Selecting a pool builder

Selecting a pool builder (the right one) for swimming pool construction is more easily and economically accomplished if there is a written specification, prepared by independent and professional consultants to your exact requirements.  Selecting a pool builder, so all competitive quotations can be compared “apples to apples”, ensures the pool is built to the client’s rquirements…  and Aadvance Swimming Pool Consultants fees are always recouped by the resultant competitive tendering process.

The extensive experience of ASPC, having previously designed and built over 15,000 concrete pools and spas, supports our claim that;

  • Our design and/or quality control process, together with our tendering documentation process, guarantees competitive tendering by pool builders,
  • delivers an aesthetically pleasing and highly functional pool with a high level of satisfaction…
  • every time… always cost effective… and to owner’s individual requirements.

And the bonus is… The savings gained in the guaranteed competitive cost of the pool, recoups the cost of our fees.

ALSO

Our innovative swimming and spa pool design, tendering and quality control process for residential pools, spas and water features, ensures they:

  1. Are independently designed with individual consultation to resolve all budgets and personal requirements prior to preparation of tender documentation,
  2. Are designed with internal finishes, high grade pool water treatment plant, all accessories such as cleaning – lighting – heating and automatic operation etc., as selected in consultation with owner,
  3. Are constructed to a cost effective budget through specific tendering documentation and quality control process, and
  4. Are compliant with Australian Standards, Department of Health guidelines and Local Laws, so competitive tenders can be compared “apples to apples”.

OWNER BUILDERS

If you are sufficiently technically qualified in construction processes, and intend being an owner builder, our design support will be invaluable in helping you with;

  • the engineering plans for approvals
  • designing the internal layout & finishes, equipment and its operation, all to your budget
  • selecting filtration, disinfection, cleaning, heating, lighting, low maintenance, automation, etc.
  • sourcing sub-trades and equipment at discount prices

PRINTED LITERATURE AVAILABLE

Basic Information… 10 pages providing basic information on how a pool should operate, hints on selecting a contractor, required insurances, what should be in a contract, equipment comparisons, pool filtration – heating – lighting – cleaning etc., automation, web sites for equipment suppliers, and much more…                                                                       To order an emailed copy of this “basic information” at a cost of $49, go to (contact us) page, include your postal and email addresses and the product name.  You will be sent an invoice.  On payment of the invoice, you will receive an electronic copy of the “Basic Information”.

Installation and Operation Specification… An 8 page best practice, standard specification on pool water treatment plant selection and installation, general hydraulics, and pipe sizes etc., that can be given to pool contractors when seeking quotes and allows an “apples to apples” comparison of prices. It should then be included as an “addendum to contract” to make sure your requirements are carried through…                                          To order an emailed copy of this “Installation and Operation Specification” at a cost of $59, go to (contact us) page, include your postal and email addresses and the product name.  You will be sent an invoice.  On payment of the invoice, you will receive an electronic copy of the“Installation and Operation Specification”. 

Home owner’s having a pool, spa or water feature, built or renovated, all agree that an independent design, ensures the construction and operation processes proceed more fluidly, and allow disputes to be more easily resolved.

Aadvance Swimming Pool Consultants professional and experienced advice ensures compliance with Government regulations, convenient, efficient and safe operation of the project, and provides all the documentation for obtaining competitive quotes from pool builders so they can be compared “apples to apples”

WATER  SAVING  HINTS
It has been estimated that approx. 12,000 mega litres of water are lost from Queensland’s 300,000 residential swimming pools each year as a result of evaporation and backwashing of filters.

EVAPORATIVE  LOSSES:  Major causes of evaporation are wind, water temperature, ambient temperature and humidity. The resultant water losses can be reduced by:

  • Covering the pool when not in use: Pool covers can reduce evaporative losses by up to 90%. They are available in many forms from the inexpensive floating type to a fully automatic, push button, safety cover. Enter swimming pool covers in your search engine.
  • Fully or partially enclosing the pool: Enclosures are available as solid structures with glass or other panels or simply as an inflated enclosure. Enter swimming pool enclosures in your search engine.
  • Wind breaks can be achieved by solid fencing, planted hedges, etc.
  • Lower the freeboard of new or renovated pools ie; increase the distance from the top of the coping to the middle of the skimmer to 100 to 150mm, and if there is an overflow pipe, use an expanding rubber bung to contain excess rain water to top of weir opening. Operate the water level at the top of the skimmer weir. Never let the water level immerse the bottom of the coping pavers.
  • If there is an automatic water leveller connected, disconnect it frequently to monitor if there are any water losses other than evaporation.

BACK-WASH LOSSES
Sand filters on average use the most water for cleaning by requiring “back-washing”. Larger filters, on the same volume of contaminated water, require less backwashing. But larger filters require larger pumps (flow rates) to cause agitation of the sand bed, for efficient backwashing. It is imperative, for water conservation, that the filter size is matched to the most efficient flow rate for that sized filter… do not select a pump on horse power alone.

All pumps should be selected on flow rate at a specific operating pressure (Head). The maximum flow rate through a sand filter is approx. 800lpm/sq.m of sand bed. For warm climate conditions, the pump should be selected to pass the entire pool volume through the filter in under 4 hours. The filter size should then be matched to this pump at bed flow rates between 650 & 800 litres per minute (lpm) per square metre of filter surface area. A pressure of 8 metres (90kpa) can be assumed as average pressure (Head) for most residential pools for purposes of calculation.

Recommendations for “water conscious” SAND filters:

Pool Volume Min. filter size Surface area to Flow rate @ 9m Turn-over rate
40,000 litres 250sq.ft. 300lpm 2.2 hr
50,000 litres 250sq.ft. 300lpm 2.8 hr
60,000 litres 400sq.ft. 400lpm 2.5 hr
80,000 litres 600sq.ft. 500lpm 2.7 hr

Comparison of water losses for sand and cartridge filters:

It is difficult to estimate a comparison of water losses between sand and cartridge filters due to installation variables. However, a comparison can be made if the same pump, model and size is used on both filters. Eg: If a pump provides 300lpm the estimated water losses for cleaning would be;

  • Sand filter = approx. 1200 litres of pool water per clean (back-wash)
  • Cartridge = approx. 400 litres of town water per clean
  • The annual losses will depend on the number of times the filters have to be cleaned.  It is good practice to always back-wash a sand filter when pool is overfull from rain, rather than just pumping the over fill to waste. A very approximate estimation of the annual water losses for a 40,000litre pool with a 300lpm pump, using the recommended filter sizes as stated above and below would be;
Filter media # cleans/yr Total water losses
Sand 20 24,000litres
Cartridge 6 2,400litres

Recommendations for “water conscious” cartridge filters:

Pool Volume Min. filter size Flow rate @ 9m Turn-over rate
40,000 litres 250sq.ft. 300lpm 2.2 hr
50,000 litres 250sq.ft. 300lpm 2.8 hr
60,000 litres 400sq.ft. 400lpm 2.5 hr
80,000 litres 600sq.ft. 500lpm 2.7 hr

Cartridge filters remove particulate matter slightly smaller than sand filters and (all being equal) generally provide clearer water quality. But it is extremely important (for water quality and “life expectancy”) to match the filter with a pump that provides a slow flow rate through the media. Maximum recommended flow rate through the media bed is 2lpm per sq. ft. (cartridge filters are still identified by imperial dimensions).

Call Gordon or Don to discuss how Aadvance Swimming Pool Consultants can help with your particular issue.