Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health
Issue 109  December 2016/January 2017
New ideas in Natural pools Latest hydrotherapy treatment Goes global Australian manufacturing Boosted by giant facility
www.splashmagazine.com.au
AIS Chlorine Generators keep your pool safe and clean all year round Here’s five reasons to choose AIS: 1. AIS IS AN EXPERT AIS only designs and manufactures chlorine generators. This 100% focus produces a 100% quality product offering 100% peace of mind. 2. PROUDLY DESIGNED & MANUFACTURED IN AUSTRALIA Award winning, innovative products, designed and manufactured in Australia. Proudly exported to over 55 countries worldwide. 3. ESTABLISHED REPUTATION & RELIABILITY 20+ years of industry experience and innovation makes AIS one of Australia’s favourite chlorine generator manufacturers. 4. WIDE RANGE OF MODELS AIS’s extensive range of chlorine generators allows you to choose the model that best suits your pool requirements, décor and budget. AIS has chlorine generators for fresh, mineral or salt water pools with TDS levels ranging from 1,200ppm – 5,000ppm. 5. GENUINE AIS ANODES Manufactured by AIS, our Genuine AIS Anodes are the heart in every chlorine generator and deliver superior efficiency and longevity thanks to their unique catalytic coating.
Our range of residential products: Special Edition
1. RP7 SERIES 4. PRO SERIES 2. SMC SERIES Target TDS: 5,000ppm 3. CLASSIC SERIES (Optional TDS : 3,500ppm - low salt)
STARTER & PREMIUM Target TDS: 5,000ppm
Target TDS: 2,500ppm (lowest industry TDS level for chlorination in mineral pools)
© Australian Innovative Systems Pty Ltd 2015. Australian Innovative Systems Pty Ltd reserves the right to discontinue or change any of the products, styles, colours, specifications, materials, services or other details referred to in this brochure at any time without notice. Images and graphics are indicative and are for illustration purposes.
COMING SOON HOME FOR FRESHWATER POOLS
For distributor enquiries contact: +61 7 3396 5222 or 1300 965 222. For full Product Specifications visit the AIS website: www.aiswater.com.au
Published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd ABN 940 025 83 682 41 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW, 2037 Australia Ph: (02) 9660 2113 Fax: (02) 9660 4419 Managing Director: Simon Grover Managing Director Interpoint Events: Simon Cooper Editor: Chris Maher Phone: 0412 048 639 Email: chrismaher@intermedia.com.au
editorial The life-giving power of water
Contributors: Cal Stanley, Alan Lewis Advertising Manager: Karen Jaques Phone: (02) 8586 6135 Email: kjaques@intermedia.com.au Designers: Alyssa Coundouris, Chris Papaspiros Production Manager: Jacqui Cooper
Water is the stuff of life. That’s never more obvious than during our hot Aussie summers, when a drink of water can bring you back from the brink, and a swim in it can be blissfully restorative.
Head of Circulation: Chris Blacklock For Subscriptions Call: 1800 651 422 Copyright All material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers.
Disclaimer: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037. Copyright © 2016 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.
SPLASH! contains NO advertorial. Proudly supported by
The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the above supporters, nor should any product advertised in SPLASH! magazine be seen to be endorsed by the above.
Immersion in water can be transforming in a number of ways. As well as the sheer joy of swimming and soaking in it, it has remarkable therapeutic qualities. As it is weight-bearing, water provides a highly suitable medium to help joint, bone and muscular problems in particular.
Chris Maher Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.au
This edition, Alan Lewis looks at some new techniques and therapies that are causing global ripples throughout the hydrotherapy world, helping a wide variety of people with pain relief and with injury recovery. Relaxing in water is sometimes described as getting back to nature, and some pools go further in that direction than others. We look at some very natural pools that use biological filtration instead of chemicals, and see how some Australian innovations are starting to make them more popular on our shores, following the European trend. We also look at the new swimming pool equipment factory built in Melbourne – the fourth largest in the world. It’s a great vote of confidence in the local industry and in Australian manufacturing. Already they're run off their feet getting product out for the season. I hope everyone is run off their feet this summer – making hay in the sunshine. But I also hope you manage to grab some quality time with your family this Christmas (and/or Chanukah, New Year and Australia Day). Enjoy the time sitting around the feasting table together – but don't forget the best way to bond – splashing together in the pool!
This issue’s cover Cover shows the Houses Award-winning biological pool by Natural Swimming Pools Australia, designed in conjunction with Cox Landscapes. Photography by Derek Swalwell. There is more on natural and biological pools on page 36.
Members of
Audited Circulation Average Total Distribution: 5,729 AMAA/CAB Publisher Statement Period ending September 2016.
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH!
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Contents 48
A vote of confidence in Australian manufacturing AstralPool Australia has opened the world’s fourth largest swimming pool equipment factory in Melbourne – a high tech, energy efficient, state-ofthe-art facility.
Family power keeps solar company surging ahead Boss Solar is a small family owned and run business with plans to take on the world from their innovative Melbourne factory.
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Is sulphuric acid really the cause of delamination? Cal Stanley looks delamination and questions the popular wisdom that blames it on the use of sulphuric acid as a pH controller.
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Aquatic pain relief spreading globally Alan Lewis looks at the new aquatic therapy of AquaStretch, and sees how it is helping people with chronic pain in several countries, focussing particularly on its increasing popularity in Israel.
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Pentair’s global marketing chief offers industry insights In the first of a series of interviews recorded at SPLASH! 2016, Carlos Del Amo talks about the post-GFC recovery, eco product marketing and South East Asia.
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A question of standards Tintometer explains the importance of adhering to international standards for DPD reagents, especially as they relate to the addition of a buffer.
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New ways to go natural Recent developments in natural biological pools in Australia have led to their greater acceptance and an easier experience for both consumers and builders.
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Active instore display shows rather than tells Zodiac’s trade marketing manager Peter Kolomyjec has developed an in-store display to help consumers better understand pool equipment.
regulars News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Global news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Pool DAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Commercial news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Tenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Expo news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
New products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Industry moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Ad index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 9
news
Regulation
Lambert releases recommendations The long-awaited Independent Review of Swimming Pool Regulation in New South Wales has been released. It is commonly referred to as the Lambert Review after the report’s author, former secretary of the NSW Treasury, Michael Lambert. In responding to the report’s release, the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole says that the review made 62 recommendations that required extensive analysis and careful consideration. The review identified a number of problems with the current regulatory approach, including the fact that there are complex pool barrier standard requirements which vary according to the date of construction of the pools. The recommendation to bring all swimming pools under a single standard – rather than retain the existing relevant standards – has not been accepted by the government. The review also recommends the establishment of a pool safety council and the transfer of responsibility to the minister in charge of building regulation. The government rejected the recommendation for a pool safety council, instead deciding to merge the functions of NSW Fair Trading and the BPB into a single building regulator: Building and Construction Services (BCS),
which will continue to have input, given their regulatory responsibilities. However they will consider the governance changes during consultation between the Office of Local Government (OLG) and other agencies. The minister says a financial analysis found that if they were to implement all the recommendations, the cost would be more than $1 billion, equating to between $2000 and $5000 per pool owner. One recommendation the government has accepted is increased support for the message that active adult supervision of young children is the first line of defence against drowning in backyard pools. This will take the form of a summer advertising blitz about backyard pool safety, organised by Royal Lifesaving NSW.
Summary of recommendations
1 . Pool barrier standard: clarify the current pool barrier standard and create clear documentation for pool owners. In time, move to a single standard or a simplified approach to standards. 2 . Exemptions: remove the legislative exemptions from the pool barrier requirements and at the same time give greater guidance and support to councils in assessing applications on a case by case basis.
One accepted recommendation is support for the message that active adult supervision of young children is the first line of defence against drowning in backyard pools
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3 . Portable pools and spas: ensure compliance of portable pools and spas through preregistration at the point of sale, amend SEPP (Exempt and Complying Developments) to require certification and registration of portable pools and clarify the definition of spa pools. 4 . Swimming pool register: revamp the swimming pool register to capture all relevant information, provide useful reporting and act as a communications hub with pool owners. 5 . Role, function, training and accountability of certifiers: clarify and document the role and functions of pool certifiers and council pool inspectors. Enhance the training function and approach for pool certification by seeking for it to be recognised by ASQA and establish an audit program to enhance accountability. 6 . Pool compliance certification: proceed with an amended sale and lease provision on 29 April 2016. Amendments should include allowing transfer of the compliance certification requirement under certain circumstances from vendor to purchaser, as well as a public awareness campaign. It is also proposed to assess on a cost benefit basis a four yearly inspection program of all private swimming pools based on the approach used in WA. [Some of these recommendations have taken place.] 7 . Compliance and enforcement: require certifiers and councils to provide full details of non-compliance and how it can be addressed and make clear the responsibility of certifiers to seek to achieve compliance. Use councils as a last resort, enhance the penalties and establish a simple, timely and affordable appeals mechanism for pool owners. 8 . Information, research and education: expand reporting of non-fatal child drownings, with council follow up and require annual reporting by the swimming pool regulator. Operate at both
the state and local level awareness and education programs regarding pool safety. 9 . Improved governance: transfer responsibility of swimming pool regulation and the Swimming Pools Act 1992 (the Act) to the minister and agency responsible for building regulation and rewrite the Act and regulation to address a range of deficiencies. Establish a Pool Safety Council to advise the Government on pool safety with membership including all key external stakeholders as well as relevant government agencies. 10 . Resourcing the function: provide suitable flexibility for councils to undertake their role in swimming pool regulation and education by allowing councils to charge cost recovery fees for pool inspections and the ability to levy rate payers with pools. The NSW Government should explore the use of an annual charge on the swimming pool register to assist in funding its swimming pool regulation costs.
Government response
The NSW Government says it supports 46 of the report’s 62 recommendations: 15 fully, 17 partly and 14 in principle, and proposes responding on two fronts: 1 . Vigilant and responsible adult supervision of young children in and around backyard pools at all times is the first line of defence. This will be supported by increased targeted education. 2 . A stronger regulatory framework for swimming pool barriers that minimises the risk of child drownings while not imposing a significant net cost on the community. The government will continue to partner with water safety stakeholders to promote water and swimming pool safety awareness to the community. Key measures include: 1 . An enhanced public communications safety campaign to support responsible and vigilant adult supervision of children in and around backyard
certification framework arising from the recommendations of the statutory review of the Building Professionals Act 2005. 5 . Implementation of minor regulatory changes to support previous Government reform initiatives. The 167 page report (plus ancillory documents) is currently being assessed by the industry, with a response expected from SPASA in due course. Links to the documents are available at the QuickLink tab at splashmagazine.com.au.
Barriers
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Also, as there is a lag in submissions we look at the broader picture: over three months and over 12 months, to help smooth over the lag. Please see the disclaimer below for more information. This spring quarter (September to November) shows the market up one percent compared to last year with Queensland (+25%), SA (+20%) and Victoria (+6%) balancing the drop in WA (-34%) while NSW remained steady. The 12-month figures show the market dead level, with SA (+12%), Victoria (+10%) and NSW (+5%) balancing the WA decline (-25%), while Queensland remained steady. Year old
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SPASA Victoria has ramped up its child safety initiative in lobbying the Victorian Government to legislate mandatory three-yearly inspections of swimming pool and spa barriers, urging the state government to: 1 . Immediately make pool barrier compliance certification mandatory for all properties sold or leased in Victoria; 2 . Introduce a mandatory barrier inspection protocol that ensures all residential properties with a pool or spa in Victoria are old Year new inspected every three Year years. 2000 SPASA Victoria says the recent experience in Queensland and NSW has been that the development of a swimming pool 1500 register and appropriate inspectors course has taken up to five years to develop and implement. 1000 industry leaders, SPASA Victoria will campaign “As responsible tirelessly until pool and spa barrier inspections are legislated in 500 Victoria,” says SPASA Victoria CEO, Brendan Watkins. While highlighting the fact that swimming pools are wonderful additions to the lifestyle of any Australian home, 0 Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct and especially important given the current childhood obesity epidemic, he says SPASA wants to promote the safest possible Yearthey new have outcome for pool5000 and spaYear use.oldIt is for this reason that maintained a “safety first” approach. “Our members4000 are in the field seven days a week and see that many, many pool barriers have not been maintained and 3000 are not safe. Between 2004 and 2015, Victoria lost 25 children in backyard pool drowning fatalities. Recent media coverage 2000 regarding barrier inspection failures by local councils underlines this fact.” 1000 Knox Council recently inspected 100 backyard pools and 0 found the vast majority did not comply withQLD state government Nov NSW VIC WA standards, while Whitehorse Council inspectors audited 100 of the area’s 3753 backyard swimming pools, with not one passing muster. (For a full list go to splashmagazine.com.au.) Among problems were rundown fences and gates that didn’t work properly, as well as vegetation that had grown too close to barriers which posed a climbing risk.
Year end is a good time to remind readers of the limitations of this data. It is not comprehensive. Rather, it shows trends that can be useful when comparing the numbers to previous periods. For this reason we look at percentage comparisons rather than focus on the total numbers.
Yearly comparison by month
Victoria lobbies for mandatory inspections
Market holding steady
Three-monthly comaparison
pools. This campaign would emphasise that supervision is the first barrier and pool fences are a secondary barrier for when supervision inadvertently lapses. 2 . Development of options to simplify the standards framework that minimise net costs on the community. 3 . An easy-to-understand user guide for swimming pool owners, and guidance material on legislative and regulatory responsibilities for private and council certifiers. 4 . Support for a review of the swimming pool barrier
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While these figures give an indication of the way the market is trending, they are not comprehensive and don’t include all pools built or even all DAs lodged. By some estimates, the total national numbers including all types of pools could be almost double these figures. They do not include pool projects that are approved as part of a new home, smaller projects under the cost threshold, renovations that don’t require a DA, or some aboveground pools. Additionally, not all councils are forthcoming with data or report on time; councils in some states such as Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia are particularly reluctant. For further information, call Cordell Information on 1800 80 60 60.
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH!
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Regulation
NZ passes new pool fencing laws The New Zealand Parliament has passed laws which the Building and Housing Minister, Dr Nick Smith, says will better protect children from drowning in swimming pools while also making the requirements more practical and enforceable. Among the changes are the ability to have an out-of-ground pool wall considered part of the safety barrier, and that lockable spa covers will be considered acceptable in place of spa fencing. Additional safety measures include the requirement for thee-yearly inspections, greater enforcement capability and the requirement for retailers to inform purchasers of their obligations. “The most important safety improvement in this Bill is the compulsory nationwide requirement for all swimming
pools to be inspected and certified every three years,” says the minister. “This addresses the problem that most drownings today occur because gates no longer close, fences have not been maintained or other changes have occurred that enable children to get access. Half of inspected pools have been found to be non-compliant, exposing children to risk. Some of the measures, in particular the removal of the spa pool fencing requirement and the ability to have alarmed gates rather than self-closing gates, have attracted criticism from the opposition and safety groups. New Zealand has an estimated 100,000 spas pools and hot tubs. The Greens opposed the legislation and the Labour Party opposed it particularly because
New Zealand will no longer require a pool be fenced on all four sides if the access of children is adequately excluded via an out-of-ground pool wall or a cliff-face
of the change to self-closing and locking gates. Labour MP David Parker says alarms are too easily ignored, and many alarm systems are likely to stop working within the three-year inspection period. However, the minister says the previous laws were impractical and rarely enforced. Pool will no longer have to be fenced on all four sides if the access of children is adequately excluded.
