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Design
guide

CIPHE Plumbing Engineering Services

Domestic
swimming
pools
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Design guide Domestic swimming pools | Domestic swimming pools
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 Domestic swimming pools

0.1
Introduction 3
This publication is primarily intended to provide
0.2 guidance to those responsible for the design,
Pool shells 6 installation, commissioning, operation and
maintenance of domestic swimming pools. The
0.3 information it contains has been compiled based
Filtration 13 on relevant authoritative publications and the
experience of the authors, through their careers
0.4 within the plumbing industry from apprentices
Heating 16
to tradesmen, and after obtaining further
0.5 qualifications, as designers and advisors to the
Treatment 19 plumbing industry.

0.6 It is not intended to be exhaustive or definitive

Further reading 21
and it will be necessary for users of the guidance
given to exercise their own professional judgement
when deciding where to apply the guidance All of the information was correct at the time of publication (April 2024).
recommendations.

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Introduction
Services

0.1
0.1
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6

0.3
Filtration 13

0.4
Heating 16

0.5
Treatment 19

0.6
Further reading 21

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0.1 Introduction
0.1
Introduction 3
Pools have been installed in the UK for decades and The Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association
0.2 although there are some dating back to the 19th (SPATA) publishes standards as a guide to best practice
Pool shells 6 century it has only been in the last 60 years or so that in the whole field of ‘swimming pools’. The Institute of
they have become really popular. There are now many Swimming Pool Engineers provides a home-learning
0.3 companies that have been designing and installing course for technicians and organises seminars each year
Filtration 13 swimming pools for a substantial number of years and on various topics. The Pool Water Treatment Advisory
it is a large industry within the region of two to three Group (PWTAG) is a multi-agency research body
0.4 thousand pools being put in the ground each year. mainly concerned with issues relating to pool water.
Heating 16
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport
0.5 These range from the large leisure centre pool, and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) support staff dealing
Treatment 19 incorporating swimming areas and recreational with the day-to-day operation of commercial pools.
areas, to the smaller club and school pools and to the Information is widely available from these organisations.
0.6 domestic pool in the family home. The primary aim Additionally, the Water Regulations give guidance and
Further reading 21
being to provide clear, warm, water that is safe to swim recommendations for the connection of main supplies
in and enjoy. to pools and to state that swimming pools shall not leak.
Electrical Regulations (BS 7671) cover swimming pools in
The installation of a swimming pool is not a particularly Special Locations Guidance Note 7-702.
difficult operation, but like most specialities if you
don’t know what you are doing things can go
horribly wrong. It requires a great deal of specialist
knowledge in the fields of construction, in some cases
civil engineering, filtration, chemical treatment, and
environmental control.
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0.1 However, in the past 20 years a number of British and

European standards have been enacted, in relation to
different types of swimming pools.
BS EN 16713-2:2016 Domestic swimming pools. Water
systems — Circulation systems. Requirements and test
methods

0.1 BS EN 15288 Parts 1 & 2 Public (Commercial) Swimming The Health and Safety Executive has produced a
Introduction 3
Pools — Safety in Design & Operation. publication called: HSG179 Health and safety in
0.2 swimming pools — HSG179 (hse.gov.uk)
Pool shells 6 In these standards can be found the following
definitions:
0.3 There are basically four areas, which are
Filtration 13 A commercial pool type 1 is a pool where the pool is the to be discussed:
main source of income.
0.4 ■ The pool shell construction and finishes
Heating 16 ■ Filtration
A commercial pool type 2 is a pool which is a secondary
■ Heating
0.5 source of income: school, hotel, health club, etc.
■ Treatment
Treatment 19
A commercial pool type 3 covers all pools of public use Naturally enough it is not possible to cover
0.6 except: pools type 1 and 2. Examples would include everything in a short paper such as this.
Further reading 21
diving tower, military training pools, rescue training
pools, scuba diving pools specialist pools such as: diving
tower, military training, scuba diving pools etc.

