Few areas can be as tough to condition as pools and ice rinks. Indoor pools, or natatoriums, need to be able to maintain a space temperature warmer than the water temperature (generally around 84°F) and space humidity between 50% to 60%. Most ice rinks need to hold a space temperature of 70°F with humidity below 50%, although new NHL standards would like to see 65°F with humidity below 40%.
In addition to these challenging space conditions, these projects are further challenged by the presence of large volumes of water in the pool or on the rink and the need to provide proper ventilation (as well as isolation from adjacent spaces). Conditioning these spaces is always energy intense; however, there are strategies that can be used to provide the needed conditions as efficiently as possible.