OAKVILLE, Ontario – November 16, 2020 - OpenAire, the leading builder of retractable roof solutions, is thrilled to announce that on December 08, 2020 our first
OpenAire has spent many years extolling the health benefits of adding fresh air, daylight and natural ventilation to any location. A solution which can be added to an existing or a new space, but which has its roots in aquatic venues. Now, with eh onsite of Covid-19, its become critical to share our knowledge of the benefits for owners and designers. Energy savings, health, revenue opportunities and more. This is no longer an optional consideration, for many its a life line. As such it was the right time to put in writing what we know and share that with architects around the globe.
OpenAire has a global portfolio of over 1000 projects that range from retractable roofs over waterparks, to shopping malls, to restaurants, clubs, hotels, resorts, spas, to municipal and leisure centres, to private clubs, YMCAs, and prestige residences.
Our over thirty years of experience and vast portfolio of the design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of retractable roofs and operable walls has secured our position as forward thinking industry leaders, who work with architects to make their creative visions a reality. With the complexity faced by all businesses, in all industries this year, it was the right time to launch a course.
"We have been working with architects on design solutions for healthy, fresh ventilated spaces for years, but the challenges that came to the forefront amidst the 2020 pandemic, has meant we are working with many existing client owners to help them educate their local health departments about the benefits of "turning off" a building mechanically and letting Mother Nature do her thing. Suddenly spaces that open up to let nature in aren’t extras or add-ons, these buildings are critical for businesses to survive." said Director, Nancy Patterson.
The health and safety benefits of retractable roof solutions has become pronounced in recent months as the Covid-19 pandemic has spread around the world. The large volume of air that a retractable roof can bring into any space, provides a simple natural ventilation system that can help alleviate the challenges of virus transmission and can help make occupants feel comfortable and confident in the spaces we all design and create.
"Air flow in massive volumes turns buildings into natural chimneys. Many of our clients have been able to be open (albeit at limited capacity per local guidelines) and operate as "outdoor" facilities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Even with reduced guest capacities, it has meant there is income for these businesses throughout this complicated time. It has been wonderful to see some of our clients able to succeed in this otherwise chaotic year!" says OpenAire CEO, Mark Albertine.
While this is an especially critical solution for any type of aquatic venue; due to the corrosion and poor air quality from chloramines, the fact is that a large volume of fresh air can be added to any space where people gather, making those spaces useable year round, brightly lit, appealing to occupants and best of all cost efficient and environmentally sustainable.
Upon Completion of the course students will be able to:
The course will be worth one (1) AIA Continuing Education Learning Unit (1 AIA CE LU-HSW) which is easily transferable to Canadian Provincial Associations and other international Associations per association guidelines.
About OpenAire
OpenAire has been designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-quality, retractable roof structures and skylights for 31 years. We bring unique designs to life from concept to installation, transforming buildings into sunlit spaces that customers love. Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, OpenAire has over 1,000 projects throughout North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Some of our projects include unique and inviting commercial / entertainment and aquatic skylights and enclosures, such as the Rooftop Bar at the Refinery Hotel in New York NY (which achieved the #1 ranking in the 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Hotel Rooftop Bar 2015); the Rooftop XP at Hyatt House in Jersey City NJ; Ballpark Village in St. Louis MO; Restoration Hardware’s “RH Gallery” courtyard in Chicago IL; and Pizza Express in Jersey Isle UK.
Aquatic venues include; Zehnders Splash Village Waterpark in Frankenmuth MI and Epic Waters Waterpark in Grand Prairie TX; the award winning Plunge at FIT – Belmont Park in San Diego CA; Kalahari Resorts Waterpark, Poconos PA; Water Palace at Luzhniki Olympic Park, Moscow Russia.
To learn more about OpenAire Inc., visit https://openaire.com/ and follow us on Twitter. To discuss any projects, please e-mail sales@openaire.com.
CE Course Link: https://openaire.com/continuingeducation/
Host Nancy Patterson can be reached at: nancy.patterson@openaire.com
For more information contact:
OpenAire
TF: 855-426-9208
E: sales@openaire.com
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 
OpenAire, the world’s leading retractable roof specialists and kinetic engineering firm SCX Special Projects, have partnered to create solutions that will transform outdoor areas into flexible, attractive and innovative spaces.
COVID-19 has hit the entertainment and leisure sectors hard. Indoor venue capacities will remain reduced for a while to come and consumer confidence in busy public places will be slow to recover.
People will seek out safer public-private places to meet and venues with natural ventilation, daylight, and smart design will be in demand.
Wimbledon No.1 Court Retractable Roof
OpenAire and SCX Special Projects combine their skills to create covered areas that transform from stylish indoor spaces to airy outdoor venues. Elements such as retractable roofs, skylights, and bi-folding doors will blend with industry-leading control and automation to deliver a moving structure that opens and closes at the push of a button.
Attractive outdoor spaces have always been a valuable asset, but now they can play a significant role in the sector's recovery. Bars, restaurants, hotels, and clubs with existing outdoor spaces have an opportunity to create an attractive, differentiated, and socially-distanced venue.
Previously under-utilized outdoor areas can be made into lucrative multi-use venues, giving customers the confidence to visit, while offering new flexibility in layout and usage.
Wael Atassi, Commercial Director at OpenAire adds:
“We have created retractable roofs on all scales – from small private residences to hotels and restaurants, to huge shopping malls and waterparks. The aim is always the same: to create an indoor space that can quickly transform into an attractive open-air venue.”
Danny Pickard, Projects Director at SCX Special Projects says:
“People usually turn to SCX Special Projects to solve significant mechanical handling projects. However, our expertise translates to all kinds of moving structures, of all sizes, and especially those that need to move in public spaces where safety is a primary concern.”