BS EN 16582-1:2015+A1:2021 Domestic swimming

pools — General requirements including safety and
test methods

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Design guide Domestic swimming pools | Introduction
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Pool shells

0.2
0.1
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6

0.3
Filtration 13

0.4
Heating 16

0.5
Treatment 19

0.6
Further reading 21

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0.2 Pool shells

0.1
Introduction 3
The basic shape for this pool is round but with the
There are basically five types of pool shell: addition of support ‘buttress’ frames the two halves of
0.2
Pool shells 6 ■ Those erected above ground the circle can be elongated with the insertion of straight
■ The concrete pieces. The walls are of a constant depth and the floor
0.3 ■ The liner flat or with a shallow indentation to give a slightly deeper
Filtration 13 deep end. The floor is covered with soft sand placed
■ The fibreglass modular
■ The stainless steel directly on the flat cleared soil and a liner is the means of
0.4 retaining the water. This is somewhat in the style of the
Heating 16
liner pool described later.
0.5 The above-ground pool is designed, as its name
Treatment 19 implies, to sit on a flat surface above the ground. The The second type is a heavy-duty liner, which is tailored
word flat is included here, although it might sound to a circular shape with the material forming the walls
0.6 superfluous, as water will always be in the horizontal as well. A flotation collar is placed around the top of
Further reading 21
plane regardless of the container in which it is put. In the walls and when water is introduced the collar floats
the above-ground pool this could prove disastrous if upward and the pool fills. The result is a flexible wall
the base is not flat, as the whole structure could topple bowing outwards. This means that the basic and only
over and collapse. There are two types of above- shape is circular although there is a range, which with
ground shell. The first is a framework, which is erected air-inflated sides achieve a rectangular shape.
on the ground comprising uprights and sheets of
constant depth material fitted between them.

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0.2 Both of these designs have been extensively tested

to show they can withstand the pressure of water
pushing outwards. Videos show a demolition ball
being dropped into a pool and the sides staying
upright and another showed an elephant getting in
Concrete shell can should be designed to:
■ NA to BS EN 1992-1-2:2004 UK National Annex
to Eurocode 2. Design of concrete structures —
General rules — Structural fire design.
and out of the full-vinyl type. They are not typically ■ NA to BS EN 1992-2:2005 UK National Annex to
0.1 designed to be installed in the ground. Eurocode 2. Design of concrete structures —
Introduction 3 Concrete bridges. Design and detailing rules.

0.2 As has been noted these pools have limitations in shape ■ NA to BS EN 1992-3:2006 UK National Annex to
Pool shells 6 and depth and sit on the ground, consequently they are Eurocode 2. Design of concrete structures —
in great demand in the DIY market and are very much Liquid retaining and containment structures.
0.3 cheaper than the in-ground shells. This is not intended
Filtration 13 to demean this type of pool, as with extensive and
imaginative planning they can be very attractive. It is clearly stated in these documents that it is not
0.4 possible to design and build a water retaining structure,
Heating 16
First, it is important to note that every in-ground pool that is completely watertight, unless a tanking system is
0.5 must be designed to suit the ground in which it is to put between the structure and the water.
Treatment 19 be installed, the type of soil, the water table and the
general surrounds. It is obvious to say, but clay, chalk A structural engineer should design concrete
0.6 and sandy loam exhibit very different properties and it pool shells and according to SPATA standards, the
Further reading 21
is vital that the contractor be aware of the conditions calculations should be made available to the client
prevailing on the site before the pool is designed. if required. This shell is described as a monolithic
Therefore, if the ground conditions are unknown it structure in that it is an entity in its own right and
is wise to have a trial hole dug and if necessary, a soil should in theory be able to hold the volume of water
analysis which should be passed to the structural whether in or out of the ground. In commercial and
engineer. It is also important to establish the use to some domestic installations, a void or undercroft
which the pool is to be put and what is required of it. is designed around the pool to house air heating
The bathing load will determine in part the size and ductwork and water pipes and in this case the strength
vice versa and the type of swimming or leisure may of the pool shell is of paramount importance.
also play a part.
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0.2 The method of constructing shells can also vary. In

