range of treatments available which do exactly that. Lowering the use of chlorine and in some cases, removing it completely, has been a popular solution within both domestic and commercial settings and provides a welcome answer for indoor pools to help with eradicating unwanted smells we often associate with pool water that’s been treated with chlorine.

Of course, chlorine will always have its place in pool sanitation but reducing the levels or replacing it completely provides some great additional benefits and many pools across the UK have, or are in the process of adopting this approach.

With numerous solutions and systems on offer, we take a look at just some of the options.

NORSUP’S LOW SALT CHLORINATOR FROM BOSTA UK The demand for alternative forms of pool water treatment continues to grow year on year. A tried and tested method of The Norsup Low Salt system from Bosta UK is enhanced compared to many chlorinators on the market as it can perform its function at a fraction of the normal salt dose

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achieving perfect water quality is through salt chlorination. Widely used in the USA, salt systems are the preferred choice.

Therefore Norsup is proud to offer one of the best systems on the market. People who have been swimming in a salt chlorinated pool will immediately notice the vast difference in water quality. It is kind to skin as swimmers are not exposed to the irritants of direct chlorine dosing, plus the water feels soft to the touch. Children can play in the pool for hours without sore eyes and indoor pools will not have that familiar chlorine smell lingering in the air.

The Norsup Low Salt system is enhanced compared to many chlorinators on the market as it can perform its function at a fraction of the normal salt dose. At just 1.5g per litre, it requires at least 60% less salt than other systems. That means it is kind to the user and to the pool equipment such as covers and indoor pool decoration.

The system is simple to use, saves significant sums of money as owners and operators no longer have to buy expensive chemicals. It’s also very low maintenance as it regulates the pH levels in the pool too. In addition, the equipment is very long lasting and comes with a 4-year warranty on the salt cell thanks to the self-cleaning technology included. With all these benefits, the Norsup Low Salt Chlorinator is likely to be popular for all pool installers.

Available through SCP UK, Salt & Swim® 2.0 gives a visual indicator and changes colour depending on the control selection made – in particular for chlorine production

SALT & SWIM® 2.0 – HAYWARD’S NEW GENERATION SALT CHLORINATOR Available through SCP UK, Salt & Swim® 2.0 is a new generation salt chlorinator from Hayward and offers pool owners precise and user-friendly controls thanks to the product’s LED display. In addition, a transparent cell allows for visual checks on production and a gas detector is included as standard.

Salt & Swim® 2.0 gives a visual indicator and changes colour depending on the control selection made – in particular for chlorine production – regardless of whether a pool has an open or closed pool cover and will then adjust production accordingly.

Available in options which cover a wide range of chlorine production (8, 16, 22, 33 g/h/cl), five levels of chlorine production are possible: 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%.

A flow detector kit is available as an option and for peace of mind, the Salt & Swim® 2.0 comes complete with a two-year warranty. It is joined for the 2020 season by two additional salt chlorinator products from Hayward – the AquaRite Flo and AquaRite Flo Advanced – the latter of which is fully featured and will allow the control of additional pool equipment. Both AquaRite models come with a wide range of chlorine production capabilities and each includes a

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THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH three-year warranty.

These new additions mean that SCP now has a wide range of salt chlorinator products from leading brands including Davey, Hayward and Pentair.

100% eco-friendly operation providing natural health water the PURIQ UVC system from Fairlocks guarantees crystal clear water

HARNESSING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR SPARKLING CLEAR WATER A prime focus of the science world today is ceramic nano crystal technology, and it is this which is used in the Quantum to create one of the most powerful forms of sterilisation – photocatalytic oxidation. Manufactured

by Elecro Engineering and available from Certikin and other leading distributors, Quantum eliminates contaminants leaving water looking fresh and clean.

Easy to install, Quantum will give peace of mind as dangerous organisms such as cryptosporidium and adenoviruses are destroyed by the photocatalytic process ensuring pool users are kept safe. Several natural processes occur as the pool water passes through the unit with only pure water returning to the pool.

As a result of the processes occurring inside the Quantum including the production of hydroxyl radicals the treated water is free of all oil-based substances such as sun creams and all organics including urea are totally removed resulting in sparkling water. Quantum also reduces the need for chemicals in the pool and helps eliminate Manufactured by Elecro Engineering and available from Certikin and other leading distributors, Quantum eliminates contaminants leaving water looking fresh and clean.

the smell of chlorine.