OpenAire, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, has designed and built thousands of retractable roofs around the globe. It has led the market in developing advanced glass and metal structures that bring the outdoors into indoor spaces.
Award-winning SCX Special Projects, based in Sheffield, United Kingdom, has gained global recognition for its works on large-scale moving structures. Its work includes the iconic concertina roofs at Wimbledon and the world’s first dividing retractable soccer stadium at Tottenham Hotspur.
The two businesses first crossed paths in 2018 on a retractable roof project in the Middle East. Together, they bring more than 60 years of experience to the partnership, which aims to give outdoor spaces a new lease of life in a post-COVID-19 world.
OpenAire
TF: 855-426-9208
E: sales@openaire.com
All of OpenAire's indoor waterparks around the USA are open. Only our indoor park in Canada remains closed as of July 06, 2020
This is compared to about 66% of public and private indoor parks across the US who have re-opened so far. (per June 25, 2020 Hotel and Leisure Advisors Update)
From: Hotel and Leisure Advisors:
"The current COVID-19 crisis is having a significant negative effect on the waterpark industry. Many parks have delayed their season openings while others have decided, or been mandated, not to open in 2020 at all. With the largest database of waterparks and waterpark resorts across North America, H&LA is tracking the closings of waterparks across all segments. We began tracking the impact of COVID-19 on May 14th and will update this information a final time on July 9 as we track the most accurate data regarding the state of the industry in 2020. Our data is confirmed via online or property-level sources and is the latest data available as of the date of publication.
Indoor Waterparks:
We have researched or called every standalone indoor waterpark and indoor waterpark resort in the United States to determine their open status as of June 25, 2020. Some indoor waterpark resorts remain open for lodging, but their waterparks are closed. For our analysis, we considered these properties as closed.
Since our May 14th update, the number of open indoor waterparks has increased significantly. Nearly two-thirds of this segment is currently open.
For questions about H&LA’s research or to inquire about hospitality consulting services, please contact Heidi Banak, 216-228-7000, extension 14; hbanak@hladvisors.com or David Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC, 216-810-5800; dsangree@hladvisors.com
STATE OF OPENING FOR OPENAIRE INDOOR WATERPARKS POST COVID-19
Americana Conference Resort and Spa
Niagara Falls CANADA
Open Awaiting Province regulations for date
https://www.americananiagara.com
Big Splash
French Lick, IN
Open June 14, 2020
https://www.bigsplashadventure.com
Epic Waters
Grand Prairie, TX
Open May 29, 2020
Pirates Cay Waterpark (Holiday Inn Club Vacations® Fox River Resort)
Sheridan, IL
Open June 15, 2020
http://www.holidayinnclub.com/explore- resorts/fox-river-resort
Kalahari Resorts Poconos Mountains
Pocono Manor, PA
Open June 12, 2020
https://www.kalahariresorts.com
Pump House Waterpark
Jay Peak, VT
Open July 01, 2020 Surfing only
Raptor Reef Indoor Waterpark
Triple Play Resort Hotel & Suites, Hayden, ID
Open May 16, 2020
http://www.tripleplayresort.com
Water-Zoo Waterpark
Clinton, OK
Open May 22, 2020
Watiki Waterpark
Rapid City, SD
Open May 22, 2020
https://www.watikiwaterpark.com
Silverleaf Waterpark at the Villages
(Holiday Inn Club Vacations®)
Tyler, TX
Open June 11, 2020
http://www.holidayinnclub.com/explore- resorts/villages-resort
Zehnders Splash Village Waterpark and Resort
Frankenmuth, MI
Open July 01, 2020
Any facility that is indoor and aquatic has to be built properly. The repercussions of poor construction can be structural building failure (there are several reported cases buildings collapsing), corrosion, and constant maintenance. Space needs to be safe and healthy for guests and staff.
Waterparks have additional concerns due to the extreme volume of splashing and moisture in the air, but regardless all indoor aquatic centers have to carefully consider the building envelope before they build, so the long term costs of continued maintenance don’t break the bank.
Traditionally aquatic centers are built in large-span steel structures with concrete or metal and more recently glass infills/walls. Times have changed. If you are planning to build an indoor pool or aquatic center of any kind. Here is what you need to know:
Primary Building Envelope Key Issues/Concerns:
So what should you do to prevent some of these issues?
Build with Aluminum.
Retractable Aluminum Building Per OpenAire:
Polycarbonate Roof, Glass Walls, Aluminum Structure
Fixed Steel Building per Pre-Engineered Structure:
Steel Roof, Steel Walls, Steel Structure
OpenAire has had the pleasure of building aquatic centers around the globe, challenging the stereotypes of traditional indoor natatoriums. Our aluminum retractable roof enclosures cover commercial pools from spas to retirement communities, to municipal parks and recreation facilities, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, to hotels, cruise ships and private Health Clubs. We also have an extensive portfolio of waterparks.
No matter what the sector is, the issues around corrosion for indoor pools are the same.
For expanded portfolios of projects in all sectors, please reach out and contact us to see how we can support your future aquatic center dreams, or assist in modifying your existing facility to accommodate the future of improved daylight, hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness.
Footnotes:
1. Ventilation Requirements For Indoor Pools, Gary Lochner , ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org JULY 2017, www.ashrae.org
2. CDC Workplace Safety and Health; Investigation of Employee Symptoms at an Indoor Waterpark, Lilia Chen MS, Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 2007-0163-3062, Great Wolf Lodge, Mason, Ohio, June 2008
3. Avoiding Problems in Aquatics Facilities: Atypical design for atypical buildings, Construction Specifier December 25, 2013, Jason S. Der Ananian, PE, and Sean M. O’Brien, PE, LEED AP, https://www.constructionspecifier.com/avoiding-problems-in-aquatics-facilities-atypical-design-for-atypical- buildings/
4. A Corrosive Environment; Aquatics International Magazine, September 01,2011, Dave Schwartz, P.E, https://www.aquaticsintl.com/facilities/maintenance/a-corrosive-environment_o
5. https://www.wenzelmetalspinning.com/steel-vs-aluminum.html
6. Daylighting, Gregg D. Ander, FAIA, Southern California Edison, Updated by U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Updated: 09-15-2016, https://www.wbdg.org/resources/daylighting
7. The Benefits of Natural Light: Research supports daylighting’s positive effect on building performance and
human health. Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg. https://architecturallighting.com; March 19, 2014.
