Schools across the UK have increasingly turned to pop-up pools for swimming lessons in recent years. These portable pools provide a flexible solution for schools without permanent facilities, but they also raise important safety concerns.
This post will guide you through some key parameters to consider when operating a pop-up pool for school swimming lessons, helping you make informed decisions and stay compliant with industry standards.
Why You Should Be Concerned About Pool Safety
If you’re managing or operating one of these pop-up pools, it’s essential to ensure that it meets the safety standards outlined in the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) Code of Practice. Failure to comply with these guidelines could result in serious consequences, especially if an incident or health outbreak is traced back to improper pool management.
Understanding Pool Specifications
Many schools use pools with similar dimensions—typically around 32 feet by 16 feet, holding approximately 55,000 litres of water. These pools often come with filtration and pumping systems designed for domestic use. For example, one popular system has a flow rate of 2,200 gallons per hour, which works for domestic pools but may not be adequate for a commercial teaching environment.
Turnover Time: Is Your Pool Up to Standard?
One key aspect to consider is the pool’s turnover time—the amount of time it takes to filter the entire volume of water. Industry standards for teaching pools recommend a turnover time of between 30 and 90 minutes, compared to 4 to 8 hours for domestic pools.
To calculate turnover time, you need to know both the pool volume (55 cubic metres in this case) and the flow rate of the filtration system. Using a flow rate of 8 cubic metres per hour (typical for the type of system used in pop-up pools), the turnover time would be roughly 6.9 hours—far too slow for a teaching pool.
This delay poses a significant problem because teaching pools, with higher user loads, require faster water filtration to handle the increased pollution and maintain safe water quality.
Filtration Rates: Are They Suitable for Commercial Use?
Another important factor is the filtration rate, which refers to how quickly water moves through the filter. Based on a 16-inch filter and an 8 cubic metre per hour flow rate, the filtration rate comes out to about 61 cubic metres per hour. According to the PWTAG, the recommended filtration rate for teaching pools is between 10 and 25 cubic metres per hour. At 61, your pool would be operating well outside the recommended limit, reducing filtration efficiency and potentially compromising water quality.
What This Means for Schools
The slow turnover time and high filtration rate highlight that many pop-up pools used in schools may not meet the required standards for commercial teaching pools. These systems are designed for home use, where the lower bather loads make longer turnover times and higher filtration rates acceptable.
As a pool operator, it’s crucial to consider these factors in your risk assessment. You’ll need to account for the number of people using the pool, how you maintain water quality, and whether your system can handle the demands of a teaching environment.
Other considerations include how to maintain appropriate chlorine and pH levels. Without automated dosing systems, which are often not included in pop-up pools, keeping the chlorine and pH in balance can be challenging but is essential for water safety.
Conclusion
If you’re using a pop-up pool for school swimming lessons, take the time to check whether it meets the necessary safety parameters. Turnover times and filtration rates are just two factors to consider, but they play a significant role in ensuring a safe and hygienic swimming environment. By conducting a thorough risk assessment and staying informed, you can avoid potential issues and ensure that your pool operates in line with industry standards.