Acrylic Pool Design Private Residence • Italy Our Mission
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Acrylic Pool Design Pool Acrylic Private Residence • Italy Our Mission Innovative Acrylics designs, fabricates and installs a variety of acrylic swimming pool windows and walls that offer spectacular views. While many pool window fabricators are limited to single-sided-rectangular viewing panels, we employ advanced manufacturing techniques to chemically bond and thermoform acrylic, allowing us to create multi-sided viewing panels of nearly any conceivable dimension. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to create a statement piece for your indoor or outdoor pool or a professional Acrylic panel swimming pool wall in search of a training aid, our acrylic transparencies offer unparalleled performance and versatility. Panel types Acrylic panels for swimming pools can be divided most simply into two unique categories, three-side and four-side support. 1 Three-Side Support Acrylic Panels for Swimming Pools Three-side support panels are secured at the sill and the jambs, leaving the top edge unconstrained and visibly exposed. Offering amazing versatility in the design of your pool, they can be placed in an array of configurations, from conventional rectangular swimming pool windows to complex L- and U-shaped acrylic pool walls. They are often at their most breathtaking when used in an infinity pool design. “Three-side support” refers to pool windows that are constrained along three sides. In this configuration, a cantilever-style rebate prevents translational rotation. Three-side Support Acrylic Panel The exposed top edge of three-side support panels allows for virtually unlimited possibilities in the appearance of your pool, but they all come down to freeboard and infinity pool edge styles. Rectangular Three-Side Pool Window By far the most common and affordable acrylic pool window, the rectangular three-side support window is great for infinity edge pools. These windows are the most common three- side selection for freeboard pools as well. L-Shape Three-Side Pool Window An L-shaped three-side support acrylic pool wall or window provides 270 degrees of beauty. With a top edge free of constraints and the ability to create complete transparency across three sides of your pool, it’s one of the most stunning designs available. Convex Three-Side Pool Window Three-side support convex windows project outward on the dry side of your pool. This unique shape requires specialized attention in the fabrication and installation process to ensure integrity while giving you a design that is custom to your pool. Innovative Acrylics • PO Box 76523 • Saint Petersburg, FL. 33734 Toll Free: 888-334-4457 • International & Local: 727-359-0236 • Fax: 727-362-6827 [email protected] • www.acrylicpools.com • www.innovativeacrylics.com Concave Three-Side Pool Window Three-side support concave windows protrude inward in a curved fashion. These panels make for an elegant custom pool design. U-Shape Three-Side Pool Window Using two 90-degree angles, U-shaped three-side support acrylic pool panels provide complete transparency on three sides of your pool. No top supports obstruct the 270-degree view. 2 Four-Side Support Acrylic Panels for Swimming Pools Four-side support acrylic windows serve perfectly as underwater windows for swimming pools. In addition to many other applications, these panels are often used in competition pools, allowing guests to see into the swimming pool from a variety of vantage points. These panels are supported along all four edges. Two vertical jambs are used as well as a bottom sill and a top header. They are most commonly installed into an L-shaped rebate that integrates a compression-style baring face. In certain applications, a C channel may be utilized at the sill and jambs. Four-side Support Acrylic Panel The baring face support is typically as thick as the acrylic window panel. To ensure uniform loading along the baring face, special attention must be given during the installation procedure. At Innovative Acrylics, we have extensive experience in the installation process and pay special attention to these nuances that make a difference in the safety and durability of your pool design. Four-side acrylic pool windows can be produced in massive lengths and widths to give a seamless look to your pool. These monolithic panels can measure up to 300” in length and 115” in width as well as height. It is even possible to exceed these dimensions by bonding acrylic or by using silicone joints in the construction of your pool walls. Our four-side pool windows have virtually no limitation to their configuration, and we’ve provided details on some of the most popular designs available below. Rectangular Vertical Four-Side Pool Window This is the most common and cost effective four-side support pool window, and ideal for observation windows in competition pools or even as submerged interior viewports. Designers often incorporate this style of transparency to accentuate a space while