Main changes • Three-yearly council pool inspections required • Spas and hot tubs can have lockable covers instead of fences • Garden pools and drainage ponds won’t need fences • Alarmed gates acceptable in place of auto locking gates • Infinity pools do not need foursided fencing • Increased capability for councils to pursue infringements
Regulation
ACT coroner wants pools brought up to standard An inquest into the December 2015 drowning death of 21-month-old toddler, River Arama Parry, has prompted the ACT coroner to call for an urgent review of the laws regulating pool fencing in the Australian Capital Territory.
child locks or self-closing mechanisms — a situation that was legal when it was built in 1986.
The boy had been left in the supervision of relatives while his mother packed, and when the boy wandered off they assumed he had gone to his mother in the other room. He was later found at the bottom of a murky in-ground backyard pool. CPR was performed and paramedics called but the toddler could not be revived.
The coroner has called for old pools to be brought up to the new standard. She says if the pool had a child-resistant pool barrier, River may well have been slowed down in his path to the pool sufficiently so that he might have been discovered, or he may have been discouraged in his efforts to reach the pool and wandered away.
Coroner Beth Campbell held an inquest and found a key factor was lack of supervision. The pool was reached via a back door with no
Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter. World’s fourth largest swimming pool equipment factory opened in Melbourne AstralPool and its global parent Fluidra invested $35 million in a state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility in Keysborough. 12
SPLASH!
But the inquest heard there was no requirement under ACT laws for older homes and pool areas to be upgraded to current standards.
She has also recommended the ACT Government develop and implement a public awareness campaign about swimming pool safety as a matter of urgency.
Top five online news stories
The online stories that made the news over the past two months. Zodiac Pool Solutions bought by private equity firm Rhône Group
Dreamworld will demolish water ride in wake of tragedy
What caused the green water at the Rio Olympic pools?
Minister says out-ofground pool walls not “ordinarily” acceptable
Zodiac changes hands but APAC marketing manager Jonas Ryberg says it will be business as usual at the Australasian operation.
The Thunder River Rapids ride will be demolished as a mark of respect for the accident victims who died in October when their raft flipped over.
Alan Lewis investigated the probable causes of the smelly green pools that caused embarrassment at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
The NSW Minister for Local Government responded to questions raised by the Shadow Minister relating to out-ofground pool walls.
December 2016/January 2017
Upcoming events
Lining up for SPLASH!
2017 Jan 24-26
Northeast Pool & Spa Show, Atlantic City, USA
Jan 31-Feb2
Spatex, Coventry, UK
Feb 3-5
SPASA Victoria Pool Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Feb 26-27
SPASA NSW & ACT Pool Show, Rosehill Gardens, Sydney
Feb 9-10
International Swimming Pool & Leisure Centre Conference, Dublin, Ireland
Mar 11-12
Perth Pool Spa & Outdoor Show, Claremont Gardens
Apr 21-23
Diesel, Dirt and Turf Expo, Penrith NSW
May 12-14
Asia Pool & Spa Expo, Guangzhou, China
May 20-21
SPASA SA Consumer Show, Adelaide
May 27-28
SPASA Qld Pool Show, Brisbane
Oct 17-20
Piscina BCN, International Swimming Pool Exhibition, Barcelona
Nov 1-3
IPSPE, Orlando Florida
Nov 7-10
25th IAKS Congress, Cologne, Germany
Nov 7-10
FSB International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports, and Pool Facilities, Cologne, Germany
Waterco’s award-winning MultiCyclone uses the most advanced centrifugal technology to ensure high water quality and clarity. An Australian innovation, the MultiCyclone is a prefiltration device, designed to capture up to 80 per cent of the incoming dirt load prior to the main filter, which significantly reduces filter cartridge maintenance and saves backwash water.
2018 Feb 9-11
Pool & Spa Consumer Show (Summer Show), MCEC, Melbourne
Aug 1-2
SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Southport, Queensland
More details at splashmagazine.com.au. Dates are subject to change and should be checked with the relevant organisation. Send calendar submissions to info@splashmagazine.com.au.
www.waterco.com December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! MultiCyclone Ad 270mm x90mm.indd 1
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news
Acquisitions
Spa Tech Tips Spa Baths Spa bath plumbing installations differ from portable/outdoor spas and use specific pumps and controls. Plumbing fittings and pipework are designed to be self-draining so that minimal water remains after the bath is drained. Therefore jets and fittings are specifically designed for bath use. Generally outdoor spa fittings do not suit or comply. The pump must be positioned to ensure fall to the spa safety suction. However, if mounted too high, air-locking can occur requiring activation of air bleed valves fitted to bath pumps or their unions. These air bleed valves allow air to escape as water floods the pump, but close under water pressure. Air injection systems also require specific air blowers with in-built sanitation cycles – most are heated and multi-speed. A standard air blower cannot be used in a bath unless the sanitation cycle is controlled via a separate controller. Spa bath fittings generally cannot be used in outdoor chemically treated spas as they are not as resistant to chemical attack. Likewise, the pumps are not designed for outdoor spa applications – they have no temperature control and no automated filtration.
Zodiac Pool Solutions bought by private equity firm Rhône Group Zodiac Pool Solutions has been sold to global venture capital firm Rhône Group. Zodiac’s owners, the Carlyle Group, have accepted the offer from investment funds affiliated with Rhône to acquire Zodiac and its global residential pool and spa business, including its family of premium brands and all 1300 employees worldwide. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals, was expected to close promptly. Zodiac APAC marketing manager Jonas Ryberg says it will be business as usual at the Australasian operation. “The new ownership will not impact our strategy or any of our current key initiatives,” he says. “We will continue to roll out the most innovative consumer friendly products supported by the most extensive sales and after-sales network in the market.” Zodiac is one of the largest global manufacturers of residential pool equipment. The company is headquartered in Paris, but its operational headquarters is in Vista, California. The acquisition will include the Zodiac leadership team and its high‐profile brand portfolio including Zodiac Pool, Jandy Pro Series, Polaris, iAquaLink, Cover‐Pools, MagnaPool, Caretaker, SAVI and Nature2. Privately held venture capital and private equity firm Rhône was established in 1996. It is a global asset management firm with a focus on investments in market leading businesses with a pan-European or transatlantic presence and expansion prospects. Rhône is headquartered in New York and also has offices in London. It currently holds investments in a diversified portfolio of companies including business services, chemicals, consumer products, industrial products, food, packaging, specialty materials and transportation sectors.
Recent growth
Over the past three years, Zodiac has grown its premium brands through a strategic focus on its core global in-ground residential swimming pool business
For commercial spa baths we only recommend pumps with “dry run” protection installed. These pumps will not continue to run in the event they are activated when the water level is insufficient or the bath is empty. For more information contact technical support at Australian Spa Parts 1300 736 025.
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December 2016/January 2017
Jonas Ryberg marketing manager Zodiac APAC
and an emphasis on customer-driven technological innovation across its product portfolio. Recent Australian strategic acquisitions by Zodiac include pool mineral water system manufacturer MagnaPool and pool chemical distributor Pool Resources in 2013. Other acquisitions include SAVI, a US pool and spa lighting company in 2014; and Two10, a South African producer of pool chemicals, and SET, a German company specialising in heating systems for swimming pools in 2013. Cover-Pools, a US manufacturer of automated pool covers, was acquired in 2008. The Carlyle Group acquired Jandy in 2006 and Zodiac in 2007. The Zodiac brand was first registered in 1909. Bruce Brooks, Zodiac’s CEO since 2011, says that the timing was right for new investment, based on their strong financial performance and growth over the past three years, culminating in a record year in 2016. “We are proud of our company’s achievements working with Carlyle, and we are excited about building on our accomplishments with Rhône,” he says. “Rhône is great partner for Zodiac, and this is excellent news for our employees, customers, vendors and the pool and spa industry. We look forward to building on Zodiac’s heritage of excellence to drive ever greater technological innovation and quality as we work to grow Zodiac’s market share across all of its premium brands.”
Regulation
E3 input requested The Department of the Environment and Energy is seeking feedback from the pool industry on a consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for swimming pool pumps. The RIS examines ways to improve the energy efficiency of swimming pool pumps sold in Australia. Measures proposed include energy rating labels and minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for pumps. The department invites interested stakeholders to provide comments on the proposals contained in consultation RIS. The RIS and information about how to make a submission can be found at a QuickLink at splashmagazine.com.au. The closing date for submissions is 21 December 2016. Contact: poolpumps@environment.gov.au.
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news
Expos
Expo News Up to 150 North American QuikClean installers will visit Sydney and Cairns in December as part of A&A Manufacturing’s annual conference. Don McChesney, A&A Manufacturing’s general manager, says the conference is a great platform to reinforce QuikClean’s tremendous growth in Australia as it provides an opportunity to spend valuable time with local installers. McChesney visited the Gold Coast in August for the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show and he is excited about another opportunity to learn from Australian pool builders and to explore product development ideas with Cooke Industries, the Australian distributor of QuikClean in-floor cleaning systems. “Our partnership with Cooke Industries is a key aspect of our product development process and it’s that R&D which provides value and a genuine pointof-difference to our installers and end-users,” he says. “Not just in Australia and the USA, but throughout the world.” The International Pool Spa Patio Expo (IPSPE)
show was held from the last week of October in New Orleans. It attracted more than 11,500 pool, spa and outdoor living professional attendees and more than 525 manufacturers and suppliers. As well as the trade floor the show featured a French Quarter-themed Welcome Party, the Genesis Winemaker Dinner, an APSP Wave network reception, and wrapped up with a BBQ Bash in the Sugar Mill’s courtyard. The 2017 IPSPE will be held at Orlando, Florida from November 1.
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New concept for Melbourne show SPASA Victoria has hired the International Exhibition & Conference Group (IEC Group) to take over management of its consumer shows, starting with the summer show at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on February 3 to 5, 2017. IEC Group chief executive officer Marie Kinsela was founder of Australian Exhibitions & Conferences (AEC) and managing director of that company for 14 years before selling it to international outfit, Informa. The sale included a now lapsed requirement to stay out of the industry for a set time. During her time at AEC she ran the State of Design Festival for four years as part of her portfolio
Marie Kinsela
of events. Prior to that she was general manager of Australian Trade Exhibitions (ATE) for seven years. She plans big changes for 2017 and beyond, starting with the inclusion of an “oasis” in the middle of the show called the Outdoor Design Junction, showcasing a broad range of suppliers – everything from the back door to the back fence. “It is my understanding this is unique and has never been done before," she says. "It will be a stunning show garden, presented by Out from the Blue and Formation Landscapes, bringing
together a group of high-end suppliers showcasing their newest outdoor living products.” It will occupy “centre stage” in the middle of the show – a prominent space of more than 200 square metres, and will of course, include a swimming pool. Additionally there will be garden and landscaping experts on hand to offer free advice and run free seminars. “It will provide a better consumer experience, based on a demonstrated need, and will also provide a wider audience for exhibitors, and so increase their business opportunities.”
Expos
Aussies head to Singapore Interpoint Events organised a SPLASH! Asia pavilion as part of the Architecture & Building Services (ABS) Show in September in Singapore. AstralPool, AIS, Maytronics and Waterco exhibited at the three-day show which draws hundreds of architects and specifiers from the region. Maytronics took the opportunity to announce the opening of representative office in Singapore. “There’s a great opportunity for growth in Asia,” says Asian BDM Ross Coady. “We already have many partners here but having an office enables us to provide superior support, training and development for the whole region.” Elena Gosse, CEO of AIS, says the show was a great opportunity for her company to showcase their Australian-made award-winning disinfection technology to new markets and to quality attendees outside the pool industry. AstralPool's Duncan Smith was delighted to extend their platinum sponsorship from the SPLASH! Gold Coast show to Singapore. “It was a great opportunity to support our local Fluidra offices and promote our range of Australian-made products that are extremely popular Stephanie Chia from Malaysian C21TV in this part of the world,” interviewing Dan Kwaczynski from Maytronics he says.
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news
Passings
MSPA president passes away Sadly, Chew Soo Ngee has passed away. He was the founding president and driving force behind the Malaysian Swimming Pool Association, and the founder and managing director of Kuala Lumpur based swimming pool construction company, Asiapools. A highly respected and very well liked member of the South East Asian swimming pool community, he worked tirelessly to
Chew Soo Ngee in August on the Gold Coast
professionalise the local industry through skills development, lobbying and networking. He was also well known to attendees of the SPLASH! trade shows, both on the Gold Coast and in Singapore. He passed away after an unexpected massive brain haemorrhage. He was 65. SPLASH! offers sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Distribution
Pool-Water Products opens new office in western Sydney NSW account manager Ray Burgess In-floor pool cleaning specialist leads the Sydney office and NSW and pool equipment supplier support team. Pool Water Products has opened “A central location in Sydney’s Seven a new NSW sales and support Hills was chosen for our new office, office. The office located in Seven offering our customers a convenient site Hills will provide capacity for for product collection. This increased increased customer support, sales Ray Burgess outside presence in Sydney will improve our and services. the new facility level of customer service,” Burgess says. “The new office space will allow The Sydney office will stock the core us to expand our Sydney and product range, including the Paramount in-floor regional NSW teams and support the growth cleaning systems for concrete swimming pools, the we are experiencing, while giving us dedicated Pentair range of energy efficient filtration products facilities to host customer briefings and other and pumps, and the Spa Electrics lighting range. activities,” says Rohan Beasley, general manager for The Sydney office and warehouse is located at Pool Water Products. Unit 47, 45 Powers Rd, Seven Hills. Opening “Our team is excited about our current growth hours are from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. and this move represents a commitment to Contact: Ray Burgess: 0428 612 359; Anthony continue building on the success our team has Barrass 0409 539 601; office (02) 9620 9399. accomplished,” he says. Industry moves
Newline’s new Gold Coast sales manager manager and over the 10 years Glenn Rozynski has joined Newline’s his experience became invaluable Queensland sales team on the Gold helping to build sales and expand Coast. Rozynski has been in the pool the business. industry since 1986, starting out as a Rozynski says he is very excited retail assistant and learning all facets of to now be part of the Newline the retail side of the pool industry. team and is looking forward to He progressed to owning his own pool visiting customers to provide them shop in Brisbane with his wife Angela for with the great range of products three years where he learned the service at competitive prices and provide side of the industry as well as installing Glenn Rozynski service while sharing an abundance and repairing equipment. From there of knowledge with new and existing customers. he joined a major pool franchise as sales/service Contact: GRozynski@newlineproducts.com.au; manager starting the new franchise from scratch. He 0437 433 112. then joined a large pool business in the role of store
Industry moves Lincoln Pool Equipment is looking for a storeman/ internal sales person to join their NSW team at the new warehouse in Pendle Hill. The person they are seeking should have good product/industry knowledge and experience working in a busy retail/warehouse environment. The position is a permanent role and offers long term career opportunities to take on a more senior role in sales or warehouse management. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Contact: Doug Smith, northern region sales manager on 0406 539 007. Newline Pool Products is looking for a professional NSW account manager. The role will include managing existing accounts in the specified NSW territory of the southern suburbs and Sutherland Shire; liaising with customers, providing superior customer service while assisting with product queries to grow the customer base; implementing sales and marketing strategies to meet key KPIs; targeting and identifying new customers and opportunities. The successful candidate must have demonstrated sales experience at a senior level and be able to demonstrate previous success in building accounts and client relationships. Some of the criteria includes: strong sales background in the pool industry; dynamic and customer-focused; exceptional communication skills at all levels; strong client relationship builder; ability to work autonomously. To see a full job description, go to the online job board at splashmagazine.com.au.
