As Principal and Studio Director of the Pacific Studio, Mike is responsible for leading the Counsilman-Hunsaker team in the Western US, Hawaii, and Alaska. Mike has over 30 years of proven experience in the Energy and Building construction industries with a concentrated emphasis in team leadership, business development, engineering, service, and operations. Swimming and aquatics […]
Depending on who you speak with, you’ll likely get a lot of different answers to the question. Operators, administrators, head lifeguards, and the public all have their own idea of how many lifeguards a facility needs. Administrators will want staff costs to be as low as possible, while operators are concerned with mitigating risk and […]
For many, the question commonly arises as to what type of concrete material makes the best watertight vessel: cast-in-place concrete, shotcrete or gunite. While each have their own strengths, one must consider key items such as geographical/site location, soil conditions and most importantly, availability. There are many locations in the United States where shotcrete and […]
There are seven basic factors specific to pool design and operation that maximize the performance of swimmers and make pools fast. While they don’t exist in any order of priority, some are more essential than others. Indoor Air Quality Most people are familiar with the “swimming pool smell” encountered when walking into some indoor pool […]
Facility members and special events are two aspects of aquatic centers that are sometimes at odds with each other. Special events can bring in new people, have a positive impact on the community and provide marketing for the facility. However, special events can also disrupt your members and daily users, and act as a drain […]
In today’s market, pool owners have the ability to choose from a multitude of different pool finishes. From paint options that are more cost effective, to customizable ceramic tile options, each style has its associated benefits and drawbacks. While the decision process can be exciting, the array of different finish options can make it a […]
The answer to this questions depends on quite a few factors, including whether guests are permitted to bring their own tubes from home, if they are available for rent or included with admission, and if you have several attractions requiring tubes. The More the Merrier Approach For aquatic centers with typical pools, many operators allow […]
Winterizing a seasonal outdoor pool can vary greatly depending upon location, pool type, groundwater conditions, local sewer capacities and a host of other factors. If an outdoor swimming pool is not properly winterized, catastrophic damage to below grade piping, heaving and floating of the pool tank, undue wear on pool mechanical equipment, delamination of finishes […]
While the requirement for lifeguard in-service varies from state to state, the current industry standard is one hour per week for every lifeguard on your staff, with some flexibility depending on how many hours they work. Some states and agencies allow one hour for every 40 hours that are worked, but our recommendation has always […]
Like most questions, the answer depends on several factors and decisions. The first factor is deciding on what level of diving competition or training you wish to host. There are several governing bodies such as USA Diving, NFHS (High School), NCAA (Colleges and Universities), and FINA. USA Diving governs club level diving competition while FINA […]
