Cracked pool coping grout

Not every crack is a defect, as cracking in pool coping and tile grout is completely normal.

Tight cracks

Grout is strictly a cosmetic filler between tiles and coping stones.  Grout does not serve any structural purpose, other than to fill the voids between materials.  

Hairline cracks in the grout between swimming pool copings is totally acceptable.  As the grout cures and loses moisture, it shrinks slightly, possibly even pulling away slightly.  Combined with the natural expansion and contraction of the coping material, these cracks will develop - GUARANTEED.

A hairline crack along one side of a joint or through it's length is to be expected.  As long as the grout does not begin to crumble, dislodge or decay, hairline cracks are totally acceptable.

Many new pool owners are alarmed when they observe small hairline cracks in the grout of the copings or tiles. The assertion that grout does not crack inside their residence, does not apply to outdoor materials.  Outdoor materials are subject to daily 30-50ºF temperature swings, while indoor materials are in a shaded and climate controlled environment.

Decay

Of course, grout that is crumbling or dissolving is defective and should be removed and replaced.  

Exposure to extreme temperature differentials may cause grout to spall - that is, a surface flaking.  This is usually an indication of some compressive forces at play.  It may be due to thermal expansion or from differential movement.  After an initial replacement, the defect reoccurs, then that joint should be replaced with a flexible construction sealant.

Not every crack is a defect.
 
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 

Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Glass tile failure - cracked and shattered

Thermal shock and expansion causes shattered, cracked and spalled glass tiles.


Many of the glass tile manufacturers have yet to produce products that meet the ANSI A137.2 performance standards.  

Why?  It is less expensive to simply replace any cracked tiles with new tiles, than it is to manufacture and perform testing to ensure compliance.  The manufacturers know that they can also deflect many failure warranty claims by blaming the installation process.  
They will quickly point out the installers failure to install expansion joints as the cause of any failure.  And the manufacturers will continue to refuse to produce products that are compliant with the standards they wrote.

Boyce & Bean glass tiles (manufactured by Crossville)

The ANSI standards state that any glass tiles that do not meet the thermal shock resistance standard, cannot be specified for use outdoors.  In fact, they are relegated to use in dry indoor wall applications only (kitchen back splashes and decorative walls).

The manufacturers want to have their cake and eat it to.... they refuse to create compliant products, but they will blame an installer for failing to comply with the installation standards.

Shouldn't glass tile manufacturers comply with their own industry standards?

Or be forced to stop marketing non-compliant glass tile as being suitable for outdoor and swimming pool applications?

 

Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa www.AquaticTechnology.com International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management Office: 408-776-8220 Email: info@aquatictechnology.com Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Managing construction site silica exposure

Managing Silica Exposure

Millions of construction and manufacturing workers in the United States are exposed to silica dust as a routine part of their daily activities.  Exposure to silica dust can lead to a myriad of lung ailments.  Since your lungs cannot expel inhaled silica dust, the effects are cumulative – that is, they get worse with each incidence of exposure.

Silica Dust

Silica is found in many common construction materials: cement, sand, mortar, thinsets, grout, brick, cmu blocks, and glass and ceramic tiles.  Any activity that involves the handling, mixing, grinding or cutting of these materials can generate silica dust.  Silica and most other particulate matter are known lung irritants. 

Silicosis

Silicosis is a lung disease cause by the inhalation of silica dust.  Once inhaled, these particles imbed themselves deep in the crevasses of the lungs.  The lungs respond by forming scar tissue around the foreign matter.  Over time, this scarring of the lungs makes breathing difficult.  There is no cure for Silicosis, but it can be prevented.  

There are three types of silicosis: acute, chronic, and accelerated.  Acute Silicosis causes coughing, weight loss and fatigue within a few weeks or years following the inhalation of silica.  Chronic Silicosis appears ten to thirty years following exposure and usually affects the upper lungs accompanied by severe scarring.  Accelerated Silicosis usually occurs within 10 years following high levels of silica exposure.

Symptoms

Silicosis is usually accompanied by tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing and wheezing.  Associated diseases and ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, COPD, kidney disease and tuberculosis often follow.

Who is at Risk?
Anyone who handles or mixes powdered construction materials; generates dust from the processing, cutting, grinding, installation or demolition of construction materials; or is in the proximity of generated silica dust - is at risk.

