SP5 - Pool Concourse

Purpose

To establish guidance for the safe design and maintenance of pool concourses

Concourse Height

The minimum unobstructed height of a continuous accessible path of travel in and around a pool (pool concourse) shall be 2000mm or 1980mm at doorways.

Concourse Width

It is recognised that there are often several competing objectives with any given aquatic facility’s design and that wide concourses could be perceived as ‘wasted space’, unnecessarily expensive and / or carbon intensive to construct, however, from a lifesaving perspective, sufficiently wide concourses are a critical risk mitigant for drowning prevention in an aquatic facility. They provide lifeguards and supervisors with time and space to identify, respond and reach a non-swimmer prior to accidental submersion in a pool, thereby preventing serious emergencies. Concourses should be measured from the edge of the pool (in wet deck pools from the outside (concourse) edge of the grating, not pool wall edge) to the wall or fixed seating or barriers.”

Unless otherwise specified the minimum unobstructed width of a continuous accessible path of travel should be a minimum of 1000mm and the following shall not intrude into the minimum unobstructed width of the continuous accessible path of travel.

1. Fixtures and fittings such as lights, Backstroke flags, awnings, skirtings, windows that when open intrude into the circulation space
2. Essential fixtures and fittings such as handrails, fire hose reels, fire extinguishers, rescue equipment
3. Door handles less than 900mm above the finished floor level

Widths of concourses may vary depending on the pools and their use. They should be as follows:”

Facility Operators and designers/developers should conduct a Risk Assessment to determine which areas within their particular facility should be considered “high traffic and circulation areas”.

Where the concourse width in an existing facility is less than 2m, or less than 3m in high traffic areas, operators should consider strategies to maximise the available concourse.

• Preventing equipment and/or patrons belongings being left in these areas.
• Removal of any planter boxes, rubbish bins, and any other further restriction to concourse width wherever possible.
• Procedures for dealing with high traffic situations.

Concourse Surface

Height Variations

Abrupt changes in floor level in the wet concourse areas should be avoided at all times.

If steps to changing areas are required, handrails and slip resistive surfaces should be provided.

Where there is to be a split level concourse, and ramps are provided instead of steps, the ramp gradient should not be greater than 1:12.

All concourses should be free from lips or raised edges, particularly where surface changes (e.g. tiles to wet deck) identified where possible by contrasting colour or hazard identification markings.

Abutment of surfaces shall have a smooth transition. Design transition shall be 0 mm. Construction tolerances shall be as follows:

1. 0-3 mm vertical, as shown in Figure
2. 0-5 mm, provided the edges have a bevelled or rounded edge to reduce the likelihood of tripping

Surface Material

All wet or potentially wet circulation areas (including grates and drains should have a slip resistive and non-abrasive surface conforming to the recommendations of Standards Australia Handbook “HB 197 - An Introductory Guide to the Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surface Materials” and AS/NZS 4586 – Slip resistance classification and new pedestrian surface material.

Movement Joints

Where movement joints are provided in order to meet the requirements of the Building Code of Australia the compound used should be as hard as possible in order to reduce the likelihood that it can be pulled out of the joint.

Drainage (See Also Pool Tank Edges, Gutters and Wet Decks SF9)

The concourse should be constructed to facilitate drainage or flow of water to prevent pooling of water.

Wall surrounds should not present a hazard to bathers. Projecting structural pillars or piers should be avoided.

Supervision Points

The layout of the water spaces should allow for supervision with a minimum of staff. Ideally there should be one or two specific vantage points from which all water spaces can be seen.

These vantage points should be in direct visual and audible contact with either a reception or administration area of the complex.

The pool concourse should not have barriers that obstruct lines of sight from the main supervision points.

The layout of the pool concourse should enable supervising staff to move around freely without losing visual contact with water areas.

Planter boxes should not be on a pool concourse. Where they are (and other features) on the concourse should have no sharp edges, nor should they interfere with sight lines for supervision. Where possible a slip resistive surface should be used. Such items should not reduce the concourse width, restrict circulation flow or restrict emergency access and egress.

Workers who undertake static standing work should be protected from discomfort and the jarring effects of direct contact with concrete, masonry or steel floors, for example, by providing carpet, cushion-backed vinyl, shock-absorbent underlay, anti-fatigue matting, grates or duckboards.

Storage

Specific storage areas should be designed or in place to avoid equipment that is not of a lifesaving nature being placed on the concourse

Standard Operating Procedures should include the return of equipment to designated areas is implemented

Seating

Where seating is provided on the concourse, the minimum concourse width remaining after allowance for leg room should be 1.0m

Where retractable seating is provided the minimum concourse width should be 1.2m when seating is in place.

Moveable seating or other furniture should not be placed in areas adjacent to the pool, where there is a likelihood of these being used as diving platforms.

Marshalling Area

A marshalling area should be provided adjacent to a learner pool or section of the main pool which is used for lessons. This should enable supervising staff to assemble learner groups on the concourse without impeding the circulation flow of other users and staff.

This area should be located away from deep water or high traffic areas.

Inspection

Pool concourses should be inspected regularly and maintained to eliminate slip and trip hazards. Common examples of hazards include uneven edges or broken surfaces, gratings or covers, loose mats or carpet tiles.

Any hazards identified as part of routine operations or as part of a formal inspection process should be identified in a hazard report form and reviewed and management as part of the risk assessment process.

Maintenance

Owners or operators of Aquatic Facilities should understand the maintenance requirements in the design phase including any special products, chemicals or machinery that may be required to maintain the slip resistance performance.

The concourse should be maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure the quality and integrity of the finish and to comply with all warranties.

Cleaning

The owner or management of the aquatic facility should ensure there is a rigorous cleaning schedule and procedures in place.

Cleaning methods should also take account of the potential for slips, which may be increased by the use of some cleaning agents.

Different surfaces may require different and particular cleaning procedures. Product manufacturers should provide specifications for all products and surfaces during the design phase.

Requirements from Contractors / Suppliers

Current manuals and instructions should be provided by the builder to the owner or management of the aquatic facility at the handover stage and should include the following:

1. Manufacturers specifications
2. Cleaning regimes
3. Equipment and chemical requirements
4. Training requirements
5. Product or cleaning instructions/restrictions
6. Maintenance requirements
7. Product MSDS and PPE requirements

References

• Pool Concourse Guidelines – Aquatic and Recreation Victoria / Victoria Government - 2011
• Australian Standards Handbook HB 197 - 1999; An Introductory Guide to the Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surface Materials
• AS 1428.1 - 2001; Design for access and mobility Part 1: General requirements for access - New building work.
• Building Code of Australia - 2006. Australian Building Code Board.

Previous Versions

• FD2 Pool Concourse Issue 3 1 November 2007