Once installed this cost-effective solution requires no maintenance; it is equipped with an intelligent lamp life indicator so when the UV lamp which initiates the photocatalytic reaction needs to be replaced this is displayed. Quantum is compatible with both salt and sea water.

The Quantum is just one of numerous solutions on offer from Certikin who also provide a new range of fully serviceable UV systems for pools between 15,000 (15m3) and 150,000 (150m3) litres.

PURIQ SYSTEM UTILISES THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR OPTIMAL PURIFICATION Available from Fairlocks, the PURIQ UV-C water purifier guarantees crystal-clear water. Utilising the latest technology, the lamp emits very powerful UV-C light with a wavelength of exactly 253.7nm that kills practically all bacteria, viruses, algae and moulds. This results in optimal purification, so the use of chlorine and other chemicals can be reduced by up to 80%.

The PURIQ UV-C system, with its 100% eco-friendly operation, provides more natural, healthier water. The extended life UV-C lamp lasts an incredible 12,000 hours ensuring the water quality is free from bacteria and algae. This enables customers, friends, or patrons to enjoy safe, clean swimming pool water for longer.

So how does PURIQ work and why is it so effective? UV-C is invisible electromagnetic radiation that ranges in wavelength from 100 to 280 nanometres. These wavelengths fall just outside of the part of the spectrum visible to the human eye.

The disinfecting qualities of UV-C light are based on the damage it causes to the DNA of microorganisms. Good disinfection lamps produce UV-C light with a wavelength of 253.7 nanometres. The DNA absorbs the UV-C rays, and the resulting photochemical reaction breaks down the DNA code. As a result, the microorganism is made harmless

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and can no longer multiply.

The extra wide SAE 316 stainless steel housing in the PURIQ system extends the time the water is exposed to the strong UV-C radiation while also minimising the pressure drop as the water passes through. Thanks to the polished interior, there is virtually no adhesion of contaminants to the walls, which boosts the effectiveness of the UV-C radiation by a further 35%.

Installation of the PURIQ UV-C system is very simple and for peace of mind, each comes with a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WATER WITH LIGHTHOUSE Distributor Lighthouse offer two very different forms of low chlorine sanitisation products to ensure crystal-clear water.

The first is Filtreau UV-C. The sophisticated design and high quality materials in this system produce high UV-C radiation with a wavelength of precisely 253.7nm. This high level of radiation kills almost all bacteria, viruses and even fungi, providing clear and clean water. As a result, the level of added chemicals (e.g. chlorine) can be reduced, ensuring more natural feeling and healthier water.

The system is easily installed into domestic pool pipework whether it is a retrospective installation or as part of a new build. The units are also covered by a two-year warranty on manufacturing defects.

The second is a MagnaPool® from Zodiac.

The very first time a bather jumps into a MagnaPool® they can feel the difference. The water has a gentle, silky feeling against the skin. There is little or no irritation to eyes

Available from Lighthouse, Zodiac’s MagnaPool® system helps keep chloramine levels to a minimum, so the water is gentler on sensitive skin

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THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH and hair won’t need washing to get rid of that chlorine smell or sticky salt – a feeling often associated with chlorine and salt water pools.

The pool will always have crystal clear water and will be easy to maintain. The magnesium chloride found in MagnaPool® minerals is derived from the ocean. This form of magnesium has been found to have significant beneficial properties for internal health, as well as helping to relax the mind and body.

It can help in detoxifying the body, reducing aches and pains, relieving stress and anxiety and providing the muscles with energy.

The MagnaPool® system helps keep chloramine levels to a minimum, so the water is gentler on sensitive skin. Due to the strong flocculent effect of magnesium, it works like a magnet helping to rid the pool water of impurities and removing organic debris and combined chlorine.

...Lowering the use of chlorine and in some cases, removing it completely, has been a popular solution within both domestic and commercial settings” Designed using the latest knowledge of highly reflective reactor casing materials, the Elecro H.R.UV-C Steriliser is available through Plastica

GAFFEY HYPROLYSER CREATES A LOW HAZARD PLANT ROOM Whilst great water quality and efficient chlorination are prerequisites for any pool operator, these requirements are only part of the picture when considering an equipment upgrade or new-build pool.