Sources of Silica Dust

While not an inclusive list, these are the most common sources of silica dust exposure in the swimming pool industry:

·      Raw materials such as cement, sand, gravel, mortar, thinset, grout, filter media.

·      Cutting or grinding of concrete, stone, tiles, brick and cement blocks.

·      Mixing or processing of concrete, cement, grout, over spray from dry-mix shotcrete (gunite), mortar, thinset.

·      Excavation activities in silica borne soils

New Regulations

OSHA has established new permissible exposure limits (PELs), which were last evaluated in the 1970’s.  Workers' exposures are now limited to a new PEL of 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air (μg/m³), averaged over an 8-hour day. 

Who is affected by these Rules?

Everyone has a duty and responsibility to reduce silica dust exposure.  Even if you do not have direct employees, you are responsible for work place safety on your projects.  You are liable for worker injuries, if you are aware of and allow unsafe working conditions to occur/continue.  As a direct employer, you obviously are responsible for the safety of your employees.

Because Silicosis oftentimes manifests itself well after silica exposure, you may experience employee claims years later.  Then it is too late and impossible to document PEL’s and employee exposures.  It is best to have a written exposure reduction policy, provide the proper respiratory protection and have employees sign acknowledgement forms.

Because it is virtually impossible for construction managers to monitor and document the precise PEL’s on various outdoor job sites, it is best to institute a personnel protection plan that includes reducing generated silica dust and the use of approved respiratory protection devices.

Particulate exposure

As a matter of work place safety, the exposure to all inhaled dust and particulate matter should be controlled.  Many other swimming pool products such as diatomaceous earth, powdered chemicals and common dirt & dust are also proven lung irritants.

For more information about the new exposure limits and how to protect yourself and your employees visit:
OSHA: www.osha.gov/silica/
American Lung Association: www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/silicosis/
 
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
 Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
 International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

So you're Allergic to Pool Spa Chlorine

Highly UNLIKELY!

"I'm allergic to chlorine."  Doctors, pool service technicians and allergists hear this all of the time.  However, a careful evaluation of the patient will actually reveal that this "allergy" is in reality a reaction to:

a.  Improper pH levels
b.  Out of balance water chemistry
c.  Chloramines (the result of poor water chemistry)

Does the patient itch when they shower or bathe at home?
Almost every water system in the United States is sanitized with chlorine.  In fact, there is a measurable amount in almost all tap water.

The itching or "chlorine" odor on the skin following swimming is most likely chloramines that have formed on the skin (formed when the chlorine came into contact with sweat).

Does the patient experience an allergic reaction (thoracic inflammation or respiratory distress) when they drink tap water?
If they were allergic to chlorine, ingesting an allergen would result in a reaction - especially when applied directly to the mucus membranes in the thoracic area.

Burning eyes when they swim in a chlorinated pool?  If their eyes do not burn when subjected to drops of tap water, then the pH of the pool was probably out of balance.

Medical doctors who do not understand the science of swimming pool water chemistry and chlorination will simply agree with the patient.  

Just because it "smells like chlorine" DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS CHLORINE.

    
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Damage from product abuse is not a defect

When a consumer misuses a product and causes damage, it is not a manufacturer's defect or valid warranty claim.

Automatic Pool Cover

After recently completing swimming pool project with an automatic cover, a client called to request a warranty service call.  Apparently the cover track and glide mechanism were not working properly.

Upon further inquiry, the client's children were "testing" the cover by running and playing on top of the cover.  They also operated the cover while as child sat on it.

Our instructions to the owners were very clear - NO walking or climbing on the cover, DO NOT operate with any excess load on the cover (standing water, cover pump, etc.), DO NOT operate the cover with people in the pool.  In addition, we went through the manufacturer's use and instruction manual with the client - in detail.

Safety Device

Automatic safety covers are safety devices.  They are not meant to double as usable surfaces or load bearing floors.

The safety cover is intended to support the weight of a person in the event of an accidental fall onto the cover.  The cover is supposed to prevent a person from coming into contact with the water underneath.  It functioned as intended - no one came into contact with the pool water.

Damage to an automatic pool cover from people walking, running, playing or jumping on them are not warranty items.

You wouldn't drive your car into a wall to test the airbags, then claim a warranty defect when they deploy !
 
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
 www.AquaticTechnology.com 
 International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Altoglass - another thermal shock compliance mystery

Recently a client inquired about using ALTOGLASS.COM glass mosaic tiles in their swimming pool.  The manufacturer's website promotes their tiles as appropriate for use in swimming pools.

