(Shocking is a way of super-chlorinating a pool for a short time to help burn the combined chlorine in the water, reactivating the existing chlorine.) Air circulation was suggested by way of numerous floor fans and opening the doors during the shocking process to ventilate the space. However, the ventilation does not always reach the occupants, and is not always efficiently or effectively used.ĭating back to the early 1990s, air circulation was deemed the solution to an increased chloramine problem in an Illinois aquatic center, as no amount of ‘shocking’ was able to reduce the high concentration of chloramines in the pool. The HVAC system ventilates the building by treating the fresh air brought in.
Large-diameter, low-speed fans are popping up more frequently in both new and renovated aquatic facilities, or are simply being installed in existing spaces to increase the effectiveness of ventilation with HVAC systems and provide the much-needed air circulation.
Innovative engineering has led to silent-operating fans that do not disrupt a facility’s ambiance while keeping the air in constant motion. Further, additional air movement helps reduce condensation and mold buildup, both inevitable in damp environments. One constant, however, is the need for air movement to help move the chloramine gases and keep their concentration levels to a minimum in the breathing zone-152 to 203 mm (6 to 8 in.) above the water-where the swimmers have no choice but to breathe in the contaminated air. Despite numerous facilities being more than 30 years old, many of today’s IAQ issues revolve around the type of chlorine used, community water supplies, and tighter building envelopes that trap contaminants indoors, making these facilities unable to perform at the levels expected of them. There are several factors that contribute to a natatorium’s struggle to maintain good air quality––ones that have changed over the decades.
Indoor aquatic facilities, despite being open and vast, often harbor poor indoor air quality (IAQ), which can result in occupational asthmatic-related issues, throat, nasal, and eye irritation, and other health-related symptoms. What is invisible to the eye is often still prevalent to the other senses. By Nina Wolgelenter and Christian Taber, LEED AP