In smaller commercial/hotel pools where technical staff are often in shorter supply, choosing a disinfection system which eliminates the need for the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals is an attractive proposition, in addition to a significant reduction in COSHH management tasks. Andrew Gaffey, Technical Director, commented: “We know that the majority of chemical spillages or chlorine gas incidents occurring in pool facilities happen when hazardous chemicals are being transferred, prepared into solution, or when the cleaning or maintenance of chemical injection points is undertaken. If these tasks and hazards can be avoided altogether then the chances of accidents and injuries occurring through Hyprolyser® iSEC models from Gaffey produce a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution which contains less than 1% active chlorine, below the threshold for classification as a dangerous substance

operator error are greatly reduced.”

Hyprolyser® iSEC models produce a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution, safely generated on site using only salt, water and electrical energy. The hypochlorite solution produced contains less than 1% active chlorine, below the threshold for classification as a dangerous substance.

As this solution can be produced freshly on demand every day, there is no need for large quantities of chlorine to be stored on site. The added benefit of on site production means that the generated solution is always fresh and does not degrade in storage like commercially produced sodium hypochlorite.

Manufactured by Gaffey at their factory in Lancashire, Hyprolyser® electrochlorination systems are now available in capacities from 30g/h to 8.5kg/h of chlorine. Well proven in delivering a safe and economical alternative to commercial chlorine chemicals, they are used in swimming pools around the world.

THE ULTIMATE INTERNAL REFLECTION FOR MAXIMUM DISINFECTION Designed using the latest knowledge of highly reflective reactor casing materials, the Elecro H.R.UV-C Steriliser as another product from Elecro Engineering and is available through distributor Plastica. It produces up to 95% reflectivity (if you compare this to stainless steel reactors only 20 to 28% reflection is typically achieved). The H.R.UV-C is 100% sea and saltwater compatible, unlike stainless

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steel units that suffer corrosion issues.

The super reflective properties of the H.R.UV-C Steriliser optimises the UV-C radiation and dramatically increases the performance. The inside surface casing is extremely repellent and therefore selfcleaning. Intelligent electronics indicate when the lamps are not producing sufficient UV-C and need to be changed ensuring the unit is always performing optimally.

The H.R.UV-C Steriliser is compatible with and compliments all traditional treatment methods including; chlorine, bromine, active oxygen / hydrogen peroxide and salt electrolysis.

A narrow and extended chamber ensures maximum exposure to the powerful UV-C. It is easy to use and install, can be retro-fitted to any existing pool system – a self-cleaning system, reducing the need for maintenance.

The Intelligent lamp life indicator signals when the lamps are no longer producing sufficient UV-C and need to be changed ensuring your unit is always performing optimally and has a long lamp life up to 9,000 hours.

Both the H.R.UV-C Steriliser and the Quantum units are available from Plastica and are part of a much wider range of water treatment products that reduce the use of chlorine.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS: Bosta UK 01284 716580 www.bosta.co.uk Certikin International 01993 777200 www.certikin.co.uk Fairlocks Pool Products 01865 988346 www.fairlocks.co.uk Gaffey Technical Services 01254 467137 www.gaffey.co.uk Lighthouse 01752 253525 www.lighthousepools.co.uk Plastica 01424 857802 www.plasticapools.net SCP UK 01293 546126 www.scpeurope.com

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STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS

The Enduring Appeal Of Stainless Steel The appeal of stainless steel for pool construction goes much further than it being a material chosen for use solely in challenging environments. Trendsetters love its polished looks and the same applies for many pool accessories too.

Strength and durability combined with timeless aesthetics - it’s a winning combination that ensures stainless steel solutions are always in demand and in this issue, we examine some of the choices on offer By Jon Wadeson

T

ightweight, strong, flexible, durable, corrosion resistant, hygienic… the list of characteristics of stainless steel that make it so ideal for the use in building swimming pools, spas and their associated accessories seems to go on and on.

Add to that striking and timeless aesthetics that exude quality and which never go out of fashion, and it’s easy to see why the appeal of stainless steel endures and more and more architects and interior designers are specifying it.

Stainless steel’s exclusive looks and unique properties are further enhanced with the ability to ‘pre-engineer’ pools and spas in a modular process, similar to the ways that have been developed for virtually all aspects of modern building. Designers and contractors can now also utilise the efficiency of the construction process and save considerable time and money during the pool build.

