Swimming pool containers offer a sustainable alternative to conventional pool building, where longer construction times can be overcome.
With the arrival of swimming pool containers, pool construction has expanded its possibilities. While conventional construction models imply longer construction times, the possibility of incorporating swimming pool containers into a project invokes a series of advantages in terms of economical savings and environmental benefits.
Learn more about this modern pool system and how to select the most suitable installation, in this short guide to swimming pool containers.
As swimming pools represent an enduring association with wellness and recreation. Pool design and construction experts continue to bring in innovation in order to conceive appealing pools in an optimal way.
More often than not, this innovation is geared towards enhancing building techniques to make them quicker and more efficient, all while guaranteeing the end product is also viable in the long term.
On the one hand, pools using modular panel systems have been around for a while, bringing in a number of sustainability and construction efficiencies for all kinds of pools.
On the other hand, swimming pool containers present a new sustainable option for smaller pools, providing owners and operators with a construction solution that is efficient, easy to install, reliable, and respectful of the environment.
Swimming pool containers (also known as container pools) are an all-in-one-piece solution for swimming pools where a rectangular shipping container (such as the ones used for logistics on large trucks and ships) is turned into a swimming pool.
Departing from conventional swimming pool models, the container acts as a pool basin. Additional space is reserved for required pool equipment and water treatment systems and accessories , while heaters, pool pumps, sand filters and salt chlorinators are also tucked away on one side of the container.
Especially popular in the residential pool sector, swimming pool containers are also a prominent option for small wellness pools in eco-friendly spas, boutique hotels or cruise ships .
Swimming pool containers are increasingly considered for certain projects due to the multiple benefits they can bring to the table:
- Their size makes them the ideal solution for certain pool projects such as residential pools, as they’re easy to integrate into small spaces.
- This solution is simply delivered and installed. Swimming pool containers are a complete product that is ready to be used. This means the on-site implementation can be done in just one day, including all required hydraulic connections, and doesn’t require the building of retaining walls. This is especially valuable on sloping sites, where such processes can take longer and present additional challenges.
These pools’ simple installation possibilities also mean the system can be easily transferred to another location by using a crane and a trailer to transport it.
- They present a sustainable and eco-friendly solution. Swimming pool containers are typically made from recycled containers, so that less new resources are needed for their construction. Additionally, swimming pool containers can incorporate water treatment solutions that mitigate the pool’s environmental footprint, such as Neolysis .
There are a number of decisions that can enhance a swimming pool container installation and ensure critical efficiencies are reached:
- Container materials. The right swimming pool containers will include high-quality materials that guarantee outstanding performance in the long run and overcome the particular challenges of this sort of installation.
This typically means the container is reinforced with steel, as the 3/16” sheet metal that makes these walls would not be otherwise able to withstand the outward and downward force of water. The container’s top rim also needs to be reinforced, in order to guarantee integrity of the structural frame when the container is manipulated.
Additionally, the inside part consists of a molded, smooth and nonporous fiberglass shell. The container basin must be treated with a liner for wall protection, pushing durability to the maximum but also guaranteeing bathers’ comfort.
- Pool integration in the landscape . Above-ground or in-ground pools are both possible when it comes to swimming pool containers. However, underground conditions might lead to corrosion or wall-reinforcement issues for the steel, a matter that pool design will need to delicately look into. Additionally, a pool deck can be built around the container, so that the basin becomes more subtle visually. Attaching steps and ladders can provide an easy access into the swimming pool.
- Waterproofing solutions. Conventional shipping containers are designed to keep water out, not hold it inside. Consequently, pool designers must look at a number of options in order to waterproof swimming pool containers. This includes the use of a fiberglass insert. Another option involves employing an additional layer of steel welded to the corrugated walls, to which a PVC liner or a cement plaster lining is then applied. This extra layer adds a considerable additional weight to the pool, an issue pool designers need to look into so that its foundation slab is designed accordingly.
- Insulation keys. The fiberglass inserts described above don’t provide any additional insulation, so that significant heat losses can occur through the side walls if no additional measures are taken. Underground pools can provide more appropriate insulation thanks to their earth surroundings. Regarding temperature, pool covers are a proper solution to avoid heat loss from the water surface.
All in all, any successful pool construction project needs to be guided by professional advice and know-how. The right pool designer will be able to map out the use of the most adequate pool technologies and the suitability of each swimming pool choice, from picking swimming pool sizes to choosing efficient heat pumps and all other decisions in between.
This is also true for swimming pool containers. The specific dimensions of this pool model mean they’re typically best suited for small residential and wellness pools, where space limitations may be an issue and the owner’s priorities involve quick construction and efficient operation.
The involvement of engineers and design professionals such as Fluidra can greatly enhance a pool’s value, ensuring each pool operator finds the most adequate solution according to the project’s needs.