The look remarkably simple, water flowing over an edge, appearing to flow into a lake on the horizon. Even though a pool builder has a website with beautiful images, does not mean that they know what they are doing. On the surface everything is gorgeous, unless you scratch the surface. And most of the time, you don't have to scratch very deep to find abscesses.
Undersized Catch Basins and Surge Tanks
Look closely at the image. It is barely catching the water falling into it. Add swimmers splashing and causing waves and the water shoots beyond the basin wall.
But look even closer at the water level within the basin (near the top of the picture). The water level is near the bottom of the tank. This is because the basin is too small and does not hold a sufficient quantity of water to flood the upper pool. As water is pumped into the upper pool, the level in the tank is drawn down and the auto-fill turns on.
But when the pumps shut off, all of the original water flows back to the tank... PLUS the water that was added while the level was too low. Where does the extra water go? Out the overflow line to waste. Yes, that results in hundreds of gallons of water - wasted every single day the pool operates. But, their website was pretty....
Lack of Engineering and Construction Basics
The simplest of minds know that concrete walls and stairs need to be in contact with the earth for support. Usually that even entails a footing or deepened structure to ensure that there is adequate support to prevent cracking and movement.
The National Electric Code prohibits the use of any electrical boxes for swimming pool lights that are not specifically designed for use as pool lighting junction boxes. Yet, many pool builders make their own bootleg boxes.
Digging trenches is labor intensive. But the codes require that electrical conduits be protected by a minimum of 18 inches of soil. Laziness or ignorance? You decide....
The plastic polyethylene gas line was left exposed on the surface of the soil.
The slot for the perimeter overflow portion of the pool was dangerously wide. Typically only 1/2 of an inch is required to collect the water.
However, the pool builder installed a 1.5 inch slot - 3 times the required width. A toe could easily get caught inside the slot when running, walking or diving. Imagine wrapping you toes over the edge into the slot then diving into the pool, only to find that your toes stayed behind in the slot. PAINFUL!
A pool builders portfolio of pools may look pretty on the surface, but oftentimes there is a disaster waiting to happen down under the surface.
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
www.AquaticTechnology.com
International Famous Swimming Pool Designer, Aquatic Consultant, Watershape Consulting, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management, Pool Plans & Engineering, Pool Construction, Owner's Rep
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.
Undersized Catch Basins and Surge Tanks
Look closely at the image. It is barely catching the water falling into it. Add swimmers splashing and causing waves and the water shoots beyond the basin wall.
But look even closer at the water level within the basin (near the top of the picture). The water level is near the bottom of the tank. This is because the basin is too small and does not hold a sufficient quantity of water to flood the upper pool. As water is pumped into the upper pool, the level in the tank is drawn down and the auto-fill turns on.
But when the pumps shut off, all of the original water flows back to the tank... PLUS the water that was added while the level was too low. Where does the extra water go? Out the overflow line to waste. Yes, that results in hundreds of gallons of water - wasted every single day the pool operates. But, their website was pretty....
 |
| Click on the image to enlarge it |
The simplest of minds know that concrete walls and stairs need to be in contact with the earth for support. Usually that even entails a footing or deepened structure to ensure that there is adequate support to prevent cracking and movement.
The National Electric Code prohibits the use of any electrical boxes for swimming pool lights that are not specifically designed for use as pool lighting junction boxes. Yet, many pool builders make their own bootleg boxes.
Digging trenches is labor intensive. But the codes require that electrical conduits be protected by a minimum of 18 inches of soil. Laziness or ignorance? You decide....
 |
| Click on image to enlarge it |
 | |||||
| Click on image to enlarge it |
However, the pool builder installed a 1.5 inch slot - 3 times the required width. A toe could easily get caught inside the slot when running, walking or diving. Imagine wrapping you toes over the edge into the slot then diving into the pool, only to find that your toes stayed behind in the slot. PAINFUL!
 |
| Click on the image to enlarge it |
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
www.AquaticTechnology.com
International Famous Swimming Pool Designer, Aquatic Consultant, Watershape Consulting, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management, Pool Plans & Engineering, Pool Construction, Owner's Rep
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you desire to publish your comment, DO NOT INCLUDE names, links or advertising references. They will not be published and your comment deleted. Comments are moderated, so do not waste your time.
If you want to ask a question of Paolo Benedetti, you may email him at: info@aquatictechnology.com