As with smaller stainless steel accessories,

components for a complete pool project are produced to proven design templates in manufacturing facilities where quality control is strictly monitored. This process means that construction surprises are virtually eliminated and accurate costs are always known.

With many advantages over other materials used for builds in the wet leisure sector and in the production of many accessories, it seems the flexible nature of stainless steel will guarantee its use for many years to come and in this issue, we take a closer look at just some of the stainless steel solutions that are on the market this year.

THE COMPLETE STAINLESS STEEL SERVICE FROM LSPC London Swimming Pool Company (LSPC) has a track record of over 30 years in creating award winning concrete pools, but three years ago it expanded its portfolio of services to offer luxury stainless steel pools to private

clients, capitalising on the growing interest in this spectacular finish.

Working in concert with Berndorf Bäderbau, one of Europe’s premier stainless steel pool manufacturers, LSPC creates the bespoke pool design and the stainless steel pool shell is constructed to fit the pool specification exactly to ensure smooth installation. Once the pool is built and testing of the pool shell integrity has been successfully completed, the LSPC Servicing team commissions the pool before handing it over to the client.

LSPC Servicing will tend to handle the ongoing regular pool maintenance too.

LSPC Managing Director, Jamie Smith said: “There is tremendous interest in stainless steel pools now. Clients are drawn to the finish because of its ultra sleekness which graces any upscale residence, traditional or modern. Our design team spends a lot of time with the client at the concept stage, taking them through different design options, of which there are many because the material is so flexible, as well as the requirements for the plantroom. Clients soon begin to appreciate the benefits of a stainless steel pool way beyond pure aesthetics. A big advantage to them is the potential to have their pool finished sooner, because the construction process is considerably faster than building a traditional pool.”

LUXURY STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS FROM SPAFLO

Modular stainless steel pools – such as with this installation in Surrey from LSPC – allow clients to have the luxury and beauty of a stainless steel pool at a lower cost than a bespoke model

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Having worked in the pool and spa industry for over 16 years, Richard Gowland knows a thing or two about high-end requirements.

In that time, he has designed, manufactured and installed luxurious projects all over the world including 5* hotels, destination spas, superyachts and private residential properties.

His creative flair and attention to detail has shone through on all his installations as he draws upon his degree in Design & Technology with Management Studies.

After 12 years building a pool company from scratch into a well-known brand, last year Richard decided it was time for a new

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STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS challenge and had identified a gap in the UK pool and spa market for stainless steel spas, hydropools and hot tubs at competitive costs.

Many commercial pool and spa specifications detail stainless steel manifolds, strainers and plant equipment because it is undoubtedly the best material to work with. Stainless steel offers numerous advantages over other materials. It has the longest lifespan, has a smooth surface which is easy to clean, isn’t affected by frost or UV rays and looks sleek and elegant.

Richard started SpaFlo Ltd in October 2019 to manufacture stainless steel products at the perfect price point. The company has its own 3D design, project management and fabrication specialists with vast experience using stainless steel to create spas and pools.

Other key benefits for SpaFlo products are they recess jet fittings so they don’t protrude into the spa or pool, they can deliver in sections and complete the welding on site where access is limited and full wet testing is completed before products leave the factory.

The company’s aim is to speed up pool contractor’s installation times while offering a unique and stunning product.

QUALITY AND PRECISION ARE THE HALLMARKS OF A CASTILLO POOL Castillo offer a wide range of precision made pools with countless features including cave cover systems, infinity edges, curved walls and moveable floors.

Quality begins with the selection of the stainless steel from which each Castillo pool is made and the company only selects

SpaFlo’s aim is to speed up pool contractor’s installation times while offering a unique and stunning product

select European certified stainless steel. All Castillo components are manufactured in a contamination free facility using processes that comply with ISO 9001 and EN 1090.

Stainless steel is a high performance material which will maintain its integrity even after decades of use and each Castillo pool is built to withstand variations in climate in the most challenging geological conditions.

Castillo’s engineering and manufacturing processes are world class and the company uses state-of-the-art computer automated,

3D design technology. The processes require the manufacture of each component to be independently verified and tracked and this permits Castillo to affix the coveted CE quality mark to their pools. The highest quality stainless steel is used to create the structural panel system which is strong enough to be self-supporting and free standing, allowing total access around the pool at all times. Its unique structure also lends itself to being built above-ground.