But a review of the Technical Area on their website (http://www.alttoglass.com/tech.html) on 12/10/2015 revealed that they do not have any test results indicating compliance with ANSI A137.2 - Thermal Shock Standard for Glass Tiles.

Here is a screen shot of the technical data.

Click on image to enlarge

Thermal shock is not even mentioned.

Makes you wonder why it is not mentioned, since the thermal shock standard has been in existence for a few years?!

How can we endorse a product for use in our projects, if it does not meet their own industry standards?


Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
 International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
 Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Surface efflorescence on ceramic tiles is not a flaw

Recently another tile manufacturer asked us to review a claim of defective tiles.  

The pool owner's representative was making an assertion that the ceramic tiles on the top of a spa dam wall were defective, as the glaze was changing colors due to UV and chemical exposure.

Tiles at tile of installation (click on image to enlarge)

Tiles after repeated wet/dry cycles (click on image to enlarge)

 
After reviewing the images of the tiles, immediately following their initial installation and present day, it became readily apparent what the cause of the discoloration was.

Efflorescence (or mineral build up) is not considered a defect.  It is a due to the lack of routine removal of mineral build up.  Much like the waters spots that form on dishes or glassware in a dishwasher, this mineral build up does not mean that the dishes or glassware are defective.  Some efflorescence may be coming from the grout or thinset.  But in any case, the tiles are not defective.

Special cleaning services are available that will remove calcium and mineral build up.  Most pool service companies offer these services at an additional charge.  Routine weekly brushing of the tile will not prevent mineral or calcium build up, so the pool service is not to blame either.

As the water evaporates, it leaves a film of minerals behind.  Over time these minerals begin to make the tile appear hazy white.

Some white efflorescence is even visible in the grout joints, before the pool was even completed.

The solution?  Pay someone to remove the mineral build up.  It's a maintenance issue!


Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
www.AquaticTechnology.com
 International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management
Office: 408-776-8220
 Email: info@aquatictechnology.com
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Glass Tile - ANSI A 137.2 Cracked Glass

Cracked Glass Tile Mosaics

There are thousands of firms jumping onto the glass tile bandwagon. Of course they all want to sell to the pool industry - 1 tile pool is equal to 1000 tile showers or kitchen back splashes. 

This past week, a client and their interior designer showed me some glass tiles from a national tile distributor. They were told that they "are approved for swimming pools."  The client wanted to move ahead.  I forewarned them, that unless the tiles had passed the tile industry's own thermal shock standards, that we would not touch them.

When I contacted the distributor's technical services department, they advised that the tiles had not been tested for compliance with ANSI A137.2.

It is imperative that swimming pool designers and contractors not be lured by false promises and claims of marketing departments, salespeople and showrooms.  Yes, you can install anything in a pool, but not everything is durable enough!

INSIST that any glass tile you specify or install, has been tested and is in compliance with ANSI A137.2.  It outlines the durability requirements, and most importantly, the tile's resistance to thermal shock.

WARNING: There are many name brand tiles that do not comply with ANSI A137.2.  Big box stores, fashion designers, home improvement stores and national tile distributors all have private label brands that do not meet the standards.  Great for a kitchen back splash - but not thousands of square feet in a swimming pool !

REMEMBER - DO NOT take anyone's word for it.  Ask to see the test results from an independent U.S. testing laboratory. Those that have submitted their products for testing are more than happy to provide you with a copy! And they should be proud of it!

For an article that explains ANSI A137.2 check out this link: https://www.tcnatile.com/ima…/pdfs/IntroducingANSIA137.2.pdf

If a firm wants to sell products to our industry, shouldn't they at least conform to the MINIMUM standards in their own industry ??

Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

California Swimming Pool Pumps - Title 20 Energy Efficiency

California Appliance Energy Regulations ( California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1601-1609), now restricts the sale of inefficient and antiquated pool pumps and replacement motors.

Effective July 1, 2015 it is illegal and punishable by a $2500 fine, to install a pool pump motor that is split phase or a capacitor start - induction type.  1 HP and greater motors shall have multi-speed capabilities (two or more speeds).

With the advent and popularity of variable frequency drives (VFD), variable speed pumps have proven themselves as more energy efficient - even when operating at their maximum speeds.

Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
 Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Chlorine Free Pools - Totally Possible... at a cost.

