In summer, outdoor swimming pools are great places to beat the heat. However, harsh sunlight can cause sunburns, sudden rainstorms ruin plans, and fallen leaves and dust frequently contaminate the water, which always dampens people’s enthusiasm. For operators, outdoor swimming pools come with numerous headaches: they have to close in winter, operations are subject to weather conditions in peak seasons, and high costs are incurred from frequent water replacement and cleaning. There is only a short stable profitable window throughout the year.
The emergence of air-supported membrane enclosure offers a perfect solution to these troubles.
Air-supported membrane enclosures: A new lease of life for natatoriums
(I) What is an air-supported membrane enclosure
Simply put, an air-supported membrane enclosure is a building form that uses special high-strength membrane materials to form an enclosed space supported by internal air pressure, covering an outdoor swimming pool. It mainly consists of membrane fabric, air inflation system, access control system, environmental control system and other components. Though lightweight in appearance, it is backed by advanced technology.
(II) Major advantages of air-supported membrane enclosures
Cost-effective: Compared with traditional reinforced concrete structures, air-supported membrane enclosures save massive amounts of steel and cement in materials. Construction does not require complex scaffolding or heavy machinery, greatly cutting labor costs. Later maintenance is simple, with energy consumption and parts replacement costs far lower than conventional venues.
Fast construction: A traditional natatorium usually takes half a year to one year to build. An air-supported membrane enclosure can be completed within weeks from design to construction, enabling the venue to open quickly and capture profit opportunities.
Energy-saving & eco-friendly: The membrane material features outstanding thermal insulation, reducing energy consumption for air conditioning and heating. Hardly any construction waste is generated during installation, bringing little impact on the surrounding environment and complying with green development concepts.
Flexible & multi-functional: It adapts to sites of different sizes. If expansion or relocation is needed later, the membrane structure can be easily disassembled and reassembled. It can even be converted into a badminton court, exhibition hall and more, realizing multi-purpose use of one venue.
Constant temperature & comfort: Equipped with an intelligent temperature control system, it blocks intense heat in summer to keep the interior cool. In winter, it retains heat and stabilizes the water temperature at a comfortable range of 26 - 28℃, saying goodbye to freezing winters and scorching summers.
Safe & reliable: The membrane can resist winds up to Grade 12 and bear heavy snow loads, with excellent seismic performance. Together with an intelligent monitoring system that tracks air pressure, temperature and other data in real time, early warnings will be triggered once abnormalities occur.
Fresh indoor air: Fresh air circulates multiple times per hour. Combined with an air filtration system, it discharges water vapor in a timely manner and filters dust and odors, keeping the air inside the venue fresh all the time.
Air-supported membrane enclosure: A new trend for future natatorium development
For outdoor swimming pool operators seeking to break operational bottlenecks, air-supported membrane enclosure is undoubtedly a high-cost-performance option. It addresses pain points of traditional venues such as high costs, long construction periods and weather restrictions, while improving user experience and boosting revenue. With the growing demand for swimming and fitness, air-supported membrane enclosures will become a mainstream trend for renovation and new construction of natatoriums. If you want your swimming pool to operate profitably all year round and attract large crowds, consider the air-supported membrane enclosure solution and embrace a brand-new operation model!
