CIBSE guidance on swimming pools 

Hall conditioning 

Balance air and water temperatures to minimise evaporation 

Air  1oC above water temp and max humidity of 60‐70% RH is typical for bather comfort and to minimise condensation risks 

Evaporation depends on  

• Vapour pressure gradient between pool water and poolside air 

• Bather activity 

• Features and their operation 

• Air velocity at the pool surface 

Ventilation rate of 10‐15 l/s per m2 of wetted surface suitable for most conventional pools 

Additional allowances of up to 30 l/s per m run of ride for flumes, and 5 l/s m2 for leisure pools depending on features installed 

Outdoor air of 12 l/s per person (bathers, staff and spectators) 

Distribute supply and extract evenly to achieve conditions, system should remove contaminants from disinfection process without excessive velocities at pool surface to increase evaporation.  

 

 

Guide G: Public health engineering 107

Section G7: Swimming pools

Table G7.1 Recommended pool water turnover times Table G7.2 Recommended minimum pool water surface area per person

Turnover time (h) for comfort and safety

Leisure water bubble 10.33 Depth range Surface area

Leisure waters10.5 m deep 10.5 (4 per person Flume splash 0.5

Leisure waters 0.5-1.0 m deep 0.5-1.0 (m2)

Leisure waters 1.0-1.5 m deep 1.0-1.5 <1.0 2.0 Leisure waters > 1.5 m deep 2.0-2.5 1.C1.5 2.5 Teachingllearner 0.5-1.0 1.5-2.0 3.5 Leisure (overall) 1.0-1.5 Diving pools 4.5 Conventional: Spa poolst 0.37

t Spa pool shells should also provide a minimum of 0.25 m3 of

2.5 2.5

water per bather. clublprivate (heavy use) clublprivate (light use) 4.0

Traininglcompetition 3.0-4.5 Table G7.6 Maximum recommended pool water 4.0-6.0 temperatures 0.33-0.5

Residential (domestic) 6.0-7.0 Pool type Water temperature ("C)

Conventional 28 0.1 Leisure 29 0.125 Teaching 29 0.25 Traininglcompetition 25-27

Diving 28 Hvdrotherapy 32-40 Spa 40