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IPSSA Research Protocol #1
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
(Rev. February 24, 2011)
What was IPSSA trying to do with this research?
· We wanted to see if a chlorine generator equipped pool could be maintained within IPSSA's Basic Training Manual guidelines with only a once week service visit.
What guidelines did IPSSA use for the research?
· The ones from the IPSSA Basic Training Manual Part1, page 30.
What size was the pool in the Protocol #1?
· Approximately 7,200 gallons.
The final report states that the pool was filled with water having a calcium hardness of 110. Was calcium added?
· Initial readings are in the data Table 1 (page 2) of the final report. The readings are documented that the calcium was tested at 260 ppm. We do not have an exact amount of calcium added, but it was added to attain this reading.
Did the plaster etch to supply the deficiency?
· Not to our knowledge, but is beyond the scope of this research.
About 16 days into Stage 2, the alkalinity jumps. This reading was above the target parameters of the protocol. Why?
· As stated in the goal of the protocol, with only once-a-week dosing of the pool using the dosage charts supplied with the test kit used, the alkalinity and the pH would rise above the parameters of the protocol. This did not mean that the research was flawed, but that the parameters could not be kept within the parameters, as the conclusions states.
Why are the filters cleaned so often on the research pool?
· The National Pool Industry Research Center (NPIRC) cleans the filters on a regular basis, sometimes more often that the pool service professional would as a norm. It was determined in the early stages of the NPIRC that the filters would be cleaned regularly to avoid flow restriction possibilities.
A mechanical timer was added to the pump circuit. Why?
· The automation system that was controlling the pump run-times had the chlorine generator added to the same circuit. To be able to shut off the generator at a shorter run time than the filtration pump, a separate timer was added to the generator power source.
Why was a total alkalinity range of 80 to 120 ppm selected for the study when the IPSSA water chemistry book recommends 80 to 100 ppm for chlorine generators?
· The range was set to 100 ppm +-20 ppm. Your point is a valid one and will be addressed in future research.
The Stage 1 (pool preparation period) data shows that the total alkalinity never dropped below 110 ppm.
· Table 1 Stage 1 corrected alkalinity is below 110 ppm at the end of Stage 1. The Stage 1 phase's purpose was to verify mechanical equipment operation and a testing all of the program's analytical requirements. It also was to give the pool chemistry analytical procedures a preliminary testing.
The Stage 2 data show that the total alkalinity was above 100 ppm for most of the time of the test and above 120 ppm for almost one third of the time.
· Table 2 Stage 2 corrected alkalinity below 100 ppm for first 16 or so days, then went above and below for most of remaining testing. Even when the corrected alkalinity was between 80-100, the pH was 8.0+.
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