commercial installations, one method is a poured
floor and shuttered walls with both thickness
and reinforcing according to the design. This is
also suitable for smaller pools, but the cost of the
They are considerably lighter than the concrete type
of shell and are usually restricted to the deck level
type of pool as the surround channel adds to the
strength. In some cases, stainless steel can be the
finish and in others vinyl. Angular shapes are favoured
shuttering can be high. Cavity block wall containing rather than free-form.
0.1 reinforced concrete, tied to a poured floor, is a
Introduction 3
method used in the domestic market. In this case, Liner pools have a shell that is radically different. To
0.2 the two block walls act as shuttering for the poured start with, the water tightness is achieved by a vinyl
Pool shells 6 concrete in between once again both thickness and container (the liner). The structure is non-reinforced,
reinforcing according to the design. The blockwork is and the floor of the pool is porous. The porosity
0.3 quicker and cheaper to construct but due to the block of the floor is to allow ground water to permeate
Filtration 13 size is limited to gentle curves and therefore shape. through it should the ground water pressure
However, the construction of a pool using these become greater than the weight of the water in the
0.4 blocks requires great care in the positioning of the pool at which time the flexibility of the liner allows
Heating 16
reinforcement. Equally, it is quite difficult to get the movement to prevent collapse.
0.5 re-bar in the appropriate position.
Treatment 19 The liner is supported by a structure, which is not
Sprayed concrete, either Shotcrete or Gunite meant to have any great strength in relation to the
0.6 depending on the aggregate size is applied by ground and water but is there to give shape to the
Further reading 21
spraying it under pressure onto the pre-assembled pool and to keep the liner in place.
reinforcement frame. The constituents of the concrete
mixing at the nozzle of the spray-gun. This method For this reason, this liner system is not generally used
of application results in a much lighter shell but one for large commercial installations however there are
with a greater degree of flexibility in shape. some products which are similar and due to their more
robust design have structural strength.
Stainless steel pools are structurally designed to
retain the weight of the water in the same manner as
the concrete pool. Some products have supporting
frames and others have reinforcing built into them.
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0.2 The supporting structure can be constructed of a

variety of materials. Years ago, one would see liner
walls made of wood or even steel as developments
progressed galvanized metal and basic fibreglass were
used but today there are many composite ‘plastic’ wall
Again, because of the construction of the walls, liner
pools have limitations in shape.

Fibreglass and composite pools are usually small one-

piece shells, or if larger, in two pieces. The fibreglass
panels of high quality available. is not particularly thick and the general principle on
0.1 installation was to bed them soundly and then back
Introduction 3
These are held in the vertical plane by braces usually fill between the shell and the dig with a lean mix of
0.2 known as ‘A’ frames. These frames are set in concrete concrete, which would give some strength to the
Pool shells 6 for strength and support. Generally speaking, this type structure. Additionally, most, but not all, of these pools
of liner construction gives a constant panel depth of were of constant depth.
0.3 approximately one metre. The floor profile can then
Filtration 13 be graded from the bottom of the wall into either a There has been a resurgence of this type of pool, but
hopper or wedge shape. with better construction techniques used. The shells
0.4 are made of good marine fibreglass, with timber
Heating 16
Blockwork can also be used for liner pool walls; incorporated to provide structural support, and are
0.5 depending on the depth of the wall either hollow designed to hold water in or out of the ground. They
Treatment 19 agricultural type or ordinary blocks can be used. are now usually factory fitted with flow control fittings
However, this type of wall has to have sand and and pipework to ease plant installation. They also
0.6 cement rendering to provide a smooth finish, which come in quite a range of sizes. This in itself is one of the
Further reading 21
will not puncture the liner material. However, the use problems with this type of shell. The larger they are the
of hollow blocks that can be reinforced can give higher heavier and more difficult they are to transport and to
walls and therefore deeper water depths and this leads get into the site. They are moved with the use of low
to gentle constant slope floors. The sand used on the loader lorries, large cranes and even helicopters.
wall render and floor screed, should be sharp sand as
this gives a greater longevity. It is also good practice, Once the excavation is completed the pool is lowered
with block walls without reinforcement, to have a onto the drainage bed on the floor of the hole, levelled
ring beam of concrete at the top of the wall, which is and the backfilling carried out. Consequently, despite
reinforced and runs the length of the perimeter, to give the logistical difficulties the shell should be installed
added strength. very quickly.
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0.2 There is, once again, a size and shape limitation.