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news
Giveaway
Global news 100-year-old brand Speck Pumpen, a leading international manufacturer of high quality pumps and counter swim units with production sites in Germany, Spain, South Africa, the USA and Australia is expanding to France. “The branch office in Lyon, France will not only allow Speck to better remain in contact with the customers there, but will also allow us to sound out new strategies for the French market,” says managing director Armin Herger. The office will be headed up by Bruno Rethoret, who has more than 14 years’ experience in the swimming pool industry including extensive knowledge of the French market.
Pool & Spa Operator Handbook This fundamental training and reference manual is for professionals who help protect those who use aquatic venues, including operators, health officials, service technicians, retailers, property managers and manufacturers. Industry leaders recognise the handbook as the single most important resource for the recreational water industry. The handbook is available from www.nspf.org for $US59.95. SPLASH! has a copy to give away. Simply go to splashmagazine.com.au/competition and follow the prompts.
DIY wiring of a portable spa was the cause of a devastating forest fire in California’s Napa and Sonoma counties last September which killed four people and destroyed nearly 2000 structures, according to the recent findings from an investigation by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Homeowner John Pinch admitted to installing the wiring in the spa, which was not to code. The circuit connection was “only partially encased in conduit, and the conduit that was used was not buried 18 inches, and it shared the trench with the water line.” On the night of the fire, the copper wire heated to more than 1000 degrees Celsius and when the connection came into contact with dry leaves they ignited, starting the fire.
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December 2016/January 2017
Facilities
Waterco’s new office rises from the ashes Waterco Ltd has returned home to Rydalmere in time for Christmas, following the devastating fire that destroyed its office in January 2015. “We’re thrilled that just 21 months after the fire that gutted our head office building we have moved back in,” says Bryan Goh, Waterco group marketing director. “Our building is now better than ever, which is a great outcome for both customers and staff. Thanks to the support of our wonderful staff, customers, suppliers, Steadfast IC Frith and our insurer Vero we remained 100 per cent operational from virtually day one after the fire. However, it was a great feeling for all of us to return home.” The new office was designed by top architect, Studio CCP associate Santo Talarico, and Goh is full of praise for the design, which he says provides state-of-the-art facilities that will take the company into the future. “While we would have preferred not to have had the inconvenience and distress that accompanied losing our previous building, we are now looking at the positive outcomes that resulted,” he says. “Our engineering department is among the beneficiaries, with a fully-tooled workshop, offices and sound testing facilities for products.
Research and development of cutting edge products has always been at the forefront of Waterco’s business, and these new facilities will really enhance the capabilities of our engineering team.” The new building, with its recognisable “blade” tower, opens into an airy reception area with beverage area and Welsh slate feature wall. The entire space is flooded with natural light from the stairwell. The large new showroom has been designed to display Waterco’s product range to advantage, while allowing customers to view everything in comfort. The building complies fully with requirements for disabled visitors and staff, including a lift to the first floor as well as appropriate toilets and showers. The design features low carbon footprint LED lighting throughout, a fully functioning gymnasium, and breakout areas on the ground and first floors for relaxed meetings. “Staff in the administration area will be surrounded by 114 pot plants to take a little of the stress out of the day,” says Goh. “We look forward to hanging Christmas decorations in our bright new building in the coming weeks and to welcoming our clients and partners to celebrate our homecoming in the near future.”
Waterco is looking at the positive outcome of the new modern building
The design is by Studio CCP associate Santo Talarico
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news
Trade night
Supreme meets trade Following the enthusiastic reception for its innovative Heatseeker Genesis gas heaters and Heatseeker UniPanel solar pool heating system at SPLASH! on the Gold Coast and the SPASA Victoria consumer show, Supreme Heating held two trade nights to run through the new products. The first was held in Melbourne and the second took place at Supreme’s new premises in Smeaton Grange, New South Wales. With more than fifty people attending, the trade night attracted a broad cross-section
of the industry, including pool builders, pool shop staff, service technicians and suppliers. Attendees were actively involved in discussions and hands-on demonstrations of the new products. Colin Mauger, director of Supreme Heating, says it was a rewarding experience to be involved in the creation and development of the new products. “I do believe Heatseeker UniPanel will shape the future of the solar pool heating market,” he says.
Franchising
Pool industry scores at the franchise awards Three pool industry players featured highly at the recent Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) awards, with Poolwerx winning the Franchisor of the Year, Jump! Swim Schools winning the Emerging Franchisor of the Year, and Clark Rubber (Narre Warren and Moorabbin) winning the Victorian Multi-Unit Franchisee award. On the back of the win, Poolwerx CEO and Founder, John O’Brien, says the franchise has capacity for at least another 250 stores. “We hit 100 stores this year but there is still so much opportunity around the country for our business,” O’Brien says. “With the level of growth obtainable to us right now we anticipate to reach 350 stores and 1000 vans by 2025. “Being named the best franchise in the country is an amazing accolade and excellent credibility for the brand but what excites me most is knowing there are still hundreds of people we can help achieve a greater level of success in
their lives through the experience of running their own small business.” Poolwerx previously won the Franchise of the Year award in 2004. This year, Poolwerx also claimed the Field Manager of the Year title through business development manager Stephen Halls from Queensland, and Cheryl Catalono of Clark Rubber SA won the South Australian Field Manager award.
Jump! Swim Schools Queensland-based multinational company Jump! Swim Schools was founded by managing director Ian Campbell, who is a finalist in The CEO Magazine’s 2016 Executive of the Year Awards. Campbell says it has been an exciting year. “We will soon be opening swim schools in Singapore, Brazil and the Philippines. Jump!’s international presence was motivated by reputation, demand and a simple and financially secure business model,” he says.
Regulation
Longer permits better for pool builders The Victorian state government has responded to lobbying by extending some permits for pool builders. SPASA Victoria CEO Brendan Watkins says it’s a significant step forward for Victorian pool builders as there are meaningful, measurable savings for the majority of the association’s 180 pool builder members. “No longer will they have to go back to the builder surveyor and renew building permits, when building a pool on a property where a house is also being built or a renovation being done,” he says.
In the past, if a pool was going in where there was a house being built or an extension, the pool builder had to go back every six months and get a renewed permit, whether anything had happened to the pool or not. “Invariably with these ‘sleeper pools’, nothing happens and very often the builder had to go back two or three times and renew the permits – at possibly $1000 a throw. A majority of our members had felt this pain and we’ve lobbied for changes for five years.” Now the surveyor has the discretion to allow the permit in these situations to be for two years.
In Brief Swimart has expanded its Australasian network to 73 with its new Byron Bay franchise. New franchisee Will Miller has experience in a number of sectors both here and overseas. Starting in hotel management, he transitioned to franchise relations and corporate training for a US based start-up pizza delivery company, then segued to brand management and strategy for an advertising agency. He says he chose to move into the swimming pool and spa retail segment because he wanted more control over his future success, while being able to have a better work/life balance. After observing the general upbeat enthusiasm from most pool industry people, he made the switch and is excited about the move. Davey Water’s EcoSalt salt water chlorinators have been voluntarily recalled as there have been some reports of them fracturing, representing a potential risk of injury to bystanders - however no injuries have been reported. Davey will install a mechanical flow switch in series with the gas sensor free-of-charge for consumers, who can still use their chlorinators in the meantime as long as there is sufficient water flowing through the cell when producing chlorine. It is essential that the pool pump circulates sufficient water to completely fill the cell during the chlorination process. Retailers and suppliers with any existing (unused) inventory are asked to contact the hotline to arrange for a free upgrade of their units on 1300 889 387.
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH!
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news
Franchising
Jim’s hosts on the Gold Coast Jim’s Pool Care recently held their annual conference and national awards, bringing a great turnout from franchise owners. The key award winners were: National Franchisee of the Year: Ashley & Summer Hale, Jim’s Pool Care South Lake, WA
National Franchisor of the Year: Mike & Kerri Steltenpool, Jim’s Pool Care Newcastle, NSW National Rookie of the Year: Jason Pollack, Jim’s Pool Care Umina, NSW Jim’s Group Outstanding Support Award: Adam Post, Jim’s Pool Care Victoria.
Jim’s Pool Care 2016 Conference delegates
Associations
More states vote to merge In two special general meetings held in October and November, SPASA NSW & ACT and SPASA Queensland members voted to move forward with unification.
NSW & ACT SPASA NSW & ACT members voted overwhelmingly to merge with SPASA Australia on October 26, with 97 per cent in favour of the resolution: “To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution: a) Proceed with the integration of SPASA NSW & ACT into SPASA Australia; and b) Transfer NSW & ACT undertakings and surplus assets to SPASA Australia and sign all documents and perform all acts as may be required to achieve this”. SPASA president Robert Guthrie says that the decision to merge will futureproof the industry by bringing together the unique strengths of each association along with a diverse skills base to deliver new member benefits and services driven by advanced data and analytics. “The board and I believe this merger reinforces our commitment to enhancing our united strategic plan,” he says.
Queensland
At a special general meeting on 23rd November, SPASA Queensland members voted unanimously to wind-up SPASA Queensland and to transfer surplus assets to SPASA Australia. These resolutions give effect to the decisions taken at the 2014 annual general meeting where members resolved to de-incorporate by 1st of January 2017 and merge operations with SPASA Australia. The formal process of closing the SPASA Queensland office and merging operations with SPASA Australia will now continue. Queensland members will be invited to continue their involvement as members of SPASA Australia Ltd.
Other states
In April SPASA South Australia members voted to continue towards unification. The SPASA WA Committee have agreed to participate as an ongoing member of SPASA Australia for a period of two years commencing on the 1st January 2017, and will include a financial contribution to assist SPASA Australia establish an effective national association. SPASA WA has secured a Board position as a regional representative and will continue with an active involvement into the strategic direction of the national body. SPASA Victoria decided in 2015 not to pursue unification.
In Brief Daisy is giving everyone the chance to get booming with a UE MegaBoom speaker as part of their photobomb contest. The social media and digital campaign aims to engage consumers and support retailers in the process. Simply hashtag your best bomb photo or video with #bestphotobomb and upload it to the Daisy Pool Covers Facebook page and/or Instagram. Get lots of Likes and be in the running to win the MegaBoom plus $500 worth of pool maintenance and supplies each month of the challenge. The contest runs from November to Valentine’s Day, February 14. For more go to daisypoolcovers.com.au/ bestphotobomb. The long-expected changes to the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme have been confirmed and came into effect in October. This follows from enabling legislation passed in 2014. As it will be a legislative requirement to cover new swimming pools under the revised scheme, SPASA’s Watertight Benefits scheme has ceased taking new applications. The scheme is administered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and provides consumers with cover for loss where a building contractor fails to complete residential construction work or performs defective residential construction work and fails to rectify it. Licensed contractors carrying out residential construction work valued at more than $3300 must pay a premium on behalf of the consumer to the QBCC.
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH!
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“Pushing the boundaries one stroke at a time” Our 2016 SPLASH! emcee Chloë McCardel has just returned from a Record Breaking season in the English Channel. Her goal was to create a new Aussie Record for the most English Channel crossings.
After the 8th crossing Chloë and her husband, Paul, flew to California where she was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as it’s youngest member.
The previous Australian record of 19x crossings was held by the legendary Des Renford who held the record for 44 years (1972 - 2016)
Sports Journalist, Former USA National Open Water Swim Coach Steven Munatones predicted -
Chloë needed 7x crossings to grab Aussie Record, she swam the 7 and then swam an 8th crossing so that she could secure the historical record of the most English Channel crossings in one season. Chloë McCardel has competed 8 swims this season... June10 2016, 10hrs 45min June 17 2016, 10hrs 21min June 22 2016, 9hrs 48min Sept 11 2016, 8hrs 51min Sept 20 2016, 10hrs 00min Oct 9 2016, 10hrs 00min Oct 22 2016, 10hrs 19min (Aussie Title officially Chloë’s) Oct 25 2016, 10hrs 29min
“With 14 crossings over the last 2 seasons, McCardel is on a roll like never and no one before, but what is most intriguing about the young Australian - the youngest in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame - is the fact that she undoubtedly has decades more to add to her legacy.” “Chloë will almost most definitely have the most prolific career, post-induction, of any swimmer in the Hall of Fame history,” Last year Chloë was the first Australian and the first person in 25 years to swim a triple non-stop crossing of the English Channel (36hrs12min), she also swam an unprecedented 3x single crossings in one week a month before the triple crossing.
Chloë says – “I’ve reached all my original goals. I’ve pushed myself to as much as I thought I could have, now it’s about pushing the boundaries of marathon swimming. It’s about pushing the human spirit. Where does our mind go and what can our body do? Do we really know our potential? “Maybe we can go further. There’s a beautiful loop going on in the world. I’ve got this great momentum and I hope to keep pushing the sport and the human spirit forward.”
Lets keep in touch | check out our latest news, products & advice
Paul Simons, Managing Director of Lo-Chlor Chemicals with Chloë at the foot of the English Channel prior to her record 20th crossing/swim.
James Hutchins and Marcus Tame from TPEC, with Chloë at the SPLASH 2016 Expo.
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AstralPool Australia opens world’s fourth largest swimming pool equipment factory ABOVE: Brendan Butler with the 25-tonne die for the 24-inch Cantabric filter BELOW: Executives from Fluidra attended the opening, including Carlos Franquesa, Peter Wallace, Guillermo De Miguel from Fluidra China, Ignaciao Elburgo and Marc Perez
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n a dramatic statement of support for the Australian industry, AstralPool Australia and its global parent Fluidra have invested $35 million in a state-of-theart manufacturing facility in Melbourne. A further amount of up to $10 million was also spent moving equipment from the old facilities at Noble Park to Keysborough. As well as being the largest single manufacturing site for the swimming pool and spa industry outside of the United States, it is the first 6-star energy-efficient factory of any type in Australia. Shortly after the opening of the new facility, Peter Wallace stepped down as managing director, handing the reins to long anointed successor Matt Adlam (see box on page 31). Wallace says they outgrew their old Noble Park facility and wouldn’t have been able to continue with their exceptional sales growth if they had remained there.
December 2016/January 2017
“Since 2000 we’ve averaged 22 per cent compound growth, year-on-year, even after the GFC and the recession. This move enables us to be hungry again for growth,” he says. He praises parent company Fluidra for their vision in approving the construction of the Keysborough facility, showing faith not only in the Australian market but also in the country as a centre for research, development and manufacturing. The facility will employ 110 permanent staff on the factory floor operating in three shifts, six days per week, a further 30 warehouse staff and approximately 15 office staff. The highly efficient 21,000 square metre facility is vertically integrated, comprising a raw materials warehouse, manufacturing plant, production component “supermarket”, assembly lines and a central distribution warehouse. It was built by Frasers Property and designed by AstralPool’s Brendan Butler to run in a straight line to minimise unnecessary movement of products: the raw materials come in at one end, and the finished products are stored at the opposite end, ready for rapid distribution to AstralPool’s network of trade centres and for export. “The trade centre system is designed to hold only three days stock, and whatever they sell today is replenished from our central distribution tomorrow. The concept is you reduce the footprint of the trade centres, but you’ve got the right stock at the right time.” The new facility’s ability to rapidly produce goods also means there is less need to hold large amounts of inventory. Research and development is also carried out on-site, with plans for a minimum of six new products to be designed and built on the premises each year.