There has been a lot of interest in chlorine free pools.  Chlorine has been given a bad rap and is not usually to blame for the public's health concerns.  Regardless, the quest for chemical free pools continues.  And, yes they can be achieved.

Chlorine Free

There are two concerns with keeping swimming pools clear and healthy for bathers.  

The first is a sanitizer - something to kill germs and bacteria.  What ever is used, it must remain present in the water 24 hours a day, every day.  There must be enough already in the water or available for injection to handle spikes in temperature and bather loads.

The second is something to function as an algaecide.  The most effective algaecides are heavy metal ions such as nickle, copper and silver.  In microscopic doses, they work well and are safe for the environment.  However, there is no easy means to measure the levels of these metals.

Ionizers

There are a number of ways to get heavy metals into your pool water.  

Pouring in an algaecide that contains these metal compounds is the fastest.  There are many on the market.  However, they result in a large dose of metals.

Erosion ionizers are cartridges that contain heavy metal compounds that gradually emit metals into the water as the water passes through them.  Cartridge balls can be placed in the skimmers or pump baskets, or in-line cartridge dispensers can be plumbed into the pipes (like an oil filter). 

Active ionizers are electronic devices that use electricity to emit metal ions into the pool water.  These are always plumbed into the pipes at the equipment pad.

Contrary to manufacturer's claims, metal ions do very little to kill bacteria and germs.  They work so slowly on killing germs and bacteria, they are only relied upon to keep algae and plant life at bay.

Ozone

Ozone is the best form of germ and bacteria killer used in swimming pools.  Ozone also breaks down contaminates that bathers introduce into the water - fabric softeners, cosmetics, suntan lotions, soap and shampoo residues, etc.  

A properly sized ozone side stream system can cost $10,000.  As the size of the pool increases, the cost rises exponentially, as they are sized to match the size of the pool and the bather load. 

Ozone is gas that is very reactive and therefore has a very short half life.  Because it does not last, it cannot be bottled and must be manufactured on site. 

Ozone is thousands of times more effective at killing microorganisms that chlorine.  Due to it's short half life, ozone only remains in the water while it is actively being produced.  Shut off the ozone generator and within minutes, the ozone in the water is gone.

Ultraviolet Light (UV)

Ultraviolet light kills germs and microbes using the radiation that exists in UV light.  It does not emit any residual sanitizer into the water.

Because it requires a light source, a device is plumbed at the equipment pad.  The water passing through the device is exposed to the UV light, killing the organisms.  The pumps must be operating for the UV lamps to operate.  And only that amount of water that can pass by the lamps is treated.  

Truly Chlorine Free

To truly achieve a chlorine free pool requires that an OVER SIZED corona discharge ozone system be ran 24/7.  If complemented by a UV system, a chlorine free pool could be achieved.

But it requires that the circulation pump be operated 24 hours a day, everyday.  And it has associated costs - the equipment, maintenance and electricity.

Ultra-Low Chlorine Pool

By contrast, one could operate a properly sized ozone system with UV for 6-8 hours per day... provided that they maintained a very low level of chlorine.

That chlorine level could be so low, say 0.5 ppm (parts per million) and still maintain clear sanitized water.  To keep the chlorine precisely at such low levels would require an ORP/pH controller to micro-dose the chlorine.  As demands increased or decreased, the controller would adjust it's output to maintain 0.5 ppm.

0.5 ppm of chlorine is approximately the level in found in drinking water.  

Safe for human consumption and even for watering plants!

Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
 www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 

Major Markets Serviced: 
San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Residential Energy Efficient Swimming Pool Rating System ANSI/APSP-15

The proposed ANSI/APSP-15 American National Standard for Residential Swimming Pool and Spa Energy Efficiency is nothing more than another misguided attempt at justifying improper hydraulic designs.

The "Residential Energy Efficient Swimming Pool Rating System" will assign points a pool or spa hydraulic system for the size of the pipes, style of elbows used, type of pump installed and size of the filter.  These points will be applied towards the energy efficiency rating of the vessel.  Vessels will be rated Gold, Silver or Bronze.

Separate the forest from the trees

On a properly designed hydraulic system all of the components are already compatible and in balance with each other.  This includes the pipe sizing, fittings, filter sizing, pump style and flow rating, flow rates, turn over rates, line velocities, pump curve and the total dynamic head.