8. https://www.aluminum.org/aluminum-advantage/aluminum-101
9. https://www.wenzelmetalspinning.com/steel-vs-aluminum.html
10. Closed environments facilitate secondary transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hiroshi Nishiura, Hitoshi Oshitani, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Tomoya Saito, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Tamano Matsui, Takaji Wakita, MHLW COVID-19 Response Team, Motoi Suzuki, medRxiv 2020.02.28.20029272; doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1101/2020.02.28.20029272
During a global pandemic, business and building operators, owners and real estate asset managers of all types of commercial facilities are wondering where do we go from here 
You may be asking yourself questions like:
“When do we open up”
“What changes do we need to make to open in the future?”
“How are we going to make the new “normal” financially viable?”
Business teams, worldwide, are now actively discussing how to address these very issues and trying to assess where a pivot will be necessary.
Whether you run, own, operate, or have in your portfolio restaurants, recreation centers, health clubs, hotels, or any other commercial space where a volume of people gather, there are now health and safety concerns to address. If your facility is a seniors home or other space with vulnerable guests, this is even more critical.
Pandemics of the past have, guided us in the design of city planning and modern infrastructure development (ie. the design of sanitary systems). Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic seems primed to inform future design issues, most notably natural ventilation strategies. Investigation natural ventilation strategies started post SARS after the 2003 epidemic and has been brought back to the forefront in 2020. From here on out, new standards aren’t temporary, they’re rewriting the future of health & building codes.
Locally mandated social distancing and capacity guidelines will be a key part of every businesses’ reopening plans. This includes things like mandated PPE (personal protection equipment) and controlled volume of patrons. But what about the space that they are in? What might need to be changed now, and the future?
As we all now know - times have changed, likely forever. Will a restaurant or gym that was “totally fine” last year be one that can generate the traffic needed to survive when patrons are nervous about being in close proximity to others? What are the items to consider as part of emerging design and renovation for buildings worldwide? What can we look at now when considering re-opening and for the future should another pandemic occur?
Here are a few things that come to mind:
1) Cleanliness & Materials: Global public health strategies now include frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects that are touched by multiple people, this is important to reduce the spread of infection. Easily cleanable materials are recommended.1 The CDC states:
Another way to reduce the risk of exposure is to make long-term changes to practices and procedures. These could include reducing the use of porous materials used for seating, leaving some doors open to reduce touching by multiple people, opening windows to improve ventilation, or removing objects in your common areas.2
2) Ventilation: During this pandemic, perhaps more than ever, natural ventilation and the use of fresh air are recommended to reduce the spread of airborne viruses.3 While there is little evidence that ventilation directly reduces the risk of disease transmission, many studies suggest that insufficient ventilation increases disease transmission.4 The WHO (World Health Organization) has extensive material about the benefits of natural ventilation in health care that can be applied to the commercial sector.
Increasing ventilation rate is believed to reduce the cross-infection of airborne transmitted diseases by removing or diluting pathogen-laden airborne droplet nuclei. A higher ventilation rate can dilute the contaminated air inside the space more rapidly and decrease the risk of cross-infection. Natural ventilation is able to deliver large ventilation rates with a low energy consumption. Compared with mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation can provide much higher ventilation rates.5
3) Daylight: There is undeniable evidence that day-lit spaces hold the potential to yield substantial benefits, including increased energy savings, increased revenue in retail applications, and improvements to human health and productivity.6 While the science isn’t precise, it’s clear that daylight affects our mood, our behavior and our productivity. It is therefore mandated by global building codes:
Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural light, direct sunlight, and diffused-skylight into a building to reduce electric lighting and saving energy. By providing a direct link to the dynamic and perpetually evolving patterns of outdoor illumination, daylighting helps create a visually stimulating and productive environment for building occupants, while reducing as much as one- third of total building energy costs.7
So where do you go from here?We can’t tear all the buildings down and start over, so what do we do?
Cities worldwide are closing streets and using them to encourage gathering and yet maintain social distances. We have all seen the photos of streets covered in tables that separate restaurant patrons.8 While this is fun during the summer and in warmer climates where vehicular traffic volumes are low, what do we do next?
Owners need to look at their spaces and assess what materials may need to change or be updated to ensure that cleaning and disinfecting of public spaces can be maintained. There are of course illumination and sound issues to contend with when porous materials are removed, so some additional baffling and other sound protection devices may need to be employed in areas beyond public contact.
Per the experts, using natural ventilation saves owners money and allows business owners to provide guests and staff with a safer and healthier environment which may enable the reduced risk of virus transmission. So now might be the time to look at the walls and roof of your facility and see how they can be opened up. It is clear that the size of the openings matters, in other words, the bigger the better. Operable walls and roofs can be added onto new or existing (including historic) facilities. Now is the time to investigate what options for this can be explored.
New studies demonstrate the correlation between the transmission of COVID-19 in closed environments vs. open air circulation. In a recent Japan study, the odds of a primary case transmitting COVID-19 in a closed environment was 18.7x greater compared to an open-air environment.9
The big benefit of adding large oversized skylights and operable walls is the increased daylight. Going forward you can expect to be able to reduce your reliance on and cost for artificial lighting.