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“As well as being the largest single manufacturing site for the swimming pool and spa industry outside of the United States, it is the first 6-star energy-efficient factory of any type in Australia.” He expects considerable growth over time, including a strong export component. “This plant will enable us to be competitive and now we are exporting to the US, South America and Europe and I think they will be very productive and will sell more and more.” Perez says two products of most interest are the salt chlorinators are the Viron pumps. “The penetration of salt chlorination in Australia is very high, and the product we make here is very good and is perceived to be very reliable. We also expect a lot from the variable speed pump, because Australia has always been ahead of the other markets in innovation, and with the support from the local government it has become a mainstream product now. The Americans were the first to develop variable speed, but this has been the market with the greatest penetration rate. “Viron is not just an Australian product anymore; it’s a global one now.” Perez says Australia is now Fluidra’s third largest market after Spain and France, and with the new plant and the high rate of pool ownership, it is well positioned to become number two. At the moment AstralPool Australia has nearly 20 per cent of its business devoted to the export market – about 500 containers per year – and there are expectations of considerable export growth for products made in Melbourne. “Once upon a time we would have dreamt of that figure,” says Wallace. “But now we can see there are a lot of opportunities to grow that export market. It’s very exciting for us. “Our core business is still the Australian market. It’s the most important part of our business and it’s been very kind to us over the years.”
Confidence in local market TOP: The sheet metal is cut using computerised precision ABOVE: The highly efficient 21,000-squaremetre facility is vertically integrated, comprising a raw materials warehouse, manufacturing plant, production component “supermarket”, assembly lines and a central distribution warehouse
An intimate gathering of key stakeholders attended the opening and were treated to the first factory tours. Carlos Franquesa, Fluidra sales and operations manager, attended the opening with a number of other executives from the parent company, including marketing director Marc Perez. Franquesa says Fluidra decided four years ago to build a big plant in Australia to produce the right products close to the market. “We are very confident in the team that we have here,” he says. “They are very strong and we are confident they will be very successful.”
State-of-the-art facilities
Brendan Butler says that when they moved to Keysborough they went from having eight injection moulding machines to 16. “The machines ranged previously from 100 tonne to 700 tonne, and now we mould the Cantabric filters here, so we purchased eight new machines now going up to 2200 tonne. The previous heaviest die was about five and half tonne, now it is 25 tonne.” All the new moulding machines utilise robotic systems. “That’s about creating better quality parts,” says Butler. “When you make plastic parts, it’s similar to making a cake. When you bake something it’s got to bake for the right amount of time – too short, it’s gooey, too long it’s dry. Plastic’s the same. If you don’t get them at the right temperature, you have issues. By using a robot, the cycle times are the same every single time. So you can guarantee the product produced at seven o’clock this morning is the same as the one produced at eleven o’clock tonight.” The injection moulding machines are Chinese, bought for about a third of the price of similar European machines. Butler says they offered attentive after sales service: the local company that supplied the machines had two engineers on site for a month to help with teething. December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 29
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“Viron is not just an Australian product anymore; it’s a global one now.” The advanced injection moulding machines are about making perfect parts using absolutely repeatable processes
One advantage of the new machines is a very quick die changeover – half an hour compared to up to four hours for the older machines. This means one-offs or small runs can be produced if needed to fill individual orders, without undue time wasted. It also means less inventory needs to be stored, which is very useful considering the size of some of the larger Cantabric filters. As well as the computerised logistics systems, advanced automated spare parts system, robotic presses and injection moulding machines, computer guided sheet metal cutters and streamlined assembly lines, there is another simple visual element that makes the facility work more efficiently. At each station, a set number of parts is placed in a tub to be assembled. As the tub is emptied, it is placed on the top of the bench, while the worker takes another tub and commences assembling those parts. It is someone’s job to patrol the floor looking for empty tubs and filling them with the correct bar-coded parts. While computerised systems could handle part of the process, it turns out to be much quicker to use the simpler, manual method. However, that’s not always the case. The spare parts are housed in a highly advanced robotic vertical storage unit. It is provides quick access, keeps the parts dust-free and uses the smallest possible floorspace. Another example of the way robotics improves overall quality is the metal folding machines. “When I started 16 years ago, you had to manually input the figures every single time you folded a product,” says Butler “Now, you scan a bar code, and it automatically inputs all the information into the machine. So if you want a 25mm fold, it’s 25mm every single time.”
Part of the local economy
Peter Wallace and Brad Weir’s company Hurlcon was bought by Spanish multinational Fluidra to become 30 SPLASH!
December 2016/January 2017
AstralPool Australia in 2006. Hurlcon had started back in 1990 selling gas pool and spa heaters. “We started 26 years ago with a paid up capital of $248,000,” says Wallace. “And we’ve never had a backward year in terms of sales; we’ve always grown every year including in 2000 when we had a fire and it took us three months to recover. We still grew that year, year-on-year. And the reality is, it’s only come from the good will of every stakeholder in this business, and they want us to succeed.” AstralPool Australia has about 230 permanent staff around the country, of which about 160 are located in Keysborough. Wallace says that if you want have a great company and be successful, your priority number one is to have great staff. “They’ll develop great customers, great suppliers and satisfy shareholder needs. Strangely enough, it’s a business where key staff just stay with us, which we love. You get a real knowledge pool and a pool of expertise in the business. “I think it’s about engagement. I have a belief that everyone from the factory floor to the general manager should go home from work with high self-esteem and a feeling they’ve made a difference. “I’ve often told people in the company, if you’re driving in to work every day and not looking forward to it, do yourself – and myself – a favour and get a new job. The last thing you want to do is retire from work after 40 years or most of your adult life, half your waking adult life, and say well, that was a waste of time. You want to leave your working life saying I’ve really made a difference, I feel I contributed: I’m proud of what I did and proud of my job.” He says customers depend on the company’s ability to supply. “I never realised it until after that fire, when we got product again and went to our customers and said we were able to supply them, and a couple said to me, ‘Thank goodness for that Peter, it was just a nightmare trying to get product from an alternate supplier at the time’.” Wallace says that was the moment he realised that his customers rely on him to be a good supplier. “To me it had always been, we have to be a great supplier to win these customers and make them happy, but by the same token, they need us to be very good at our jobs as well. And I started to think, there are so many people who rely on us to be successful, for their own livelihoods and their own businesses. Wallace says material and component suppliers are also crucially important, and that AstralPool spends more than $40 million with suppliers within a 20 km radius of the facility. “I know by world standards that’s small, but that’s a lot of business we’re putting into the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne – to manufacturers and component and raw material suppliers, who absolutely rely on us to be successful and grow, for their business to also grow and be successful. “So it’s not just our customers and shareholders, it’s our suppliers and our staff who need us to be successful, so they’ve got security of tenure and something to look forward to in their daily working lives.” n
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Peter Wallace has stepped down as managing director of AstralPool Australia, replaced by Matt Adlam according to a long-established succession plan. However Wallace will remain involved with AstralPool through the North Peter Wallace American business and global product development, as well as retaining board positions in both Australia and America. Wallace says he has driven the business hard, and driven himself hard as well, over the 26 years since the formation of Hurlcon back in 1990. Spanish multinational Fluidra bought Hurlcon from Wallace and Brad Weir in 2006 to create AstralPool Australia. “This business has taken six or seven days per week for 26 years and I’ve never had more than two weeks’ holiday in a row,” he says. “I wanted to pull back and not work the hours I had been working and spend more time with my Matt Adlam family, and eventually we came to an agreement where I can still be involved in a different capacity.” In 2010 Wallace had moved to Queensland in part as a move to step back from the day-to-day running of the business, but even though the company kept growing, the hard post-GFC years meant he needed to remain actively involved. Now he believes the time is right to step back. “We have the new factory; we have a growth rate that’s averaged over 20 per cent year-on-year for 26 years; and the team that’s running the business is just as hungry as I was. Matt’s ready, the team’s ready, and with the opening of the factory I started to realise the staff around me had more energy than I did. “They need acknowledgement for their efforts and it was time for me to step back. I never wanted to be a silly old duffer hanging around taking credit when things go well, and if they go poorly, never accepting it might be to do with me. “Matt is now managing director and chief executive officer which was always in the succession plan. He’s been the general manager but now he’s the CEO of the Australian business, and he’s more than ready – in effect this has been a six-year handover period. “Most of those people around him – in finance, production, sales – have been around him for 10 or 15 years.” Wallace says while he’s not retiring, he will be living a little differently now. “I’m more relaxed now than I have been since I can remember and I’m enjoying what I’m doing. We’ve got two and a half acres in the Dandenongs and I love the gardens. Also, I have a couple of other business interests and some other advisory positions outside of the pool industry that I can spend some time on.”
TH E
stepping down as MD
WITH E VER Y
Peter Wallace
REWARD YOUR BODY
A DIVISION OF
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH!
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PoolsWiki.com
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Is sulphuric acid really the cause of delamination? By Cal Stanley
T
he pool industry in Western Australia has, for well over 20 years, blissfully used diluted sulphuric acid for pH control in most pools including concrete ones. Again, due to the freight costs of many render products the old “plaster” or cement render is still the predominant surface of most pools. In 2013 we had cause to investigate the possible effects of sulphates on that cement render. At the time there was a plethora of pools with delaminating or de-bonding plaster. It was such a problem for one company that they spent a considerable sum with cement experts and on laboratory analyses to find a possible cause. One answer came back that sulphates from using sulphuric acid was the culprit. Ettringite crystals were found within the plaster. Ettringite crystals are expansive, and so were blamed for the problem. Sulphuric acid in pool water does lead to a build-up of sulphate ions in the pool. The theory was that these ions penetrate the micro pores of the render matrix where, under certain conditions, they can react with cement particles and lead to the formation of ettringite crystals. These crystals are microscopic in size but can be up to 2.7 times the size of the material from which they grow, making them expansive enough to breakdown the plaster and potentially cause delamination and de-bonding. That’s the theory, that’s 32
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what the laboratories concluded and that’s what I and the industry initially accepted. This led to a directive to all retailers and builders not to supply sulphuric acid for use in concrete pools. At first glance, not a bad industry reaction. Sulphuric acid is very user friendly as it does not emit any corrosive fumes – particularly great for those with fully enclosed equipment rooms. But hydrochloric acid is much more poolfriendly and once dissolved in the water at the correct ratio presents no danger to the pool plaster. I had noticed that when rubbed, some particles of plaster material will come off the plaster of a pool using sulphuric acid. I blamed this on sulphates in the water. Some people discover this when using robotic cleaners where the presence of plaster particles can be quite evident in the debris collection bag. Now, I am unsure if this is about sulphates at all, as when the water in one of those pools was thoroughly tested the T/A was found to be only 20 ppm while the pH was 6.6. This water was thus quite corrosive and at least an equal if not a more likely culprit.
Two types of ettringite
Further research has, however led me to conclude that ettringite crystals found in pool plaster may not be the problem ascribed to them by the laboratories. It is clear that there are two main types of ettringite. The first, called primary
ettringite (PE), is naturally formed during the cement hydration process, is not expansive and is a factor in adding strength to the render. The second, called delayed ettringite formation (DEF), can theoretically form from sulphate ion penetration at any stage during the life of the plaster. DEF is normally expansive and can be a potential problem. This leads to the question – which ettringite was found and reported from those laboratory tests? In my research I came across a report from a P Kumar Mehta on this very subject. Dr Mehta, though born in India, spent most of his adult life in the US and most of that as a professor in civil engineering at the University of California. He has carried out studies and written numerous papers on the properties and behaviour of concrete. He has been cited as an authority in more than 250 studies by others across the globe and is seen as one of the most credible authorities on concrete in the world today. In 1984, Dr Mehta discovered that ettringite crystals fell into two categories. Those that are between 10 microns and 100 microns in length are non-expansive and are normally formed as PE. Those that are only 1 micron to 5 microns in length are expansive and are normally DEF. What is even more interesting is that in all the available photographs I have seen from microscopic analysis of pool plaster – and I concede there are not a lot of them – all the ettringite crystals are 40 microns to 60 microns in length. Thus a conclusion that they are expansive and a cause of delamination would seem to me to be a real stretch of the imagination on the part of those lab technicians involved. Maybe here in Australia they haven’t heard of Dr Mehta?
Conclusion
To date, there is no clear evidence of expansive DEF ettringite in pool plaster. Because: • There are thousands of pools in WA that have used sulphuric acid for their entire life without any visible signs of delamination; • In those pools where plaster has bubbled off the walls and floor in various sized patches, the majority of the plaster remains unaffected; • Of other research into the causes of delamination; • I have not been able to find any evidence of plaster delaminating from incorrect chemical balance in the water. Therefore: I can only conclude that plaster delamination and debonding is caused by one or more of a list of causes in the Standard ACI 524 R-08 (all of which are workmanship issues) rather than from the use of sulphuric acid. n For these informative articles, Cal Stanley draws on his 35 years’ experience and success in pool construction, having run award-winning Neptune Pools in Western Australia for three decades, and sitting on many standards committees and industry body boards. For the past five years he has worked as a pool consultant and trainer and delivers hydraulics courses for the swimming pool industry. If you have a question regarding his columns or a have a topic you think he should delve into, contact him on: neptunepools@westnet.com.au
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Del Amo says there were a lot of interesting options for environment friendly products in this year’s SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show
Pentair’s global marketing chief offers industry insights
I
n the first of a series of interviews recorded at SPLASH! 2016 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Pentair’s global marketing vice president Carlos Del Amo talks about the postGFC market, eco products and the growth of the South East Asian middle class.
Post GFC market
Del Amo says that while the global financial crisis stalled growth in new builds, the international market is still strong thanks to existing pools. “The reality is the aftermarket for us is 85 per cent of the market,” he says. “And new construction being down in many segments around the world really hasn’t affected the growth of the industry, because there is such a great and deep existing market. “So while we are in a discretionary income industry, it really has stabilised to the point where a lot of manufacturers and a lot industry professionals are saying our future does look very bright.”
Eco considerations
Del Amo says some consumers might be sceptical about the benefits of energy efficiency and ecological considerations, but that still leaves a good proportion of the population who accept the environmental arguments, as well as a healthy percentage who take environmental considerations very strongly into account when making purchasing decisions. 34
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“We’re dealing with consumers,” he says. “It’s a discretionary income industry, so we certainly look at how we bring in the value propositions around energy efficiency and around owning a swimming pool. “I think we should focus on that twenty to thirty per cent of pool buyers who own swimming pools and who do value saving the ecosystem.” He added that the SPLASH! show floor was a great showcase for some of those solutions – including some from Pentair but also from other companies.
Brand choice in the Australian market
Del Amo says that Pentair is really an accumulation of about 15 acquisitions over a 12-year period, and while they bought many brands, they ended up simplifying their portfolio to a range of products that would fit with a good/better/best strategy. In Australia, that meant focussing on brands Onga, Pentair and Sta-Rite, even though they have many other brands that people could recognise such as Rainbow Products. “So within each one of our product lines we have asked: what is the value that we can bring to a customer that he can then present to the consumer? So there has been a rationalisation of brands, but we still do believe in that good/better/best solution for our dealers,” he says.
YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME A DEALER!
Carlos Del Amo Pentair’s global marketing vice president
Watch the video interviews online SPLASH! has uploaded the video of the interview with Carlos Del Amo and will also upload interviews recorded with other global leaders at splashmagazine.com.au/video. These interviews include: Gary Pogharian, maintenance director at Yas Waterworld; Michael Turner, international business development vice president of Neptune Benson; and Michael Sessler, business development vice president of Magen Eco-Energy.