In addition to the Series One Liner pool

ACCESSORIES THAT BOAST STAINLESS STEEL STYLE SOPHISTICATED AND DURABLE ACCESSORIES FROM FAIRLOCKS At Fairlocks, the increase in demand for Flolux stainless steel fittings and Water-Tec stainless steel underwater lighting has been unprecedented in the last 12 months.

With a focus on innovative design, aesthetic excellence and quality craftsmanship, the uncompromising Flolux range is a revolution in safety, elegance and incomparable finishing for concrete pools and spas. Flolux facias are designed and sculpted from marine grade stainless steel (FloJet and FloAir facias are turned from solid marine grade stainless steel); are polished for a superior, first-class finish; and are safely secured to the highgrade PVC backing through the FloLock

System. The Flolux Finish ensures every aspect of a luxury pool or spa is visually and functionally of the highest calibre.

The Water-Tec underwater lighting offers stylish colour-changing underwater pool lighting housed in stainless steel casings which can be controlled at the touch of a button either wirelessly through a touch pad or mobile device.

The stainless steel fittings and lighting designs on offer provide a feel and look of luxury that is timeless, strong and long-lasting.

Fairlocks Pool Products 01865 988346 www.fairlocks.co.uk

TRANSFORM THE LOOK OF ANY POOL WITH CERTIKIN The innovatively designed range of Flolux fittings are also available from Certikin, and are an ideal companion to the new PU2 Mini LED Light which is shown earlier in this edition within the ‘Lighting’ feature.

For a quick and simple way to give a swimming pool a refreshing make-over, then look no further than Certikin’s stainless

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steel transformation kits for concrete pools.

Designed to convert standard Certikin plastic fittings into luxurious polished stainless steel fittings, they are suitable for both new builds and for retrofitting. Available in a square (ideal for a contemporary, modern look) or round design, the range includes skimmer, cover plates, inlets and vac points.

If hydrotherapy equipment with a polished look is what’s needed, Certikin’s Fluvo range stands out as a beacon of excellence in terms of both performance and looks.

Certikin International 01993 778855 www.certikin.co.uk

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STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS In addition to the Series One Liner pool and series Two Panel System, Castillo now offer the Series Three One-piece pool

and series Two Panel System, Castillo now offer the Series Three One-piece pool. These swimming pools feature a strong and durable structure which is simply set into position without the need for additional support in the form of back fill or concrete ring beam resulting in reduced installation time and costs. This design also ensures that each Series Three pool has a fully accessible void around it giving easy access for maintenance and upgrading without the need to disturb finished floors

GAME-CHANGING DESIGN FROM PAHLÉN Achieving a luxury look and feel for a pool is easier and more affordable than ever before thanks to the range of stainless steel fittings and features from renowned Swedish manufacturer Pahlén, brought to the UK market by distributor Golden Coast.

Combining the best of form and function, Pahlén’s products offer impressive results.

Golden Coast Sales Director Adam Clark explains: “Pahlén’s carefully-considered designs are an absolute game changer – particularly their front access skimmer.

“As skimmers traditionally empty from above, owners have to live with a lid and frame that detract from the look of the pool surround. When you’re investing in a pool,

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REDUCING CONCRETE USE MAKES FOR A QUICKER BUILD According to Mark Watson of Wrightfield Pools, much of the build time for new pools is typically taken up with the traditional concrete casting process.

“Complexities include difficulties created by weather conditions and regulatory compliance. Significant risks are associated with pouring vast amounts of concrete, creating the potential for time and budget overruns,” he said. “And of course, concrete

As with smaller stainless steel accessories, components for a complete pool project are produced to proven design templates in manufacturing facilities where quality control is strictly monitored” is not in itself waterproof, so there is the challenge of ensuring durability and performance over a long time period.”

So by reducing the amount of concrete casting required, a project suddenly gets a lot less complex and therefore shorter from start to finish and this is one of the reasons the company focuses on offering stainless steel pools from Natare in the UK. Off site fabrication using modular construction methods is possible and the company has found that less time is needed at the site itself.

Installation is streamlined, with just a single concrete slab required to create a horizontal footing for the buttress support system. The company’s experience has been considerably shorter build times and less risk of delays than with traditional concrete construction.

