J. Martin Pitts PE LLC provides professional swimming pool structural engineering services throughout the Gulf Coast region. We work with pool builders, architects, contractors, and property owners to provide the structural engineering necessary for safe construction, permitting, and long-term structural performance.
Our role is to provide the structural design and engineering for swimming pools required to address site conditions, structural loads, coastal environments, and applicable building requirements. We provide structural drawings and calculations prepared and sealed by a licensed professional engineer that are required by some cities, counties or permitting authorities.
What This Service Provides
Our structural engineering services support pool builders, architects, and property owners by addressing the technical requirements that fall outside a pool contractor’s scope. This includes structural design of the pool shell, engineering analysis for site-specific soil and load conditions, and sealed drawings required for permitting.
Swimming Pool Structural Engineering Services for Coastal Pool Projects
Every swimming pool project presents different structural considerations. Coastal swimming pool construction often requires additional engineering considerations. Soil conditions, groundwater levels, surrounding structures, flood zones, and the location of the pool can all affect its structural design. Flood-zone properties may also require evaluation of flood-related forces, while high groundwater conditions can create hydrostatic forces that affect the pool structure.
Our swimming pool structural engineering services can include:
- Structural design and engineering for residential and commercial swimming pools
- Site-specific structural analysis based on soil conditions, water table, and applicable load requirements
- Structural design for pools constructed on elevated slabs or decks
- Engineering for pools located near bodies of water like a lake, bay, river, lagoon, or the Gulf
- Engineering for pools located near seawalls, bulkheads, retaining walls, and other structures
- Wind and flood load analysis for coastal and flood-zone properties
- Sealed structural drawings and engineering calculations for permitting
- Structural review and coordination with pool contractors, architects, and geotechnical engineers
- Retaining wall and hardscape structural support associated with pool construction
- Forensic evaluation of existing swimming pools exhibiting cracking, settlement, movement, or structural failure
Pool Equipment Design
Knowing what equipment is required for pools of different shapes and sizes is an important part of planning a pool installation. Many factors must be considered.
Our pool equipment design services can include:
- Pump selection and sizing based on required flow rates, turnover time, and total dynamic head
- Filter selection and sizing appropriate for pool volume, bather load, and filtration type
- Piping layout and pipe sizing for suction and return lines, including hydraulic calculations
- Main drain and suction outlet design in accordance with entrapment prevention requirements
- Coordination of heaters, sanitization systems, and other pool equipment components
- Structural design of equipment pads, including anchorage for wind and flood conditions
- Equipment placement and elevation for properties located in coastal and flood-zone areas
- Pool equipment and hydraulic drawings for permit submittal
Why Structural Engineering Matters for Pool Projects
Swimming pools are significant structural systems. The pool shell must support the weight and pressure of thousands of gallons of water while also resisting forces created by the surrounding soil, groundwater, and environmental conditions.
Along the Gulf Coast, these considerations can become even more important. High water tables, varying soil conditions, hurricane exposure, flooding, and coastal construction requirements can create engineering challenges that may not exist on a typical inland pool project.
A qualified pool structural engineer evaluates these conditions and develops a structural design appropriate for the specific project and site.
Existing Pool Structural Problems
Our services are not limited to new swimming pool construction.
J. Martin Pitts PE LLC can also evaluate existing pool structures when there are signs of potential structural problems, including:
Cracking in the pool shell
Differential settlement
Movement or displacement
Problems associated with nearby retaining walls or seawalls
Structural deterioration
Suspected construction or design deficiencies
Other indications of structural distress or failure
When appropriate, our engineering evaluation can help determine the nature of the problem and provide recommendations for repair or further investigation.
Engineering Drawings for Swimming Pool Permits
Depending on the project and jurisdiction, permitting authorities may require structural drawings and calculations prepared and sealed by a licensed professional engineer.
We can prepare the structural engineering documentation required for permit submittal and coordinate with the pool contractor, architect, geotechnical engineer, or other members of the project team when necessary.
Addressing structural requirements early in the project can help identify potential engineering issues before construction begins.
