Traditionally, the material colours of reinforced PVC were limited primarily to white and blue, with the use of black for racing lanes and transitions. However, there are now many new colours with subtle patterns and textures to imitate the look of gunite, slate, marble, and sand.
Additionally, this reinforced PVC pool interior also comes in slip-resistant finishes. There are now a wide range of colours available for aquatic facilities to choose from, many of which comply with the light reflectance value (LRV) safety requirement which is a standard for many public pools. LRV is a measurement of the amount of light reflected by a colour and may be used to determine the suitability of a pool basin colour. As a result, aquatic facilities now have more options when using reinforced PVC other than just plain white or light blue for the pool’s interior.
In terms of textures, there are different reinforced PVC options with extra texture to provide slip-resistance in aquatic facilities. The most common texture is known as a category “C” slip-resistance rating. A few manufacturers provide slip-resistant reinforced PVC that complies with several standards. Aquatic consultants and facility managers should check with the compliance ratings which should include:
(a) DCOF (dynamic co-efficient of friction) > 0.42 compliant with test method ANSI A137.1-2017.
(b) C-class rating compliant with test method DIN 51097:1992 // EN 1345-1; with a result of slip-resistance with barefoot test at > 24-degree angle.
(c) 3-class rating compliant with UNE 41901:2017 EX; with a result of slip-resistance with pendulum test at a >45-degree angle.
Reinforced PVC now comes in various textures and prints, making it popular for use in pools at hotels, country clubs, homeowner’s associations, and community aquatic centres because it offers a more luxury appeal by going beyond the plain white or blue, while enhancing safety through the slip-resistance offered by its varying textures.
