Swimming Pools

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An Introduction to Sport England’s ‘Swimming Pools’ Design Guidance Note

ASA Conference

9th April 2008

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Introductions

• Ben Woods – Senior Technical Project Manager

LDA: Olympic Venues Team

Written by:

• Sport England and Design Advice Consortium• Led by S&P Architects • Robin Wilson Consulting• ‘Virtual’ consultation group

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• White Handbook 1996• Need for an update• Relevant to current situation• Easily accessible• Free advice• First web-based Pools guide• www.sportengland.org go to

downloads ‘Design Guidance’

• ‘wiki-pedia’ for sports design

Overview

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• ‘To promote a greater general understanding of Swimming Pool Design’

• Overview of the concepts

• Appreciation of technical issues

• Critical factors that need to be considered

• Point to where more detailed information can be found

Objectives

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• Client Bodies

• Architects and key professionals in the design team

• Funding Bodies / Design Champions

• Stakeholders ( users – operators – sponsors etc )

• General Public (one of the most requested topics)

Target Audience

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• Chapters

• Photographs

• Highlight text panels

• Hot links

• Footnotes

Format

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• Promoting the value of swimming

• 4614 separate pools in England

• 872,910 m2 of water

• High popularity in surveys

• Existing ownership and new trends

1. Promote Swimming

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• Why? … Where? … What size? …

• Who are the likely users / activities? …

• Strategic Planning• Public Consultation• Level of Competition• Capital Funding• Long-term sustainability

2. Strategic Issues

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• Site considerations

• Location

• Site planning

• External appearance

• Transport Links

3. Site and Location

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• First Impressions

• Entrance Area

• Reception / access / control

• Relationship of Spaces

• Welcoming and attractive to users

4. Organising the Building 1

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• Pool Hall

• Sizes and Layouts

• Learner and Diving Pools included

• Moveable Floors / Booms

• Structure and Glazing

4. Organising the Building 2

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• Changing Areas‘Village’ and Single Sex

• Disability Access

• Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment

• Storage

• Office / Staff Rooms

4. Organising the Building 3

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• ‘Notes’ on Building Services issues

• Energy Consumption / Efficiency

• Pool Water Quality

• Air Temperature / Humidity

• Lighting and Acoustics

5. Servicing the Building

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• ‘Notes’ on Construction Issues

• Heavy Wear and Tear

• Pool Tank Design

• Finishes in Wet Areas

• Risks of Condensation / Corrosion

6. Constructing the Building

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• ‘Notes’ on Maintenance issues

• Consider at the design stage

• Ease of maintenance

• Creation of clean, safe conditionsfor heavy and prolonged use

• A look at common problem areas

7. Operating the Building

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Appendices

1. Related organisations2. Standards and Legislation (CDM, HSE, Pr EN 15288)3. Changing room capacity calculation (example)4. Leisure Pools5. Further information/references

With hyperlinks to relevant information…

8. Further Information

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• ‘Virtual’ group consulted whilst in production in 2007

• Over 200 written comments on draft publication

• A number of themes / common points addressed at consultation meeting in February 2008

• Many thanks to all who provided valuable input including ASA, ISRM, PWTAG, GLL, MSG Consult, Arup, Limbricks, LA Architects, FCB Architects

Consultation

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• Read it, use it, tell otherswww.sportengland.org

• From Olympic Aquatics Centre to small Community Pools

• Not perfect… but 99% there• Web-based – easy to update• 6 month review planned

Next Steps

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• Kevin Mills - Sport Englandkevin.mills@sportengland.org

• David Griffiths – S&P Architectsdavid.griffiths@s-parchitects.com

• Robin Wilson – Robin Wilson Consultingrobin@wilsonconsulting.eu

• Ben Woods – London Development Agency benwoods@lda.gov.uk

Contact Details