This is a win-win for business owners, who can attract people more easily into a space that lets the outdoors in.
This pandemic highlights that facilities that have already implemented these trends are in fact, ahead of the curve. Ironically, natural ventilation was the main driver of architectural design before it was replaced with mechanical systems in the 20th century. Traditional buildings had a variety of shapes and layouts to promote ventilation by cross-breeze, stacking, wind towers, atriums, chimneys and more. Studies of “old” buildings with high ceilings and large windows for natural ventilation, show that they have greater ventilation than modern rooms of the same type.10
It seems clear now, in hindsight, that while businesses remain closed, and only outdoor spaces are open, that we need to relook at buildings and how we design them. How can we turn the indoors to outdoors and vice versa? Gathering of ‘at risk’ groups will depend on the creative thinking of designers worldwide. Creating spaces that can transform and that can also meet the needs of northern climate weather patterns.
Architecture isn't static. Designers worldwide are already back at the drawing board to look at ventilation models that use fresh air, easier to clean spaces and more daylight. Building codes that prevented enclosure of patios due to lot coverage may need to be revised. A bright ventilated yet enclosed patio may now be the “best” seat in the house. These are just some of the first of a few steps we will need to take to transform our spaces into ones that are safer and healthier for us all.
OpenAire has had the pleasure of building retractable roof enclosures and skylights and oversized motorized walls around the globe, challenging the stereotypes of traditional buildings and meeting the needs of global energy codes worldwide. Our mutual goal is always to help our clients lead the way in creating enjoyable, practical and beautiful spaces, making custom solutions to suit their exact spaces and needs.
With almost 1000 global projects, OpenAire is pleased to have projects in health clubs, restaurants, hotels, senior living, eduction, transport, retail & shopping. We have worked with both the public and private sector and have extensive work with the not for profit community, ie the YMCA.
Contact us to see how we can support your vision, or assist in modifying your existing building to accommodate the future of improved daylight, hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness.
1 CDC Workplace Safety and Health; Investigation of Employee Symptoms at an Indoor Waterpark, Lilia Chen MS, Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 2007-0163-3062, Great Wolf Lodge, Mason, Ohio, June 2008.
2 Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes, May 7, 2020, Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html
3 Study: Restaurant Outbreak In China Suggests Limits To Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, 22 APRIL 2020, SF NEWS, Jay Barmann, https://sfist.com/2020/04/22/study-restaurant-covid-19-outbreak-in-china/
4 WHO; Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings, Edited by: James Atkinson, Yves Chartier, Carmen Lúcia Pessoa-Silva, Paul Jensen, Yuguo Li and Wing-Hong Seto, ISBN 978 92 4 154785 7 (NLM classification:WX 167), © World Health Organization 2009
5 Ventilation control for airborne transmission of human exhaled bio-aerosols in buildings, Hua Qian, Xiaohong Zheng, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.21037/jtd.2018.01.24
6 The Benefits of Natural Light: Research supports daylighting’s positive effect on building performance and human health. Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg. architecturallighting.com; March 19, 2014
7 Daylighting, Gregg D. Ander, FAIA, Southern California Edison, Updated by U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Updated: 09-15-2016, https://www.wbdg.org/resources/daylighting
8 https://www.foodandwine.com/news/restaurants-reopen-al-fresco-dining-closed-streets-coronavirus?
9 Closed environments facilitate secondary transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hiroshi Nishiura, Hitoshi Oshitani, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Tomoya Saito, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Tamano Matsui, Takaji Wakita, MHLW COVID-19 Response Team, Motoi Suzuki, medRxiv 2020.02.28.20029272; doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1101/2020.02.28.20029272,
10 WHO; Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings, Edited by: James Atkinson, Yves Chartier, Carmen Lúcia Pessoa-Silva, Paul Jensen, Yuguo Li and Wing-Hong Seto, ISBN 978 92 4 154785 7 (NLM classification:WX 167), © World Health Organization 2009[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Few buildings present the risks and challenges found in indoor swimming pool enclosures or natatoriums. With far higher interior moisture loads than typical buildings and a potentially corrosive interior environment, natatoriums put structural and enclosure systems to the test, especially in cold or even mixed climates.1 In addition, geography has an impact. Coastal location structures are also at risk from sea/salt air, while inland locations may suffer from pollution and other environmental factors.
Indoor pools, in all locations, suffer from the effects of chloramines, the off-gases in the air, which have become worse as pools have become bigger/warmer and as attractions; such as slides, surfing, splash pads, have become common features. Chloramines are toxic. They cause corrosion, irritate skin and eyes and are a known respiratory health hazard to swimmers, lifeguards and other pool occupants.2 If you notice a chlorine-type smell, the air is probably contaminated with chloramines.3
As a result, operators and owners are continually on the lookout for building envelope failures that can appear quickly and severely and are caused by improper design and construction. Building envelope failures can include roof membranes, vapor and air barriers, foundations and cracks in cladding, all of which can lead to energy loss and potential structural member degradation.Natatorium investigation reports almost always cite “improper design/construction of the vapor retarder” as a primary cause of moisture problems.4
Building envelope issues are inherent in mixed-use athletic complexes where the pool is attached to a larger facility and designers didn’t fully appreciate the complex distinction/ineraction between the specialized systems required for the pool area and/or failed to prevent moisture migration between the pool and the adjacent spaces.5
This is because the air in a natatorium often contains nearly three times the moisture per unit volume as a typical, non-humidified building. It is important to realize the building code is intended for non-humidified/‘general-use’ buildings and does not specifically cover special buildings such as natatoriums and museums—both of which require atypical interior conditions.6
Perhaps the biggest risk to indoor pools is the corrosion danger to the structural
steel used in building envelopes over the pool area. Several structural failures over pools have led to the sudden collapse of ceilings, along with deaths and injuries. The cause was chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC).7
An uncoated (or insufficiently coated) steel bar joist roof structure will corrode quickly, creating a maintenance nightmare. Accessible surfaces using stainless steel can be maintained and refinished easily, and with a proper water treatment program, corrosion can be reduced. However, the impact on any part of the building envelope beyond the physical reach of regular maintenance programs remains a major concern.