All the above comments apply to the free-board pool

whether commercial or domestic. The deck level pool
with the water overflowing into a perimeter channel
float operated pump to take away the ground water.
The fibreglass shell should be protected in the same
way as the concrete pool. It is therefore important to
assess the ground water situation, and consider the
winter months, before the installation is started so
is usually built of reinforced concrete rather than a that all necessary precautions can be included in the
0.1 traditional liner. Once again there are products that are specification.
Introduction 3
the exception to this, but they are few in number.
0.2 Although a discussion on the relative merits of the
Pool shells 6 One common factor in relation to the proper many pool finishes is not included here, the internal
installation of all pool shells is the question of ground finish of the pool does have a bearing on the selection
0.3 water. If the ground water pressure builds up the shell of pool shell construction method. The appearance
Filtration 13 of the pool will be at risk unless the pressure is relieved. and feel of the finished pool are important to the users,
Battleships were made of steel, weighed thousands especially in the domestic market.
0.4 of tons and floated. If the pressure is greater than the
Heating 16
pool water and the weight of the concrete or fibreglass The different methods of construction described
0.5 shell, it could lift or float the shell. In concrete pools earlier indicate that there is an obvious cost difference
Treatment 19 not only should a hydrostatic relief valve be fitted between concrete pools and liner pools. Whether
in the lowest point but also the drainage under and there is an appreciable difference between liner pools
0.6 around the structure should be such that the water can and fibreglass pools will depend on the problems on
Further reading 21
easily gravitate to the deepest point and if necessary, site related to access and general transportation. The
operate the relief valve. Liner pools with their porous actual costs will also depend on a number of factors,
base do not have hydrostatic relief valves because which vary from design to design and from project to
that water can permeate through the liner floor. project, consequently it is very difficult to be precise.
Again, the surround drainage should be designed to
take water away from the structure as the liner will One must bear in mind that the surround work,
lift off the base and float and a floating liner is not filtration, heating etc are going to be the same
conducive to swimming. This, in extreme cases, could regardless of the shell construction and that there will
mean the installation of a pumping chamber and be some variation in the cost of internal finish.

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Internal finishes

0.2 The liner and fibreglass pool have their finish as an integral part of the system. It is only the
concrete structure that is tiled either with ceramic or vitreous glass mosaics or natural stone
slabs. The large commercial pool is nearly always tiled with ceramic tiles.

0.1 Schematic domestic swimming pool layout of family pool with large step area for small toddlers
Introduction 3
Skimmer lid to be set level
UWL on centre line of with surround material Base for
0.2 Centre deck box on light wall Tile edge
surrounds

Pool shells 6 Tile finish

0.3 Vacuum point

Access
ladder Waterproof Solid dense
blocks
Filtration 13 R4000 above light render
Concrete pour
Return water inlet UWL on centre line
Double(safety) wall and 750mm
0.4 R3500
Deep outlet from top of wall 300mm cove
Pea shingle
backfill
Heating 16

6m
R3000 Concrete floor
0.5 R1500 Centre deck Shingle drainage base
Treatment 19 box on light
R1000 10m Reinforcing iron linked from
floor to wall
0.6
Further reading 21

Skimmer lid to be set level 2.7m

Return water inlet
Pipes to pump room by the with surround material Rear of shell Ducting
easiest and shortest route
0.914m

0.150m
1.5m
2m

Pump

First two risers to be 200mm.

