Wednesday, September 19, 2007

RE: Swimming pool concrete fill

Where I live pools are sometimes engineered by ghosts.

While an EIT I was asked to look at a problem with a pool that was under construction. The contractor had pulled the permit using “master plans” certified by an engineer that had been dead for over two years.

At that point I knew that I would never get paid to engineer pools.

 

Christopher Banbury, PE

President

 

Ark Engineering, Inc.

PO Box 10129, Brooksville, FL 34603

22 North Broad ST, Brooksville, FL 34601

Phone: (352) 754-2424

Fax: (352) 754-2412

www.arkengineering.net

 

 


From: Jim Wilson [mailto:wilsonengineers@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:01 AM
To: seaint@seaint.org
Subject: Swimming pool concrete fill

 

A client intends to fill a 9' deep pool with 5' of concrete to make a wading pool for the elderly.  Are there any particular concerns with the mix design to mitigate chemical reactions between pool chemicals and components in the mix?  If not, would a simple 3000lb or 4000lb mix suffice?  I am thinking that they should place the final 6" in a separate lift to reduce cracking and facilitate finishing.

 

The client expects to have a cold joint around the perimeter that will need to be sealed.  They intend to drain and repaint the pool every year, so maintenance of the joint will not be too great of an issue.

 

Jim Wilson, PE

Stroudsburg, PA