The Bottom Line

Properly designed plumbing systems that operate within the acceptable line velocity standards and in the center of a pump's efficiency curve (pump curve) ARE AS EFFICIENT AS THEY WILL EVER GET.

Only utilizing alternative energies to heat and operate a pool will reduce the operating expenses and energy consumption.  Using pumps equipped with Energy Star or VFD motors will also reduce electrical consumption.

True Energy Efficiency Ratings

Energy ratings for a vessel should be calculated by a formula of it's hydraulic efficiency, gallons per minute flow rate and actual kilowatts consumed to move that water.

Poorly designed hydraulics, undersized pipes and filters, substandard plumbing and workmanship, inefficient motors and mismatched components will have a detrimental effect on the calculation.  Assigning "brownie points" for doing things correctly should not factor into the equation.

Vessels should be PASS/FAIL based upon a set standard (around the 80-85 percent level).


Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
 www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 

Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Landscape Lighting near swimming Pools - 2014 NEC 680 changes Pool Electrical Expert states

Prior versions of the National Electric Code (NEC) forbid the installation of low voltage landscape lighting within 10 feet of the water's edge.  The 2014 NEC has made changes to Section 680 to allow landscape lighting to be located less than 5 feet from the water's edge, with certain conditions.

2014 NEC Changes

First of all, the light fixture must be of a design that does not require GROUNDING (that third green internal conductor in the power cord).  The new provision does not address metal light fixtures, but assume that if it is metal, that it will need to be externally BONDED to the grid.  Bootleg or homemade bonding attachments are not permitted, so if it is not supplied by the manufacturer, then that fixture is probably not permitted.

The conductors must be ran inside of a conduit - direct burial near the pool is forbidden elsewhere in the NEC.  Granted, at the end, the conduit must stub up to allow the wire to exit.  A compression seal on the end of the conduit will secure and seal the cord's exit.  

Buried wire nut or underground connections are also forbidden.  All of the electrical connections must terminate in an approved pool lighting junction box.  A typical above grade pool lighting junction box would work fine.  One can also use an in-deck junction box, provided it is filled with re-enterable potting compound to prevent water entry.

The transformer must be specifically rated and listed for low voltage lighting around swimming pools (not just fountains).  If you utilize a transformer designed for underwater 12 volt pool lighting, then you're guaranteed success.

Local Adoption - Lead Time

Thought the 2014 NEC has been approved on the national level, regional and local authorities usually operate on versions that are 1 or 2 generations older.  This is because their government councils have not adopted the current versions.  Local authorities have the options of not accepting code changes or making the code more restrictive.  So, before specifying or installing lighting close to the water's edge, be sure to check with the local building department.

Reference:
NEC 2014, Section 680.22(B)(6) states: “Low-Voltage Luminaires. Listed low-voltage luminaires not requiring grounding, not exceeding the low-­voltage contact limit, and supplied by listed transformers or power supplies that comply with 680.23(A)(2) are permitted to be located less than 1.5 m (5 ft) from the inside walls of the pool.” 
NEC 2014, Section 680.23(A)(2) states that transformers used for low-voltage lighting around pools shall incorporate isolated windings with an ungrounded secondary and a grounded metal barrier between the primary or secondary or double insulation between the primary and secondary windings and shall be listed for swimming pool lighting.


Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 

Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Indoor Swimming Pool Design Architect Aquascape Consulting Dehumidification Vapor Barrier Moisture Control

Why your indoor pool project requires an aquatic consultant who specializes in indoor pools.

Learning Curve

People think that they can invent inexpensive solutions to the issues that plague indoor swimming pools.  And, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but they have all been tried before and they have all failed.   

Do not waste your time and money on "things that might work."  The key to a healthy and safe indoor pool is dehumidification and controlling vapor transmission.

Vapor Barrier

 A vapor barrier exists to prevent the transmission of water vapor (microscopic droplets of water) into the building envelope.  Once that occurs, many terrible things happen to the building and occupants:

black mold
corrosion of wiring
rusting pipes
dry rot
short circuit of electrical components
water damage
soggy drywall
decay of building fasteners, brackets and structural elements
respiratory problems:
     pneumonia
     asthma
     Legionnaire's Disease
     upper respiratory ailments

Controlling Vapor

The main key to controlling the moisture in the air (humidity), is to remove it.  While pool covers, temperature control and ventilation are important, together or by themselves they cannot mitigate the water vapor that will emit from the pool.  Like gravity, it cannot be prevented or turned off.

