National Aquatic Centre
- Client Name
- National Aquatic Centre
- Location
- Dublin
- Door Number
- 8
- Additional Products
- Ironmongery
Requirements
The National Aquatic Centre is under the remit of the National Sports Campus Development Authority and is operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of the NSCDA. The capital cost of the National Aquatic Centre was €62.5 million.
The centre was officially opened on Monday 10th March 2003. It successfully hosted the swimming events of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, the first time this event was held outside of the United States. It also hosted the European Short Course Swimming Championships in December 2003.
‘Swim Ireland’ officially launched a High Performance Unit in April 2010 and continues to conduct training camps for elite swimmers at the Centre.
The National Aquatic Centre is one of the world’s largest indoor water centres comprising of:-
- A 10-lane 50 metre x 25 metre international standard swimming pool with two moveable floors which will allow it to be reconfigured for other uses
- A 25 metre international standard diving pool/warm up pool
- Seating for 2,500 spectators
- Extensive leisure waters (AquaZone) including adventure water rides, with childrens play pool and wave pool
- A fitness centre (ToneZone)
- Café and Reception Area
When the project was originally completed it was specified timber laminate doors for all change areas and access to poolside. Many of these would have been fire doors. The amount of water present on the floor, both from the pool and from cleaning, resulted in the timber based doors and frames soaking up substantial quantities of that water, which caused serious swelling. Eventually doors would either not close, or when they did close it would be very difficult to force open again. Doors not closing was not only a privacy issue, but also compromised the fire rating integrity of that doorset. If the door does not close into its frame, there is no fire rating. If the door is jammed closed and people cannot open the door, then there is a safety issue.
Solution
Dortek were able to offer, both fire rated and non-fire rated doors to replace the existing doors. The new GRP doors are completely waterproof and as such, whether poolside or in the changing rooms, Dortek could guarantee a door that would close, freely and cleanly, every time. The unique benefit of Dortek’s waterproof doors is that the door is a one piece moulded construction with no crevices, joints or seams.
Further features are that the doors are:
- Easy to clean
- Resistant to harsh cleaning regimes
- Hygienic
- Fully encapsulated construction
- Strong and durable
Dortek were also able to minimise disruption to a 7 day operation, , and were able to provide a new door with wrapround frame. This facilitated a speedy turnaround on the installation of each door, and also meant that Dortek were the only contractor required. The wrapround frame meant that the NAC (National Equatic Centre) had no subsequent works “making good” round the new door once installed.