A successful splash pad installation lies in hiring the right people

by Sally Bouorm | August 1, 2011 2:28 pm

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By Cory Forrest

Spray parks, splash pads, water playgrounds and spray grounds—there are many aliases for aquatic play pads. No matter what they are called, as their popularity continues to grow, the need for sound project management strategies is paramount. A key way to ensure each aquatic play pad is a success lies in the ability to formulate a comprehensive plan to execute a smooth installation.

The excitement around a new aquatic play pad can inspire and unite a community. Whether it is a private or public project, the planning process is essentially the same; the only difference is the department making the decisions.

For public projects, city hall meetings are sometimes held to get input and ideas, while for privately led projects, a group of board members or marketing staff will hold brainstorming sessions.

Planning considerations

The first step during the initial planning stage is to determine who will be involved. All too often, the process of designing and building an aquatic play pad is started without the proper experts involved. This usually results in unnecessary project expenses and/or poorly documented drawings for the contractor. Attempts to cut costs during the design stage, by not hiring qualified designers, usually results in expensive mistakes throughout the construction phase.

Regardless of who is involved during the initial stages, the budget and objectives are universally held as the project’s framework. Once the best ideas are put to paper, it is time to bring in the experts.

Depending on the type of facility being built, and the environment where the play pad will be constructed, there will likely be three key players involved during the initial design stage, including the landscape architect and/or aquatic designer, the aquatic spray feature manufacturer and owner. During the installation stage (discussed later), the general contractor primarily leads the project.

Site assessment

Once the landscape architect and/or aquatic designer have been selected, they will determine the existing site conditions and ensure the area selected for the project has the proper infrastructure to accommodate an aquatic play pad. This includes access to electrical supply, potable water and storm sewer connections, in addition to overall site feasibility including public access, parking and proximity to playgrounds, washroom facilities, etc.

Access to existing utilities will play a vital role in planning and will affect the scope of trade-related work required. Once the project starts to take shape, the landscape architect and/or aquatic designer will begin the process of selecting an aquatic spray feature manufacturer.

The manufacturer will often assist the design firm(s) with feature selection and layout by providing the necessary hydraulic requirements of all selected features for the project. In most cases, the manufacturer will provide preliminary schematic drawings showing where the features will be placed, their spray radius requirements and a 3-D graphical rendering showing how they will look when the park is operational.

Ensure the selected manufacturer is capable of providing technical assistance throughout the entire project, not just through the sales cycle. The contractor and installer will be using documents provided by the manufacturer, in which case communication between these parties can also factor in on the project’s success.

“If install manuals are comprehensive and parts packages are complete, experienced installers should have few problems,” says Greg Perkins, CEO of Aquaplay Solutions, an aquatic play pad builder/designer in Peachtree City, Ga. “Problems and/or questions will usually arise at some point; however, having responsive and knowledgeable customer service that is accessible without delay can be a major advantage.”

Factors affecting design

First, it is important to determine how the space will be used. Will it be used as a multi-venue facility for other events during the off season? Does cash flow or long-term plans dictate a phased project with some features being installed at a later date? What about water management and which primary system best suits the project requirements and budget? The answers to these questions can influence the approach to the aquatic play pad’s design and feature selection.

Phased projects

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Over the last five years, more facilities have opted to use upright aquatic play features with removable flange bases to allow owners to prepare project sites before the arrival of the spray features, perform phased installations, as well as afford them the ability to swap components around on the play pad after installation is complete.

Removable flange bases may be ideal for some projects, as they can be installed and left open during the initial installation, making it easier to manage costs while still enabling a long-term vision for future additions to the facility. Some manufacturers offer a structural base with a removable ground spray cover, so there is still play value in the incomplete portion of the project.

“Removable bases are handy in the unlikely event a component needs to be replaced,” says Perkins. “They can also help streamline the installation process because they allow for an earlier deck pour, as long as the non-removable base embeds are on site.”

By utilizing this approach, contractors can complete 90 per cent of the job while the features are being manufactured and shipped. Once the features arrive on site, all that remains is some heavy lifting, fastening of the features, then turning the water on.

Water management

One of the most vital decisions to be made when designing any aquatic play pad is determining how water will be managed. Planners will need to consider budget, site conditions, local health codes, environmental mandates and long-term use of the facility. There are three primary water management options to consider and each comes with vastly different maintenance and capital costs.

• Potable drain-to-waste systems are a low-cost water management option for small spray parks with low water usage. Once water is sprayed from the features, the water is drained to storm sewer and is not re-used. Many municipalities, however, do not have the infrastructure or desire to cope with large volumes of water going into the storm sewer, which is why drain-to-waste parks traditionally are used in small park applications. Equipment costs for a drain-to-waste management system would be between $12,000 to $20,000 (excluding the controller), depending on the facility’s size.
• Retain-and-reuse systems are environmentally friendly alternatives capable of re-using the water from the aquatic play pad, but typically require additional disinfection prior to re-use, resulting in further expense. These systems use a potable water supply. Once water is sprayed from the features, it drains to a large collection tank via gravity before being pumped out for irrigation use in an adjacent sports field, etc. Many health departments require the water be filtered and chemically treated prior to re-use to avoid the spread of recreational water borne illnesses. Infrastructure costs for this type of water management system typically range between $40,000 to $150,000 depending on the water’s filtration and disinfection requirements. While this system is still relatively new in North America, it is important to note many jurisdictions have established health codes to which they must adhere.
• Water treatment systems have quickly become the most common water management system for aquatic play pads, as they provide the most efficient means of re-using water. This system pumps water from a large collection tank to the spray features. Once sprayed, the water drains back to the collection tank, via gravity, to be filtered and chemically treated prior to re-use in the park. This water management system is the best solution for larger parks, or areas with strict water policies, as many jurisdictions are mandating water circulation and have established health codes to which they must meet. The size and cost of a treated water system will vary depending on the spray park’s size, the number of features included and their relative flow rates. Infrastructure costs for these systems will range between $50,000 to $150,000 depending on park size, the use of UV (ultraviolet) disinfection and local health codes.

