Deck Mount ARSC Technical Bulletin No. 5C

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Deck Mount ARSC

Technical Bulletin

No.

5C

Page 1 of 5

5C.1 Parts List a. Hardware

(2) 1 lb boxes of 3” galvanized wood screws (6) 1/4”x2” lag bolts (10) 1/4” washers

b. Materials Required (supplied by others) 7’ Wide Pool Rot Resistant Wood: ~ (3) 2”x6”x116-1/2” ~ (7) 2”x6”x14” ~ (3) 2”x6”xTBD* ~ (1) 2”x4”xTBD*

8’ Wide Pool Rot Resistant Wood: ~ (3) 2”x6”x128-1/2” ~ (7) 2”x6”x14” ~ (3) 2”x6”xTBD* ~ (1) 2”x4”xTBD*

9’ Wide Pool Rot Resistant Wood: ~ (3) 2”x6”x140-1/2” ~ (7) 2”x6”x14” ~ (3) 2”x6”xTBD* ~ (1) 2”x4”xTBD*

10’ Wide Pool Rot Resistant Wood: ~ (3) 2”x6”x152-1/2” ~ (7) 2”x6”x14” ~ (3) 2”x6”xTBD* ~ (1) 2”x4”xTBD*

*TBD: To be determined by the requirements of your coping. (See section 14.4)

c. Tools Required (supplied by others) Power drill Phillips head bit 9/64” Drill bit Socket set Socket extension, 14” minimum Magnetic socket inserts Tape measure Circular saw and/or Miter saw Framing square

5C.2 Description The Automatic Retractable Security Cover (ARSC) option is available for all standard widths of pool. The instruction sheet included with the ARSC kit will guide you through most of the installation process. This Technical Bulletin deals primarily with the deviations from those instructions that are necessary for use with your Endless Pool. All ARSC installations require a protective cover over the operating mechanism. In some cases the cover may be custom-built. When using the polymer bench/cover assembly available through Endless Pools, Inc., your type of pool installation will determine how its mounting will deviate from the ARSC instructions. If your Endless Pool is surrounded by decking, the ARSC instruction sheet may be used essentially as-is. No support structure is necessary, but this Tech Bulletin is still needed to describe some deviations from the manufacturer’s instructions that apply to your Endless Pool. With aboveground or partially in-ground installations a supporting structure is necessary to mount the bench/cover at the level of the coping. Individual pool installations vary widely, so this bulletin offers only general guidelines for the construction and installation of a bench support structure.

Endless Pools Inc.

7/24/2006

Deck Mount ARSC

Technical Bulletin

No.

5C

Page 2 of 5

5C.3 Additional Planning Considerations The bench/cover requires a minimum of 24” clearance at the end of the pool. Installations that place one side of the pool against a wall must maintain a minimum clearance of 8-1/4” from the pool panel inner surface to the wall. This is what would typically be needed when using aluminum coping. Synthetic coping, for example, would need more clearance or would have to be trimmed to fit. The ARSC drive mechanism mounts at one end of the cover. Adjacent-to-wall installations must place the drive end on the side opposite from the wall. The drive end will extend approximately 26” from the panel inner surface. In above-ground and partially in-ground installations, this overhang should be skirted to the floor for safety.

5C.4 Support Structure Construction Assemble your pre-cut lumber edge-to-edge as shown below. The dimensions of the structure will be dictated by the dimensions in the materials list and the additional dimensions below. Note that the four pieces indicated will need to be cut to a length determined by your coping. Do a trial fit without those pieces in place to decide on the correct length. In the illustration below the cover drive end is on the right. Depending on whether the cover is installed at the front or rear of the pool, this could be the “right” or “left” side of the pool. (“Right” and “left” are defined in Endless Pools documentation as your right and left side as you stand in the pool facing the propulsion unit.) Your installation may require reversing the cover drive and non-drive ends of the support structure from what is shown. In all cases the vertical 2” x 6” goes on the side away from the pool, the 2” x 4” nearest the coping.

Endless Pools Inc.

7/24/2006

Deck Mount ARSC

Technical Bulletin

No.

5C

Page 3 of 5

5C.5 Preparing the Pool The support structure needs to be at a height that places the drive mechanism bracket level with the coping so the tracks are properly supported. How this is done will vary with individual installations.

New Pools Mount the Cover Roller Support Brackets on the pool panels as shown above. This is one hole higher than where they would be mounted for a manual cover. (See Technical Bulletin #5.) The Bracket Braces used with the manual cover are not used. One hole in the panel flange should be visible above the Cover Roller Support Brackets.

Endless Pools Inc.

7/24/2006

Deck Mount ARSC

Technical Bulletin

No.

5C

Page 4 of 5

Existing Pools The Cover Roller Support Brackets should be installed as described above. If a manual cover is being replaced or The ARSC is to be the first retractable cover installed on an existing pool, the Cover Roller Support Brackets should be placed as described above and the Bracket Braces removed. This will require draining the pool to a minimum of 24” below the liner hanger before loosening any panel bolts. If Cover Roller Support Brackets are in place but access to move them is limited, you can alternatively add 6” tall spacers to effectively raise the level of the brackets. If this approach is taken, it will be necessary to add diagonal bracing between the spacers to improve lateral stability. The placement of your water quality system, propulsion unit and any related hoses may influence how this bracing is implemented.