However, once into the environment, the humidity can be controlled.  Dehumidifiers dry the air and return the dried into the envelope.  Provided the natatorium has a properly installed vapor barrier, the moisture ends there.

Mechanical Engineer and HVAC Contractor

You do not want to hire an mechanical engineer or HVAC contractor who is not experienced with indoor pools.  Though there are many reference sources available for them, you do not want them learning or experimenting on your project.  

This is as much as a science, as it is an art.  Though dehumidification ducting and systems may be sized properly, installing the registers, returns or controls in the incorrect location will negate the efficiency of the entire system.

It's been done before

Because you don't want to spend the money on a dehumidification system, don't think that you have struck upon an alternative solution.

Every "bright idea" has been tried:
     skylights
     sliding doors and windows
     heaters
     pool covers
     A/C vents 
     fans
     Heated glass
     screened rooms
     moveable hydraulic floors
     heated pool decks

The ONLY solutions to controlling the humidity in the room are a dehumidification system, building an outdoor pool or leaving the pool empty.

Experience can save you a bundle on the learning curve.


Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
www.AquaticTechnology.com
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management
Office: 408-776-8220
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com
Major Markets Serviced:
San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Aquascape Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Aqua Designer, Swimming Pool Construction

We provide consulting and design services to property developers, architects, landscape architects, general contractors and swimming pool builders.  

As an internationally recognized expert and leader in the field of swimming pool construction and design, we can offer cutting edge and state of the art construction and design technologies.

Beginning with a site visit and design review, we will consider many items oftentimes overlooked by "pool builders turned designer/consultant."

Prevailing winds, seasonal location of the sun, broadcasted shade, privacy from neighboring properties, lines of sights and view angles - are just a few of the geographic items that we will consider.

Our extensive training, travels, education and knowledge of architecture and construction is unparalleled amongst aquascape designers and consultants.  This allows us to offer economical and innovative solutions to design and construction issues.  

Our open collaboration with other design professionals and architects results in a seamless set of project plans and specifications, that eliminate cost over-runs and change orders. 

Our dedication to the client and their continued operational and maintenance expenses are paramount.  Through functional designs that incorporate the lowest construction and operating expenses, you can be guaranteed that you will have the most trouble free aquascape possible.
 
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 
Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Dangers of DIY Swimming Pool Builders & .COM Consultants

You are considering building your own pool and being your own contractor.  You have located a "pool construction consultant" who professes to save you thousands of dollars.  They even call themselves a "pool builder."

Hidden Dangers

There are many dangers in hiring an unlicensed "consultant" to assist you to build your own pool.  The potential pitfalls of hiring a DIY swimmingpoolbuilders .com type of business are plentiful.

Lack of Insurance

An unlicensed "consultant" is trying to escape the expenses of running a lawful and legitimate contracting firm.  They do not have the expense of liability insurance, let alone being able to qualify for coverage.

Reputable contractors possess liability insurance to protect you and your property in the event of any calamity.  They also possess insurance certificates from each of their subcontractors as well. 

The T's are crossed and the I's dotted!  Everyone is protected.

Lack of Licensing

Because "consultants" lack the proper licensing, a property owner will have little recourse in the event there are problems.  And, as in most construction projects there will be something that goes wrong. 

Having a State Contractor's license, means that there is a license bond on file with the state.  The State Contractors Board also functions as a consumer protection and enforcement agency, in the event of serious construction defects.

Licensed Contractors must also qualify of a license.  This means that they cannot have prior criminal convictions.  They must have years of of practical experience actually building pools.  They must pass a tests on contractor's law and business practices.  They must also pass a test, ensuring they have a minimum level of knowledge about acceptable workmanship practices of their trade.

How would you know if the on-line "DIY pool builder-consultant" is a convicted child molester, registered sex-offender, ex-con or has prior convictions for fraud ?  

The State Contractor's Licensing Board only has records available for those firms and persons that possess (or possessed) a Contractor's License.  They do not maintain a database of individuals who have been prosecuted for operating without the proper licensing.

This is all for the consumer's protection. 

Liens & Financial Responsibility

Licensed Contractors are required to pay their subcontractors and to obtain lien releases from them.  These protect the property owner from unpaid subcontractors placing liens upon their property.  Even stale liens can taint the title to a property, making a future sale difficult.