Australia and South East Asia
He says Pentair looks at Australia as a mature market. “Certainly every market changes and Australia has changed within the past fifteen years, but I think it’s for the better. It’s a mature market, it understands the value, and it is becoming a target for a lot of manufacturers.” He sees a lot of growth potential in two specific areas: Latin America and, closer to our home, South East Asia. He says it is not only Pentair, but a lot of manufacturers who are looking at the growing middle class in South East Asia. “So we look at South East Asia as not only one of the largest growing markets in the commercial market, but also in the middle class residential market. This will open up a lot of doors for not only manufacturers in this industry but in other industries too,” he says. “You have families in South East Asia that didn’t own one car ten years ago, that now have two cars. So you start to look at that discretionary spend, and see that people want to better their lives. “And fortunately for all of us in this industry, we deliver something that many industries don’t deliver: that backyard paradise. “It gives us the opportunity to deliver value to a family and their friends in a great environment.” n
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December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 35
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New ways to go
natural
E
co pools, or natural swimming pools (NSPs), have been around for many years and have been proving particularly popular in Europe. Hundreds of public and many thousands of private NSPs have been built there over the past 30 years with the numbers increasing each year. The basic idea with natural swimming pools is that they don’t use chemicals. Instead the pool is cleaned of contaminants by biological means – generally by passing the water through a regeneration zone which allows “good bacteria” to combat and destroy the pathogens and other dangerous bacteria. The fresh, clean water then returns to the swimming zone. Their adoption had not been as strong in Australia as in Europe for a number of reasons. First, the heartland of natural swimming pools is northern Europe: mainly Germany and Austria, but also Switzerland and Scandinavia. The climate of those countries is vastly different to even the southern states of Australia. Second was the amount of land required, as in the early incarnations especially, equal space was required for the swimming zone and the regeneration zone. While this might not have been as much of a problem in rural and semi-rural areas, it was an impediment in the suburbs of capital cities where land is expensive and scarce, but where the demographics would otherwise suit the purchase of a premium green product. There was also the question about how the systems would meet the rigorous health department regulations, mainly in terms of commercial builds. 36
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However, recently there have been developments that have seen the acceptance of natural swimming pools increase dramatically. These include the development of a more Australian tropical version of the bio-technology; and the fact that far less space is now required for the regeneration zones. There are also some hybrid systems being developed which use other methods in conjunction with the biological methods.
EcoSplash
Over the past few years, Cairn’s pool builder Placid Pools has won a swag of awards for their biological pool system called EcoSplash, starting with two SPLASH! Environmental Awards and culminating with the Sustainable Product of the Year Gold Award at the 2016 SPASA Australia Awards. Placid Pools general manager Amanda Spelta says it was a long road to develop the EcoSplash pool system, starting ten years ago at the Piscine Show in Lyon. “We saw the technology that they’d been doing in Germany for over 30 years,” she says. “They had to rebuild a lot of their natural environment after the war and had to come up with ways to do that, whereas we’re so blessed in Australia being surrounded by nature that we were a bit behind in this area, especially with pools.” She says that when her father, Placid Pools founder Joe Spelta, showed them on a map where they lived, the Germans laughed, saying it would be impossible in the tropics with the heat and humidity.
ABOVE: Public natural swimming pools are well accepted in Europe, as shown by the fact this project, the Naturbad Riehen in Switzerland, won the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) 2015 Gold Award. Photography by Helene Schneider TOP RIGHT: This very contemporary tiled Natural Swimming Pool doesn’t appear different to any other modern swimming pool RIGHT: This relaxing eco pool by Natural Swimming Pools Australia, in conjunction with Cox Landscapes, won two 2016 Houses Awards. Photography by Derek Swalwell
“The third generation requires only 10 to 20 percent of the original filter bed size, and we’ve even got that down even further.” But that was like red rag to Joe, who was determined to get the system working in tropical north Queensland. “We used open innovation. We formed a team here and all went back to Germany the next season and had meetings with technology producers Held. Then we researched all the different types of European systems and got the best one there at the time.” Spelta says that the first generation technology required a filter bed roughly the same size as the swimming area. “Then we found the third generation which requires only 10 to 20 percent of the original filter bed size, and we’ve even got that down even further.”
Australian conditions
The major changes started when they modified the European technology to suit the Australian tropical climate, including using indigenous plants. “We adapted it using our knowledge of the aquaculture industry and also our tropical experience. And as we tried, tested and tweaked the system, we realised it would have to be very different. “In Europe, as winter sets in they chop down their plants. The whole system dies and freezes over. Then six months later they commission it back up, and restock it with plants, and it kicks back in again. It dies and is reborn each year.” December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 37
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So while there was the disadvantage with the warmer Queensland climate of faster bio-organism growth, there were advantages as well. As the system didn’t have to die down each year, it was able to get stronger and stronger. “Ours runs all year round,” says Spelta. “It doesn’t die off. We don’t have spikes in temperature here, so what they saw it as a disadvantage to have the warmer climate – with the monsoons and the algae and the rain – actually became an advantage in having a longer season to test and observe the natural effects. “And we actually saw that a more constant temperature doesn’t have the negative effects – the
“We’re like farmers growing beneficial bacteria.” seasons change slower so there’s no shock to the system.” Spelta also says they are lucky to have such great plant selection in Queensland. “There are a lot more options than in Europe and we don’t rely on the plants to filter the water, but more for the aesthetics and to polish the water. Basically it’s a starved system – we starve it of phosphates.” Placid’s R&D team is now concentrating on further developing the maintenance side of the system. “We don’t want it to look like a river bed, more like a swimming pool – sparkling and clean and poollike, which is what the customers want. Our major development has been the different designs and finishes – we’ve learnt what doesn’t work and we won’t recommend them to the clients.” Pebblecrete is definitely out as a surface, as there are too many nooks and crannies for the algae to grow, but painted concrete, fibreglass, fully tiled and even natural rocks can work well. TOP LEFT: Good enough to drink – just ask this cat TOP RIGHT: This regeneration zone from Aquaviva uses both plants and gravel beds ABOVE: This EcoSplash pool looks like a traditional fibreglass pool, which is the look many customers are after. The raised planter bed behind the pool houses the regeneration zone RIGHT: The installation of the Biotop Living module
38 SPLASH!
December 2016/January 2017
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How does it work?
Basically, the water gets drawn through two substrates of a soft version of zeolite, which becomes the home where the bacteria can grow. The type of zeolite they use is very porous – one tablespoon has a surface area equivalent to a tennis court. They use two tonnes in the biozone, which is the equivalent of eight football fields. Placid Pool’s EcoSplash expert Hank Schroor says the more porous the better. “We’re like farmers growing beneficial bacteria,” he says. He says there are millions of types of bacteria in the filter, including both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Additionally, they add trace elements. “It’s a mechanical biological filter – it needs tiny trace elements like our bodies do,” says Schroor. “And it needs them all the time – so we put in a mixed bag of mineral stones that slowly release the needed properties.” As air is detrimental to the system, the filter itself is sealed, with the water coming out through a series of chimneys. The plants in the biozone have to survive on whatever they can get out of the nutrients in the water, meaning the nutrient level plummets. “They take out heavy metals, phosphates, nutrients, and many other bacteria – and they clean the water as well.” The nutrients go from the roots up to the leaves, and once you cut the leaves, those nutrients are taken out of the pool. The plants need to be trimmed like a normal garden. “It is living water, so there are bacteria and minute zooplankton that actually swim around the water – they’re in all the water in the world – and they filter the water like a whale through their tiny gills.” Schroor says these tiny zooplankton actually turn the water over two times per day. “Mosquitoes can’t grow in it because the water is starving. Mozzies need nutrients and there are no nutrients. And they need still water but the pool water is moving 24/7 – even if you can’t see it.” On top of the biological filtration, there is mechanical filtration with the water drawn through a skimmer to a sand filter filled with glass media.
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“That runs two or three hours a day and basically just cleans the leaves and the dust – there’s a cleaning side and a biological side.” One issue with natural pools is residual – the requirement in some jurisdictions, especially for commercial applications, for there to be a small amount of disinfectant in the water to eliminate the possibility of cross-infection. Schroor says they refer customers to their local council and it’s not a problem with the residential applications generally. “It’s the same process the European countries have gone through, they’re actually converting existing public pools to natural pools. We need to go through that process too, but it’s up to the local councils.” He doesn’t believe in adding chemicals to the water because it will mess with the system. “We think by letting nature do its thing it is better. It is biomimicry combined with high technology, it’s not a hybrid system. A lot of the great inventions are based on biomimicry.” However, customers have to understand it will take up to six weeks for the system to get up to speed. “It’s got to go through a biological process first,” says Schroor. “You can swim but it’s not inviting – and the system actually needs to get rid of the tap water chlorine first – which burns off from the sun. Initially it
40 SPLASH!
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Placid Pools’ EcoSplash has won a swag of innovation and environmental awards
will turn brown and murky and then will clear up after between two and six weeks.” While the water quality has been steadily improving, the next stage to look at is the appearance of the water and the pool surface. “The water’s clear,” says Schroor. “But there is growth on the walls. The next frontier is enabling the shading of the pool and getting better quality robots. There are a couple out there that work quite well but we are developing specific robots for our pools that will work even better.”
Payback
The cost is higher than a standard swimming pool but comes with promises of quick payback. “It costs about $250 per year in power on average.” They converted a 140,000 litre pool and the energy costs went down by 90 per cent because the pumps run at such low voltage. Hanks says the bigger the pool, the better the payback. He says that they’ve been spending a lot of effort educating the market, and now they’re finding the public is a lot more inquisitive and actually looking for this option. “Some have allergies and can’t swim in traditional pools; some are looking at how they can reduce the running costs.
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 41
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“We’ve conducted tests that show the water is cleaner than the drinking water standards in Australia – it’s been tested in universities. And there’s no need to shower afterwards. “Some customers want something more than a pool. They want something special and by creating their own biodiversity they are gaining a bit more than a traditional pool. “I can’t believe the enquiries in the past few months – it’s just grown in the last six months. We’ve built all over Australia, at least one in every state. We get the local pool builder to do the pool and even build the filter bed, then we fill up the filter bed which is the heart of the system. Then we get it running and do a handover. “It’s a lifelong relationship with the customers, so we warrant the system and the pool builder warrants the construction.” The EcoSplash pools are a growing side of Placid’s business, and they are now also looking at expanding to other tropical areas, having received interest from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Natural Swimming Pools Australia
Another Australian company building natural swimming pools is the aptly name Natural Swimming Pools Australia, owned and run by husband and wife team of Wayne Zwar and Annika Kvist in Yackandandah, Victoria. Zwar began his swimming pool career servicing and renovating pools in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. He then returned to his home territory in north eastern Victoria near Albury-Wodonga, building more than 250 fibreglass pools. “After a while I thought I’d had enough of that and my better half Anika, who is Swedish, said she wanted a pool like they do in Europe, a natural one.” 42 SPLASH!
December 2016/January 2017
TOP LEFT: The EcoSplash display pool shows that you don’t have to be restricted to the “natural” look TOP RIGHT: This pool from Natural Swimming Pools Australia includes a lily pond added mainly for aesthetic reasons – and it certainly makes the pool look special
Anika carried out much of the initial research and seven years ago they built a natural pool at home for themselves. “Our friends said they’d like one like that, and so did their friends. At that point my passion for pools started up again because it was different and I liked the idea that no chemicals were involved,” he says. “The more research I did, it was evident all the technology and knowledge was coming out of Europe – so I jumped on a plane and checked out some of the main players in Europe. I decided to partner up with Biotop who are in Vienna in Austria, and we’re in our fourth year with them now.” Natural Swimming Pools Australia has now built about 20 Biotop pools with another 10 due to be completed over the next four months. “It’s becoming more popular, definitely. Partly to do with not having any chemicals, and if you like swimming in a river or a lake you’d appreciate that same feeling. And also the aesthetics, the architects love it.”
Winning designs
Zwar built the pool that was part of a landscape that recently won two Houses awards in the outdoor and sustainability categories. “That was through Sam Cox,” he says. “Sam was contracted to do the landscaping and he approached me about the system. The clients liked what I had and because it’s a Biotop Living pool the clients could understand the system easily.” Biotop Living is generational change from the previous Biotop pools, requiring much less space for the biological (or regeneration) zone. “Previous natural pools might have a swim zone of 40 square metres, and the same amount of space for the regeneration zone. This would be in two halves: one is the gravel bed and the other is the underwater plants. The gravel bed is where the bio-organisms live, while plants take the nutrients out of the water.” Zwar says that with the old systems you need a big footprint and that makes it hard for city blocks. However, the Biotop Living pool
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“These tiny zooplankton actually turn the water over two times per day.” module uses a box 2.5m long by 1m wide by 1m deep to serve a 50,000-litre natural pool – and they can go up to 90,000 litres with different models. With this system, the plants extract some phosphorous but they’re really there just for aesthetics – they are not part of the filtration zone. “Ninety-nine per cent of the builds we do are Living Pool modules with a few plants up one end,” he says. “Half the box is filled with foam filter pads that replace the gravel beds; and on the other side you have the Phostec filter that extracts the nutrients like the plants would in the other system.” Zwar says he has had no problem with the issue of residual in Victoria, where he builds most of his pools. “These pools aren’t sanitised – it’s living water. We’re looking to put a couple in Queensland and have no issue in Victoria. “This is all driven from Europe and we follow the European guidelines. I remember when I first went to Biotop and in England they were trying to put a public natural pool in, but the red tape and the bureaucracy seemed like it would never happen. But then it did happen and they built one in Kings Cross twelve months ago. In the US it took eight years to get over the line; again, one was built twelve months ago. And there’s a large number all across Europe.
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Comprehensive marketing & dealer support program fully funded by Clearpond.
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MIDDLE LEFT: This pool in Melbourne from Natural Swimming Pools Australia shows how a rock floor can add substantially to the natural look LEFT: This hybrid biological pool in Auckland utilises Waterco’s Hydroxypure system
FREECALL 1800 222 010 enquiries@clearpond.com.au
www.clearpond.com.au SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | PERTH | ADELAIDE | BRISBANE | AUCKLAND
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“I hope we’ll have a public pool here in the not too distant future.” Zwar says the visual element is important to clients, as is the fact that the pool is chemical free. “But it’s when they actually get in the water and feel a whole new experience that they fall in love with it.” He says the systems start from $20,000 on top of the build price. Total costs are usually within the $80,000 to $100,000 range.
GartenArt
GartenArt has built 40 natural pools in Australia with another five currently under construction and another four in the design stage. GartenArt has a series of partners around the country, so the pools can be built anywhere. They do natural bio-pools and pool conversions through companies such as Landforms, Panda Pools & Spas, Foxy’s Landscapes, Full Potential Landscapes and The Water’s Edge. They use the Austrian bio-filter system Hydrobalance, which is the choice of 215 builders in 15 countries over three continents. A raised GartenArt pool with timber decking
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Hybrid systems
There are also hybrid systems that use additional disinfection methods.