Remaining three to be equal in relation to slope Air handling unit

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Filtration

0.3
0.1
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6

0.3
Filtration 13

0.4
Heating 16

0.5
Treatment 19

0.6
Further reading 21

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0.3 Filtration
0.1
Introduction 3
In a swimming pool, the filtration system is there to 25–50 m3/m2/per hour is the preferred rate for the
0.2 remove, as far as possible, the suspended inorganic domestic market. Please be aware that BS EN 16713-
Pool shells 6 matter from the water. This is done in all pools by 1:2016 Domestic swimming pools. Water systems —
a pump(s) sucking the water from the pool tank, Filtration systems. Requirements and test methods
0.3 blowing it through a filter medium and thereafter identifies high rate filtration as 30–50 m3/m2/per hour.
Filtration 13 back into the pool tank. The filter medium is
typically graded silica sand, or specialist crushed
0.4 glass. Sometimes, cartridge filters are used.
Heating 16 Water circulation
0.5 Sand provides a particulate removal down to 10 In any pool, pollutants are going to enter the system
Treatment 19 microns and glass even finer. Although the other via the water with the swimmers. In the outdoor
media produce a finer filtration the operational pool the wind-blown debris has also to be taken into
0.6 problems are such that they are rarely if ever used. consideration. It is therefore essential that the water,
Further reading 21
having been taken out of the pool, is returned and
The water in the sand or glass filter should pass distributed in a manner to ensure maximum mixing
uniformly through the surface area and it is the and avoiding area where very little movement occurs.
relation of the speed of the water and the surface area The filtration and heating of the water takes place
that give the filtration rate in m3/m2/per hour. in the plant room and it is there that the chemical
treatment is introduced into it.
Low-rate filtration up to 10 m3/m2/per hour is rarely
if ever used these days. Medium rate from 10–25 m3/ Dead spots within the pool tank mean that the
m2/per hour is widely used in commercial pools and is pollution is neither treated nor removed and it will,
recommended by PWTAG and SPATA. High rate from therefore, proliferate.
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0.3 Water is taken out of the pool by bottom outlets

usually placed at the deepest point from the surface.
It is returned into the pool by inlets usually placed in
the wall but sometimes in the floor. The positioning of
these points will depend on the shape and size of the
In this case, and when the number of bathers is very
small, only one or two outlets may be used.

It is important that the floor outlets are coupled

together, and the water velocity through the open
pool tank. area of the gilles is no greater than 0.5 m/s to prevent
0.1 entrapment.
Introduction 3
The reason for taking water from the surface is that
0.2 the vast majority of pollutants are found in the top
Pool shells 6 100mm of the water. In the commercial pool it is
recommended that a ‘level-deck’ system be used. In
Turnover
0.3 this type of pool, the water is at the same level as the The turnover is the length of time the pump takes to
Filtration 13 surrounds and overflows the top of the pool wall into a move a volume of water similar to the total contents
perimeter channel. To keep the water level in the pool of the pool tank through the filter. However, as the
0.4 constant a ‘balance tank’ is built onto the pool outside pump is sucking from the pool tank and immediately
Heating 16
the perimeter of the shell. The tank holds a quantity pumping the water back into the same tank the period
0.5 of water, which is added to the volume of the shell over which it can be guaranteed that every drop of
Treatment 19 and is pumped around the system. As the capacity of water has passed through the filter is much longer.
the shell is less than the total water available the pool However, this theoretical figure is always used in
0.6 overflows. The overflow water gravitates back into the designing the filtration system for any pool.
Further reading 21
‘balance tank’. This creates a surface water outlet that is
100% of the perimeter. The turnover will vary from pool to pool depending on
its use. A commercial spa with high temperature and
Although this method can be used on any concrete high bather-to-water ratio will have a turnover of 6–15
pool, it does add to the cost and, consequently, in the minutes, a conventional 25m pool from 2.5–3 hours
domestic pool, water is taken off the surface over a weir and a domestic low-use pool up to eight hours.
set into the side of the pool wall. The water does not
overflow and so there is a ‘free-board’ between the top
of the pool and the water of approximately 150 mm.

