Designing Safer Aquatic Facilities Session Presenter Contact information: Michael Shane Safety Management Director Lifesaving Society michaels@lifeguarding.com Welcome on behalf of the Lifesaving Society You should have: Sessions Workbook CD Questions: Please interrupt Session Logistics Cell phones: Turn to vibrate... or OFF please 1
Agenda Introduction The Lifesaving Society Discovering the lessons learned in safe aquatic facility design PSR factors of facility safety Exploring the Lifesaving Society architectural review audit process Wrap up The Lifesaving Society Dedicated to the prevention of drowning Certifies over 1,000,000 Canadians annually in lifesaving Establishes and consults on aquatic safety standards Represents Canada to the International Lifesaving Federation and the Commonwealth wide Royal Life Saving Society Find out more at...www.lifesavingsociety.com 2
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10 Edine Ilunga, 8 years old She was very nice and very kind," said Edward Ilunga, father of thirdgrader. " one of the top students in her class "She had dreams of becoming a doctor." Situation: Wave Pool, Fitness Centre and party room October 18 2008 wave swim Birthday party group of 10 children with two adults Less then 100 patrons in the pool with 5 guards on one NLS IT Waves were on the off cycle 12 4
Situation: Child complains to guard of vomit on surface of water near young girl 8 year old girl is floating at the surface of the water facing away from guard in the deep end of pool Deep end guard approximately 3 meters away 13 Situation: Birthday party had food and drinks then entered the pool directly At the time of the incident, the two adults were in change rooms/lobby Quick and excellent response by lifeguards and paramedics after initial whistle 14 5
Some Design Considerations Conflicting Uses Competition With FINA dimensions and depths, cool water, large spectator seating, parking VS 6
VS Lifestyle uses needing Shallow; warm water; play; inviting social water Some Design Considerations Operationalzing Admittance Policy Some Design Considerations Accommodating Privacy in change rooms 7
Some Design Considerations Staff needs on and off deck Some Design Considerations Storage needs for competing clients Some Design Considerations Accommodating Spectators 8
Some Design Considerations Accommodating cultural needs For Toronto in 1981 the journey begins Flemingdon Pool, City of North York (now Dennis R. Timbrell Resource Centre) Located in Flemingdon Park, a densely populated primary settlement neighbourhood for new Canadians The pool is designed without aquatic staff input. Ensure aquatic staff are assigned to the design team of any renovation or new build or you end up with: 9
Flemingdon Pool a single rectangle pool tank not quite 25 metres Steep stairs to pool deck from change rooms below No public reception area Small pool staff office has one doorway off deck No exterior sign identifying a pool in Recreation Centre A nice ceiling 10
North York Aquatic Centre development 1982 the old North York Memorial pool must be demolished to make way for the new City square development on Yonge Street The old pool has North York s best attendance and is located in the heart of the City NYAC (North York Aquatic Club) needs a training pool North York s population is booming with many young families The budget for replacement is healthy Aquatic staff on design team 11
Articulate needs and uses from the recreation team Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre Pool must serve multiple purposes in limited space 50 metres length for training can be accommodated but only 6 lanes wide The depth needed for competitive training would not serve the community needs To accommodate a large shallow area and flip turns at the wall an A typical shallow end is designed by Henry Wong 12
Conduct informal architectural audits Show the draft plans and get opinions and exchange ideas. DSAC Ideas obtained through colleagues: Tot washroom off deck at shallow tot teaching bay tile colour graduated by depth of steps and floor elevation Overly wide ramp into tot bay 13
Never Compromise on Safety (quote from Scarborough Capital Project Manager after observing the pool after it s first fill Reg. 565.s.6.4 (d): The walls of the pool basin and bottom must be white or light in colour (except for markings for safety or competition) Go White! 14
Where feasible the bottom may be marked to help bathers distinguish the change in water depth from deep to shallow. Ledges, steps, ramps Lifesaving Society notes in the Guide to Ontario Public Pool Regulation 15
New Stand alone pool in a not yetdeveloped urban park Serving community (not competition) MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA), David Miller Principal 16
Tour facilities everywhere Contact your peers when visiting away. Ask for a tour Ask questions of program and operations staff Greatest source of complaints? Like? Don t like? Why? 17
Give change room design as much consideration as the pool design Entrance to deck to meet patrons for facility swim testing Stroller storage Maximize privacy for changing Maximize views into the non changing areas for safety and reduce theft Give pool staff view of showers Minimize need for supervision and maintenance by gender 18
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I will always remember the time at one of our meetings you stopped the hesitation about the universal change rooms by stating that this project had to represent the leading edge and not what was familiar. It was a defining moment for the project. Jeanne Ng, Architect MJMA 20
No gender designated change rooms only Universal change rooms but two of them 21
Views through the building even through the change rooms Inspiration from the west garage doors! Architecture in sky lighting Maintaining privacy through blinds 22
What might have been interpreted merely as the tank to hold a pool has been upgraded to a City of Toronto facility that embraces all ages as well as the highest aspirations of our collective society. Lisa Rochon, Globe and Mail Sept 14.12 23
Lets look at pools from a safety supervision viewpoint How can we design them to enhance lifeguard performance (reduce incidents) Prevention Surveillance Response 24
Prevention Admittance check Signage Buoy lines Ladders Diving stands Change room location Locks Bottom lines tiling Prevention Admittance check 25
Signage Prevention Signage 26
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Prevention Buoy lines Prevention ladders 28
Prevention Diving stands 29
Prevention Change room location Entrance to deck often best located opposite shallow area of pool Family changerooms largest One changeroom Corridor security Prevention Locks Lockable Doors 30
Prevention Bottom lines 31
Prevention tiling 32
Surveillance Glare Lifeguard towers Sightlines Lighting Bottom color 33
Surveillance Glare 34
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Surveillance Lifeguard towers 36
Lifeguard Chair Placement 37
Surveillance Sightlines 38
Surveillance Lighting Lighting 39
Surveillance Bottom color 40
Tile Colour / Surface 41
Response Access Equipment Office Emergency buttons Response Access 42
Response Equipment 43
Response Office 44
Central Office 45
Response Emergency buttons Kill Buttons 46
Lifesaving Society Architectural Safety Audit Lifesaving Society Architectural Safety Audit Why should an architectural safety audit be completed? Process Personnel Regulations, Guidelines, Standards Report Recommendations Why Should an Architectural Safety Audit be Completed? Reduced liability Enhanced safety of design for operation Sight lines Lifeguard positioning To ensure all Regulations and industry standards are addressed (incident knowledge) 47
Process 1. Request received 2. Special requests 3. Quote delivered 4. Drawings received 5. Chief auditor and auditors review 6. Recommendations prepared 7. Draft delivered 8. Final report 9. Timelines 30 days Personnel Chief Auditor selected Team members assigned All certified Lifesaving Society Inspectors, Auditors Michael Shane Regulations, Guidelines, Standards Public Pool Design, Plan Review and Inspection Checklist Building Code Guide to Public Pools Regulation 565 Guide to Public Spa Regulation 428 Guide to Waterslides (Draft) Wading Pool Guidelines Waterfront Guidelines Standards Journals 1 3 FINA Facility Rules TSSA 48
Regulations, Guidelines, Standards Together with Lifesaving Society research into drownings in swimming pools Our experience in operating aquatic facilities Knowledge of water related incidents and coroners inquest investigations Findings from aquatic incident reviews Report Draft report is prepared with recommendations that are designed to enhance safety of the pool Document reviewed by client and revisions made that clarify recommendations Process 4 weeks Questions? 49
Designing Safer Aquatic Facilities 50