Zoning: Enclosed Pool Room

Region: All States

Assessor Question:

I am currently working on a project that has an enclosed pool room that is part of a two storey dwelling.

As per the Nathers Tech Notes the pool room is to be zoned as daytime. Are there conditions/specifications that would enable a pool room to the modelled otherwise. If so, what are they and how would this alternative interpretation be best modelled?

I assume that the alternative modelling options would be either to model as an unconditioned outdoor living area or possibly treat as an unconditioned zone.

FYI - the pool room is the dwelling’s largest zone (portion of the upper floor is situated above the pool room) and therefore has the greatest influence upon the result. The pool room’s total heating MJ is 3x that of the next worse performing zone. Currently with robust insulation, waffle pod (excluding pool room) and high performance double glazing throughout the rating hovering around the 5.0 star mark.

TechLink Response:

• Indoor pools are generally large zones in terms of both area and volume and as such they do require large amounts of heating and cooling when included in a NatHERS rating as a day conditioned zone.
• The Technical Note does differentiate between indoor pools and conservatories but without providing a full description/rationale as to the reasons why an indoor pool which is documented to have no heating of cooling is different to a conservatory which could be of equal size.
• The simple way to include the pool as shade elements as opposed to a Daytime Zone and not come into question as a contravention of the Technical Note would be to remove a portion of the enclosing Wall/Window so that it can be considered as an unenclosed space.