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Heating

0.4
0.1
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6

0.3
Filtration 13

0.4
Heating 16

0.5
Treatment 19

0.6
Further reading 21

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0.4 Heating
0.1
Introduction 3
Pool water can be heated using any of the fossil Solar panels will provide heat into an outdoor pool and
0.2 fuels, and solar energy, including heat pumps and are very rarely used on indoor pools. On outdoor pools
Pool shells 6 solar panels. There are some heaters, specifically they perform in proportion to the natural ambient
designed for the pool industry where the pool water temperature and therefore the heat input is erratic.
0.3 flows directly through the heater. It is also possible They are best installed as a back-up to another heat
Filtration 13 to utilise a standard commercial or domestic boiler source. The installation can be expensive, but the heat
and add to it a pool water calorifier, primary pipe obtained in general terms is free.
0.4 connection with thermostat and motorised valve.
Heating 16
Solar energy is low-grade heat and can be obtained The pool water temperature varies depending on the
0.5 either from a bank of panel collectors or by an air to activity in the pool. A spa where bathers are static, and
Treatment 19 water heat pump. for therapeutic reasons is going to be in the region
of 38–40°C. Similarly, children and non-swimmers in
0.6 Heat pumps will provide heat as required but the input a teaching pool are going to require a slightly higher
Further reading 21
is slow and cannot give bursts of high-grade heat as temperature than the average of 28–30°C. Outdoor
can the fossil fuel heater. They are mainly used on pools also vary and tend to be slightly lower on
outdoor pools in the domestic market and although average in the region of 24–26°C.
the installation is slightly more expensive the running
costs are lower

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0.4 Indoor pools

Once a pool is within a pool hall, the air must be
heated otherwise condensation can occur. This
will not only damage the fabric of the building but
to remove the humidity. Humidity is relative to the
differential between the pool hall air temperatures and
the ambient and the point at which condensation will
happen, the dew point, will vary. In an average pool
hall, the dew point could be as high as 21°C.
can also be a hazard when visibility is reduced.
0.1 Consequently, it is necessary to heat the air as well, Hot air is distributed around the pool hall either in
Introduction 3
usually to 1°C above that of the water and to maintain underground or exposed ductwork or, in smaller
0.2 that temperature in all parts of the pool hall. This halls by single inlet and outlet grilles. Either way
Pool shells 6 is done by moving the air by blowing into the pool consideration must be given to the positioning of the
hall and sucking it out. Relying on natural movement return air grilles so that short cycling is avoided.
0.3 has been proved not to be effective and the use of
Filtration 13 radiators is to be avoided at all times. The hot air must be contained within the pool hall
otherwise it will migrate. Of particular concern in any
0.4 With the air temperature above that of the water the pool hall is the construction and generally speaking
Heating 16
evaporation will be reduced but water will still find its it is wise to consider the inside of it as an external
0.5 way into the atmosphere. If the humidity rises the risk construction. Voids are to be avoided but if necessary,
Treatment 19 of condensation will again be increased and this must a vapour barrier must be inserted. This can be in the
be eliminated. vertical as well as the horizontal plane. There are
0.6 vapour barrier materials widely available however
Further reading 21
The air in the pool hall can be extracted and fresh air great care must be taken when fixing them as ANY
drawn in from the outside. This will also reduce the puncture hole, a nail, screw or tack MUST be sealed
build up of odours but is costly, as the new air will have with a sealant.
to be re-heated.
Heater batteries fitted in the ductwork or in the air-
The incoming air can be heated by the outgoing air handling unit heat the air. The usual method is by
by means of modern plate heat exchangers but re- LPHW from a standard boiler with stats controlling
cycling the air and reducing the air changing to a motorised valves. In this case the pool water is heated
minimum means that the heat losses are lower, and in the same manner via a calorifier.
the air handling unit can incorporate a de-humidifier
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Treatment