How do you clean/maintain a roof that’s 30-40 ft over the pool on a regular basis? The answer is... you don’t.
The alternative solution.The answer is to ventilate the chemical and filter room air to the outside.8
New studies demonstrate the correlation between the transmission of COVID-19 in closed environments vs. open air circulation. In a recent Japan study, the odds of a primary case transmitting COVID-19 in a closed environment was 18.7x greater compared to an open-air environment.9
Plus there are a couple of other ideas that have been found to alleviate the impact of corrosion.
The first, as noted, is the introduction of naturally ventilated air. A large volume of air through the pool space will help to eliminate the chloramines the cause the air to be less acidic and corrosive. It has the added benefit of reducing smell and creating a more desirable space for guests. ASHRAE says to design a natatorium system so that up to 30 percent of the recirculation rate can be brought in as fresh air. We recommend greater fresh air capacity, 50 to 100 percent where feasible.10
The second idea is: whenever possible use building materials, such as aluminum, that will endure in this environment.11
Aluminum is lightweight, high-strength, corrosion-resistant and widely recycled. It maximizes building efficiency by balancing the functions of heating, cooling, lighting, shading and ventilation. In addition, aluminum in buildings has been proven to last for multiple decades with minimal maintenance, lowering the lifecycle footprint of a building.12 Building a pool enclosure that doesn’t corrode seems like a no brainer. Add to that low-cost natural ventilation and reduced maintenance costs, its an obvious choice.
Lastly: Aluminum is superior to steel and iron in its ability to reflect the infrared (heat) rays of the sun. Properly coated aluminum roofs can reflect up to 95 percent of the solar energy that strikes them, dramatically improving energy efficiency.13 This makes aluminum a key component in LEED- certified green buildings should you be looking for that designation.14
Natatoriums of the Future
Facilities built with non-corrosive materials like aluminum have a significant advantage both from a strength and durability perspective, and a cleanliness one.
A bright, open space that isn’t corroded makes these aquatic centers not only more attractive to guests, but in fact they are easier to clean. Also per the experts, using natural ventilation saves money and allows operators to provide all occupants with a safer and healthier environment which may reduce the risk of virus transmission. During this time of a global pandemic, these are the issues that matter more than ever.
This is a win-win for owners and operators.
OpenAire has had the pleasure of building aquatic centres around the globe, challenging the stereotypes of traditional indoor natatoriums. Our retractable roof aluminum enclosures cover commercial pools from spas to retirement communities, to municipal parks and recreation facilities, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, to hotels, cruise ships and private Health Clubs. We also have an extensive portfolio of waterparks.
No matter what the sector is, the issues around corrosion for indoor pools are the same.
A small sample of our aquatic centers include:
For expanded portfolios of projects in all sectors, please reach out and contact us to see how we can support your future aquatic center dreams, or assist in modifying your existing facility to accommodate the future of improved daylight, hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color="black"][vc_column_text el_id="footnotes"]
1 Avoiding Problems in Aquatics Facilities: Atypical design for atypical buildings, Construction Specifier December 25, 2013, Jason S. Der Ananian, PE, and Sean M. O’Brien, PE, LEED AP, https:// www.constructionspecifier.com/avoiding-problems-in-aquatics-facilities-atypical-design-for-atypical-buildings/
2 Ventilation Requirements For Indoor Pools, Gary Lochner , ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org JULY 2017, www.ashrae.org.
3 Energy efficiency in indoor aquatic facilities, INV-DG-01, November 2016, Gary Lochner, Unison Comfort Technologies, innoventair.com
4 Avoiding Problems in Aquatics Facilities: Atypical design for atypical buildings, Construction Specifier December 25, 2013, Jason S. Der Ananian, PE, and Sean M. O’Brien, PE, LEED AP, https://www.constructionspecifier.com/avoiding-problems-in-aquatics-facilities-atypical-design-for-atypical-buildings/
5 ibid.
6 ibid.
7 A Corrosive Environment; Aquatics International Magazine, September 01,2011, Dave Schwartz, P.E, https://www.aquaticsintl.com/facilities/maintenance/a-corrosive-environment_o
8 ibid.
9 Closed environments facilitate secondary transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hiroshi Nishiura, Hitoshi Oshitani, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Tomoya Saito, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Tamano Matsui, Takaji Wakita, MHLW COVID-19 Response Team, Motoi Suzuki, medRxiv 2020.02.28.20029272; doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1101/2020.02.28.20029272,
10 A Corrosive Environment; Aquatics International Magazine, September 01,2011, Dave Schwartz, P.E, https://www.aquaticsintl.com/facilities/maintenance/a-corrosive-environment_o
11 Energy efficiency in indoor aquatic facilities, INV-DG-01, November 2016, Gary Lochner, Unison Comfort Technologies, innoventair.com
12 https://www.aluminum.org/aluminum-advantage/aluminum-101
13 https://www.aluminum.org/product-markets/building-construction
14 ibid.
There is undeniable evidence that daylit spaces hold the potential to yield substantial benefits, including increased energy savings, increased revenue in retail applications, and improvements to human health and productivity.1
While the science isn’t precise, it is clear that daylight affects our mood, our behavior and our productivity. It is therefore mandated by global buildings codes:
Daylighting is the controlled admission of natural light, direct sunlight, and diffused- skylight into a building to reduce electric lighting and saving energy. By providing a direct link to the dynamic and perpetually evolving patterns of outdoor illumination, daylighting helps create a visually stimulating and productive environment for building occupants, while reducing as much as one- third of total building energy costs.2
Adding Sky to Your Design Isn’t Just Beautiful, It’s Highly Beneficial.
