Download therapy pool

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THERAPY POOL
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Thomas R. Schaffer and William G. Deneen
USAquatics, Delano, Minn.
T
his dream therapy pool offers unlimited rehabilitation options
in a limited space. Therapy in this pool is generally done oneon-one, with no more than two patients at the same time.
Many considerations were made for this pool design to serve
patrons with needs: most importantly, easy access and a constant
92-degree Fahrenheit temperature.
Stairs and a lift that moves a patient anywhere around the room
provide access. Two pairs of perpendicularly mounted rails, one
movable and one stationary, and a movable chair are all attached
to the ceiling. The therapist or patient can operate the chair, which
moves the patient from anywhere on the deck to any part of the
pool. The components of the lift are all hospital-grade stainless steel
with low voltage controls for safety.
Once in the pool, patients can warm their muscles in the semiseparate spa area, which is heated to 104 degrees. The water in this
area of the pool, controlled by a separate booster heater, dissipates
into the larger pool area for a comfortable transition. The spa is
heated only when in use. Agitation fittings are also included in the
spa area for relaxation and massage purposes and can be turned off
or on as needed.
The pool features five different water depths with a flat floor at
each depth, and steps with handrails between each level. The flat
floor eases therapy and the removable stainless steel rails give patients a stable handhold and also separate the different elevations.
The water depths — 2, 3, 4, 4 1/2 and 5 feet — allow treatment for
anyone of any age, height or disability.
The decks are finished in colorfully patterned ceramic tile with
a nonslip finish. An integral deck drain is on the back edge of the
stainless steel gutter. Natural light, a great healer by itself, floods
the room, and the paint scheme is warm and refreshing.
The heating and ventilating system is designed to cycle plenty
of fresh air and provide humidity control without any dead spots.
The latent heat from the dehumidifier is used as a supplemental
heat source for the pool, while the air temperature is warmer than
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IN REHAB This pool is designed exclusively for
individual water therapy and rehabilitation. A
movable chair attached to the ceiling (left) allows
patients to move anywhere in the pool or on the
deck. A spa area with 104-degree water provides
hot water therapy, while the larger pool area provides space for rehabilitation exercises. Special
touches include five different water levels with flat
floors at each depth and removable handrails.
A 20-foot by 26-foot pool with
different elevations, kept at 92 degrees
B Aquatic lift transit rails, mounted
to ceiling
C Aquatic lift transit rails with
movable chair housing mounted to
ceiling
D Spa area at 104 degrees, with
agitation and a 24-foot bench
E Two steps with 6-inch risers
H Guard rail
F Handrail
I Access steps with nonslip edges
G Removable stainless steel
guard rails
J Integral deck drain
K Spa agitation timer
For more than 30 years, THOMAS R. SCHAFFER has consulted, designed and built swimming facilities around the nation. He has worked for USAquatics since
1992. WILLIAM G. DENEEN has 13 years of aquatics facility consulting and designing experience, beginning with reviewing and inspecting pool projects for compliance for the Minnesota Department of Health. He has been with USAquatics since 1996.
© AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL | JULY/AUGUST 2005 | www.aquaticsintl.com
© AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL | JULY/AUGUST 2005 | www.aquaticsintl.com
Therapy
Pool
TAKING STEPS Stairs leading into the pool
are nonslip and designed for easy entrance
with handrails on either side. This cross
section also shows how the pool accommodates different depths. Everything the
water touches is made of nonmetallic
material or stainless steel.
normal to keep patients comfortable when
exiting the water. The room’s air pressure
is kept slightly negative to prevent humidity from penetrating the walls.
Everything the water touches is made of
nonmetallic material or stainless steel, with
the exception of the copper heat
exchanger, which makes this facility
extremely low maintenance. The design
incorporates high-efficiency, commercialgrade pumps and motors with all wetted parts
epoxy-coated (flooded suction); nonmetallic filters with auto-backwash; high-efficiency
NATURAL LIGHT, A GREAT
HEALER BY ITSELF, FLOODS
THE ROOM, AND THE PAINT
SCHEME IS WARM AND
REFRESHING.
heaters with staged burners; and an enhanced
ultraviolet light disinfection system.
Since patron safety is always at the forefront, our design exceeds minimum codes
and standards. The main safety concerns in
the pool and natatorium design are water
chemistry, air quality, surface finishes,
precautionary tile markings, patron mobility in and around the pool and emergency
response.
Operator ease is also built-in, with the
pool’s controls and monitoring systems
connected to the building’s control systems.
This allows remote monitoring, remote
control of equipment and emergency
contact of maintenance staff. In addition to
monitoring and controlling disinfectant
levels and the pH, the controller will also
have a temperature sensor, alkalinity levels,
calcium hardness, Langilier’s calcium
saturation index and the Ryzner Index.
© AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL | JULY/AUGUST 2005 | www.aquaticsintl.com