Energy use and perceived health in indoor swimming pool facilities

Therese B Nitter,Snorre N Olsen,Kristin V H Svendsen,Salvatore Carlucci

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/609/4/042051

Therese B Nitter, Snorre N Olsen + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/609/4/042051

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Abstract

Swimming facilities are one of the most complex building categories with their high energy use and demanding indoor environment. A survey to collect information about user health and comfort, technical installations and operational strategies was distributed to pool facilities–from conventional swimming facilities to water parks–across Norway, and this article is based on the responses from 45 facilities. Using a multiple regression analysis, approximately 75% of the delivered energy can be attributed to the bather load and number of opening days. No correlation between delivered energy and user health and thermal comfort was obtained; however, a significant correlation between bathers and workers perceived health and comfort was found. Furthermore, bathers in the water parks reported to be significantly less satisfied with the indoor environment in comparison to bathers in conventional swimming facilities. The water parks also have a lower air change rate compared to the conventional swimming facilities.

Highlights

We spend almost 90% of our time indoors [1], and in many types of buildings, such as pool facilities, the exposure to certain contaminants is greater inside than in the outdoor environment
A survey to collect information about user health and comfort, technical installations and operational strategies was distributed to pool facilities–from conventional swimming facilities to water parks–across Norway, and this article is based on the responses from 45 facilities
Using a multiple regression analysis, approximately 75% of the delivered energy can be attributed to the bather load and number of opening days

Summary

Introduction

We spend almost 90% of our time indoors [1], and in many types of buildings, such as pool facilities, the exposure to certain contaminants is greater inside than in the outdoor environment. Swimming facilities represent a building category with a challenging indoor environment with high temperatures and humidity levels. Too low RH increases the evaporation rate from the water and thereby the need for dehumidification of air and replenishing water to the pools, which are both energy-intensive processes. Another challenge is that the heat transfer coefficient between the skin and water is higher than that between the skin and air. The environmental condition that is experienced as too cold for a bather might be felt too warm for the lifeguards [7]

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