The company also points to the increasing

especially an indoor installation, that’s the last thing you want. With the Pahlén skimmer, the basket is emptied from the front, eliminating the issue completely.”

The skimmer is just one part of Pahlén’s wide selection of stainless steel fittings, which also includes inlets, vac points and main drains.

Golden Coast 01271 378100 www.goldenc.com

IN-HOUSE CAN MEAN CUSTOMMADE FROM PLASTICA Plastica have many years of experience manufacturing their own products, many of which are stainless steel based. This also gives them the advantage of offering a bespoke service for individual orders.

For example, handrails or ladders can be custom-made to fit the client’s exact requirements. Plastica has focused on quality and safety with its 43mm 316 grade stainless steel ladders. The tube conforms to British Standards, as do the stainless steel treads and double top tread. Everything is moulded in-house and supplied with their own custom designed treads and fixtures. ​

One of Plastica’s established in-house products is the stainless steel Slidelock Reel System, widely regarded as one of the best domestic reels on the market. With the export market in mind, the T-model version has been developed making it easier and more cost-effective to ship, due to its reduced pack size.

The reel comes complete with all the necessary straps and fittings as well as an instruction guide to ensure a quick and effortless installation of either a new or existing cover to its adjustable tubes.

Plastica Pools 01424 857802 www.plasticapools.net

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STAINLESS STEEL SOLUTIONS

Natare UK note that most stainless steel produced today contains over 60% recycled materials.

It’s also 100% recyclable, so the environmental impact of a stainless steel pool at end of life is less than an equivalent concrete pool

focus on the reduction of waste and minimising environmental impacts, noting that most stainless steel produced today contains over 60% recycled materials. It’s also 100% recyclable, so the environmental impact of a stainless steel pool at end of life is less than an equivalent concrete pool.

Mark summed up what he sees as the key ingredient for achieving business goals with new build or redevelopment pool projects and said: “Architects and operators need to talk to engineers, manufacturers and installers about options open across all aspects of pool technology.

“Instead of simply repeating the last project because it worked, exploring new ideas can create opportunities for cost effectiveness, durability and operational success.”

ASTRALPOOL OFFER A COMPLETE STEEL SERVICE INCLUDING ONEPIECE OPTIONS AstralPool UK Ltd have supplied a number of stainless steel pools ranging from commercial applications to high-end developments.

Due to their intrinsic link with the manufacturers through its parent company Fluidra, AstralPool are well placed to build on the existing technical expertise by introducing further R&D of the pools, an example being where different flooring finish options are being developed to provide customers with a variety of styles to choose from. This is based on direct customer feedback where the need for alternative flooring options was highlighted.

Last year saw AstralPool introduce new one-piece stainless steel pool options, which offer a degree of flexibility and functionality to cater for this niche market where users desire a high-end product but with the convenience of a one-piece solution.

They offer a stunning luxurious finish with functional performance and can be provided with a range of optional extras such as turbine driven counter-current units, loungers and neck massagers.

The company are committed to developing

this niche sector and their presence has been further strengthened by the appointment of a dedicated Business Development Manager to work alongside the existing technical and project team. With a specific remit to develop this area, the role seeks to expand the awareness of AstralPool’s offering to existing trade customers but also to create awareness amongst key architects, specifiers and spa consultants who may be involved at various stages within the design process in this niche market.

Based on the fact that customers are continually looking for that exclusive ‘wow’ factor, AstralPool are confident that the demand will continue to grow as a pool with a polished stainless steel finish will certainly deliver this plus much more!

FOR FURTHER DETAILS: AstralPool UK Ltd 01329 514000 www.astralpool.co.uk Castillo Pools 028 2544 6111 www castillopools.com London Swimming Pool Company 020 8605 1255 www.londonswimmingpools.com Natare UK 01379 872800 www.natare.co.uk

Last year saw AstralPool introduce new one-piece stainless steel pool options which offer a stunning luxurious finish with functional performance

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SpaFlo Ltd 0151 384 2493 www.spaflo.co.uk

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FAIRLOCKS FLOLUX FP AUG20.qxp_Layout 1 28/08/2020 07:23 Page 1

A luxury finish for pools and spas

The superior alternative to white PVC fittings for concrete and fibreglass pools.

For high quality design and construction, it makes sense to finish with Flolux.