How does this translate to benefits in a waterpark?
1. Daylight serves as a benefit for your staff, encouraging productivity and boosting happiness while they are at work.
2. Waterpark guests, in brightly lit spaces where the provision of light/ luminance on interior surfaces is present, are likely to be happier. Therefore, their behavior will shift to staying longer, spending more and returning more frequently.
There are a variety of studies showing that daylight is the third most important factor in improving retail sales, behind hours of operation and years since last renovation.3
In other words, a day lit space with good hours and a clean, new environment will make more money.
Utilizing natural light can also lead to substantial energy savings. A waterpark could eliminate or significantly reduce the need for artificial lighting during daytime hours.
Lighting loads can be reduced by incorporating natural lighting into the envelope design and by using efficient lighting options.4
This is a win-win for owners and operators.
OpenAire has had the pleasure of building waterparks around the globe, challenging the stereotypes of traditional indoor parks. Our mutual goal is always to help them lead the way in creating enjoyable, practical and beautiful spaces, making custom solutions to suit their exact spaces and needs. From the northern border to the deep south, OpenAire supports clients in creating water parks for all seasons that are bound to “wow.”
A top five park in Texas; Epic Waters, the largest indoor Waterpark in the USA
Contact us to see how we can support your future waterpark vision, or assist in modifying your existing park to accommodate the future of improved daylight, hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness.
1 The Benefits of Natural Light: Research supports daylighting’s positive effect on building performance and human health. Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg. architecturallighting.com; March 19, 2014
2 Daylighting, Gregg D. Ander, FAIA, Southern California Edison, Updated by U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Updated: 09-15-2016, https://www.wbdg.org/resources/daylighting
3 The Benefits of Natural Light: Research supports daylighting’s positive effect on building performance and human health. Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg. architecturallighting.com; March 19, 2014.
4 Energy efficiency in indoor aquatic facilities. Thoughtful choices yield significant energy savings, by Gary Lochner, Unison Comfort Technologies, innoventair.com
Every interior space requires some form of ventilation. Natural, mechanical or a hybrid, but this is especially true with the chemical-laden air of a waterpark. Indoor pools are guided by the guidelines set out by ASHRAE 62.1, but per the CDC report titled the “Investigation of Employee Symptoms at an Indoor Waterpark"1, these standards are not enough in a large voluminous space where water is splashed and spread differently than in a more typical pool.
Why Ventilation Is Priority
Ventilation is required to achieve and maintain good air quality, as well as thermal comfort levels but as the study shows, also the health and safety of staff and guests.
Natural ventilation was the main driver of architectural design before it was replaced with mechanical systems in the 20th century. Traditional buildings had a variety of shapes and layouts to promote ventilation by cross-breeze, stacking, wind towers, atriums, chimneys and more. However, studies of “old” buildings with high ceilings and large windows for natural ventilation, shows that they have greater ventilation than modern rooms of the same type.2
There is little evidence that ventilation directly reduces the risk of disease transmission, but many studies suggest that insufficient ventilation increases disease transmission.3
After the SARS outbreak in 2003, the WHO (World Health Organization) extensively studied the design and role of ventilation in healthcare facilities to help reduce transmission of airborne infections and found:
Increasing ventilation rate is believed to reduce the cross-infection of airborne transmitted diseases by removing or diluting pathogen-laden airborne droplet nuclei. A higher ventilation rate can dilute the contaminated air inside the space more rapidly and decrease the risk of cross-infection. Natural ventilation is able to deliver large ventilation rates with a low energy consumption. Compared with mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation can provide much higher ventilation rates.4
This is of course subject to the layout of a facility to maximize airflow patterns, identify the main driving forces (of wind) and sizing and locating openings. The WHO study set the standards for natural ventilation and promoted the use of low-cost natural ventilation, followed by the air of mechanical ventilation to move air when natural forces do not supply necessary conditions.5
The benefits of a naturally ventilated space are clear, for healthcare-related facilities (the study focus). These benefits can now be applied to all other commercial spaces, and, in this time of a new pandemic, the study conducted by the Guangzhou Yuexiu District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, set to be published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July concludes:
We conclude that in this outbreak, droplet transmission was prompted by air-conditioned ventilation...” "The key factor for infection was the direction of the airflow. To prevent the spread of the virus in restaurants, we recommend increasing the distance between tables and improving ventilation.”6
Will people return to crowded mechanically ventilated spaces when the risk is so great?
Given that waterparks are primarily family- oriented destinations, parents may hesitate to enter a space with their children or grandparents that aren’t naturally and visibly ventilated. Even if they are able to socially distance in this environment, a family may worry if they can potentially contract a virus in the space, and reconsider if the space presents concerns or risk.
Open up your space.
So, how can we improve ventilation in a space that is already built? Simply put, we can cut open a hole in the roof and the walls, and introduce natural ventilation. It's not always simple, but at this time when all options are on the table, there are solutions to be found.
The CDC has continued to recommend the following protocols for indoor pools:
Bring fresh air from the outside into the swimming area. If the fresh air is cold, this will increase heating costs, but compared with the cost of patron discomfort and illness linked to chloramines its a welcome trade-off.7
No matter how you look at it, you need fresh air in your space, lots of it, as poor air quality can lead to staff and guest symptoms of illness, which now include the symptoms of COVID-19.
Using fresh air for ventilation has an added benefit:
Using outdoor air as a dehumidifying source when it is cost-effective, rather than using a mechanical dehumidification system, can greatly reduce total operating costs, provide better indoor air quality, and improve system reliability.8
But the ventilation efficiency decreases as ceiling height increases and the distance of the supply points from the deck increases9. So having an entire roof that opens up, might be the ideal solution to increase airflow.
