The Orchards in Glenfield is a recent addition to the 23 retirement villages in prime locations throughout the North Island owned and operated by Metlifecare. Including a mixture of independent living and rest home care, the complex includes a 38m² indoor pool and spa pool designed by architect Alan Simpkin of Arcline Architecture Ltd. When it came to the heating and ventilation requirements for the pool, he approached Hot Water Heat Pumps Ltd to tender for the job.

The challenges

As always, the initial focus for the design team at Hot Water Heat Pumps Ltd was evaluating the merits of each indoor pool site and client requirements.

Without proper ventilation, moisture and condensation problems appear, which can cause an unpleasant, unhealthy environment. Over time the building envelope deteriorates and remedial work can become costly. That's why the ventilation system is a priority over heating the pool water.

Other considerations undertaken in any project are cost reduction, both initially and over time, and reducing energy expenditure. Two separate heating sources would normally be required on a project such as this — one system to heat the pool and the other to cater to the air in the environment.

Alan said, "I've worked with Hot Water Heat Pumps in the past and they have never let me down. The team really know what they're doing and have been delivering indoor pool heating and ventilation solutions for years."

The solution

Hot Water Heat Pumps Ltd has developed a proprietary ventilation system called Vent-Air. The Vent-Air system is designed to control the humidity level, minimising condensation, and creating a pleasant environment for pool users. It does this by continuously replacing stale and humid indoor air with heated fresh outdoor air.

A specialist in-house team custom-built and installed the Vent-Air equipment and the Duoheat heat pump. Increased energy efficiency is achieved by heat recovery from the latent heat extracted from the indoor pool enclosure, reducing ongoing daily heating and ventilation costs. Use of the Duoheat heat pump (in this case the 7GP25U18-3) enables one machine to cover both water and air heating, saving space, improving energy efficiency, and avoiding the cost of additional equipment.

The result

Three years from initial negotiations the pool complex was up and running, a fairly typical timeline in this type of project. The swimming and spa pools now attract daily use by the residents. Metlifecare is delighted with the end result.

There is no condensation or moisture in the environment, which means the facility will be in great shape for many years to come. The water of the pools and the enclosure are both kept at constant optimum temperatures and the system is not only affordable but also cost-effective to run.