SWIMMING POOL TERMS AND DESCRIPTION

Chemistry & Description

Acidic
Low pH

Alkaline
High pH

Calcium Hardness
The total mineral content in your water

Chloramines
An unstable colourless liquid with a pungent odour, made by the reaction of Sodium Hypochlorite and Ammonia

Copper Treatment
Copper is an amazing algaecide, used as a water treatment in pools.

(CYA) Cyanuric Acid
Stabiliser – is a sunscreen that protects your chlorine from being dissolved by UV rays (the sun)

FCL (Free Chlorine)
The available chlorine that can work within your water

Fiberglass pH
Fiberglass is optimal at pH of 6.8 – 7.2

Flocculent
An agent that binds particles together weighing them down, thus settling them at the bottom of the pool. Useful for cleaning as it lets manual and / or APC suction clean the settled debris.

Plumbing Terms & Description

Aimflow
The re-entry point of water back to your pool. Also used for directing water flow around your pool.

Aimflow Diverter
A Water director for your Aimflow (can select accurately where your water is directed on re-entry)

Algae
A plant, not dangerous but looks terrible

APC
Automatic Pool Cleaner

Cartridge Filter
A Paper Filter that cleans 20 micron

Chlorinator
A device that turns Salt into Chlorine

Chlorinator PC Board
The PC within your Chlorinator that carries out your instructions

DB Board
Your Electrical switch board for your pump

.Diaphragm *Picture*
The mode of suction for Diaphragm cleaners. There are different designs for different cleaners.

Filtration
Water cleaned through a medium – pools

Pool Construction Terms

If you have never owned a swimming pool; builders may speak a language that you do not understand yet! Many of our clients are brand new pool owners and mention that they do not know all all of the terminology that pool contractors use to describe and calculate the swimming pool design. This article will help you learn exactly what we mean when referring to the technical specs.

“Beam”

The swimming pool “beam” is an important part of the structure. This part of the pool is located at the top and traces the perimeter shape and will help identify the perimeter measurement of the pool structure. Usually this is where the decorative stone edge is installed just above the tile inside the pool.

Coping

The material that sits on top of the pool “beam” and follows the shape above the waterline tiles is called “coping”. The edge of the pool before water starts. Concrete decking will butt up to the backside of this material with a “control joint”.

Perimeter

The measurement of the pool beam, as in tracing the shape of the pool. Also referred to as the “pool beam”. The image below is just a general guide to the terminology. The pool perimeter is especially important in free-form shape pools when calculating the interior surface area.

Rebar

Specs for rebar are standard at 10″ “o/c” which stands for “on center” making a 10″ x 10″ square. We supersede this standard spec by using more steel at 8″ o/c. The “boxed beam” supersedes standards by including 4 of the 5/8″ steel bars in a continuous loop inside the pool beam.

Gunite

Is a form of concrete that can be “shot” through a high pressure hose, applied at a high velocity our gunite cures up to 4000psi over time after hardening. Gunite applicators MUST be certified to ensure our lifetime warranty. PSI refers to the curing strength of concrete, how much psi must be required before it cracks.

Surface Area

This term refers to the square footage of area of water only inside the pool. As a 2d top down representation this is the footprint of the pool which can be understood as the size of pool, or how much space in the yard the pool will take up.

Pool Interior

The interior of a gunite pool must be sealed with a quality finish before it will hold any water or be visibly appealing. The pool interior, surface is a material that bonds to the gunite shell and keeps the pool water from leaking, but is also has a very nice appeal to the overall look and feel of the pool.

Decking

Pool decking can be done in many ways; concrete, textured concrete, pavers, wood/trex, or tile. The area surrounding the perimeter of the pool is considered decking which can be 4″ thick concrete, to include footing and piers as needed along the edges to keep from cracking or separation.

Main Trench

This is where all of the pool plumbing pipes merge together varying between 9 – 14 total pipes. The main trench will go to the pool equipment and each pipe into it’s respective connection.

Filtration Pump

The filtration pump is the main pool (or spa) pump that pushes water through the system and pool equipment. For pool+spa combinations the equipment will be shared. We offer several solutions for the right pool filtration pump from single speed and variable speed models. This is the pump that will come on each day and help keep the pool clear.

Pool Cleaner

These are robotic type cleaners that will catch leaves, dirt, pine needles/cones, gumballs and all the sorts of things that drop to the bottom of the pool.

Pool Filter

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Filtration is one of the key components to having a crystal clear pool. Our cartridge filters can catch debris so small in the pool water that you cannot see with your eyes! On a pool+spa combination the filter is shared between the pool and spa depending on what mode it is in.

Sanitation (Chlorine)

The means in which you will keep the pool water sanitary. Chlorine fights against bacteria in the pool water. We offer several options for keeping your pool sanitary and safe; Granular Chlorine; Chlorine Tablets, Salt Chlorine Generators, UV generators to suite your preference. Some options like chlorine tablets might be irritating to some swimmers, so you know we will have the right chlorine solution for your pool.

Minimum Pool Specs

• Shape = Free form, aka custom or Geometric
• Length = Total length of pool interior at the longest point.
• Width = Total width of pool interior at the widest point.
• Surface Area = The “footprint” of pool in square feet.
• Perimeter = Trace the shape of the top level pool beam.
• Min Depth = The shallowest point of the pool.
• Max Depth = Deepest point of pool.
• Liters = How much water the pool holds; volume.

• Decking Material = The finish material for pool decking or concrete.
• Decking Square Footage = Total amount of concrete decking in square feet.
• Decking Steps = as needed per design
• Footing, piers as needed to reinforce against shiftingGunite & Rebar: Specifications