There is a need to develop effective and appropriate engineering technologies and innovative architectural features to maximize the use of natural ventilation for different climatic conditions worldwide.10
In summary, per the global health experts, adding fresh air saves owners money and seems to allow operators to provide guests with a safer and healthier environment which may reduce the risk of virus transmission.
OpenAire has had the pleasure of building waterparks around the globe, challenging the stereotypes of traditional indoor parks. Our mutual goal is always to help them lead the way in creating enjoyable, practical and beautiful spaces, making custom solutions to suit their exact spaces and needs. From the northern border to the deep south, OpenAire supports clients in creating water parks for all seasons that are bound to “wow.” This includes:
Contact us to see how we can support your future waterpark vision, or assist in modifying your existing park to accommodate the future of improved daylight, hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color="black"][vc_column_text el_id="footnotes"]
1 CDC Workplace Safety and Health; Investigation of Employee Symptoms at an Indoor Waterpark, Lilia Chen MS, Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 2007-0163-3062, Great Wolf Lodge, Mason, Ohio, June 2008
2 WHO; Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings, Edited by: James Atkinson, Yves Chartier, Carmen Lúcia Pessoa-Silva, Paul Jensen, Yuguo Li and Wing-Hong Seto, ISBN 978 92 4 154785 7 (NLM classification:WX 167), © World Health Organization 2009
3 ibid
4 Ventilation control for airborne transmission of human exhaled bio-aerosols in buildings, Hua Qian, Xiaohong Zheng, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.21037/jtd.2018.01.24
5 WHO; Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings, Edited by: James Atkinson, Yves Chartier, Carmen Lúcia Pessoa-Silva, Paul Jensen, Yuguo Li and Wing-Hong Seto, ISBN 978 92 4 154785 7 (NLM classification:WX 167), © World Health Organization 2009
6 Study: Restaurant Outbreak In China Suggests Limits To Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, 22 APRIL 2020, SF NEWS, Jay Barmann, https://sfist.com/2020/04/22/study-restaurant-covid-19-outbreak-in-china/
7 https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/aquatics-professionals/chloramines.html
8 Energy efficiency in indoor aquatic facilities. Thoughtful choices yield significant energy savings, by Gary Lochner, Unison Comfort Technologies, innoventair.com
9 ibid
10 WHO; Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings, Edited by: James Atkinson, Yves Chartier, Carmen Lúcia Pessoa-Silva, Paul Jensen, Yuguo Li and Wing-Hong Seto, ISBN 978 92 4 154785 7 (NLM classification:WX 167), © World Health Organization 2009
Health care professionals and government officials have clearly stated that increasing the frequency and thoroughness of cleaning is compulsory in order to prevent the spread of virus through contact. Global public health re-opening strategies include cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and PPE (personal protective equipment) as the basic minimum when opening.
The New Normal.
The CDC, in their article titled “Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes” states:
Normal routine cleaning with soap and water will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure. In addition, disinfection using EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19 can also help reduce the risk. Frequent disinfection of surfaces
and objects touched by multiple people is important.1
Clearly, parks will require new protocols and necessary PPE, with frequent disinfection playing a mandatory role in all staff duty expectations. This includes furniture, railings, tubes, lockers, counters, furniture, ATMs, etc. that staff and guests touch and comes into contact with regularly.
There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread directly to humans from water in pools, hot tubs or spas, or water play areas. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (for example, with chlorine or bromine) of pools, hot tubs or spas, and water playgrounds should kill the virus that causes COVID-19.2
In addition, scheduling for more significant maintenance cleaning and repairs will likely require more time than previously needed. However, some things will prove to be challenging to clean. Highly themed parks may need to implement no contact zones for theme displays that cannot be properly disinfected. Parks with easier-to-clean surfaces, columns, walls, etc, that are metal or glass will be a breeze to clean, and will likely increase their clients’ perception of whether the park is clean.
Those in the industry know that older indoor waterparks continuously perform maintenance around the park as the facility slowly deteriorates. The attractions and pools of course, require work, as do the attractions, pumps, and all the other behind- the-scenes equipment. Truthfully, many old parks have opted not to regularly “upgrade” interiors (until they are required to) due to the cost, design, theme, and so forth. This may no longer be acceptable, both by health code and guests.
Guests don’t want to risk getting sick, and a waterpark definitely doesn’t want to have to re-close should an outbreak occur. The detrimental impact to their reputation could prove insurmountable.
Evaluate How to Adapt.
Take a look at your waterpark’s walls, the attractions, the theming, and more. Can they be cleaned? How long do they stay clean? Materials historically used to build waterparks are subject to intense chloramines which attack and corrode the buildings, slide towers, railings, and pools. Literally every surface is under assault, whether they are wood, steel, or some combination of traditional building materials.
The CDC states; Another way to reduce the risk of exposure is to make long-term changes to practices and procedures. These could include reducing the use of porous materials used for seating, leaving some doors open to reduce touching by multiple people, opening windows to improve ventilation, or removing objects in your common areas.3
Parks built with non-corrosive materials like aluminum have a significant advantage both from a strength and durability perspective, plus from a cleanliness one. A bright, open space that also opens and ventilates naturally, simply doesn’t corrode. That makes these parks not only seem cleaner, but they will also be cleaner if proper procedures are implemented.
Avoiding the use of porous and corrosive materials will help maintain the cleanliness and health of your facility making your building components last as long as possible.
Aluminum is lightweight, high-strength, corrosion-resistant and widely recycled. It maximizes building efficiency by balancing the functions of heating, cooling, lighting, shading and ventilation. In addition, aluminum in buildings has been proven to last for multiple decades with minimal maintenance, lowering the lifecycle footprint of a building.4
Perhaps this time of global crisis means that the design of these spaces will inherently change. Perhaps bright and light will be the new norm? Only time will tell, but global theme designers will surely provide innovation in this area.
