“Standards, Supervision and Chamber-Centered Engineering Are Indispensable in Pool and Wellness Facilities”
Pool, SPA and sauna facilities are structures that go far beyond aesthetic concerns; they require serious engineering calculations, strict standards and significant technical responsibility, as they directly affect human health and safety. We spoke with Serkan Sevat, Secretary of the Istanbul Branch of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects – Chamber of Mechanical Engineers (TMMOB MMO), about the technical responsibilities undertaken by the Chamber in the design and operation of swimming pool and wellness facilities, the importance of chamber-approved projects, current problems in supervision mechanisms, the impact of operator training on the sector, and future-oriented engineering approaches shaped by energy efficiency and sustainability.
According to Serkan Sevat, pool, SPA and wellness facilities demand a high level of engineering responsibility in terms of proper design, compliance with standards and effective supervision to ensure public health, safety and sustainable operation. He emphasizes that swimming pools should be considered an integral part of the mechanical installation discipline and that projects must be prepared by qualified engineers and subjected to Chamber review.
However, Sevat points out that current legal and administrative practices—particularly the removal of the mandatory requirement for MMO approval—pose serious risks to quality and safety within the sector. He underlines that this situation leaves engineering services largely to market conditions, paving the way for non-standard and unsafe practices.
Sevat also notes that the authorization training programs carried out by MMO create significant awareness in terms of energy efficiency, operational safety and long-term system performance. Nevertheless, he stresses that on-site implementation largely depends on the knowledge and competence of operators. Especially in public swimming pools, inadequately trained personnel can lead to serious hygiene and safety problems.
Emphasizing that sustainability in pool and wellness facilities is not limited solely to energy efficiency, Serkan Sevat highlights the importance of integrating proper water management, recovery and reuse systems, automation solutions and renewable energy sources into projects through a sound engineering approach. In this context, he states that MMO continues to guide the sector through technical guidelines as well as public awareness and information activities.
In conclusion, Sevat asserts that a chamber-centered engineering approach is a fundamental prerequisite for producing ethical, safe and sustainable pool and wellness facilities, and calls on all sector stakeholders to prioritize standards-compliant, supervised and engineering-driven projects.
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