Moving floor pools are by no means a new concept. There are many commercial pools which regularly use their moving floor to convert a 3 metre deep diving pool into a shallow area suitable for toddlers for example.
But Moving floors are now being used more regularly in domestic and private pools to maximise the use of floor space as the cost, especially in inner city area, justifies multi-use spaces.
There are a number of designs available in respect of the mechanisms used to raise and lower the floor and these will have different needs in terms of plant space and adjustments to the swimming pool tank to accommodate the equipment needed.
Whatever option you choose, it will turn the ordinary into the extraordinary
Recent advances and innovative designs have brought the prices of moving floors into the domestic market. Of course they are still not cheap, but then neither should you expect the engineering required to be available at a knock-down price with corrosion resistant materials, reliable operation and safety in use of paramount importance.
Advances in controls mean that many of the systems allow you to set infinitely variable depths for the pool whilst other systems allow you to only have the floor at the fully raised or the fully recessed levels.
Some floors only reach their full weight bearing design load when at the full height with locking pins engaged. The locking pins will automatically engage when the moving floor rises to its maximum height, level with the surround around the pool.
At the luxury end of the indoor pool market, moving floors are seen as the ultimate way to maximise the use of the pool room. The space need not be limited to exercise and swimming alone. At the press of a button the rising pool floor will raise itself to the same level as the pool surround. With appropriate choice of materials it can be difficult to detect what lies below the new games room, dance floor or banquetting hall. This fabulous new open space can now be used for a multitude of functions and turn back to a swimming pool at the press of a button.
Like a conventional floating cover the moving floor can also be used to reduce evaporation and heat loss from the pool when not in use and the room temperature can be reduced to a lower “set back” condition to make the non pool function even more comfortable.
Moving floor pools do not have to be just boring rectangular shapes. It is true that the simpler shapes are less expensive but to achieve the precise specification many options are available.
Moving Floor Pools options
The most common options for moving floor pools is probably the collapsible step section. This is one of the more ingenius aspects of this specialist field whereby a set of full size steps appears from the flat pool room floor as the moving section slowly submerges below water level.
Steps can be of almost any shape or size and finished in all the popular tile finishes.
Another popular option is a seat bay which again appears as the main floor desecends and perhaps reveals therapy jets and air bubble nozzles in the back of the seats.
Note: Moveable floors are a particularly specialised field and should be designed in conjunction with the fabricator. Any “general” pool contractor who suggests otherwise needs to be treated with caution.
Ware moving floor pool with concealed counterswim
Having an engineering background is a great advantage as a pool designer and when challenges arise solutions are not that far behind. The linked facebook photos show what may be a unique form for a Fastlane counter swim unit installed into a moving floor pool in Ware https://www.facebook.com/pg/aqualiapools/photos/?tab=album&album_id=817822368345893&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARA2nwfDzJ0pR5Kdg_FVRAKHeuiq8CUpTS_nBKwkBHE9-W8riHpyE5fRRyS7I06deFlDq_nIKhKfxCbzyt9HfdJMc7R6ZxZAvS-O3q-SejEwqmC4XU31wsQOgDKnQEef9_15qW2xcEQLIoh-n-mTEjyE965VmgnNJhqQYZD45Eo-MMOREjEmZtnWf9lexOTjBOxPKUvUWbWTpAvsGhxaQIvMnPqzWcie6dnOjdAnIGJ9hHXQoxjzROoQvci6RBhy1hyfw2SfRbyPEbLsWl6DgFMni3R79_8C3Hu_FGgCMhNvFm17a0VowArQIWyiw0ki2eYG9hr-P0S1jQwE-6_LfIKQkcpi_mAtmodWpvt9cLNsLYDIGsGlbXFUgHzB9qfnWGKd5Thr8Y5CmSpM25MF7uIJzh_uaycAabC_kHDHQ1rih3ksRhg-c_DvJ1XkPStGv3YFQsKjFIHh9xsUfQ&__tn__=-UC-R
Changing the environment for the room function
Having the ability to change from a pool to a room is a major part of the purpose but what about the environment?
You may want a party, a dance or to use it as a large play room for the family. So a conventional pool ventilation system may not be enough and may respond too slowly.
The Aqualia Mistral range can be built with a “party mode” and with external chillers to provide air cooling. These conditions can even be phased in to try to prevent wall condensation when returning from a chilled space back to a pool room.
More details are available on our page detailing custom air handling solutions located here ↓
https://aqualiapools.com/swimming-pool-dehumidifier