Licensed Contractors must maintain a minimum level of financial stability, in order to operate a legitimate contracting firm.

Contact Information

Licensed contractors cannot hide behind a website.  They must publish their physical address, license number, owner's names and their telephone number on all of their web pages and advertisements.  They are not allowed to hide in the crevasses of the Internet.  

Carefully inspect any "consultant's" website.  
Is the name of the responsible person listed?
Is their physical location listed?
Is there a Contractor's License Number shown?

If this information is not listed, how are you going find them when you have to sue them in court?

Worker's Compensation Insurance

Licensed Contractors can only hire subcontractors that possess the proper workers compensation insurance.  They must have copies of these insurance certificates on file before any work begins.

If a subcontractor does not have the proper workers compensation insurance coverage then the PROPERTY OWNER IS LIABLE for any employee injuries that may occur on their project!

If an employee gets cut with a circular saw, falls off a ladder, gets impaled on rebar, becomes buried in a trench, or driven over by a tractor - then the resulting lawsuit and medical bills are the responsibility of the property owner.  And all because of the lack of a piece of paper proving insurance coverage.

Crossing the Line

If a "DIY consultant" designs the pool, provides the engineering, specifies the equipment, schedules the subcontractors, gathers the lien releases, sells the equipment, performs periodic inspections of the work (either in person or via digital pictures) - then they are actually performing the work of a contractor and a LICENSE IS REQUIRED (CSLB Case #620053266).

There are many intricacies of building a swimming pool.  Overlooking a single item can be catastrophic - even deadly.  

Electrocution, suction entrapment, hair entanglement, incorrect floor shapes and slopes, cracked structures, mudslides, damaged building foundations, generic or mail order structural engineering, broken pipes, corroded rebar and substandard shotcrete/gunite are common construction faults and defects.

The Bottom Line

As a DIY owner/builder - Do you know enough about how to build a swimming pool, without asking questions of the subcontractors or idiots on the Internet or DIY websites?

If you answered no, then are you a gambler?
 
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 

Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
 www.AquaticTechnology.com 
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management 
Office: 408-776-8220 
 Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 

Major Markets Serviced: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Heat Bending of Swimming Pool Pipes - Swimming Pool Experts Opinion

Bending PVC pipe by heating it to create bends and turns is acceptable, so long as there is NO DISCERNIBLE signs that the pipe was heated.


Brittleness and Weakness

The PVC pipe should only be heated to the point where the pipe becomes soft enough to bend it in the desired shape.  The pipe diameter should not be reduced or crushed.

The exterior of the pipe should absolutely show no sign that the pipe was heated.  There should be no discoloration, burning or melting of the plastic.

Click on the image to enlarge it:

Burnt PVC swimming pool pipes

Burnt areas of PVC pipes become very brittle and weak.  These areas are susceptible to decay and breakage.  

I don't have to tell you the havoc that can be wreaked upon a swimming pool, hillside slope or pool deck if there are plumbing leaks under or within the concrete structures.  Plus, they are not easy to repair.  The long lasting damage to the pool, property, soils and site are oftentimes irreparable.


Proper Equipment

Using pipe ovens or heat blankets instead of propane torches are temperature controlled methods of heating PVC pipes and conduits.

Failing to keep a torch moving causes burned and scorching of the plastic.  Even a building inspector with a pea brain will reject any burn pipe that they observe.  

Don't risk your project to brittle pipes - insist that they be replaced before they are "set in concrete."

Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal

Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
www.AquaticTechnology.com
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management
Office: 408-776-8220
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com

Major Markets Serviced:
San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.

Swimming Pool Expert Solar Heating Panels

Swimming Pool designer solar panels for your aquatic project will extend your swimming season if sized properly.

Expectations

Do not expect to swim in the dead of winter, because you have solar heating panels.  That is usually an unrealistic expectation.  Unless of course, you live in a locale that has a moderate climate year around (near the equator).

Sized properly, solar panels will allow you to start your swimming season earlier and end it later than with an unheated pool.

Glazed solar panels prevent the wind from blowing across the panels, cooling them off.  Their efficiency increases due to the additional protection.

Energy Savings

Solar panels allow you to wean your pool off of fossil fuels (propane, natural gas) and electricity.  Even switching from an electric heat pump will help reduce greenhouse gasses, as most of the United States electricity if from coal and natural gas fired power plants.

