Winter Effects Task Force: Working for You
Building and servicing pools in the Northeast, and other cold weather climates, presents unique challenges. The industry shares wide ranging opinions on admixtures for cementitious products, winterization, winter management, and opening procedures. An even wider array of opinions exists as to what may be causing scaling and crystallization on cementitious surfaces at a significantly higher rate than we have seen in the past.
The Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA), along with industry partners the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (formerly APSP) and National Plasterers Council (NPC), are investing in research to better understand these issues. This Task Force is striving to support our members at every level of the industry. The end goal is for our members to have the information that will enable them to provide better service and a higher quality product to their customers. The plan is to scientifically decipher the actual causes of these issues in hopes of creating a protocol that will allow us to prevent and/or cure the same. For too long the different factions of our industry have pointed fingers at each other as to the cause of these problems, it is now time to come together and truly understand what is happening.
This task force was created earlier this year and began with some preliminary sampling and engagement of an independent research lab to not only test samples of deposits, water, and construction materials, but also to work with our associations to develop protocols for identification and sampling of pools that exhibit these cold weather phenomena.
The Winter Effects Task Force is comprised of industry experts from service companies, builders, plasterers, and manufacturers from across the country, with a strong leadership based in the Northeast. This is an exciting and needed effort that shows great cooperation from varied organizations. However, like so many other projects and programs, feedback and participation from folks on the front lines of the industry is essential to our success.