5C.6 Support Structure Installation The support structure must be shimmed up so that, with the ARSC mechanism brackets attached, the top surface of the support structure is level with the top of the coping. Wood should be used for shimming, since you will need to drive screws through it to secure the support structure in place. The lateral position of the support structure will be determined by the placement of the tracks, which determines the position of the drive mechanism relative to the pool. On adjacent-to-wall installations, the critical issue will be the ability to lower the bench/cover in place over the non-drive end without scraping or gouging the wall. After the tracks have been installed (see section 5D.7), align the drive mechanism and non-drive bearing plate to the tracks. The support structure should extend 1-1/2” beyond the outside of the non-drive bearing plate and 23-1/2” away from the pool inner wall surface. Secure the support structure in place using 3” deck screws through the Cover Roller Support Brackets and shim material into the support structure. Use washers under the heads of the deck screws. On wider pools or in applications where the bench/cover will need to support substantial weight, vertical supports may be added to prevent sagging. The placement of your pool and arrangement of equipment under the cover will dictate where and how many support struts can be added. Make sure they are securely attached to the support structure.

5C.7 Track Installation and Drive Mechanism Mounting Refer to Technical Bulletin #5 for general instructions on how to install the tracks. Your ARSC cover tracks will arrive in different lengths. Each side of the pool gets the same combination of lengths. Use one complete uncut length at the end farthest from the mechanism. This allows you to use the machine-cut ends of the track at the pulley and the joint between the tracks where the ends are most visible. Make certain there are no sharp edges at the ends of the rope cavities in the tracks to ensure smooth operation as the rope passes through the joints. At the mechanism end of the pool, the end of the track (not including the plastic rope guide) must extend 10-3/4” past the inner surface of the pool wall so it can engage the studs on the drive mechanism brackets. This will place the pool-side edge of the drive mechanism bracket approximately 8” from the inner surface of the pool wall. The distance between the tracks is the pool width plus 1”. Note that some types of coping overhang the pool wall, so this must be taken into consideration when measuring. The drive mechanism sits at coping level, so there will be a gap between the coping and tracks as they arch up to attach to the top surface of the brackets. This gap can be filled with caulk. See Technical Bulletin #4B for suggestions on mounting the tracks on aluminum coping. It is very important that the track lay flat along the coping, not arch over the cover strips.

Endless Pools Inc.

7/24/2006

Deck Mount ARSC

Technical Bulletin

No.

5C

Page 5 of 5

5C.8 Bench/Cover Installation The stainless steel support bracket described in the ARSC instructions is to be installed at the owner’s discretion. The ARSC is a simply a narrower version of a system developed for outdoor swimming pools. The support brackets are a necessity with the typical wide spans of outdoor swimming pools. Whether one is needed on your Endless Pool depends on several factors: •

Outdoor installations may attract the accumulation of debris such as leaves, pine needles, sand, etc. The support bracket raises the bench/cover by approximately 1/2” to allow you to use a garden hose to remove debris.

•

On the wider Endless Pools or where children are likely to jump on the bench/cover, the support bracket will help prevent distortion. Note that jumping or diving into the pool is not permitted under any circumstances!

•

On above-ground or partially in-ground installations where it is being used solely as a cover rather than as a bench, no support bracket is needed.

Installation Without Support Bracket The bench/cover will sit with its back bottom edge resting on the support structure. Adjusting the height of the bench end brackets is a simple matter of putting the bench upright on a flat floor with the end bracket carriage bolts loose in their slots, allowing the brackets to rest on the floor and tightening the four carriage bolts per bracket. Note that the bracket with only two mounting feet (instead of a full-width four bolt flange) must be installed on the non-drive end of the bench. Close the fabric cover across the pool before installing the polymer bench/cover to protect it from damage. In installations where the non-drive end of the bench is up against a wall, remove the three screws at the top of the end plate that thread into the edge of the top polymer panel. That panel must be removable from the top to gain access to the mounting feet screws that attach the bench to the support structure. Remove the drive end top polymer panel as well. Use the extension, socket and fastener magnet to place and tighten the 1/4”x2” lag bolts through the feet into the support structure. Repeat on the drive end and replace the polymer panels. Installation With Support Bracket The bench/cover will be held approximately 1/2” above the support structure you built by the support bracket. Place the bench/cover upright on a flat surface with the support bracket loosely in place. Adjust the end brackets so they and the support bracket hold the bench/cover level. Note that the bracket with only two mounting feet (instead of a full-width four bolt flange) must be installed on the non-drive end of the bench. Close the fabric cover across the pool before installing the polymer bench/cover to protect it from damage. Remove one or two polymer panels from the top of the bench/cover near the center, and the top panel at each end of the bench/cover. Place the support bracket loosely over the cover drum on the pad built into the support structure. Lower the bench/cover into place and place it in its final installed position. Place the support bracket against the back wall of the bench/cover and centered on the support structure pad. Mark the bench/cover extrusions at the back and top of the inside. Remove the bench/cover. Drill pilot holes for sheet metal screws (provided with the bench/cover) at the places you marked using a 9/64” drill bit. Install and remove the screws so the threads will be formed and ready for final assembly. Lower the bench/cover in place over the cover drum and support bracket. Screw the support bracket into the bench/cover at the rear and top. Position the bench cover in its final installed position. Use the extension, socket and fastener magnet to place and tighten the 1/4”x2” lag bolts and washers through the feet into the support structure at both ends of the bench/cover. Replace the polymer panels.

Endless Pools Inc.

7/24/2006