People have even been known to pre-heat their spas using their solar panels.  When concentrated in a spa, all of the BTU's from the solar panels can heat it to 100ºF+ .  You just need to program your system to switch over the valving, to allow enough time to take advantage of the remaining sunlight.

Utilization

Swimming pools and spas get more use when they are heated - a proven fact.  When they are heated for free by the warmth of the sun, they are even more enjoyable.

Get more use out of your pool... Heat it for free!

Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist "Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa ©www.aquatictechnology.com 
You may contact Paolo Benedetti at: info@aquatictechnology.com or at 408-776-8220

Stone Tiles Discoloration - Swimming Pool Expert Witness

It has been well documented that improper installation practices and setting materials can contribute to discoloration of natural stone and stone tile pool decks and patios.

Research Setting Materials

The installer or specifier should always check with the vendor as to the recommended setting materials and mortar and grout colors.  

If the vendor cannot or refuses to provide specifications, then the specifier should turn to the Marble Institute of America (MIA) or the Ceramic Tile Institute of America (CTIOA).

Both of these organizations have published field reports and technical papers regarding the proper setting materials and colors for various types of stone and tiles.

Correct Setting Materials

Some dark setting materials may bleed through lighter porous stones or tiles, creating a clouding, mottling or darkening effect.  Dark grouts can absorb into the sides of the tiles, causing a darkening of the edges.

Conversely, light setting materials can also bleed through darker materials, causing a lightening or ghosting effect.  Lighter grouts can also bleed into the materials, causing a halo effect around the tile edges.

Some epoxy adhesives have been known to cause stones and tiles to curl or twist.

So, it is important to research the proper setting materials for your type of stone or tile.

Improper Installation Practices

Using the incorrect technique when setting some tiles can also contribute to discoloration.  If the setting trowel's gauge marks (aka "comb marks") are not knocked down, then water may accumulate in the resulting voids.  Water saturating the stone, sill cause discoloration and an irregular clouding.

The best method, is to back butter the tiles after a thorough cleaning.  The comb marks are knocked down and the tiles set into the fresh thinset or mortar.  This will ensure an almost 100% contact and few, if any, voids.

Protect the Stone

It is also a good idea to protect the surface of the stones or tiles with a quality sealer or grout release prior to setting the tiles.  This will prevent the edges of the tiles from becoming discolored if grout or mortar gets onto the surface during installation.

A little knowledge will prevent having to tear out large areas of stone or tile.
 
Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist "Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa © www.aquatictechnology.com 
You may contact Paolo Benedetti at: info@aquatictechnology.com or at 408-776-8220

Outdoor floor tiles - proper thinset installation and coverage ANSI A108.5

Efflorescence leaching up through floor tiles, hollow clacking sounds and cracking tiles are usually a result of improper installation practices.

ANSI A108.5 (2005) 
Ceramic tile installation practices are published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  This standards also includes quarry pavers (natural stone tiles). 

ANSI A108.5 - 3.3.2 says that on exterior floors, the average uniform contact area with the thinset mortar shall not be less than 95%.  3 tiles will be inspected to determine the average coverage and compliance.

Both the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) have adopted these standards as the minimum acceptable level of performance and workmanship.

Laziness
Let's face it, humans beings are like electricity and water - they will take the path of least resistance and effort - lazy !

Trowel marks are actually called "gauge marks."  They are used to create a measured thickness of thinset mortar.  Leaving the trowel marks in place will mean only 50% contact at 100% thickness of the gauge marks.
 

Improperly installed floor tiles show only 50% coverage.  Buttering the edges will hide these marks and give the "appearance" of 100% coverage.  Click on the image to enlarge.

 A 1/2 inch comb trowel will leave 3/8 inch thick layer of thinset, once the grooves are flattened and leveled.  This means that to achieve a total of 1/2 inch of thinset, both the substrate and tile will require 1/2  inch trowel marks that are knocked down and smoothed.

Why do they do this?  

It saves them 50% on their thinset costs.  
They are lazy.  
They don't care.
No one ever taught them how to do it correctly.  They have never been involved in a construction defect case. 
 
Tile setters must be reminded that tiles installed in exterior floor and shower applications, must achieve 95% contact with the setting material.

This will ensure decades of performance and a lasting tile floor.
 
Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist "Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa ©www.aquatictechnology.com 
You may contact Paolo Benedetti at: info@aquatictechnology.com or at 408-776-8220