In addition to selecting the water management system, the type of enclosure for housing the equipment will also need to be determined. The enclosure should allow for adequate accessibility to perform routine maintenance. If a building is utilized, it should have forced-air ventilation, floor drainage, access to fresh water, etc. This mechanical area may also be used to house washrooms, irrigation or other components to the park’s operations, so the requirement for contractors and other trades should also be factored into the project’s planning.

Installation procedures

Once the design stage is complete, construction can commence. By this stage, the facility’s opening date should be set and the construction schedule created working in reverse from this date. The installer and general contractor’s timelines will be dependent on the manufacturer’s delivery of product, so it is imperative to understand their lead times and shipping schedule up front.

Work crews should also be selected at this point, with each designated a set of responsibilities for different aspects of the project. Prior to project initiation, it is in the contractor’s and project owner’s best interest to hold a preliminary meeting to clarify key roles and responsibilities. It is also a good time to review the construction drawings to ensure there are no missing items that could result in unexpected expenses or time delays.

It is imperative the contractor understands the unique parameters surrounding the project, as each installation has its own set of variables that will affect construction and the end result.

The manufacturer will provide preliminary drawings, but these are typically ‘not for construction,’ as they are based on general experience and rules of thumb with no consideration for the site-specific requirements. The contractor should work from engineer-approved and stamped drawings. Skipping this step could result in unforeseen challenges and greater expense down the road, while also negating any upfront cost savings.

For example, it is important to ensure adequate space is allocated for the overspray zone, which comprises a 2.4- to 3-m (8- to 10-ft) concrete strip that extends beyond the wet deck of the pad. This design element is often overlooked or cut out by a contractor to save money; however, an inadequate overspray zone can result in unnecessary costly maintenance. On windy days, water will travel off of the pad and land on surrounding vegetation. This can cause grass clippings, mud and debris to enter the pad and possibly clog strainers, drains and nozzles, while potentially ruining expensive landscaping.

Ensuring the contractor fully understands the importance of the overspray zone will help the installation succeed.

“I have certainly heard of work being demolished and redone due to lack of appropriate approvals and inspections,” says Perkins. “If in doubt, ask the local jurisdictions what is required.”

While the general contractor may or may not play an active role in the actual completion of the project, they will oversee the entire project through each stage, including:

• slope preparation;
• pipe trenching;
• footing layouts and sub aggregate compaction; and
• concrete pouring and backfilling.

The contractor is also responsible for scheduling and co-ordinating appropriate subcontractors and other experts to ensure the project stays on track. Some common subcontractors that are involved in aquatic play pad construction include concrete contractors, plumbers, pool contractors and electricians.

Concrete contractor

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The concrete contractor is typically responsible for the creation of footings, rebar placement and pouring the concrete slab to the specified slope once all underground pipelines are completed. The contractor should also produce a proposed sample of the final concrete finish to the owner. While a light broom finish is typically suggested, this can be interpreted differently. Therefore, it is important to ensure the finish is not too slippery or abrasive for children’s feet. If coloured concrete is used, they will be responsible for creating the colour mixes as well.

Plumber or pool contractor

The plumber/pool contractor will install the aquatic play pad’s water management system, as well as supply and install the piping between the system, play features and drain. Prior to backfilling all water lines, the contractor will complete a pressure test to ensure there are no leaks. Often, this contractor will complete many of the primary responsibilities; however, it will vary depending on the project’s scale.

Electrician

The electrician is responsible for supplying power to the main controller, breaker box and water management system, as well as tying in any activators, grounding valves and wiring.

KEYS TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL SPLASH PAD

[4] Every aquatic play pad will vary in its scope and challenges. Regardless, there are certain considerations that can be made along the way to greatly improve the chances of a successful installation: • Choose a general contractor that has experience with pools or spray parks and thinks proactively about the entire process, asking questions beforehand in order to be fully prepared once the products arrive on site. • Make sure the permit application is taken to the city, otherwise referred to as ‘Call Before You Dig.’ This service provides details about what pipes or utilities are underground in order to avoid unnecessary expenses and delays. • Once testing is complete and the aquatic project is deemed complete, the contractor may be required to revise the engineer-approved plans to show any variations made during installation. This is especially important in municipal and outdoor projects because the revised plans are re-drawn and archived by the governing body (e.g. city hall) as an accurate representation for future use. • Ensure the manufacturer supports the design/build team, even after the sale. Some manufacturers offer very little post-sale support, while others have dedicated technical personnel to ensure installations run smoothly in addition to providing long-term operational support.

Opening day

Embarking on an aquatic play pad project is an exciting challenge. When all the experts have been sought, the installation executed and the project completed, nothing will offer the same satisfaction as the spray park’s opening day.

All of the inspired community members, enthusiastic adults and ecstatic children will be united into one cohesive celebration of the many efforts involved to make the project a success. While every aquatic play pad project is unique, one commonality they all share is the diligent planning and thoughtful execution involved to deliver an outstanding aquatic environment that families will enjoy for years to come.

 

Cory Forrest is a product manager with Waterplay^® Solutions Corp., in Kelowna, B.C. He is responsible for product line life cycles, from initial strategic planning through to product specification. He travels extensively throughout North America conducting educational seminars and training on-site personnel. He can be reached via e-mail at cory.forrest@waterplay.com[5].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/a-successful-splash-pad-installation-lies-in-hiring-the-right-people/

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