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, QUALITY PRODUCTS 14 Hanborough Business Park, Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire, OX29 8LH, UK T: 01865 988346 | E: info@fairlocks.co.uk | W: www.fairlocks.co.uk

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BUYERS GUIDE CEILING SYSTEMS

HEAT EXCHANGERS

CONTROL PANELS

HOT TUB & SPAS

ON-SITE LINING

ON-SITE LINING

PLAY EQUIPMENT

UK DISTRIBUTOR • In depth technical back up • Quick delivery • Complete heat exchangers in stock

sales@gvsswimmingpools.co.uk www.gvsswimmingpoolsonline.co.uk

HEAT EXCHANGERS AN ADVERT THIS SIZE IN THIS BUYERS GUIDE IS JUST £345!

THAT’S 6 ISSUES OR 12 MONTHS COVERAGE FORJUST UNDER £1 PER DAY! TO ADVERTISE CALL TONY WESTON ON 01474 813433 E. TONY@AQUAPUBLISHING.CO.UK

HEAT EXCHANGERS

BOWMAN

®

Manufacturers of swimming pool heat exchangers for chlorine, saline and spa pools.

EJ Bowman (Birmingham) Ltd Chester Street, B’ham B6 4AP, UK Tel: +44 (0) 121 359 5401 Fax: +44 (0) 121 359 7495 Email: info@ejbowman.co.uk

68 August 2020 SPN

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BUYERS GUIDE POOL BUILDERS

POOL COVERS

POOL ENGINEERS

POOL ENGINEERS

AN ADVERT THIS SIZE IN THIS BUYERS GUIDE IS JUST £345!

THAT’S 6 ISSUES OR 12 MONTHS COVERAGE FOR JUST UNDER £1 PER DAY! TO ADVERTISE CALL TONY WESTON ON 01474 813433

E.TONY@AQUA-PUBLISHING.CO.UK

POOL COVERS

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk

POOL ENCLOSURES

POOL ENGINEERS

POOL EQUIPMENT

SPN August 2020 69

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BUYERS GUIDE POOL EQUIPMENT

POOL EQUIPMENT

POOL LIFTS & SPA HOISTS

PRESSURE TESTING & LEAK DETECTION EQUIP

SPRAYED CONCRETE

POOL EQUIPMENT

POOL FLOORS – SERVICING

POOL LIFTS & SPA HOISTS

AN ADVERT THIS SIZE IN THIS BUYERS GUIDE IS JUST £495!

THAT’S 6 ISSUES OR 12 MONTHS COVERAGE FOR LESS THAN £1.50 PER DAY! TO ADVERTISE CALL TONY WESTON ON 01474 813433 E. TONY@AQUAPUBLISHING.CO.UK

70 August 2020 SPN

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BUYERS GUIDE SPRAYED CONCRETE

TILED SPAS

WATER MONITORING & CONTROL

ADVERTISERS INDEX

Alukov

14

Aquaflex

21

Artesian Spas

OBC

Bosta UK Certikin Int’l

13 21, 38, 49, 57 & 58

Complete Pool Controls

28

Darlly Europe

19

Easy Pools

24

Fairlocks Pool Products IFC, 44 & 67 Gaffey

58

Golden Coast

SWIM SPAS

TILED SPAS

AN ADVERT THIS SIZE IN THIS BUYERS GUIDE IS JUST £345!

THAT’S 6 ISSUES OR 12 MONTHS COVERAGE FOR JUST UNDER £1 PER DAY! TO ADVERTISE CALL TONY WESTON ON 01474 813433

E.TONY@AQUA-PUBLISHING.CO.UK

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk

WATER TREATMENT

19 & 37

HeatPumps4Pools

50

Heatstar Europe

53

Hydro-flux

49

IBD Water Treatment

50

ISPE

22

Lighthouse

62 & IBC

Lovibond/Tintometer

43

NIVEKO

27

Ocea UK

22 & 27

On-site Pool Linings Ltd

11

Plastica Pools

57

PoolLock

11

SCP UK

08 & 35

SpaFlo

62

SPATEX

16

STA

37

Stoneworld

22

The Mosaic Spa Company

06

Water i.d.