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Waterco’s Nick Briscoe says pool designers and builders are responding to the growing demand from customers to come up with eco-friendly solutions in a market previously dominated by chemical processes. “While biological water treatment has been used in Europe since the early 1900s, it was only two decades ago that the concept of a natural system was trialled by the swimming pool industry,” he says. In creating the Hydroxypure chlorine-free sanitisation system, Waterco has adopted technology that has revolutionised drinking water
“In Europe, as winter sets in they chop down their plants. The whole system freezes over and is reborn each year.” treatment, simplified the process and applied it to treating pool water. “It’s free of odours and taste, is soft and gentle on the skin – what’s more, no shower is required after swimming,” he says. “Also, it’s endorsed by the National Asthma Council of Australia and approved by its Sensitive Choice program. In fact, its advance oxidation process has the ability to remove bacterial threats more effectively than any other oxidisation process currently available on the market.” Waterco was approached by New Zealand-based company Pool Environments to install a Hydroxypure system into three different outdoor poolscapes – two natural swimming pools and one freshwater lake.
heliocol splash half 092016.indd 1
“We loved utilising Waterco’s Aquabiome side-mount filters and MultiCyclone over many years, as they always played an integral role in our projects,” says Darin Abraham, managing director of Pool Environments. “Newly on the scene is the Hydroxypure system, which we are enjoying experimenting with to meet the needs for high-end client demands for clear and sanitary water coupled with the ability to control algae.” One of the projects, in Grey Lynn, Auckland, was a 110,000-litre contemporary swimming pool and water feature utilising the advanced oxidation process of Waterco’s Hydroxypure. Separated by a regeneration zone where microorganisms help oxygenate the water and filter impurities and excess nutrients, the main swimming space contain pure, healthy, crystal clear water. “The client wanted a robust freshwater filtering system to keep the pool clean and clear and enable a variety of plants to be grown in specially-created areas surrounding the pool,” says Abraham. “It was also vital to have low bio-film build-up and, thus, lower maintenance, particularly as the system was retrofitted, replacing the previous ionisation set-up. “The result is a living, organic, aesthetically beautiful pool with clear and clean water that blends well with the home setting.”
Contacts:
GartenArt: www.gartenart-australia.com Natural Swimming Pools Australia: www.naturalswimpools.com.au Placid Pools: www.placidpools.com.au Waterco: www.waterco.com.au
9/9/16 2:13 PM
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feature
Active instore display
shows rather than tells
T
he advice to “show don’t tell” has been adopted by Zodiac Australia by creating an instore modular display unit complete with working equipment. The idea is that the unit will help pool shop staff show how equipment works and even how much energy it uses. Already there are several dozen units in the marketplace, and they are proving so popular that they are now being exported to other markets. About five years ago Jonas Ryberg, marketing manager of Zodiac, asked Peter Kolomyjec to set up a display that stores could use to show how the products work. “I didn’t want to make a static display, so I decided to make one that included water and would actually work – essentially simulating a pool deck,” says Kolomyjec. The first version was large and took several hours to install. Since then Kolomyjec has worked with an innovator on the mid north coast of NSW to develop a second generation of the unit, which is half the size and has “plug and play” utility. “We’ve gone from two pumps to one pump,” he says. “We’re running the 1.5hp VS FloPro and it can show how much power it’s consuming at any one time, so the staff can upsell the consumer to a more efficient pump that will pay for itself within 12 months.” The unit is built on a rock solid 50mm RHS frame with a 400-litre water tank integrated into the deck, with all electrics fully signed-off by an electrician. “And we’ve put an iAquaLink set up on it so you can control it with your iPad or iPhone or PC anywhere in the world,” he says. Kolomyjec says they overcame a few issues with some lateral thinking. “We’ve divided the water tank into two sections by adding a perpendicular acrylic baffle. That’s because when the water flows down into the tank, it can cause cavitation with air in the water – and pumps don’t like that. So the baffle stops the cavitation occurring. “Another thing we added is an Archimedes level so we can see what the water level is in the tank, to make sure it doesn’t run down.” The unit includes a chlorinator and waterfall, and it can be upgraded with other equipment, such as putting in a laminar jet that shoots water directly into the tank. Cleaners and heaters can also be added as display only units, and the pump can be changed by simply unclipping the existing one and replacing it. “We’re using Aqua-Quip FG lights inside the tank, which work with our system so we can change the colour remotely. We’re actually selling a lot of those lights through this display.” Titanium Partners are likely to qualify automatically to get the units, but there is a waiting list. “Our problem is trying to meet the demand,” says Kolomyjec.
Locally made modules
“All our displays are made here,” he says. “From the pull-up banners to our complex displays like these. We don’t really import any marketing material from the US. “These displays are made by a guy called Andy on the NSW mid north coast, near Kempsey in a place called Dondingalong. “We came across him through an agency because we wanted to manufacture some rockets – to demonstrate our chemical testing system was faster than a rocket. We employed this guy to do about 50 or 60 rockets for us. I met him when he came down to drop the rockets off, and I showed him the original system and he became completely besotted by it. So we worked collaboratively with Andy and his crew and in the end he gave us a really good system that works extremely well.” Initially Andy had a two-man operation but now he’s expanded to having more than 10 staff. “He’s doing work for Jaguar, Proctor and Gamble, Ben and Jerry’s. He says this business came on the back of the work he was doing for us. In fact, he’s up for a NAB regional manufacturer award.” Kolomyjec says they have more than 50 of the first-generation units in the marketplace, and are now adding a few dozen of the second-generation units. “So we’ll end up with about 100 in Australia this season, and we’re shipping them to New Zealand and to New Caledonia. “We’re even due to ship one to San Diego so the Americans can see what we’re doing. They may even start them up over there too.” Contact: www.zodiac.com.au
Trade marketing manager Peter Kolomyjec with the prototype of the second-generation display module at the Zodiac warehouse
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feature
Toolmaker Darcy Mills working on their custom built machine
Darcy Mills, Liz Mills, Everine Ludwick and Norm Mills in front of the Engel extrusion press
Family power keeps solar
company surging ahead
B
oss Solar is a small family owned and run business with plans to take on the world. And they’ve already made a significant start, making their innovative Rhino Solar product in their Melbourne factory. Originally a rubber product manufacturing business, they shifted to plastics over the 25 years they’ve been operated, and now make a whole range of engineering plastics. While they had been making a wide variety of items varying from seals for highway noise baffles, windscreen seals and even meteorological balloon parts, they have recently decided to move into solar pool heating in a big way. This is because they have created a modular concept they are confident will be highly successful, not only in Australia, but overseas. Managing director Norm Mills says that while the Australian pool market is very important, it’s not as big as Europe or the US, so they are focussing on those markets for export. 48 SPLASH!
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“The US is very hard to get into,” he says. “Europe is easier, so we’re focussing there initially and then aiming to focus on America.” Recently they had to choose between attending the Piscine show in Lyon or the IPSPE show in New Orleans. After doing their research they decided Europe was the better option. “We get a very good response in Europe,” says Liz Mills. “We showcase the Aussie flag and Australian product is very well-regarded.” “In Europe they see Australian products as premium,” says Norm. “If you mention Australia, it’s a plus. The other big advantage is because it’s modular we don’t have the problems with transport. And because you can mix and match we can end up with a much larger range of products.” They also exhibited at the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, where they got a massive positive response from the local trade.
Mixing and matching
Boss makes the Rhino Solar components to work as modular panels, so they’re easier to transport, store and install. “There will be fifteen different sizes which you can mix and match because you have three different collector lengths and five different header lengths,” says Norm. “You can also join them up to make them up to 15 metres long, or even longer.” “We can sell them as completed panels or people can put them together themselves,” says Liz. “It’s easier for transport that way – it fits in the boot of a Holden. “Because it’s mix and match modular, you can combine the components to create more options. This enables you to make a big panel with less fittings and less clamps, and one person can carry it onto the roof. I’ve done it myself,” she says. “Also, you can fit almost twice as much in a container. We’ve just pre-sold a container to Lebanon and to another to South America. We’ve had huge interest.”
Local manufacturing
Once production gets into full swing, everything will be made in Australia. They have bought a suite of high end injection moulding presses and other engineering machines from Europe and have also designed and built their own automated machines. “All the extruders and downstream equipment is Austrian, Italian or German, and what we couldn’t buy we’ve designed and built ourselves. All the machining was done locally.” Norm did all the conceptual designs for the new machine and worked with a 3D draftsman to design it. He, son Darcy and another toolmaker fabricated the framework. The machine cuts the extruded material to length, drills the holes and attaches the connectors. Boss is very much a family affair. As well as husband and wife team of Norm and Liz, qualified toolmaker Darcy Mills works in the factory, Liz’s sister Everine Ludwick works as production manager, and daughters Madelyn (marketing) and Ellena (design) are also involved in the business. Norm is upset they got no innovation assistance from the government, but even if they had it would have meant waiting for up to two years before they could start production, and that would have slowed their plans down. “It’s all a big investment for us and our own risk. But we’re confident about it and it’s exciting,” he says. “We survive because we’re unique,” says Liz. “We’re good at what we do and we have the reputation for high quality.” Contact: www.bosssolar.com.au
“We get a very good response in Europe. We showcase the Aussie flag and Australian product is very well-regarded.” Being modular, the system can actually fit in the boot of a Holden
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feature
A question of standards Tintometer is trying to raise awareness of the importance of international standards regarding DPD reagents. SPLASH! reproduces their article below. The determination of free and total chlorine with DPD
To ensure accurate results it is vital that the analysis is carried out correctly and in strict compliance with the ISO standard
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The EN ISO 7393-2 standard outlines an established way of checking chlorine values by measuring changes in the depth of colour of DPD (N, NDiethyl-1,4-Phenylendiamine). These changes are detected by visual colour comparison or photometric measurement. Generally, this is known as the DPD method for the analysis of free chlorine. To ensure accurate results it is vital that the analysis is carried out correctly and in strict compliance with the ISO standard. What does this imply and how does this relate to commercially available DPD 1 products?
In effect, the ISO standard describes the fundamental components of chlorine determination with DPD: 1. A phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) ensures that the pH value of the sample remains constantly between 6.26.5 in order to ensure full colour development. 2. DPD sulphate should be used as the indicator. 3. Potassium iodide is used as the secondary reagent for the determination of total chlorine.
Standardised determination: The standard sets out how these components must be produced as liquids and also covers the use
Operating range of DPD reagents
of custom, ready-to-use reagents in the form of a powder or tablet. The preface to this standard explicitly highlights that, if the custom reagent does not follow these regulations, end results may vary. End users should therefore ensure that their chosen reagent has been produced according to the requirements of the standard. For many years, the combination of a buffer and DPD (as DPD 1 reagent) and DPD (with potassium iodide as DPD 3 reagent) has established itself as an international standard due to its wide commercial availability. In the market, DPD 1 and DPD 3 are used as liquid, tablet or powder reagents. To comply with the standard, the DPD reagents must ensure long durability and exact dosage with the addition of non-interfering additives. Producers of these reagents must guarantee that their products also meet the requirements of EN ISO 7393-2.
Ask for the buffer
However, it is not always possible for end users to easily verify that the DPD 1 products they are using meet these standards. Therefore, for peace of mind, end users should ask their supplier for written confirmation that their products meet the three criteria listed above.
Titration shows differences
The titration curves of various commercially available reagents demonstrate whether or not the buffer system complies with the standard EN ISO 7393-2 (see illustration). The buffer is supposed to ensure a stable pH value for both acid and alkaline salt concentrations and, therefore, minimise incorrect measurements. By adding acid or alkaline solution during a titration experiment the pH value is measured. The buffer ensures that any changes in pH value are minor. A steep curve, indicating a strong change of the pH value, indicates an insufficient buffer system.
“End users are recommended to ensure their supply of DPD 1 reagent complies with International Standards.� Where insufficient buffer is indicated, incorrect measurement caused by slightly deviating pH values in the water is most likely to occur. Results are unreliable and do not comply with the requirements of the standard. If a reagent can tolerate the addition of acid and alkaline solutions, the range for accurate chlorine determination is wider. A missing buffer system is therefore a major quality defect and might lead to unreliable and incorrect results. End users are recommended to ensure their supply of DPD 1 reagent complies with International Standards. Contact: www.lovibond.com
Backyard fun starts here
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commercial news
Safety
Commercial
news Global news . . . . . . . . . 54 Might Murray gets waterpark . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Tenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Cairns to get three metre wave pool . . . . . . . . . . . 55 New hydrotherapy treatments . . . . . . . . . . 56
Dreamworld will demolish water ride in wake of tragedy Dreamworld will demolish the Thunder River Rapids water ride as a mark of respect for the accident victims who died in October when their raft flipped over, says Ardent Leisure chief executive officer and managing director, Deborah Thomas. “Out of respect for the memories of Cindy Low, Roozbeh Araghi, Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett, and their deeply affected families, the ride will be permanently decommissioned,” Thomas said in a statement. She said the closure was the only respectful and appropriate course of action and that the families would be invited to help create a fitting and permanent memorial for their loved ones. She and the board had earlier been criticised for mishandling the crisis by not contacting the relatives directly and by planning to open the park within too short a timeframe while the investigations were still ongoing. This was
exacerbated when she accepted a bonus payment at the AGM a few days after the crisis. She eventually gave some of the bonus to a charity to be used to help the relatives.
Reopening
The Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson has announced that WhiteWater World and Dreamworld would reopen on Saturday December 10, with all WhiteWater World’s slides, pools and cabanas and a number of Dreamworld attractions being fully operational. Davidson said that every single attraction operating after the reopening will have passed an unprecedented multi-level safety review, encompassing Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s audit, Dreamworld’s internal engineering review, Pitt & Sherry’s independent review and the external peer-review by UK based theme park safety specialists, LTC.
Police inspect the ride following the tragedy
Safety
World’s tallest waterslide to be dismantled following fatal accident Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City will demolish the Verrückt waterslide on which a 10-year-old boy was killed in August. The 51-metre waterslide was the tallest in the world, with raft speed exceeding 100kph. The opening had been delayed twice in 2014 due to safety issues discovered during testing, including rafts flying off the rising section of the slide. There were also complaints about harness failure. Schlitterbahn’s statement reads: All of us at Schlitterbahn have been heartbroken over the tragedy that occurred on Verrückt. In our 50 years of providing an environment for families 52
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and friends to gather, we’ve never experienced this kind of devastating event. The safety of our staff and our guests is our top priority. We are parents and grandparents ourselves and many of us have ridden Verrückt with our own children and grandchildren over the years it operated. Once the investigation is concluded and we are given permission by the court, Verrückt will be decommissioned – closed permanently and the slide removed from the tower. In our opinion, it is the only proper course of action following this tragedy. We will, at some point in the future, announce what will be built in its place.
We continue to fully Shot from a video cooperate with showing rafts leaving investigative the ride during testing teams and work with the families, their attorneys and our staff impacted by this accident. As we move forward, we assure everyone who works for us and the community: we remain wholly committed to our Kansas City park and the original vision of Schlitterbahn – providing a great place to work and an environment for families and friends to gather together.
Spray parks
Park management “didn’t understand” water science Western Australia’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) CEO Kieran Kinsella told a Parliamentary Estimates committee in October that management “didn’t understand the science” behind the Elizabeth Quay water park during planning. “In our first attempt, we did not have enough scrubbing capacity of the water,” he said. “We did not actually understand all of the science about how these things operate. It was a new initiative for us, but we have now come to that understanding.” In February 2016, following routine water sampling, the WA Department of Health recommended the temporary closure of the park, less than a month after opening. At the time, WA Health Chief Health Officer Tarun Weeramanthri said the closure followed the detection of bacteria (Pseudomonas type) in the water spray and amoebae in the waste discharge pipes, and was closed to allow for modifications to the park’s filtration systems. Earlier reports also suggested Naegleria fowleri bacteria had been found at the park. At the time of writing, the park was still closed. Kinsella told the hearing that the level of usage was beyond what they anticipated. “From our point of view it is not an exact science. All of these water parks have their own idiosyncrasies. They are not like for
When only the best will do! Choose Zelbrite, the only filter media to be awarded Elizabeth Quay splash park
like; it is not like I am going to build you a 60,000-litre swimming pool and that is the sort of pump system you need to run it. They all have their own different operations.” He said the upgrades to the filtration system, including doubling the number of filters, the adding of two UV filters, another pump and improved chemical calibration, had cost about $290,000. In March, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett apologised to the family of a fiveyear-old girl who developed an eye infection that left her partially blind after playing in the water park at Elizabeth Quay. In related developments, the NSW Baird government is reportedly looking to change the Public Health Act to ensure splash parks and interactive water fountains are included in the definition of a public swimming pool.
