ECO Movable Floor Design

“The most efficient pool is one that is not built…”

It’s not the kind of statement you’d expect from an Aquatic Consultant, but on the face of it, it’s hard to argue with.

That said, swimming pools offer a wide range of economic and social sustainability benefits, so a more constructive observation might be:
“The most sustainable pool is one that is fully optimised for energy efficiency and tailored to suit its user profile.”

In previous articles, we’ve explored how Devin’s ECO design delivers significant energy savings in pool water treatment systems and enhances the sustainability of pool tank construction. But even with these elements optimised, given that a pool uses energy whether it is in use or not, a pool that sits empty for part of the day can clearly be said to be wasting energy.

To address this, we encourage clients to consider movable pool structures that enhance flexibility and maximise usage of the pool water area.

Take a dive pool, for example. These may only be used for diving for a short period of time each day, and their depth makes them unsuitable for younger children or less confident swimmers, meaning they can often be unused for long periods. A movable floor solves this by allowing the pool depth to be adjusted to suit different user groups throughout the day.

Another example is the incorporation of a movable floor (and potentially a movable boom) into the deep end of a 25m pool in order to mitigate the need to construct and operate a separate learner pool; for a 7m x 13m pool and surrounds, applying the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard 2024 intensity limit at 350kWh/m²GIA/yr, this could result in an operational energy  saving of circa 64,000kWh/yr.

While a movable floor is a significant investment, it can lead to increased footfall, more consistent pool usage and in some cases as noted above, it may  reduce the need for multiple pools within a facility.

At Devin, we typically specify buoyant movable floor systems, which are among the most energy-efficient options. These floors naturally float upwards, meaning energy is only primarily required to lower them. Their drive systems are also generally simpler than alternative mechanisms. However, every project is unique, and we ensure all options are carefully considered to deliver the most optimal solution for each client.

If you’re looking to create a fully optimised leisure facility, get in touch with Sam Gledhill at sgledhill@devin-consulting.com to learn more about how our ECO design approach can support your pool water treatment, pool tank, heat experiences, and movable floor systems.