Part L: ‘Conservation of fuel & power’, Part F: ‘Ventilation’ of Swimming Pools (PDF 105KB)

The steam rooms that BOS Leisure offer have been designed and developed using the ancient  Mediterranean bathing houses found in Rome. One thing that has always remained a constant in steam rooms is their muscle soothing and relaxing properties that have always been valued.

What is a Steam Room?

A steam room is as simple as it sounds – a room full of steam. The size and shape of the Steam Room varies depending on what sort of room you are using.

Flush out toxins

Steam Rooms are very hot meaning that you will sweat when using them, this will help flush out any toxins of the body. The increased blood flow circulating encorouges the healing of cuts of the skin, sun burn etc. Therefore it is very useful to use a Steam Room on a detox.

Weight Loss

Being in a Steam Room will increase your heat beat to that of one that is equivalent of undertaking a brisk walk. This will burn calories and help with weight loss.

Cleanse the skin

The heat from the steam room opens the pores of the skin allowing all of the dirt and grease to come out, leaving your skin refreshed.

Great for Breathing Problems

The steam and warm air circulating in a Steam Room helps to loosen and dislodge any mucus found in your lungs and throat.

Relaxation

Steam Rooms are extremely relaxing after a long days work and are the perfect way to wind down and take it easy for a while.

Loosening Muscles

Steam Rooms help the muscles to loosen and recover after physical activity.

Steam Room Safety Issues

Although Steam Rooms have multiple benefits, there are a few issues that must be looked at before you enter and use a Steam Room.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you should avoid using a Steam Room. Pregancy puts your circulatory system under increased demands, and entering a Steam Room will add to the demands that are put on your circulatory system. This is not recommended and if you are pregnant, then you should stay away from Steam Rooms.

Hangover

When you are hungover, your body is dehydrated and entering a Steam Room will only help to accelerate your dehydration. If you have to go into a Steam Room after a big night out, make sure you drink plenty of water before hand; minimising your dehydration.

Cardiovascular Problems

If you have any cardiovascular issues such as Heart Disease, Blood Pressure and various other problems, then using a Steam Room can exacerbated these problems.

Every public Steam Room will have some sort of a Safety Notice about using the Steam Room, please make sure that you read this notice fully before entering the Steam Room as the intensity and characteristics of Steam Rooms will alter from room to room.

More Information

For more information about Steam Rooms, then please Contact Us.

This handbook is intended mainly as a guide for owners and operators to assist in the efficient operation of their Pools and Spas. The handbook will illustrate the basic principles of the water treatment procedures, and explain the signifance and effect of chemicals used for flocculation, disinfection, maintenance of the water balance and pH adjustment.

Click here to download

Health Benefits

The health benefits associated with both therapies include improving circulation, eliminating toxins through sweating, strengthening the immune system, easing aches and pains, weight loss, lowering cholesterol, stress reduction, aiding respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and relieving arthritis symptoms. Both therapies also cleanse the skin via heavy sweating. Whilst not all of these claims are substantiated with clinical medical trials, sufferers of many conditions find benefit in using saunas and steam rooms.

If both treatments have such a similar beneficial health effect, why have 2 different types of room? Well, it’s down to personal preference and most people prefer one over the other. Some people find a dry heat of a sauna intolerable and have difficulty breathing and prefer to use a steam room. Steam rooms are also said to benefit chest conditions and people suffering with breathing problems better.

Saunas:

Saunas are constructed of timber, with timber benches and run at between 80 and 100 Celsius. The relative humidity of the air is very low, usually about 10%, so the effect of a sauna is a very hot dry heat. The heat is usually provided through an electric heater with hot coals on the top. Small ladles are usually provided to enable bathers to add small volumes of water (sometimes fragranced water) onto the hot coals. This causes a brief spell of humidity, which briefly makes the sauna feel hotter. The steam and heat from adding water to a sauna heater is referred to as ‘loyly’. In extreme cases, the heat burst can cause scalding of the skin, so only small volumes of water should be added.

Heaters in commercial saunas are more commonly being placed behind false wall panels, reducing abuse from bathers and providing an added element of safety to the experience.

A typical saunas session would involve a short stay in the sauna, then a cold shower (or roll about in the snow), a rest period at room temperature, followed by a visit to the sauna again for another go!

Steam Rooms:

Steam rooms are constructed in a number of different methods, but the key is that they are sealed rooms due to the high moisture content. The theory of a steam room is a warm moist heat, with a temperature of about 45 Celsius and a relative humidity of 100%. Steam is continuously pumped into the room from a steam generator located elsewhere and the conditions are maintained with a thermostat. Quite often the steam is so thick that you can only see a few feet away. The cooler temperatures of a steam room suit some people with chest conditions.

It is essential in both rooms to drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration, which can cause light headedness and fainting. In both therapy rooms, users should obviously take care due to the extreme conditions and should leave the rooms if feeling unwell.

Both saunas and steam rooms can be built at home as DIY projects by a competent DIY’er though it is imperative that the correct materials are sourced. The materials cannot be sourced at DIY stores due to the extreme room conditions.

We Supply Saunas and Steam Rooms!

We at Bos Leisure have been supplying and building saunas and steam rooms in domestic and commercial premises for over 30 years, so if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to Contact Us. We’re agents for Harvia, Tylo and Hygromatik and carry a large variety of accessories and spares.

At the end of the outdoor swimming season, some simple procedures can ensure pool equipment protection is maximised and that water stays in reasonable condition; making it easier to open next spring.

If you are confident and have the desire, then winterising your own pool is an option, otherwise we at Bos Leisure offer a full winterising service.

Some of the things that need to be done prior to winterising include:-

• Remove solar cover, clean it and pack it away carefully before storing it away, preferably away from mice and other rodents.

• In soft water areas especially, a re-check and balance of the calcium hardness levels to the minimum 200ppm zone will ensure the pool structure is fully protected.
• Check the pH level and raise to 7.6 – 7.8, slightly higher than normal level

Winterising your pool (procedure):

Net any debris out of the pool and give the pool a thorough vacuum to waste. We suggest vacuuming to waste as the water level has to drop significantly ready for the winter. Once the pool is clean, backwash the filter.

For pools fitted with a main drain/sump and low suction points:

• Lower the water level in the pool to approx 150 – 200mm (6-8 inches) below the skimmer mouth on the pool. Once the water goes near the bottom of the skimmer, you will need to close the valve for the skimmer(s) in the plant room filter to avoid air suction via the skimmer and so water is drawn from the main drain only. Add your winterising chemicals whilst the circulation is still running for product distribution.

For pools without a main drain:

• Add your winterising chemicals prior to draining down but whilst the circulation is running for product distribution. Then lower the water level in the pool to approximately 150 -200 mm below the skimmer mouth on the pool. You can either lower the pool with a submersible pump or plug your vacuum hose into the skimmer once the water goes below the skimmer.

Chemical Treatments

Shock Treatment

Before adding your winteriser, shock treat the pool to ensure all organic pollution, which in turn is food for algae, is removed to give your winter algaecide the best possible start. Keep your circulation system on for chemical distribution as per the previous section.

1. Add 10 mg/litre (ppm) shock dose using Blue Horizons Granular Shock or Blue Horizons Rapid Shock.
2. Add your chosen winteriser – see next section (below) for options.

5,000 Gallons 10,000 Gallons (22,700 Litres) (45,450 Litres).

BH Granular Shock 350gm 700gm
BH Rapid Shock 325gm 650gm
Dose rates for 10ppm

Litres Gallons Prevention Top up
4,575 1,000 100 ml 50 ml
22,730 5,000 500 ml 250 ml
68,185 15,000 1.5 litres 750 ml

Dose rates

Blue Horizons AlgiMA X Eliminator (1 and 2 litres)

This dual action algaecide combines both copper and non-copper, and is a highly effective algae control product. It does not contain sequesterants for stain and scale control but is pH tolerant. Avoid using with copper/silver devices or any biguanide treated pools.

Litres Gallons Prevention Top up

4,575 1,000 300 ml 150 ml
22,730 5,000 1.7 litres 550 ml
68,185 15,000 5 litres 1.66 litres

Winterising with longer lasting algaecide products

Blue Horizons Ultimate Winter Time (5 litres)

Non copper based algaecide with sequesterant, for the control of most types of algae, together with the prevention of staining and scale formation. Wide produce compatibility including chlorine, Bromine and Biguanide treated pools. Tolerant to pH range fluctuation.

KleenPool Longlife Algeacide (1 litre)

Leading brand copper based algaecide for the control of algae. Does not contain sequesterants and can be pH sensitive. Avoid using with copper/silver devices or any biguanide treated pools.

Litres Gallons Prevention Top up

4,575 1,000 230 ml 75 ml
22,730 5,000 1.14 litres 380 ml
68,185 15,000 3.4 litres 1.14 litres

Dose rates

NB: 1 litre bottle treats 4,400 gallons (20,000 litres)
And finally… after adding your winteriser (Avoiding Frost Damage)
• Place bungs/stoppers into the water outlets to prevent rainwater entering the pipes.
• In the plant room, open the valve for the skimmer(s) and run the pump briefly for a few seconds only, to clear the skimmer pipelines of water.
• Turn the filtration system off.
• Drain down the pump, filter and heater as per the manufacturers instructions.
• Disconnect the pipe work from the pump. If your plant room is subject to freezing or condensation/damp conditions, then remove the pump to a warm dry place.

Other useful Winterising Tips

1. Outdoor pools that suffer major water dilution may benefit from the addition of a pre-filled chlorine floating dispenser, set at the ‘low’ setting. This gives a chlorine output to the pool, taking pressure off your winterisation algaecide.
It also satisfies 2 below.
2. Float a couple of items in the pool, such as weighted old chemical containers (use small stones in the bottom to partially submerge). By submerging such floats this will take the pressure off the pool sides when and if ice forms.
3. Also put an old weighted small chemical container in the skimmer, even though initially the skimmer will be clear of water. As the rainwater builds up the skimmer may fill and this will help relieve the pressure off the skimmer when and if ice subsequently forms.
4. Fit your winter debris cover, to keep leaves and wind debris out of the pool during the closed periods. If you do not have a winter debris cover remove leaves and debris when the pool is frost free.
5. Top up your winterising fluid after 3 months particularly after periods of heavy prolonged rain and if not using prefilled floating chlorine tablet dispenser (as per 1 above), consider shock treating with chlorine to 5mg/ litre (ppm) every 2 months. Note this is only half the dose recommended for pre- winterising treatment.

Chemical Handling

General Chemical Safety

• Always adhere to the instructions printed on the product label.
• Always handle chemicals in a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors.
• When pre-dissolving products always use a clean container.
• When pre-dissolving products always add product to water and not vice versa.
• Always keep chemicals out of the reach of children.
• Always wash hands after handling chemicals.
• Always store chemicals in a cool, dry place.
• Always put the lids back on chemical containers.
• Never use chemicals that don’t have an instruction label.
• Never mix chemicals.

Summary of Winterising Tips

Chemicals

– Shock Treatments
- Long lasting algaecides

Chlorine Floater Use

– Supports winterisers, especially where serious dilution occurs or leaves a major problem.

Frost Damage Avoidance

- Keep water out of the system.
- Remove pump to frost free area.
- Use weighted partially submerged floaters in pool water and skimmers.

Leaf Control

– Affix winter debris cover or periodically remove leaves
pH levels 7.6 – 7.8 – Higher than normal as colder water is more corrosive, and also allows buffer for acidic rainwater dilution.

Rainwater Dilution

– Top up winter algaecide after 3 months.
- Use a chlorine tablet floater or shock dose to 5mg/l (ppm) every 2 months.
Please contact us on 01656 741 625 or 01225 874 874 for any information or to purchase any of these chemicals.