Specifiers Guide to Tile Selection Part II: Pool Surrounds

Architects and designers are tasked with creating spaces that harmonize both form and function, a complex balance that is never more crucial than when designing pool facilities. These facilities must boast aesthetic appeal while delivering robust performance against the demands of a wet, high-traffic environment.

Pools come in many varieties, each tailored to its specific use. There are sporting club pools, leisure and adventure pools, aged-care and therapy pools, learn-to-swim pools, hotel pools, and competition pools—each with its own design needs. Every type of pool demands careful planning and management to ensure it serves its intended purpose effectively. 

The safety and design of the pool concourse is a key element that contributes to both the overall satisfaction and safety the community experiences at these facilities and the successful management of maintenance and cleaning.  

By understanding the nexus between design, performance, and operational management, a solution which includes high quality, durable and appropriate materials can be delivered to the client. 

Safety Requirements: Slip resistance is one of the most critical considerations. After all, the aquatic conditions can easily lead to accidents and injuries. It is, therefore, crucial to incorporate slip-resistant tiles in pool surrounds that offer better traction and reduce the risks of accidents, thereby, creating a safe environment for pool users.

For slip resistance, guidance may be found in Australian Standard AS/NZS 4586 -2013 Slip Resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials and the related Handbook HB 198 – 2014 An Introductory Guide to the Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surface Materials. These documents provide guidelines for measuring slip resistance and minimum recommendations for specific locations including ramps and stairs leading to water, pool surrounds and communal shower rooms and changing rooms. 

Cleanability: Why it's important for architects to consider..

Swimming pool patrons unintentionally introduce bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other pathogens onto the floor surface. If the surface is not adequately cleaned and disinfected, it may become the center of numerous health problems and can be transferred to other pool users. 

For example, to clean organic dirt, alkaline cleansers are required. For urine and limescale, acid cleansers are required. Cleansers containing acids like hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, or sulphuric acid are not recommended as they can destroy the cementitious grouts and tile glazes. 

However, there is another significant risk to consider. 

ATTAR has investigated the effects of contamination on the slip resistance properties of a ceramic floor tile with a raised diamond pattern, typical of the type that may be found on pool surrounds. The investigation was conducted on uncontaminated tiles supplied from the factory, soiled with a contaminant sourced from a pool environment. Slip resistance was measured with the Wet Pendulum test method described in AS/NZS 4586. 

Testing was conducted in the new condition to establish a slip resistance measurement. To simulate the soiling of swimming pool surrounds from bodily fats and oils, after contamination, a visual assessment of the tiles showed no significant difference. However, Wet Pendulum results in the contaminated condition showed a significant reduction in slip resistance of approximately 30%.

To add to the challenge, when an incorrect cleaning methodology is administered, cleaning can be ineffective. On the other hand, cleaning with overly abrasive equipment will speed up the rate of wear and tear, which will also reduce the level of slip resistance of the flooring. It might seem like a delicate balance is required. However, in reality, the solution is not too complicated with the right cleaning methodology. 

ATTAR has tested several different cleaning methodologies. Their investigation reveals best results were achieved when hot (+90°C) water was used along with the alkaline cleaner containing added surfactant. The combination of alkaline cleaner with surfactant and hot water showed a significant increase in slip resistance over all other cleaning methods approaching that of the uncontaminated tiles tested as new.

The underlying lesson is that flooring with easy cleanability and the administering of correct cleaning methodology, are incredibly important to maintaining slip-resistance over the tile’s lifetime. 

Architects can only influence the selection of flooring material with easy cleanability and suitable slip resistance. Ultimately, though, it is the facility operators who must appoint professional and specialized aquatic cleaners who understand and can follow the correct cleaning methods of pool surrounds. 

Cleaning Costs:

In general, highly slip-resistant, heavily textured flooring products are not only difficult to keep clean, but more expensive to maintain than smooth and more slippery products. Traditionally a compromise between adequate slip resistance and ease of cleaning is the most common outcome, however, with the advent of Hytect Technology, no compromise is needed.  

As discussed in  Specifiers Guide to Tile Selection: Part 1 Demystifying Slip Resistance a Hytect tile, with its natural resistance to bacteria and mold, provides easy cleaning even when slip resistance is high.  

In a recent quote from a reputable Melbourne-based aquatic cleaning company, based on an 1800 m2 aquatic facility, the cleaning cost per week per m2 is as below –

• Exposed Aggregate $8.40/m2 
• Monotek Flooring $5.46/m2 
• Standard Ceramic Tile $3.27/m2 
• Hytect Ceramic Tile $2.33/m2

That is over 3.5 times the cleaning costs/m2 from the most cleanable to the least cleanable flooring solution.  Over 5 years, for an 1800m2 facility, that amounts to almost $2 million in cleaning costs savings, when a Hytect tile is used.  Hytect is a proprietary system developed by German tile manufacturer Agrob Buchtal, containing titanium dioxide.

Surface Comparisons:

The analysis of slip resistance and surface cleanability shows a significant relationship between these two factors. Traditionally, surfaces with high slip resistance, crucial for safety in aquatic environments, have been hard to clean and maintain, leading to higher costs. However, the introduction of Hytect Technology allows for slip-resistant surfaces that are also easy to clean, eliminating the need to choose between safety and maintenance. The cost comparison shows that Hytect Ceramic Tiles not only provide superior cleanability but also significantly reduce cleaning costs over time, offering a cost-effective solution for aquatic facilities. These findings highlight the need to consider both safety and long-term maintenance costs when selecting flooring for such settings.

Moreover, ATTAR research emphasizes the importance of regular cleaning to maintain slip resistance. Surfaces that aren’t properly cleaned can lose their slip-resistant qualities over time, compromising safety and the flooring’s long-term effectiveness. Regular cleaning ensures that surfaces like Hytect ceramic tiles maintain their slip resistance, keeping environments safer. This supports choosing materials that are high in slip resistance and easy to clean, as ignoring cleanliness can directly affect flooring safety.

When comparing Hytect ceramic tiles to other flooring options for aquatic facilities, the benefits in cost-effectiveness and performance are clear. Traditional options like exposed aggregate and Monotek flooring, while having some benefits, fall short in long-term maintenance costs and cleanliness. For example, exposed aggregate is slip-resistant but has high maintenance costs at $8.40/m2, making it the most expensive to maintain. Monotek flooring is slightly cheaper at $5.46/m2 but still costly over time.

Standard ceramic tiles are more affordable at $3.27/m2 but usually require a compromise between slip resistance and cleanability. Hytect ceramic tiles, however, with a cleaning cost of just $2.33/m2, offer both economic efficiency and optimal hygiene and slip resistance.

In conclusion, Hytect ceramic tiles are the best surface option for pool surrounds. Their advanced technology ensures high slip resistance and ease of maintenance, solving the traditional trade-off between safety and cleanliness. A five-year cleaning cost comparison clearly shows the economic advantage of choosing Hytect Ceramic Tiles, potentially saving almost $2 million in cleaning expenses. Along with their natural resistance to bacteria and fungi, Hytect ceramic tiles are an ideal, smart investment in safety and sustainability.