While there are no regulatory bodies to ensure swimming pools are treated with anti-slip solutions, premises are at a disadvantage in the eyes of the law should accidents happen due to failure to adhere to the standard of care.
Not only are swimming pools a popular destination for people of all ages, but it has also become a standard facility and amenity to be included in upcoming high-rise residential or SOHO buildings to boost the value of their listings. Whether the swimming pool is there to serve its primary function to provide recreation to people, or its latent function to up the ante of the premise, swimming pool contractors and premise owners want to ensure that there are no unpleasant incidents or fatal accidents surrounding the pool that will repel future visitors, buyers, or investors. Thus, on top of prioritising safety when designing and installing swimming pool decks, one other way to ensure safety is to invest in anti-slip treatment for the area.
Why is anti-slip so important for pool decks?
Wet surfaces are one of the top causes of accidents and injuries around swimming pools. Not surprisingly, swimming pool decks are always wet due to the sheer number of people getting in and out of the pool multiple times throughout the day. Now, consider the setting of a public pool that is child-friendly, with children running or playing games around a wet swimming pool deck. Left untreated, the deck itself becomes a fatal safety hazard for all guests. This makes anti-slip treatments absolutely necessary for swimming pool decks to create a slip-resistant surface that is safe for all guests. Regular maintenance also helps prolong the lifespan of pool decks by preventing erosion and damages caused by excessive exposure to moisture and weathering factors.
While slips and falls are a matter of probability, there are ample strategies you can adopt so to not contribute to the number of such accidents in recreational areas.
Did you know that pool tiles are not slippery when they are first laid? So how did they get so slippery over time? You see, through gradual use of the swimming pool, the pools develop oil slicks – not from drilling rigs or tankers, but from the natural oils produced by the human body and the usage of skin lotions. When a person dips into the pool, the natural oils from their body floats to the swimming pool water’s surface. Even though the swimming pool filter does its job to filter out these oils, nothing can be done to prevent the oils from being deposited onto the tiles surrounding the pool as patrons splash around, enter, and exit the swimming pool.
Natural oils aside, another slippery threat that develops around the pool over time are lichen and moss, as well as airborne dust particles that settle on the surface to form a thin layer invisible to the eye. These additional lubricants decrease the original friction of the tiles on swimming pool decks, thereby increasing the chances of slips and falls.
Sisal carpets are popularly used on pool decks as a slip-and-fall preventive method. However, it is hard to clean and will trap bacteria and dirt over time. Source: https://aslanogloucc.gr/en/
When should you apply the anti-slip treatment?
Ideally, anti-slip treatments should be applied when the pool deck is being installed or refinished. However, if the deck has not been treated but the swimming pool is already open to public/private usage, it is never too late to start now as there are ways to minimise obstruction. After all, depending on the frequency of foot traffic on the pool deck, anti-slip treatments should be reapplied every few years to maintain optimal slip resistance.
Moreover, please do not hesitate to communicate to your patrons and customers about your efforts in slip-proofing the premise and the care your management has taken to ensure that the solutions are human-safe and environmentally friendly. This will boost their confidence in your facilities, enabling them to have a more enjoyable time by the poolside with peace of mind. On top of that, anti-slip treatments are a safety feature that can serve as an extra selling point to promote your business or the premise, as it is a feature that your competitors may not have considered earlier.
Types of anti-slip solutions available for swimming pool decks
There are several types of anti-slip treatments available in the market for swimming pool decks, and most of them are centered around the concept of applying coatings and sealants on the to provide a slip-resistant barrier that improves traction. Occasionally, additives are mixed with these sealers and coatings to create a rougher surface texture that increases grip.
The downsides of the aforementioned treatments are the permanent changes to the aesthetics and texture of the surface, as well as the inconvenient and intrusive process that disrupts business, not to mention the potential health hazards associated with the chemicals involved.
Thankfully, we exist so that you don’t have to endure the expensive trial and error to test the available options in the market. If you’re looking for a long-term solution, Nano-G’s Nanotechnology Anti-Slip Floor Coating is the perfect solution that considers your personal and business pain points while addressing the key problem; slippery swimming pool decks.
Here’s what our customer has to say about the quality of our solution and workmanship in the slip-proofing of a swimming school that takes in children as students.
Numbers do not lie, and neither does the report outcome of stringent scientific tests and procedures performed with our anti-slip solution.
Our anti-slip solution does not alter the appearance of treated surfaces.
Nano-G Anti-Slip Floor Coating guarantees no-hacking and zero damages to your property in the process of making your floors slip resistant. Our solution is well-known in the market to be the safest and least intrusive method, certified by SIRIM and NanoVerify. The solution we use is a clear coating that does not change the appearance of the surface, and is extremely low maintenance on top of being waterproof and dustproof – all thanks to the power of nanotechnology. This way, we can also effectively prevent bacteria and mould from building up on top or beneath the coating.
Conclusion
Whether your pool is there for your own recreation or exists as part of a business, safety is the number one factor which you cannot compromise on. Anti-slip treatments are a small price to pay, compared to the cost of a lawsuit and other damages to the reputation of your premises due to a lapse in judgement and management.
Customers who had a slip and fall accident on your business premise are entitled to make an injury claim against you. Stay alert, read more:
