Competition Pool Equipment: Which Pool Needs Which Equipment?

An Olympic pool is 50 metres and a short course pool 25 metres; lane width is taken as 2.50 metres. The number of lanes depends on the width of the pool, not its length; that is why two pools of the same length can end up with different equipment quantities.

The first value we check is height: AISI-316 and AISI-304 blocks with a 500 x 500 mm platform come in 400 and 700 mm heights. On the standard AISI-316 platform the footrest adjusts to 6 positions; the H-700 version with a mobile support is 700 mm high and weighs 110 kg.

The second group is the Velocity Advantage platforms. They are 410 mm high, with a 710 x 810 mm step surface, weigh 53 kg and carry a 5-position foot wedge. There are separate systems for the backstroke start; the height of the backstroke start system, with millimetre markings on the reel end, is adjusted with one hand.

Anchors are not included in the price of the block and are selected as a separate item; lane number sets are also ordered separately. Another criterion is the water depth in front of the block; this value is set in the shell design according to the rules of the relevant federation and the use of the pool. Models, codes and dimensions are listed on the Starting Platforms and Competition Starting Block pages.

Our catalogue has four models. BCN03 and Sydney have 148 mm outer diameter bodies and comply with competition rules; both come with a 6 mm stainless steel cable. Roma is strung on a 7 mm stainless steel cable and Moscow on a 7 mm special polyester rope; both are installed with a screw tensioner and a straight hook.

Length depends on pool length. BCN03 is supplied in 25 and 50 metre lengths, and Sydney, Roma and Moscow in 12.5, 16.5, 25, 33 and 50 metre lengths. Models compliant with competition rules are preferred for competition pools, and simpler models for training and school pools. Colour helps to tell the lanes apart; BCN03 and Sydney come in red-white, red-green, red-blue and red-yellow.

The Lane Divider System page lists the lengths model by model; the Lane Ropes page gives the technical values of the models.

Our accessory group includes spiral, screw and spring tensioners, a hanging hook, a straight hook and wall-type anchors for reinforced concrete pools. The anchor type must match the lane rope model and the wall construction; different anchor codes are used for Zurich and Wiesbaden types, the Fin type and standard installation.

Storage is left to the end on most projects, yet handling a 50-metre rope at the poolside is a job in itself. The BCN03 collection trolley is AISI-316 and takes one lane rope of up to 50 metres. AISI-304 reel trolleys are 1.2 and 1.8 metres wide; a 1.2-metre trolley holds 8 lengths of 25-metre Roma or 2 of Sydney. The space where the trolley will stand at the poolside is set aside in the facility plan from the start.

These parts are listed with their codes on the Lane Rope Accessories page.

The warning sets are made of AISI-316 stainless steel tube, 1.8 metres high, and are chosen according to pool width: Ø43 mm tube is used for a 21-metre width and Ø48 mm tube for a 25-metre width. The false start set has 2 posts and the backstroke set 4 posts. Warning floats and flags are bought separately in rope lengths of 12.5, 21 and 25 metres.

Turn panels are AISI-316, 300 mm high, and supplied in 2 and 2.5 metre widths to match the lane width. The panel bracket works together with the lane anchors, and each panel needs at least two units. Anchors for the warning sets are not included in the price; the choice between straight and angled anchors is made according to the post diameter and the anchor system in use.

Training and school pools mostly do not need warning sets. All items are broken down by model on the Warning and Turn Systems page.

The Aquarmony speaker is rated at 60 W, has an impedance of 4 ohms and works in the 200-12000 Hz range. Each speaker covers up to 80 m², comes with a 5-metre cable and is mounted at a depth of no more than 40 cm.

In a large pool, coverage area sets the number of speakers. The KITMEZZO322A2 amplifier kit is used for up to two speakers and the KITMEZZO324A4 kit for up to four. The speaker niche and cable passage are planned before the shell concrete is poured; cutting a new niche after the pool is finished means interfering with the waterproofing layer. The technical values are on the Underwater Speaker page.

The frame is white 80 x 50 mm aluminium profile; the net fixing is a 6 mm stainless steel rod, and the net tube is a 23 mm stainless steel tube with a float frame. The goal complies with competition pool dimensions and its manufacturer code is 69654.

The first question is the discipline; water polo competition calls for a different layout from other swimming disciplines. Because the goal floats, the fixing points for the goal lines are planned at the shell stage. The contents of the kit are given on the Water Polo Goal page.

Then the shell length, width, number of lanes and depth at the start end are settled. From these values come the number of starting blocks, the lane rope length, the warning set diameter and the turn panel width.

In the final step, anchor and storage requirements are worked into the shell design. We do not prepare the equipment list separately from the shell design; at the quotation stage all items are gathered with their codes in a single document.