adding a unique lighting effect. Circle Vertical Pool Window For a unique viewing experience, a circle vertical acrylic pool window can be installed as a pool porthole. These circular window panels are placed within an L-shaped rebate. This allows for the rebate to take up the full perimeter of the panel for a seamless appearance in your pool design. Innovative Acrylics • PO Box 76523 • Saint Petersburg, FL. 33734 Toll Free: 888-334-4457 • International & Local: 727-359-0236 • Fax: 727-362-6827 [email protected] • www.acrylicpools.com • www.innovativeacrylics.com Circle Horizontal Pool Window Like its rectangular counterpart, the circle pool floor window (a.k.a circle horizontal pool window or porthole) is installed into an L-shape rebate that encompasses the full perimeter of the panel, again utilizing a baring face support equal to the panel thickness. L-Shape Four-Side Pool Window For installations that require a more custom approach, L-shaped four-side support acrylic pool windows can be used to create a one-of-a-kind appearance in your swimming pool observation area. This pool corner window is typically used in commercial builds, as it is extremely aesthetically pleasing. U-Shape Four-Side Pool Window For maximum underwater viewing, a U-shaped four-side support swimming pool window can be selected. Often requested for commercial installations for its unique design presence, these acrylic windows give three angles of observation for your guests to appreciate. Convex Four-Side Pool Window Our four-side support convex windows for swimming pools offer a unique spin on observation areas. These window panels curve outward and require special attention in their craftsmanship. Concave Four-Side Pool Window The opposite of our convex panels, our concave windows for pools protrude inward for a viewing panel with some personality. The four-side support option also allows these to be used as distinctive underwater windows. Private Residence • Tampa Florida Innovative Acrylics • PO Box 76523 • Saint Petersburg, FL. 33734 Toll Free: 888-334-4457 • International & Local: 727-359-0236 • Fax: 727-362-6827 [email protected] • www.acrylicpools.com • www.innovativeacrylics.com Design Criteria The following criteria are considered industry standard or above such and are observed in the design process. 3-side support panels Deflection Standards Most panel fabricators will design their 3-side support transparencies to an industry maximum deflection standard of L/400. However, there is an issue to this standard, thus below we shall explore an alternative solution and evaluate the issues with this standard. The industry standard problem: As we can see all three panels are of equal height. Example problem: However, based upon the industry standard design 100”L x 40”H = ∆ 0.25” criteria of L/400, the yellow panel would be able 200”L x 40”H = ∆ 0.5” to deflect twice that of the green panel. Thus, the ∞ L x 40”H = ∆ ∞ thickness of the yellow transparency could be thinner than the green transparency. Based upon this design criteria a panel could theoretically deflect an in infinite amount. Our solution: A more appropriate standard that Innovative Example solution: Acrylics observes is <= H/200 OR <=L/400 100”L x 40”H = ∆ 0.20” whichever is less. Thus, in this example the green ∞ L x 40”H = ∆ 0.20” panel and blue panel are able to deflect the same amount. 3-Sided Cant. Detail 3-Sided Cant. Freeboard Detail 3-Sided Standard Detail Standard cantilever embedment Standard cantilever embedment The embedment depth is reduced depth. depth with reduced water depth. thus a thicker panel is required to reduce deflection. Innovative Acrylics • PO Box 76523 • Saint Petersburg, FL. 33734 Toll Free: 888-334-4457 • International & Local: 727-359-0236 • Fax: 727-362-6827 [email protected] • www.acrylicpools.com • www.innovativeacrylics.com Design Criteria 4-side Support Panels Deflection Standard Structural loading panels with 4 side supported edges: Initial predicted deflection <= 1/300 the length of the shortest edge. 4-Sided Standard Deflection 4-Sided Standard Detail This is a depiction of a 4 side support panel stationary with no loading. Reducing deflection beyond industry standards All AcrylicPool.com transparencies are designed to strict standards for deflection and stress criteria, thus reducing deflection beyond these criteria is solely a cosmetic undertaking. There are several options to achieve this: Increase the thickness of the transparency. Reduce the panel size. Reduce the water depth. Increase rebate bearing face support. Design Stress for 3 side and 4 side support panels The minimum tension and flexure design safety factor for panels shall be 11.2. Per ASME-PVHO-1 The minimum compression design safety factor for panels shall be 8. Per ASME-PVHO-1 Design and Engineering Process With just a concept, the design and engineering process is imperative to ensure the proper thickness transparency is selected. Engineering is accomplished by first completing an intake analysis to understand the specifics of a project.