The concepts of what constitutes a good indoor water parks are now different, and they won’t default back to what was once acceptable. This pandemic highlights that parks who have already seen these trends are in fact, ahead of the curve.
OpenAire has had the pleasure of building waterparks around the globe, challenging the stereotypes of traditional indoor parks. Our mutual goal is always to help them lead the way in creating enjoyable, practical and beautiful spaces, making custom solutions to suit their exact spaces and needs. From the northern border to the deep south, OpenAire supports clients in creating water parks for all seasons that are bound to “wow.” This includes:
Contact us to see how we can support your future waterpark vision, or assist in modifying your existing park to accommodate the future of improved daylight, hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness.
1 Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes, May 7, 2020, Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html
2 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html
3 Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes, May 7, 2020, Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html
During a global pandemic, operators and owners of indoor waterparks are wondering where do we go from here? You may be asking yourself questions like:
“When do we open up this summer?”
“What changes do we need to make to open in the future?”
“How are we going to make the new normal financially viable?”
Teams are now actively discussing how to address these very issues, and where a pivot will be necessary.
Some outdoor waterparks have opted to remain closed for the summer of 2020, due to the inherent cost in ramping up for the season with training/staffing. Others will only operate at minimal capacity for the foreseeable season. For parks with a short season, it may simply not be “worth it” this year to open; a sad but fiscally conservative decision where needed.
However, indoor water parks employ their staff year-round. Staff count may expand and contract due to demand, but with the versatility to adapt their facilities regardless of season, indoor parks are riding on a decision of WHEN and HOW to reopen, and not IF.
Locally mandated social distancing guidelines and capacity guidelines will be a key part of every waterpark’s reopening plan. Like most businesses, owners and operators know that their viability to keep going is reliant on sales, so at some point, the doors must re-open.
Is your waterpark ready? Or are there vital upgrades needed?
As we all now know - times have changed, likely forever. Will a park that was “totally fine” last year be a park that accommodates the future, accounting for health and hygiene standards brought to the surface by COVID-19? From here on out, new standards aren’t temporary, they’re rewriting the future of health & building codes.
What are the items to consider as part of emerging waterpark renovation for existing parks, and future waterpark design/operation? What are the top priorities and considerations? Most importantly, what actions need to be made in order to put these waterparks ahead of the curve as they facilitate a reopening?
1. Cleanliness & Materials: Global public health strategies now include frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects that are touched by multiple people is important to reduce the spread of infection. Easily cleanable materials are recommended.1
2. Ventilation: Typical indoor pool ventilation standards are still not enough for waterparks to reduce chloramine related illness due to the density of guests and splashing water2. During this pandemic, perhaps more than ever, natural ventilation and the use of fresh air are recommended to reduce the spread of airborne viruses.3
3. Daylight: There is undeniable evidence that day-lit spaces hold the potential to yield substantial benefits, including increased energy savings, increased revenue in retail applications, and improvements to human health and productivity.4
Parks built with non-corrosive materials like aluminum have a significant advantage both from a strength and durability perspective, plus from a cleanliness one. A bright, open space that ventilates naturally, and one that isn’t corroded makes these parks not only seem cleaner, but they will also be cleaner if proper procedures are implemented.
And, per the experts, using natural ventilation saves owners money and allows operators to provide guests and staff with a safer and healthier environment which may reduce the risk of virus transmission.
This is a win-win for owners and operators.
Waterparks of the Future.
The concepts of what constitutes good indoor water parks are now different, and they won’t default back to what was once acceptable. This pandemic highlights that parks who have already seen these trends are in fact, ahead of the curve.
Parks that opt for these choices use less energy and are cheaper to operate and maintain every year.
And now, it turns out these parks may in fact be safer for guests!
New studies demonstrate the correlation between the transmission of COVID-19 in closed environments vs. open air circulation. In a recent Japan study, the odds of a primary case transmitting COVID-19 in a closed environment was 18.7x greater compared to an open-air environment.5
Parks that shifted to modern principles early on have long been reaping the benefits of daylight, fresh air, and a clean structure, while sharing these benefits with their staff and guests. These parks are not only ahead of the curve, but they’ll have the privilege of opening with more ease amidst “new normal” demands from this global pandemic.
OpenAire has had the pleasure of building waterparks around the globe, challenging the stereotypes of traditional indoor parks. Our mutual goal is always to help them lead the way in creating enjoyable, practical and beautiful spaces, making custom solutions to suit their exact spaces and needs. From the northern border to the deep south, OpenAire supports clients in creating water parks for all seasons that are bound to “wow.” This includes:
Contact us to see how we can support your future waterpark vision, or assist in modifying your existing park to accommodate the future of improved daylight, hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness.
1 CDC Workplace Safety and Health; Investigation of Employee Symptoms at an Indoor Waterpark, Lilia Chen MS, Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 2007-0163-3062, Great Wolf Lodge, Mason, Ohio, June 2008.
2 ibid.
3 Study: Restaurant Outbreak In China Suggests Limits To Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, 22 APRIL 2020, SF NEWS, Jay Barmann, https://sfist.com/2020/04/22/study-restaurant-covid-19-outbreak-in-china/
4 The Benefits of Natural Light: Research supports daylighting’s positive effect on building performance and human health. Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg. architecturallighting.com; March 19, 2014
5 Closed environments facilitate secondary transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hiroshi Nishiura, Hitoshi Oshitani, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Tomoya Saito, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Tamano Matsui, Takaji Wakita, MHLW COVID-19 Response Team, Motoi Suzuki, medRxiv 2020.02.28.20029272; doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1101/2020.02.28.20029272
