Construction of swimming pools in Katowice completed

Two new swimming pools, in Katowice Brynów at ul. T. Kościuszki and in Katowice Szopienice at ul. Gen. Józefa Hallera are ready. The contractor of both facilities was NDI company from Sopot. The swimming pools have already received a decision on the permit for use from the District Building Control Inspector in Katowice.

– This is our next project in the area of public utility buildings – says Małgorzata Winiarek-Gajewska, President of NDI. A few months ago, we completed the construction of a modern swimming pool complex for the Navy in Gdynia. In Silesia we have been known mainly for the implementation of urban infrastructure projects: tram and road, although our first project in this region was the headquarters of ING Bank together with the Chorzowska 50 building in Katowice. The implementation of swimming pool projects in Katowice was an interesting experience due to the use of innovative and pro-ecological solutions. We are glad that the inhabitants of Katowice and the whole region will soon see them and benefit from them.

– I wanted the whole family to be able to spend their free time actively. That is why the projects of each of the pools included 6-track sports swimming pools, but also a swimming pool for learning to swim, a paddling pool for children equipped with attractions, spectator stands, a slide, a gym and sports halls, as well as saunas – says the President of Katowice Marcin Krupa. The swimming pools in the districts instead of one aqua park mean that most of Katowice’s residents have a swimming pool available within a radius of five kilometres. Today, the first of the three buildings under construction in Katowice has been made available to the residents, and next week the Burowiec swimming pool will be opened. Together with the contractor we were ready to launch them a few weeks ago, unfortunately the state of the epidemic forced us to change the opening dates as well as the rules of operation, but I am convinced that these will be places where inhabitants of Katowice will be able to spend their time actively.

Innovative solutions have been applied in the facilities, including the first permanently installed drowning detection system in Poland. So-called DPS is based on advanced algorithms for behavioural analysis of underwater camera images. It will increase safety when using the swimming pool.

– It is also worth mentioning the modern pool water treatment system, which consists mainly of vacuum filters, UV lamps and a system for the production of sodium hypochlorite from kitchen salt, based on the principle of membrane electrolysis. These solutions ensure the highest quality of water and low consumption of energy, water and chemical reagents – says Arkadiusz Tuszkowski, project director from NDI.

The buildings are equipped with modern photovoltaic systems, partially covering the energy demand of the facility. Modern technology is environmentally friendly by reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. The designed photovoltaic installation is 38.75kWp. It consists in converting solar energy by converting solar radiation into electricity. In a photovoltaic panel, solar energy is converted into DC electricity. Using solar cables, direct current is transported to the inverter, where it is converted into alternating current. The energy produced in this way is supplied to the internal electrical installation by means of electric cables.

Nine air handling units and a network of about 5,000 m2 of ventilation ducts are responsible for ensuring appropriate conditions for the comfort of using the premises. In the swimming pool hall itself, the air supply is provided by a system of slot diffusers installed in the pool beach floor, and the exhaust air is provided by built-in exhaust grilles.

– The material from which the swimming pool basins are made is austenitic stainless steel, marked with the symbol 316L – according to AISI. This steel, due to its very good anti-corrosion properties, is a material intended for use in aggressive environments, such as swimming pools or sea water – adds Arkadiusz Tuszkowski, Project Director from NDI.

The basin assembly technology included two stages of works. The first one is the installation of the walls of the overflow and bottom channels, which after being anchored and welded together are tested for weld tightness. Tolerance of the overflow edge on the whole perimeter is +/-2mm. The second stage is the welding of bottom plates and the assembly of supplementary elements such as railings, nozzles, starter posts, turnstiles, track ropes, overflow grids, headlights, etc. This type of basin, due to its tightness and long-term reliability, provides very high comfort for the pool operator.

Pools in numbers (for each pool):

• Usable floor area – 4,675.73 m2
• Built-up area – 2,989.55 m2
• Water surface area – 657.30 m2
• Cubic capacity of the gymnasium – 4,564.0 m3
• Cubic capacity of the building – 31,379.0 m3
• clear height of the pool hall – 9.3 m
• Sports basin 25*16 m (6 tracks)
• Leisure basin
• Slide length: 80m
• Sports hall (gymnasium)
• Saunas

For each of the pools, 2,850 cubic meters of concrete and 182.5 tons of steel were used.