Sean Lane, senior sales manager at CTD Architectural Tiles,discusses the major considerations for choosing pool tiles to help you dive right into your next project.
TILES provide a classic solution to any commercial swimming pool project, with many now also offering a series of modern benefits. But with so many tiles available on the market and bespoke requirements for each project type – from a community-use swimming pool to a luxury spa – it can be difficult to know where to start.
Considering Safety
Safety comes first for any commercial project, and this is particularly important for swimming pool areas which will be exposed to wet conditions with bare feet. It’s vital that tiles used in the pool as well as its surrounding areas including walkways and changing rooms offer a high slip resistance. In the UK, a tile’s slip resistance is measured using the pendulum test. This Health & Safety Executive (HSE)-approved method replicates a human heel over a tile under various conditions, including wet and dry, and shod and unshod. A score is then allocated, which is known as the Pendulum Test Value (PTV). For a commercial project, any floor and swimming pool tiles must have a rating of PTV36 or higher under both wet and dry conditions; which is the equivalent of a one in one million slip risk. Fortunately, there are a huge range of tiles on the market with a minimum rating of PTV36, such as the Core collection which we supplied for the pool at the Egham Orbit leisure facility in Surrey.
Considering Longevity
It’s important to also consider that swimming pool safety concerns don’t just come in the form of slip risks, and issues may also arise due to damaged tiles. Commercial swimming pools are subject to a number of challenging conditions, including heavy footfall, water submersion, chlorine and for outdoor pools, exposure to UV rays – all of which can damage the integrity of the tiles over time. Maintenance is key to preventing the effects of these issues, so it’s important to choose tiles that offer a hardwearing finish such as glazed porcelain which is not only durable but also easy to clean. This was a key consideration for the Portavadie Spa and Leisure Centre development’s infinity pool and hydro pools, which see a large amount of visitors each year – while also taking into account the need to create a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere. The life cycle costs of a commercial swimming pool are significant, so it’s best to choose highly durable tiles that are easy to maintain from the outset.
Considering Style
While it’s crucial to consider the practical elements of swimming pool tiles, there’s no need to compromise on style. Each project will require its own unique aesthetic consideration and whether it’s for an Olympic-sized competition swimming pool or a boutique hotel, there’s plenty of choice available on the market offering not only style, but also safety and durability. It’s always best to speak to the experts when it comes to choosing tiles for a commercial swimming pool project to ensure all requirements are met.