In Brief Apollo Projects is set to build Christchurch City Council’s new QEII Recreation and Sport Centre, to replace the previous facility destroyed in the 2011 earthquake. Apollo Projects director Paul Lloyd says he is proud that the locally-owned company is involved in the QEII project, and that it will be a great asset for the community and will be important for rebuilding the city. The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust has provided $NZ7.47 million towards the water attractions. The tiny settlement of Waiau in Hurunui, NZ,took its share of damage from the 2016 quakes, with the local school sustaining major damage to its swimming pool, causing it to be written off. The pool is pivotal to the local children’s summer activities and the callout has come to help raise funds for a rebuild. Heritage & City Life Hotels are joining the businesses and individuals helping with this effort. Go to givealittle.co.nz to help. The Australian Swim Schools Association has announced that EvoHeat has become its latest Pool of Poolies partner. ASSA CEO, Ross Gage says that, with pool heating and airhandling being such an essential element of the operations of swim schools, a partner is this field was highly desirable. “Being able to secure an international leader in EvoHeat is a giant coup for our members and the Association,” he says.
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For more information Contact Peter Rabbige on 0407 078 075 www.zelbrite.com
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commercial news
The new Sports Park 95 installation at Lake Mulwala
Global news Jump! Swim Schools has opened its first international site in Singapore. The Jump! Bukit Timah school is the rapidly growing Queensland-based company’s 45th site, and the first operational facility in its multinational portfolio that includes sites signed in Brazil, the Philippines and New Zealand. Jump! Swim Schools Bukit Timah franchisee David Leong, a senior aviation engineer with a background in swim instruction, says he had been inundated with hundreds of pre-enrolment enquiries since word got out of the award-winning, Australianbased specialty learn-toswim centre’s opening. “Every child deserves a nice environment to learn how to swim and they should be able to learn to swim all year around,” he says.
Waterparks
Mighty Murray gets a waterpark Now the Murray River has one more thing to recommend it – an inflatable waterpark. The new Sports Park 95 installation is at Lake Mulwala where the Murray River spreads itself wide between Yarrawonga and Collendina. The VictoriaNSW border goes through the lake, with the sports park on the Victorian side. Aquazone@LakeMulwala is the seventh Wibit sports park operating in Australia. The 50 square metre aquatic sports adventure park opened in November and will operate until late April 2017.
HCMA Architecture + Design’s Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre in Surrey, Canada, has won The World Architecture Festival Award for Completed Sports Buildings. The project vision was to design and build a world-class aquatic centre to attract people from everywhere, while expressing the community’s ambition for Surrey. Inclusivity and universal access are key features to help support a diverse culture. Intended to accommodate the needs of its growing community, the aquatic centre will play a vital role as the area develops and the master plan vision, which HCMA also helped to develop, is realised. It meets stringent FINA standards to host regional, provincial, national and international sporting events in its 10-lane, 50m Olympic size competition pool and dive platform.
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In developing the attraction, managing director Deb North was influenced by the popular open water inflatable water parks operating on the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Having recently gained approval to operate the business under a seasonal licence from Moira Shire Council, North said the business would employ up to 40 staff during Yarrawonga-Mulwala’s peak tourist season. Wibit Australian partner Hydrocare Pool Services was responsible for the installation.
LGA
Tenders These and other tenders are put online prior to the print magazine publishing. Be sure to subscribe to the free newsletter, Like the SPLASH! Facebook page or Follow SPLASH! on Twitter to keep alerted to new tenders and for quick access to more information. Baw Baw Shire Council, Victoria Ref No: 21711CT
Tenders are invited for the management and operation of the following Baw Baw Aquatic & Leisure Services: * Warragul Leisure Centre (Burke Street, Warragul) * Bellbird Park Indoor Centre (Settlement Road, Drouin) * Rawson Indoor Heated Pool (Knotts Siding Road, Rawson) * Drouin and District War Memorial Heated Outdoor Pool (Sinclair Street, Drouin) * Neerim South Outdoor Heated Pool (Swaffield Lane, Neerim South) * Trafalgar Memorial Outdoor Heated Pool (Contingent Street, Trafalgar) * Thorpdale Outdoor Pool (Mirboo Thorpdale Road, Thorpdale)
Closing 2.00pm Wednesday 21 December 2016.
City of Gold Coast Council, Qld
Contact: (03) 5624 2411; www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au
Invitation to offer for the operation of one or more of ten sites for commercial aquatic recreational activities for a period of three years.
Department for Child Protection, WA Tender No: DCP201630RFT The Department is seeking a service provider(s) for the provision of ongoing swimming pool maintenance services across for residential homes within the Perth region Contact: Jacqueline Eley, (08) 6551 1505; jacqueline.eley@ finance.wa.gov.au. Steven Majewski, (08) 9222 2569; Steven.Majewski@cpfs. wa.gov.au Closing: Wed, 4 Jan 2017 at 2:30PM. More: www.tenders.wa.gov.au
Ref: LG314/411/17/008 Activities might include: • Motorised operations • Water parks - inflatable slides and other equipment • Inflatable water ball • Kayaking • Stand up paddle boarding • Various amusement equipment (water related) • Traditional nonmotorised activities • Related activities (eg bicycle hire) that could complement an evaluation and approval. Closing Date: 20 Dec, 2016 Contact: Michael Murrie-Jones; (07) 5667 3940 LG Tender Box: GCCC006082
Waterparks
Three-metre wave pool planned for Cairns waterpark
The developers of the upcoming Actve adventure park in Cairns, Sanad Capital, have announced a partnership with WhiteWater. Additionally, they have released details of the planned adventure development, which will include Australia’s biggest wave pool, with waves nearly three metres high. Bradley P Sutherland, CEO of Sanad Capital, says that WhiteWater will be responsible for most of the water elements and features, especially the planning and engineering of the waterpark rides. Sutherland says the park will include: • Australia’s biggest wave pool generating 9ft-high waves • High thrill rides which have never been seen in Australia before • The world’s largest interactive aqua play structure (accommodating 2000 people at any one time) • The first slide-boarding area in South East Asia, an innovation which brings video game interactivity to waterslides (see p62) • The park will boast the iconic rides including the Abyss, Constrictor and Boomerango Manta “This waterpark has been designed to provide a complete family experience with features for every age group. The plans contain a dedicated area for tots, where kids from four to eight can make a splash, thrills for teens with the AquaLoop, as well as raft rides for the whole family to enjoy together,” says Sutherland. The project with the working title of “Actve” is set to be officially launched before the year-end, with the unveiling of the master plans and the project’s name. The plans comprise the world’s first wave reservoir, the worldclass waterpark and extreme water sports facilities, a prestigious sports training and development centre, as well as a four-star hotel, an exhibition and conference centre, cafes and restaurants, and international and local retail outlets. Construction of the $400 million project is due to begin in 2017. The project will offer 2000 direct and indirect jobs throughout construction, adding $60 million per year to the economy throughout the build phase, totalling $260 million upon completion. WhiteWater will be responsible for most of the water elements
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By Alan Lewis
Aquatic pain relief spreading globally Jessica Huss is the owner of AquaStretch LLC and has a doctorate of physical therapy
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or many years we’ve known aquatic therapies can help people with painful physical injuries – now there are some new techniques finding global attention. My interest in hydrotherapy stems from several years of excruciating lower back pain (LBP) caused in part by my early years of “back-breaking” labour as a landscaper. At a World Aquatic Health Conference in the US a few years ago, I witnessed an impressive hydrotherapy demonstration session in the conference pool. The patient emerged from the pool with a big smile on her face due to quick relief from her pain. The therapist was Dr Jessica Huss and she was being advised by Dr George Eversaul as she worked on her patient. Later Huss gave a lecture explaining how the new modality of AquaStretch can actually relieve pain in sufferers of fibromyalgia. Soon after that I arranged a visit to their respective homes in Las Vegas and Lake Havasu City to observe their work on various patients and to experience my own pain relief from this therapy. I was impressed that their patients visited them on a regular basis and everyone I spoke to assured me they could not imagine how their lives would be without their regular AquaStretch treatment sessions. In fact, one of them found it well worth his time and expense to travel by car several hours in each direction every fortnight, because the therapy sessions provided him with relief no other treatment could match. On returning to Australia, I suffered a recurrence of the lower back pain I had experienced in my earlier years. Unfortunately, I could not find a hydrotherapist who was practicing AquaStretch, so I tried other similar treatments to no avail. Since then I have become a firm supporter of AquaStretch hydrotherapy.
December 2016/January 2017
Spreading to Israel
This part of the story is about how AquaStretch spread to Israel. First we must look at one person who recognised the value of new treatment and was prepared to invest time and energy to bring it to realisation. The Chaim Sheba Medical Centre at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan neighbourhood of Tel Aviv is the largest hospital in the country. Every day 200 patients are treated in the hydrotherapy pool. Caroline Barmatz MHA BPT HT is the director of hydrotherapy and oversees every one of those patients. She was born in England in 1958 and arrived in Israel in 1977 at the age of 19. By 1982 this dynamic woman had already completed her first degree, a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) from the University of Tel Aviv. Barmatz’s life has been immersed with learning and teaching hydrotherapy in Israel and abroad, while interspersed with family responsibilities including bringing three boys into the world. Then she undertook postgraduate studies and research and gained the position of Chair of the Israeli Hydrotherapy Association. She took on responsibilities in various hospitals and training institutions, culminating in her appointment as director of hydrotherapy in Sheba Hospital from 1997 till the present. She has worked and taught in most of the major hydrotherapy institutions in Israel over her busy career. I suggested she investigate this relatively new modality of AquaStretch, so she travelled to Las Vegas and Lake Havasu City where she acquired the accreditation to teach it from Dr George Eversaul and Dr Jessica Huss. Since her return to Israel in July 2016 she has successfully taught AquaStretch to more than 220 practicing therapists at 10 different universities and institutions.
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She has also visited Athens to teach a seminar there; began research into certain aspects of AquaStretch; been invited to Brazil, India and Slovenia; attended a conference in South Africa; visited the World Federation of Physical Therapy (WFPT); and is preparing to attend World Aquatic Health Conference in Denver next October.
Why is AquaStretch so important?
AquaStretch is a one-on-one, assisted stretching and myofascial release technique performed in shallow water using weighted resistance. “AquaStretch is a major breakthrough in pain management,” says Dr Fuller Royal from Nevada Clinic. The fascia is the tough layer of fibrous, collagenbased connective tissues that permeate the human body. When adhesions form on fascia they are debilitating and painful.
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adhesions which may form following an injury or surgery are resolved naturally with normal exercise and movement. Many such adhesions may also be resolved more quickly with land based stretching programs like yoga or stretching exercises recommended by physical therapists. AquaStretch facilitators with prior training in fields like manual therapy or massage who have developed palpation skills are usually able to locate fascial
“AquaStretch is a major breakthrough in pain management.” 1
1. Huss says she immediately noticed the significant overall improvement in patients’ rehab outcomes once they tried AquaStretch 2. Monica (Mony) Gutierrez is a pioneer of aquatic exercise programs in Mexico, running therapeutic services through Move AquaStretch 3. Move AquaStretch therapist working on a client’s foot
Why do fascial adhesions form? Based on clinical observations, it is suggested fascial adhesions form for primarily three reasons: 1. As a defensive mechanism to avoid further injury and pain. 2. As an adaptive mechanism, to provide increased strength and endurance for physical activity. 3. As a natural part of the healing process post injury or surgery. How are fascial adhesions formed? More than 90 per cent of clinically significant fascial injury or adhesions (that were consequently resolved by AquaStretch treatments) appear to result from combinations of three potential causes: 1. By pre-mature physical activity and other factors causing improper healing following injury or surgery. 2. From physical workload or athletic over-training. 3. From repetitive movement. How are fascial adhesions normally resolved? It may be important to appreciate that many fascial
adhesions using those palpation skills. When treating a patient in water, the trigger points are defined as “localised hardening in muscle”, not fascia. Experienced AquaStretch therapists are usually more efficient in finding those trigger points. Both patient and therapists can easily recognise when the “triggered” pressure has released the tension of pain beneath the trigger point, giving immediate relief. What is a trigger? “A trigger is the autogeneric inhibition mechanism creating subsequent reduction in muscle tension through stimulation of the Golgi tendon organs (Yuktasir of Kaga 2007 p120) Hannah J Heyrick, Indiana University Pennsylvania How often is AquaStretch needed by sufferers of myofascial pain? AquaStretch facilitators are instructed to explain to clients that they should continue with regular half hour sessions every week or two, until the client doesn’t notice any improvement from their last session. This is clinically referred to as the AquaStretch Restoration phase. Some clients need only one or two sessions, some four to six sessions, and rarely more than seven AquaStretch sessions. December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 57
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still exists today –the Kneipp Kurhause – where patients stayed for residential care paid for by the national health care system. These German developments spread and eventually penetrated into naturopathic medicine as practiced in the USA, in Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington and the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland. Today, hydrotherapy is one of the key modalities taught in naturopathic medicine, and in university and specific learning institutions worldwide.
How hydrotherapy is taught today?
Teaching hydrotherapy over the past half century or so was based on three basic concept or modalities:
Clients are then instructed to return for an AquaStretch “tune up” if they notice a return of more than 20 per cent of their original pain or inflexibility for more than 3 days. Seniors often report setbacks because they feel so good that they garden excessively or they clean the garage etc. Clients who are wellness-orientated are encouraged to come for an AquaStretch tune-up on a regular basis, perhaps once a month.
History of hydrotherapy around the world
We can find references to the use of natural springs and spas going back to the Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations. Since the Roman Empire extended to what is today modern Israel, we can find numerous archaeological remains of ancient baths in places like Jerusalem, Masada, around the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias and even Caesarea and along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. Likewise there are records of hydrotherapy used in Japan, China and India, where bathing in hot springs was part of their medical and spiritual cultures. Of greater interest to us today is the more recent history in Europe and Great Britain over the past few centuries, when the fundamental aspects of this science were laid down by pioneers with a strong urge to heal suffering in ailing patients. In 1697 in Lichfield England, Doctor John Floyer wrote A History of Hot and Cold Bathing which was later translated into German in 1749. That book inspired Johann S. Hahn, together with his father and brother, to use hydrotherapy to treat smallpox with notable success in Germany. Their work indirectly influenced Vincent Priessnitz who, although lacking in formal education, was a keen observer of nature. After fracturing two ribs, he emulated a deer he had seen bathing in a cold stream following an injury. He wrapped his chest in cold towels and drank lots of cold water. Inspired by that, the path to significant progress in applying water treatments to cure tuberculosis was pioneered by a priest called Sebastian Kneipp (18211897). Because of that success he subsequently became well known as a healer internationally and eventually built what later became the modern health spa which 58 SPLASH!
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ABOVE: Using water to heal goes back to ancient Greeks and beyond BELOW: Caroline Barmatz oversees up to 200 hydrotherapy patients each day BELOW RIGHT: The Halliwick school where therapy began in 1975
Halliwik Aquatic Therapy 1975 Halliwick was and still is a school for girls with special needs in Winchmore Hill London. Miss Caroline Blunt established it in 1851. James McMillan – a fluid mechanics engineer, promoted a basic concept of balance control, swimming and rehabilitation which is designed to ease the lives of those who struggle with keeping themselves afloat and independent in water. Based on fluid mechanics, McMillan developed a 10 point program by which therapists could teach and enhance a sense of balance and core stability – equilibrioception. The Halliwik Aquatic Theory was also known as Water Specific Therapy (WST) which was designed to utilise the properties of water as the basis for therapeutic intervention. The Halliwick Ten-Point Program: • Mental adjustment – including buoyancy, adjusting to turbulence, breath control, cultivating confidence and good attitude. • Disengagement – reducing reliance on instructor, changing instructors, practicing independence. • Transversal Rotation Control – regaining the upright position from the horizontal position, eventually learning somersaulting. • Sagittal Rotation Control – movement in the transverse plane, trunk side flexion, side stepping. • Longitudinal Rotation Control – activities which involve rolling over. • Combined Rotation Control – combinations in
• • • •
which rotations are executed in a single movement, once learner/ swimmer can control position in the pool and is safe. Upthrust or Mental Inversion – learning about buoyancy, in particular that water always pushes up. Balance and Stillness – learning to maintain a relaxed body while floating with turbulence. Turbulent Gliding – controlling the body while being moved by the instructor. Simple Progression and Basic Swimming Movement – progression from simple propulsive movements to coordinated arm, leg, head, and torso movements needed for swimming.
Halliwick Aquatic Therapy has mainly been used in neurorehabilitation and paediatrics. The mechanical advantages of water support the abilities of the trunk in a mobilising and stabilising way. Many activities can easily be repeated and varied so that clients can learn balance and stumble strategies, which have carry-over effects on dry land. Bad Ragaz Ring Method (BRRM) 1960 – 1990 Dr WM Zinn The Bad Ragaz Ring Method (BRRM) is a type of aquatic therapy used for physical rehabilitation based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). BRRM is a water-based technique in which therapist-assisted strengthening and mobilising exercises are performed while the patient lies horizontally in the water, with support provided by rings or floats around the neck, arms, pelvis and legs. Exercises are focused on increasing joint range of motion, increasing mobility of neural and myofascial tissues and improving muscle function. Applications include orthopaedic and rheumatology conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, spondylosis, osteoarthritis), post-surgery, fibromyalgia, soft tissue injuries, thoracic surgery, spinal injury, Parkinson’s disease, head injury. Clinical Ai Chi and Watsu Ai Chi was developed in 1993 by Jun Konno, owner of the Aquadynamics Institute in Yokohama. He created Ai Chi as a preparation for Watsu, which is based on stretching meridians and creating balance between Yin and Yang, according to the philosophy of Masunaga. At this time, Ai Chi consists of 19 movements or Katas. Ai Chi can be characterised as a series of continuous slow and broad movements, accomplished without force. It consists of movement patterns of the arms, arms and trunk, and arms, legs and trunk, with gradual narrowing of the basis of support combined with
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“AquaStretch is a one-onone, assisted stretching and myofascial release technique performed in shallow water using weighted resistance.”
deep breathing. Movements are supposed to take place at breath rate, about 14 to 16 times per minute. Ai Chi has elements of both Qi Gong (a more static and symmetrical posture during the initial six arm movements) and Tai Chi Chuan (more focused on continuously changing the centre of gravity within the basis of support in the latter part). The classical purpose within Eastern theory is to balance energy by stretch of certain meridians. Ai Chi Katas Ai Chi: contemplating, floating, uplifting, enclosing and folding A symmetrical trunk position with a wide symmetrical stance and a visual fixation point. There is no movement of the center of gravity (COG.) The arms move symmetrically. Ai Chi: soothing A symmetrical trunk position with a wide symmetrical stance and a visual fixation point. There is no movement of the COG. The arms move asymmetrically.
Huss says she immediately noticed the significant overall improvement in my patients’ rehab outcomes once they tried AquaStretch
Ai Chi: gathering A trunk position as symmetrical as possible in a tandem stance, with a visual fixation point. There is no movement of the COG during the repetitive asymmetrical arm movements. Ai Chi: freeing Trunk rotations in tandem stance, with the eyes following the moving hand. The COG changes because of the continuous change of side. The arms move asymmetrically.
Ai Chi: shifting Rotations between thorax and pelvis with a wide symmetrical stance, while continuously shifting the COG in the coronal plane. The arms move asymmetrically and the eyes follow the moving hand. Ai Chi: accepting A symmetrical trunk activity in a tandem stance, with continuous shifts of the COG in the sagittal plane. There is a visual fixation point. Ai Chi: accepting with grace and rounding Symmetrical arm movements in unipedal stance where either the front leg or the hind leg is lifted during one breath cycle. There is a visual fixation point. Ai Chi: balancing Symmetrical arm movements in unipedal stance during three breath cycles. There is no real visual fixation point. Ai Chi: half circling, encircling, surrounding, nurturing Symmetrical arm movements, in accordance with T’ai Chi, in a symmetrical stance with continuous movements of the COG. The eyes follow the hands. Ai Chi: flowing and reflecting Symmetrical arm movements occur while walking laterally, making cross-steps and pivots. A visual fixation point is possible. Ai Chi: suspending Symmetrical arm movements with a body turn and a floating phase. There are no visual fixation points. One can define a clear sequence of increasing difficulty of the regulatory conditions: • From a symmetrical trunk position to rotatory trunk movements. • From a static to a dynamic COG. • From small hand movements to large reaching movements. • From wide support to narrow bases of support. • From visual control to non-visual/vestibular control. • From symmetrical to asymmetrical arm movements. Meridians that are stretched are the meridians of: • The lung (underneath the clavicula), by retracting the scapula • The small intestines (underneath the scapula), by protracting the scapula • The urine bladder (across the sacrum), by rounding the back and “opening” the SI joint • The kidney (across the stomach), by extending the thoracal-lumbar spine and “opening” the stomach area. • The gallbladder (at the lateral waist), by rotation in between pelvis and thorax . Rose DJ. (2010). Fall Proof, a comprehensive balance and mobility training program. Human Kinetics, Champaign.
Current hydrotherapy regulation and certification
Basically the details of the curriculum for hydrotherapy in most countries might differ significantly including universities, colleges, hospitals, sport medicine, or other 60 SPLASH!
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The Aquabike
Aquatic exercise Not only is water good for therapeutic exercise, it is also good for basic wellness and fitness exercise, for many of the same reasons of buoyancy and resistance. Aquabike is a new training tool for swimming pools, either commercial or residential. It is suitable for everybody from beginners to serious athletes and allows for healthy cardio excise. Working against the water resistance improves cardio-vascular capacity and joint flexibility, without undue pressure on the joints. It is also much more relaxing than cycling in gym or dodging traffic on the road. Exercising with pool bikes allows for individual or group participation and can be completed in 20-30 minutes sessions. Aquabikes can be used by professionals, for rehabilitation from injury, in wellness centres and hotels and for personal training and fitness. They are good for slimming, stamina, body toning and sport rehabilitation. Waterflex Aquatic Products also have other products such as the water trampoline which can be used for physiotherapy, aqua training or fun at home with the family. Other forms of aquatic fitness equipment include the cross trainer step machines, aquatic treadmill machine and pool bar. Contact: outdoorkingdomoz@gmail.com or (08) 9456 0333
institutions designed to promote the practice of aquatic therapy. The overall trend is to take the best aspects of the four dominant conceptsphilosophies-methods-modalities and teach an integration of them all as modules of the whole course. Usually hydrotherapy is found in company with the study of physiology as an essential element in the understanding of what happens to the body and the mind when the therapist applies the method in water rather than on dry land. The other essential aspect of any therapy is that it must relieve pain and avoid anxiety of the patient as to the outcome of the treatment. In many countries the number of pools and spas available can be a critical issue and there are few places in the world where one might claim that a country has sufficient pools and therapists to accommodate all those suffering from pain or discomfort from one ailment or another. Indeed the cost of running a pool and training staff is prohibitive in many countries. Finally, apart from Switzerland, few countries can claim to be recognised and regulated internationally as a worldwide accredited network. The World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) is based in Carouge Switzerland and it promotes and disseminates the latest scientific research so that all members can learn of the latest developments. Below is a brief summary of the current status and levels in countries that lead the world today in this industry. • Australia requires courses lasting in total 10 to 14 days including several days in the pool with instructors. Because of the distance to remote areas there are at least three days of distant learning. Classes can last up to 11 hours a day. Accreditation is approved by the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the exam includes both theory and practice. • The UK also has three days or so of practical training. Accreditation is administered by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. Their examination also includes both practice and theory. • In the USA the authorities are independent agencies. The course lasts 40 hours and there is also an exam in both practice and theory. • Israel runs courses of 60 academic hours and 40 hours of clinical experience. Certification is given by the Israel Physiology Association. The theory includes physics, physiology, pathology, various methods of safety, assessment and competencies. There is a long list of countries that have organised accreditation but many may not include the level of academic knowledge required
by the countries with known reliable competencies. Many countries conduct research but often claims are made which fail to provide the level of relief to sufferers that is claimed.
Benefits of aquatic therapy
Aquatic therapy can be useful in treating a wide variety of conditions including soft tissue injury, bone injury, arthritis, neurological conditions and post-surgery or joint replacement. Aquatic therapy is appropriate for people of any age. The benefits of aquatic therapy include: 1. Pain relief 2. Reduction in muscle spasm 3. Increased joint range of movement 4. Muscle strengthening 5. Improved circulation 6. Retraining of balance and co-ordination The buoyancy of the water allows many people to exercise where they struggle on land, be that due to reduced weight bearing status, or reduced pain of weight bearing. Due to the reduced gravity environment this offers less stress on joints, allowing more effective exercising.
Conclusion
Considering the great need for effective aquatic therapies through the ages, it is surprising that many countries have not found the time, interest or finance to bring AquaStretch to their clients. A half hour session with an AquaStretch hydrotherapist could save a small fortune in medical fees and keep one in good spirits without constant pain that many experience for lack of the appropriate service. For the most part, those that work in the industry and are already familiar with the modality are aware of the obvious benefits that AquaStretch has to offer. Hopefully, those who are not familiar with AquaStretch will eventually join the happy throng that are already leading a better, pain-free life.
Contacts:
Alan Lewis: aquazure34@ gmail.com AquaStretch: www.aquastretchpt.com Move AquaStretch: moveaquastretch.com More info and AquaSretch videos: Go to the QuickLinks tab at splashmagazine.com.au December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 61
new products
Cyclonic fun on smaller decks
SRSmith’s new Cyclone pool slide has the same high quality features as other SR Smith pool slides, but is more compact for pools with limited deck space. It is 1.3 metres in height, requires 2 metres x 1.7 metres in deck space and will accommodate sliders up to 79 kg. The Cyclone is engineered from strong, stable material that resists corrosion from harsh climates and pool environments. It is available in two earth-friendly colours, grey granite and sandstone, to complement most pool decks. In addition, it complies with US Consumer Safety Standards for swimming pool slides, meeting 48 performance requirements concerning manufacturing design and construction. Contact: www.srsmith.com.au
Lo-Chlor to distribute Bio-Active range Lo-Chlor is now the exclusive Australasian distributor of Bio-Active’s cyanuric acid reducer and other living microbial pool maintenance products.
Non-toxic, organic and totally biodegradable, Bio-Active is a biological approach to safely and effectively reducing cyanuric acid levels in swimming pools. It is a powerful blend of all-natural catalytic microorganisms, enzymes and co-factors. Delivered in active microbial form, these biocatalysts are freeze dried in powder and reactivate upon mixing with water, converting organic waste into harmless nitrogen and carbon dioxide gas which escape into the air, leaving no residuals that damage the environment. Contact: lochlor.com.au
Slideboard picks up award
WhiteWater’s Slideboarding is the recipient of The Themed Entertainment Association’s (TEA) Award of Outstanding Achievement. Slideboarding places riders into a physical video game – as they race down the slide path, riders “hit” coloured targets using the corresponding buttons on their rafts. The leaderboard displays riders’ scores and handles, and they can unlock levels, moving up in difficulty-level as they progress through the game. Operators can access valuable ride data to track performance and customer engagement through the dashboard. Contact: www.whitewaterwest.com
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Light ball creates pool mood
This new Magic Ball pool light from Waterco instantly transforms a swimming pool into a multi-coloured water feature. It is waterproof, rechargeable, remote-controlled and generates a gently flickering candle effect or a dynamic strobe feature with a simple flick of a switch. Free from cumbersome wires and powered by a low energy consumption LED, the portable Magic Ball emits a gentle glow that looks spectacular when floating on the pool’s surface, placed on the pool deck, or positioned in the garden as a sculptural feature.
Shining new stainless steel roller
Daisy Pool Covers has released a roller designed to complement contemporary garden and pool settings. The brand new stainless steel 316ST roller certainly looks stylish. Daisy says they have supplies in stock and have been busy filling orders Australia-wide – offering retailers and builders a chance to upsell this summer.
The shock-resistant light has an eco-friendly construction, can run for 10 hours and scroll though seven rainbow colours. It has a one year warranty.
They have also released new custom-made tailor’s scissors for easy pool cover installation. Sharp, solid and long-lasting, these scissors will help ensure that cover cutting is clean and accurate.
Contact: www.waterco.com.au
Contact: 1300 55 18 11; hello@daisypoolcovers.com.au
Advanced onsite testing
The new WaterLink Spin Touch can be used anywhere in the field or in-store, without the need to be connected to a computer, mobile device, or even to power. All the user has to do is fill a reagent disc, place this in the meter, tap “start” and all tests are done automatically via the touch screen within 60 seconds. For use with WaterLink Spin Touch, Vendart supply five reagent discs, with up to 11 test parameters per disk. The results can also be transferred to DataMate web software for instant analysis, with step-by-step treatment instructions transferred to the technician’s mobile device. Test history is also stored via cloud technology. Contact: www.waterlinkspincom.au; (02) 9624 8842
December 2016/January 2017 SPLASH! 63
new products
Refresh your pool water
Pool Refresh is a water freshener and moisturiser that fragrances the pool water and leaves the skin feeling smooth and soft. Pool Systems says Pool Fragrance is a great addition to outdoor entertaining and will not affect water chemistry. Activity and pool temperature will enhance the aroma output. Standard application is 148ml per 56,000 litres. Contact: www. poolsystems.com.au
Three-mode efficient heat pump
The new efficient ZS500 heat pump is the first on the market to offer three operating modes: Eco mode, where it runs at as little as 50 per cent of the total energy available; Smart mode, operating between 50 per cent and 100 per cent; and Boost mode that operates at 100 per cent for heating the pool as quickly as possible. It also has an extra-large air intake (up to 20 per cent larger than usual), allowing for better capacity to collect the heat from the surrounding ambient air and heat the pool more rapidly. Its vertical blower also allows it to be installed on a much smaller equipment pad. Contact: www.zodiac.com.au
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new products
Ultra-compact gas heater
Zodiac says their new ultra-compact JXi gas heaters is highly efficient and perfect for quickly heating a pool, spa or pool and spa. Its lightweight innovative design has been made with the pool builder, pool shop/pool technician and pool owner in mind as has benefits that will meet the needs of all those groups. Its VersaFlo Bypass offers extended heat exchanger life and a threeyear heat exchanger warranty. It has an energy efficiency rating of 83 per cent (USA Department of Energy), allowing for a quicker heat-up time. It is automation-ready and connects to Aqualink systems and the iAqualink app.
Water testing in the Cloud
Zodiac has launched Pure Solutions water testing software, a cloudbased offering to help recommend the right amount and types of chemicals to use both in-store and on-site. With the data safely backed up to a secure location on the internet, water analysis reports are simpler to navigate, and store staff and the pool owners can see what needs to be fixed and what chemicals are needed. Additional maintenance text and promotional graphics can also be added to help promote store sales. Pure Solutions also has Magnapool/Elements Mineral support. Contact: www.zodiac.com.au
Contact: www.zodiac.com.au
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