Swimming pool buildings and enclosures

The best way to extend the seasonal use of many swimming pools is to cover and protect them with some kind of building or enclosure. There are a number of options.

These enclosing pool structures extend both the usable months and daily hours of an outdoor swimming pool's "user" availability and they make the cost of heating and retaining the heat stored in the water more efficient. They significantly reduce solar evaporation, a major source of heat loss, water evaporation and energy costs.

Additionally, pool enclosures protect the structure of the pool, maintain a consistent environment and humidity and prevent ingress from external debris like plant waste and insect life. All of these factors help make the swimming pool easier to maintain and clean.

There are no set categories for pool buildings and enclosures, but we have tried to classify them below for ease of description.

Low profile swimming pool enclosures

Low profile swimming pool enclosures are normally glass or polythene framed structures that concertina out across the pool in an almost telescopic manner. The upper frames usually run on tracks and this means that they are easily opened or closed, either to allow the pool to behave like an internal or external pool, or to protect the pool and conserve its heat energy.

The more expensive telescopic pool enclosures are motorised and they can be operated remotely. When the pool is uncovered all of the telescoping frame sections are stored, one inside the other, at one end of the pool.

Swimming pool domes

Swimming pool domes are a cheap way of temporarily gaining an indoor swimming pool.

Sometimes called "air-bubbles", these domes are inflated above and immediately around an outdoor swimming pool and they create a warm and protective bubble. They require fixing to terra firma, but all necessary fixings are usually supplied with the "bubble", so it is only a secure base that is required.

In order to work, these domes require a fan (to maintain the dome's internal air pressure) and they have zip openings for the swimmers to get into and out of the dome. Fan running cost are low once the dome has been inflated and these inflatable enclosures fold up into easily storable cases. The downside is that they do take some time both to set up and to dismantle.

Swimming pool buildings

The ultimate enclosure for an outdoor swimming pool is a purpose built building. These buildings will require planning permission where appropriate and are often architect designed. They are not for those with a tight budget.

Most swimming pool buildings are built of a combination of brick and glass although steel framed glass structure are popular and often have a larger glazed area. With these permanent structures the provision of ventialtion is important, however they make year round swimming and control of the pool's environment practical. Having heaters and dehumidifiers can help prevent the air in the pool building from becoming too misty and avoid constant steaming up of teh glazed panels.