New Pool Competition Starting Platforms from Leisure Pool & Spa Supply
Article by Marc Yoder & Benjamin Rogers
At the time of the writing of this article, it is the dead of winter – January 2019 to be exact. In other words, right smack in the middle of swim season. With the increased daily usage, annoying little issues with either your swimming pool’s mechanical system or deck equipment have more than likely begun to pop up. (These issues always seem to pop up on the day of the big swim meet.) In our opinion, now is a good time to catalogue some of those issues (at least the ones that you can “band-aid” your way through the rest of the season) and begin to plan ahead and budget for the annual summer shutdown, maintenance, & cleaning of your aquatic facility’s pool and natatorium.
As you and I both know, large pool equipment renovations and (or) aquatic facility improvement projects can take months and in some cases, years of planning, lots of design meetings, & frustrating delays. Not to mention actually securing funding from your facility’s capital improvements budget.
What if you have JUST enough in your pool maintenance or capital improvement budgets to tackle some of the issues more narrow in scope within the natatorium? Often, many of these types of issues have been lingering, possibly getting worse season after season. It is always best to be pre-emptive, even if the issue can be seen as ‘small’ in scope. Small problems can quickly balloon in size.
Deteriorating Deck Equipment – A Liability Issue
One of the issues we often see is the deterioration of your natatorium’s deck equipment. Years of wear due to usage as well as exposure to an indoor aquatic facility environment causes corrosion & rust. Over time the deck equipment fatigues to the point of failure. Starting platforms are a good example.
Starting platforms (or starting blocks) are often manufactured out of stainless steel. Over time the welds can breakdown from corrosion due to exposure in an aquatic environment. This is called “crevice corrosion” and is caused when impurities in the metal that are exposed during the manufacturing welding process come in contact with the “off-gases” put off by your indoor pool. These welds are where a starting platform’s strength lies. If they fail during use, they could cause severe injury and could expose your facility to a potential lawsuit.
If you are looking for a good, worthwhile upgrade to your aquatic facility that matches with the available funds, we would suggest considering the purchase and installation of new, competition level, starting platforms. Here are some of the benefits;
- New equipment = improved safety – We have seen the breakdown and failure in the welds of starting platforms as described above, causing the platform itself to break off during use! Luckily in that instance, no one was seriously injured. A proactive approach is a key way to keep your facility safe and trustworthy for your patrons.
- Customizable colors and printing – match and spruce up your decor. Keeping your pool area looking sharp increases professionalism and helps influence others to treat your equipment with respect. Competition pool starting platforms are eye-catching and serve as visual focal points in a pool deck’s design. Secure your school or organization’s logo the promotion it deserves!
- Easy Selection, Design, & Installation Process – Don’t know where to start? Want to know what type of platform is best for your facility and athletes? Leisure Pool & Spa Supply, Inc. will work side by side with you from design to delivery. We’ll work with you on platform selection, coordinate the color & logo design with the manufacturer, and take care of the delivery and installation process.
- Interested? Request a Quote today.
Your Trusted Partner
About Us: Since 1982, Leisure Pool & Spa Supply, Inc. has worked diligently to become one of Indiana’s leading recreational and commercial aquatics businesses. With locations in Syracuse and Indianapolis, IN., our qualified aquatics team stands ready to dive in and assist you!
We are pleased to provide a wide variety of products and services including, pool & spa supplies, construction, consulting, ongoing maintenance, pool starting platforms, water quality testing and much more. Interested in learning more? Get in touch today, we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Leisure Pool & Spa Supply – Premier Aquatic Construction, dba – Service Since 1982