Build what I Design - Ignorance & Arrogance

Ignorant of the building codes, many designers incorporate elements into projects that are illegal.  They sell clients on their hair brained ideas, only to later learn that their idea is forbidden by law.
The then insist that the pool builder or contractor "build what I design."  They are showing both their arrogance and ignorance.

Design Options

Recently I was retained as an "aquatic consultant," to advise a client on the plans prepared by a large national landscape architecture firm.  The architects had already designed the project and sold the clients on the various elements of their plan.  Hired as the "Owner's Reps" it was my duty to advise them and to look out for their interests.

After reviewing the plans I identified a number of elements that would not work from an operational standpoint.  More importantly, I identified some details that were forbidden by the building codes.

Fire Features

The vanishing edge pool had a raised bond beam on the back wall.  Inset into this wall was supposed to be a six foot long fireplace, encapsulated in glass.  

This presented three problems.  The first is that the electronic ignition systems of gas fire features are not rated for placement within 10 feet of a swimming pool (per UL and the National Electric Code - NEC).  Yes, I know that we have all seen people do it, but it is illegal.

Secondly, the building codes take issue with placing glass so close to a swimming pool.  While the codes do allow tempered glass adjacent to a pool, the tempered glass cannot handle the extreme thermal shock the glass would be subject.  When heated to hundreds of degrees and then splashed with water, it was sure to crack.  While it was not my duty to resolve this issue, it was mine to point out.

Finally, was the issue of installing an aluminum or steel fascia surrounding the fire feature.  Iron would surely rust in the presence of chlorinated water and aluminum degrades quickly.  Then there is the issue of electrically bonding the fire feature and metal surround.

Landscape Lighting

The architects also devised a landscape lighting plan.  Presently, low voltage lighting fixtures are prohibited by the NEC from being installed within 10 feet of the water's edge.  This is soon to change with pending legislation, but it is at least a few years away.   

In the meantime, rope lighting under pool coping and up-lighting in planters will need to be achieved with fiberoptic lighting and down-lights.

Functionality

The concept was fine, but practicality was terrible.  The architects chose to place the vanishing edge facing the residence.  They had told the clients that they would have a beautiful "3 foot high waterfall" to look at.  To minimize the visual effect of the catch basin, it only projected 10 inches from the wall.  It was to be filled with black river cobbles.

The amount of water required to create a waterfall off of an vanishing edge wall is tremendous.  The narrow 10 inch wide basin surely could not catch such flow rates, let alone bathers surges and waves.

Filling the basin with cobbles would reduce it's capacity to virtually zero.  This would require a remote surge tank, not included in  the plans.  Not to mention the maintenance headaches.  No service person would ever remove all of the cobbles to clean under them.

Aquatic Consultants

Had the Architects retained our services, instead of the client, we could have worked through these elements and ideas.  I would have been able to propose solutions and resolve these design faux pas, before the client became attached to the ideas.

The solutions were simple, however the clients lost faith inthe architects.  This was not my intention, but I was hired after the design was completed, instead of while it was in a state of flux.

I would have much rather been a part of the design development team and collaborated with the architects, than be hired to vet out their plans for violations of building codes, workmanship standards and functionality.

Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa 
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International Aquatic Consultant, Watershape Engineering, Swimming Pool Design, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Designer, Landscape Design, Owner's Rep 
Office: 408-776-8220 
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com 

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