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POOLS with no cover or natural ventilation such as the one at Volt on Queen pose special challenges. Water and air temperatures need to be maintained at a comfortable level, while condensation needs to be reduced to a minimum.

That was the brief for specialist manufacturer Hot Water Heat Pumps: devise and install a system to heat Volt's swimming pool, keep ambient air temperatures constant and ventilate the space all day, every day.

The indoor pool, part of the gym complex on the ground floor, measures 11m by 2.8m and the pool area itself is windowless. The entrance to the pool, via the gym, is through a ceiling-height clear glass wall, which is prone to condensation. To tackle the job, the company's engineers designed a custom-built heat pump based on heat exchange technology.

"We wanted to recycle as much heat energy as possible, and what we've developed is very cost effective," says Paul Sekula of Heat Water Pumps. "The heat exchange technology we use means that we're only heating the heat exchange system, not the water itself. For every dollar consumed by the system, around five dollars' worth of energy is pumped into the pool."

The technology means that the pool area has fresh air at all times, with at least six air changes an hour and up to nine in hot weather. The poolside is now a comfortable, warm and relatively dry space, says Sekula. Air temperatures poolside remain a constant 24ºC to 25ºC, with the pool a steady 29ºC.

Contact Hot Water Heat Pumps, phone (09) 838 9444 or 0800 336 633. Email: info@poolheating.co.nz. Website: www.poolheating.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas