East Deck Pool:
New Details 

The concrete pouring in the Aquarius East Deck as part of the 40 Year Recertification exercise is going to happen in few weeks (February 2018). The next step will be the the construction of the new swimming pool.

Thomas J. Laubenthal, RLA,  Landscape Architect Consultants, Inc., of Plantation is the Landscape Architect and his professional team have prepared the conceptual drawings and the final design and specification for the engineering of the new deck. Previous details can be seen bellow taking you to links of  blog posts of months ago (six posts, all open in new tab or window).  

2009 East Pool Proposal                       2016 Neighbors of Aquarius Pool

East Deck Workshop 10/23/2016           2016/10/27 Ideas for New East Deck Debated

2016/11/29 Very Close to Final East Deck Plans       2017/11/01 Initial Master Schedule for East Deck

This week (2/15/18) Tom made a short presentation for the General Contractor (Structural Preservation Systems), the Engineering firm of record (Hillman Engineering) and some members of the Board of Aquarius on details suggested for the finalization of the project.

Some of  Tom’s comments are transcribed after the gallery of renditions. Please select any of the pictures and start a slides show. It is necessary to use the arrows left and right to change the slides.

Tom Laubenthal  comments:

“”It took us some time to research facts and be sure we were both within code compliance and well as representing solutions that would not represent any level of liability of life safety concerns.   We ran all of our options by Terry the Pool Engineer after we got them developed.  We seem to be A-OK on all points.

These include:

• Moving ladders away from the center of the north and south swim walls to the side walls of the deep ends.
• Figuring out the details of managing swim lanes within allowable widths, including mounting details for the swim-lane ropes.
• Swim lanes for competition require tile targets in the head wall of each swim lane, but optional to private use facilities.    Swim lanes often have a tile lane in the floor of the pool, but that too is optional for private use.
• Hand railing for the shallow beach entry end of the pool

o   need to include an ADA end loop that extends beyond the grate and water line.  

o   They should also continue down to the 3 foot depth which is close enough for most to be able to float free of the hand rail.

o   The rails should only be at the 2 side walls and NOT at the middle, so that someone could hit their head on the pole.

o   Side rails would be place in the pool bottom and not in the gutter line, so they follow the slope of the pool.

o   Pool rails would have a 4” offset to the center line of a 2” diameter tubular rail, so there is a 3” gap between the inside of the railing and the pool side wall.   That is less than the 4” width for pickets so there is no risk of a child’s head being caught, and yet wide enough that no one’s hand, arm or leg can get trapped.

• We have recommendations for the perimeter tile bands for the pool edge including tile dimensions and colors.    We took the time to re-visit several sites to collect photo images to represent key details that will help expedite your Owner Approvals.

Adding Hand Rails at the shallow end of the pool is NOT A CODE REQUIREMENT.   It is purely an option of the Owner.    There is no question that they ARE ALLOWED they are just not required.    

Now focus on the issue of placement.   Putting a Railing in Center Field is exactly the wrong thing to do.    It completely cuts the social space of the pool in half instead of having a wide space that allows for families to gather with generous room to still access the pool.

Placing the Railings at the 2 sides was very deliberate.   Stop and think for one minute.   As the pool transitions deeper and deeper ANYONE approaching from the shallow SIDE can miss judge the step.   In one spot it is a 3” step, a little further down it is a 6-8” step,  further down it is between  12-18”, ALL enough to throw someone off balance.   Since you never want anyone hurt, you need to take a measure to inhibit their awkward side entry to the pool.   Putting the Handrail to each side BOTH limits any un-safe access, as well as provides those less stable the  safety and convenience they are asking for.   Win-win, and life safety should be your first concern and the basis of your final decision.””      Comments end here.

Observation: The suggestion of railing along the beach entry of the pool was not in the original plans. Some see it a very good idea in terms of safety and consideration with elders, infants and people with mobility challenges.

Some see as an unnecessary eye sore not common at all on zero entry pools.

You are the judge.

.o0o.