Almost every swimming pool is rife with construction defects... but once it's finished how do you locate the mistakes and inadequacies?
What can possibly go wrong??
Before most pools are even built, they become destined for failure...
Since swimming pools are built IN THE GROUND, soils reports should be performed PRIOR to obtaining the structural engineering.
The structural engineering should be specific for the site and the soil conditions. Generic mail-order engineering MAY be appropriate, provided that is exceeds the site conditions AND that the structural engineer has verified that those conditions are addressed!
Salesmen should not specify pump and plumbing sizes. The pipe sizes and pump selection should only occur after the hydraulic engineering has been completed to verify that the line velocities are within specifications & regulations.
The pool elevation should be set way below the building weep screeds to prevent water intrusion and drainage issues.
Form work should be sturdy and able to support men climbing on it. Bender boards and lathe paper are unacceptable.
Plumbing and electrical lines should be placed into trenches or under baserock. Penetrations through the shell should have mechanical seals. Plaster should not be relied upon to seal these penetrations. EVERY penetration that terminates below the water level should remain under a pressure test until all of the decking and landscape activities have ceased - this includes light niches, fill, overflow, suction & return lines!
The structural steel should be installed per the ACI standards for clearances and laps. The steel installation should be inspected by an independent inspector.
The entire shotcrete (gunite) process should be supervised by an independent inspector. Samples should be periodically obtained for later testing to verify that the specified strengths were met. Trimmings, rebound and waste should be removed from the pool. Trimmings should not be dropped or spread around in the spa benches.
The homeowner should not be relied upon to water cure the pool shell following shotcrete.
All fittings and penetrations should be prepared & sealed PRIOR to the plaster company's arrival.
The electrical bonding, perimeter fencing and anti-drowning/safety devices should be installed and inspected prior to plastering.
Every adopted State & Municipal building code, standard, regulation and ordinance shall be adhered to.
All of the published workmanship standards for the sub-trades (e.g. concrete, shotcrete, plumbing, electrical, masonry, tile, plaster, etc.) shall be followed. Though they are not "code," they are the minimum acceptable level of performance.
The myriad of trade standards that apply to a swimming pool is mind boggling. Few swimming pool contractors are familiar with all of these standards. And even fewer comply with them.
An expert with swimming pools can help you identify the issues, establish a remediation budget and make recommendations as to a course of action.
Someone who is still designing and constructing pools makes the best expert.
Why?
Because they are current on the most recent codes and standards.
They know the current shortcuts and means that the sub-contractors "cheat."
They know the industry trends in designs and modern materials.
And they are up on the current pool equipment and construction technologies.
Someone who is currently a structural engineer may not be forthright with their analysis... especially if you experience a failure due to a design flaw, exactly the same way that their firm specifies and designs. They have to be careful not to place their firm in a position of having to defend thousands of past projects.
Case in point - weak concrete. Many pool engineering firms specify 2500 psi shotcrete. Why? Because anything over 2500 psi is REQUIRED BY CODE (nationwide) to be inspected & observed by an independent inspector and the shotcrete strength tested. Swimming pool contractors do not want this oversight, because they would not be able to trow the trimmings & waste into the pool structure. This would cost the contractor $500 for the inspector, $500 for lab testing, $1,000- 2,500 for the extra material and another $1,000 to haul away and dispose of the shotcrete waste.
These same engineers have fought ACI in their efforts to make 4,500 - 5000 psi the minimum standard for swimming pool shotcrete. Why? Because it would expose their prior practices to litigation.
So do you really want a structural engineer as your primary expert witness?? Especially when they have a vested interest in "dumbing down" the quality and workmanship in the swimming pool industry?
What can possibly go wrong??
Before most pools are even built, they become destined for failure...
Since swimming pools are built IN THE GROUND, soils reports should be performed PRIOR to obtaining the structural engineering.
The structural engineering should be specific for the site and the soil conditions. Generic mail-order engineering MAY be appropriate, provided that is exceeds the site conditions AND that the structural engineer has verified that those conditions are addressed!
Salesmen should not specify pump and plumbing sizes. The pipe sizes and pump selection should only occur after the hydraulic engineering has been completed to verify that the line velocities are within specifications & regulations.
The pool elevation should be set way below the building weep screeds to prevent water intrusion and drainage issues.
Form work should be sturdy and able to support men climbing on it. Bender boards and lathe paper are unacceptable.
Plumbing and electrical lines should be placed into trenches or under baserock. Penetrations through the shell should have mechanical seals. Plaster should not be relied upon to seal these penetrations. EVERY penetration that terminates below the water level should remain under a pressure test until all of the decking and landscape activities have ceased - this includes light niches, fill, overflow, suction & return lines!
The structural steel should be installed per the ACI standards for clearances and laps. The steel installation should be inspected by an independent inspector.
The entire shotcrete (gunite) process should be supervised by an independent inspector. Samples should be periodically obtained for later testing to verify that the specified strengths were met. Trimmings, rebound and waste should be removed from the pool. Trimmings should not be dropped or spread around in the spa benches.
The homeowner should not be relied upon to water cure the pool shell following shotcrete.
All fittings and penetrations should be prepared & sealed PRIOR to the plaster company's arrival.
The electrical bonding, perimeter fencing and anti-drowning/safety devices should be installed and inspected prior to plastering.
Every adopted State & Municipal building code, standard, regulation and ordinance shall be adhered to.
All of the published workmanship standards for the sub-trades (e.g. concrete, shotcrete, plumbing, electrical, masonry, tile, plaster, etc.) shall be followed. Though they are not "code," they are the minimum acceptable level of performance.
The myriad of trade standards that apply to a swimming pool is mind boggling. Few swimming pool contractors are familiar with all of these standards. And even fewer comply with them.
An expert with swimming pools can help you identify the issues, establish a remediation budget and make recommendations as to a course of action.
Someone who is still designing and constructing pools makes the best expert.
Why?
Because they are current on the most recent codes and standards.
They know the current shortcuts and means that the sub-contractors "cheat."
They know the industry trends in designs and modern materials.
And they are up on the current pool equipment and construction technologies.
Someone who is currently a structural engineer may not be forthright with their analysis... especially if you experience a failure due to a design flaw, exactly the same way that their firm specifies and designs. They have to be careful not to place their firm in a position of having to defend thousands of past projects.
Case in point - weak concrete. Many pool engineering firms specify 2500 psi shotcrete. Why? Because anything over 2500 psi is REQUIRED BY CODE (nationwide) to be inspected & observed by an independent inspector and the shotcrete strength tested. Swimming pool contractors do not want this oversight, because they would not be able to trow the trimmings & waste into the pool structure. This would cost the contractor $500 for the inspector, $500 for lab testing, $1,000- 2,500 for the extra material and another $1,000 to haul away and dispose of the shotcrete waste.
These same engineers have fought ACI in their efforts to make 4,500 - 5000 psi the minimum standard for swimming pool shotcrete. Why? Because it would expose their prior practices to litigation.
So do you really want a structural engineer as your primary expert witness?? Especially when they have a vested interest in "dumbing down" the quality and workmanship in the swimming pool industry?
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ReplyDeleteAir Placed Concrete
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