City council decides to invest millions more in municipal swimming pool
Yesterday, Chemnitz City Council unanimously approved a further investment of more than two million euros in the technology of the listed functional building of Chemnitz City Baths. With its vote, the committee approved the construction decision presented by the administration to renew the ventilation systems, including air distribution systems, taking into account preventive structural fire protection in the Chemnitz municipal swimming pool (draft resolution B-216/2012). The outdated central ventilation systems of the indoor pool are located in its basement floors; they were installed during a general refurbishment at the beginning of the 1980s and have not yet been modernised. The ventilation systems and distribution systems cannot be modernised due to dirt and deposits that have been sucked in. Completely new units have to be installed. New ventilation technology will ensure operational safety and also optimise structural fire protection. At the same time, the modern ventilation system with corresponding heat recovery should reduce operating costs by up to 50,000 euros per year.
Construction project will affect pool operations until 2014
Following this latest city council decision, the municipal building management department will begin with the implementation plans and draw up a list of services. The construction work will then be put out to public tender at the end of December.
Several ventilation systems operating separately in the building must be taken out of operation one after the other and completely dismantled. In May next year, work will begin on demolishing the ventilation centre of the 50-metre hall and then gradually dismantle the systems in the 25-metre hall as well as the sauna and other areas.
The rooms in which the ventilation units were located will then be structurally upgraded. The city is also taking fire protection measures. Companies will also dry out the brickwork and install new doors and floors. Only then can the new ventilation units be installed and put into operation. This is scheduled to take place between May and June 2014. Such a complex project necessitates restrictions on pool operations: In 2013, this will primarily affect the 25-metre hall and sauna and in 2014 the 50-metre hall - bathers will be informed in good time via publications in the official gazette, press service and on www.chemnitz.de.
Financial injection into indoor pool reduces operating costs
Two years ago, the city invested around four million euros in the reconstruction of what was once considered the most modern indoor swimming pool in Europe; 2,388,000 euros were made available from the federal government's second economic stimulus package. Although the municipal swimming pool had already been renovated once between 1980 and 1983, the roof, façade, changing rooms, tiles and water systems had to be modernised after 30 years. Operating costs were already reduced with this last complex reconstruction. Water and energy are significant cost factors in a swimming pool. While a solar system installed on the roof in 1998 helps to reduce electricity and district heating costs, there was still potential for savings when it came to water. This is why the water treatment plant was overhauled in 2010 and an efficient inflow management system was created. The tank that collects the water that spills over the edge of the pool has since been enlarged and is used as a resource for rinsing the filters.