0.5
0.1
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6

0.3
Filtration 13

0.4
Heating 16

0.5
Treatment 19

0.6
Further reading 21

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0.5 Treatment
0.1
Introduction 3
Pool water needs to be treated to remove the Total dissolved solids are, as the name implies the
0.2 organic mater, bacteria etc, which enters the water dissolved matter in the water, which can affect
Pool shells 6 on bathers and is generally blown or taken into it. conductivity, and at levels water clarity.
There are several options, but chlorine is the most
0.3 widely used. However, ozone and ultraviolet are also It is recommended that in the commercial pool
Filtration 13 to be considered. the water treatment is automated so that the level
of disinfectant and pH is measure electronically
0.4 Not only should a ‘disinfectant’ be applied but also compared against the recommended levels and the
Heating 16
water balance has to take into account of the pH, the appropriate chemicals pumped into the water. In order
0.5 total alkalinity, the calcium hardness, and the total to prevent the build up of matter in the water it is also
Treatment 19 dissolved solids. recommended that water be replaced at a rate of 30
litres per bather per day. This is partially achieved by
0.6 The pH is in general terms the degree or level of backwashing/ cleaning the filter medium.
Further reading 21
concentration of acid or alkali present in the water.
Too alkaline and the effectiveness of chlorine
is reduced, scale can be formed in small-bore
waterways in calorifiers etc and there can be bather NOTE
discomfort. Too acidic and erosion and corrosion The above is intended to be a broad-brush
can occur, and bathers will find discomfort. The overview of swimming pool installation.
Total Alkalinity (TA) is the quantitative analysis of the It is not intended as a DIY paper.
amount of alkali in the water. This has an effect on the However, readers who have any queries or
movement of the pH and can also encourage scaling questions are welcome to contact SPATA.
as can the calcium hardness.
The Chartered Institute
of Plumbing and
Heating Engineering
CIPHE
Design guide Domestic swimming pools | Treatment
21
Plumbing
Engineering

Further reading
Services

0.6
0.1
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6

0.3
Filtration 13

0.4
Heating 16

0.5
Treatment 19

0.6
Further reading 21

The Chartered Institute

of Plumbing and
Heating Engineering
CIPHE
Design guide Domestic swimming pools | References
22
Plumbing
Engineering
Services

0.6 References
0.1
British and European standards
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6 BS EN 15288-1:2018 BS EN 16713-1:2016 NA to BS EN 1992-2:2005
Swimming pools for public use Domestic swimming pools UK National Annex to Eurocode 2
0.3 Safety requirements for design Water systems — Filtration systems. Design of concrete structures —
Filtration 13 Requirements and test methods Concrete bridges. Design and
detailing rules
BS EN 15288-2:2018
0.4 Swimming pools for public use BS EN 16713-2:2016
Heating 16 Domestic swimming pools NA to BS EN 1992-3:2006
Safety requirements for operation
Water systems — Circulation systems. UK National Annex to Eurocode 2
0.5 Requirements and test methods Design of concrete structures —
Treatment 19 BS EN 16582-1:2015+A1:2021 Liquid retaining and containment
Domestic swimming pools structures
General requirements including safety BS EN 16713-3:2016
0.6 and test methods Domestic swimming pools
Further reading 21 Water systems - Water treatment. NA to BS EN 1992-4:2018 UK
Requirements National Annex to Eurocode 2
BS EN 16582-2:2015 Design of concrete structures —
Domestic swimming pools Design of fastenings for use in concrete
Specific requirements including safety and NA to BS EN 1992-1-2:2004 UK
test methods for inground pools National Annex to Eurocode 2
Design of concrete structures — BS EN 16713-1:2016
General rules — Structural fire design Domestic swimming pools
BS EN 16582-3:2015 Water systems — Filtration systems.
Domestic swimming pools Requirements and test methods
Specific requirements including safety
and test methods for aboveground pools

The Chartered Institute

of Plumbing and
Heating Engineering
CIPHE
Design guide Domestic swimming pools | References
23
Plumbing
Engineering
Services

0.6 Other useful documents

Code of Practice: The management and
treatment of swimming pool water
Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group July 2021
(last updated May 2023)
0.1
Introduction 3

0.2
Pool shells 6

0.3
Filtration 13

0.4
Heating 16

0.5
Treatment 19

0.6
Further reading 21

The Chartered Institute

of Plumbing and
Heating Engineering
 The Chartered Institute of
Plumbing and Heating Engineering

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