43

Waterco/Certikin Int’l

05

SPN August 2020 71

OPINION

Well, Here We All Are Then. Normal, Version 2.0 “It doesn’t look normal. It doesn’t feel normal. And I’m not really sure how new it is. On the other hand, I know of something that is definitely new and I’m pretty sure will become normal in the pool maintenance business.” Jamie Adams, Managing Director at distributor Golden Coast, shares his thoughts on how the pandemic is altering the present and shaping the future

S

ince the middle of June we have witnessed the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. From non-essential shops opening on the 15 to most other businesses opening on the 4 July. Social distancing restrictions have been about as varied and hard to understand as linedancing instructions. Bubbles and family units have taken the place of simply staying home and staying safe.

And some of this is good and some of it less so.

‘Stay home, stay safe’, had the advantage of being very clear if a little draconian. Four months after that first lockdown we were being told to ‘use our common sense’ and ‘stay alert’. Is it just me or can I hear Captain Mainwaring shouting both those orders to a confused and dizzy Pike as the Dad’s Army music plays.

And that masculine and warlike timbre has been present in a lot of government policy recently. Having attempted to defeat and eliminate the virus we are now declaring war on obesity as a rather roundabout way of reducing the severity of the symptoms. Governments these days seem inordinately keen to wage war on something, anything really. Perhaps it is just as well that we are taking up arms against fatness as opposed to some non-specific nation state but I think healthcare often benefits from a woman’s touch; a little more caring and a lot less conflict.

AT ARMS LENGTH The GC PoolCop is an innovative pool management solution designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of pool maintenance and it does so by working remotely; but more of that later.

Social distancing gave rise to remote working and this is an area that has definitely shown us some unexpected benefits. Roads are quieter. Rush hour is much less of a rush.

anyway. It certainly isn’t looking well now.

And have you noticed the little change.

Banks were always telling us that they were working towards a cashless society. If my usage of contactless payment is anything to go by, they have almost achieved that.

STAY SAFE

Pollution is down. For many people – and many companies – working from home is a win-win solution.

But how long will that feeling last?

It is all new and exciting for now, although of course remote working had been common in places such as the tech industries for years. Now that it has a wider spread, I wonder how managers – and the people they manage – will feel. Motivating staff and building team spirit can be difficult at the best of times. Being forced to do this while sitting in your pyjama bottoms on a Zoom call may only make it harder for many people.

THE POWER OF THE WEB Apparently the economic effects of the virus have pushed the development of online commerce forward by at least five years.

(PoolCop was already connecting the pool to the maintenance engineer over the internet so no change there.)

More people are spending more time on their devices. We are spending more time on Facebook. We are spending more with Amazon. This isn’t really a new normal, just the old normal but more so. But will we get back to our old ways? Even after nonessential shops reopened, most people found it non-essential to visit their High Street.

Many people said the town centre was dying

More people are spending more time on their devices. We are spending more time on Facebook. We are spending more with Amazon.

This isn’t really a new normal, just the old normal but more so. But will we get back to our old ways?”

72 August 2020 SPN 72_SPN_Aug_2020_Opinion.indd 72

GC PoolCop maintains a pool’s water quality by keeping a close eye on the filtration. The unit actually sits on top of the filter.

And in order to stay safe out of the pool, we are now all supposed to have a mask sitting on our face, and this has somewhat polarised opinion.

To stage a vast and mask-less rally in order to demonstrate your refusal to be ‘muzzled’ - even though that is for your own and everyone else’s protection and health - seems to be the height of stupidity but, as they say, to each his own.

But how will that play out in the bigger picture?

It’s possible that mask-wearing, more authoritarian and surveillance led countries may show a greater ability to control the virus.

If that becomes a significant difference, people in the more independent and free spirited west might come to believe that they would rather live under an Asian model than become infected in a western one. Now that would definitely count as a new normality.

ECONOMIC HEALTH We came out of lockdown in order to save our sickening economy. That has only partially worked so far, but we are seeing an increase in virus cases.

For a long time, the world has been driven by the stock market’s insatiable need for growth and profit but is it now looking as if we will have to find some sort of balance?

This new world is less than eight months old. A lot has changed. A lot more will change, but you can be sure that PoolCop or a similar remote management system can help you improve the efficiency of your pool maintenance business.

And seriously, in these testing times, best wishes and stay safe.

Golden Coast 01271 378100 www.goldenc.com

www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 27/08/2020 18:46

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