Avoid chlorine accidents in swimming pools

Wertheim, October 01, 2024 - Swollen eyes, irritated airways, fatal pulmonary oedema: as important as chlorine gas is for disinfecting drinking and bathing water, the chemical can be dangerous if it escapes in an uncontrolled manner. The new chlorine manual by water treatment expert Thomas Beutel shows swimming pool operators, planners and service technicians how to handle chlorine gas safely and avoid accidents. It is the first book on the market to summarize all the essential information for the safe handling of chlorine gas in a compact 132 pages. Beutel will be presenting and signing his work from 22 to 24 October 2024 at Interbad 2024, the trade fair for swimming pools, saunas and spas in Stuttgart (stand IJ41).

It was just another Tuesday. During swimming lessons in an indoor pool in Bergheim in North Rhine-Westphalia, pupils suddenly noticed a pungent smell. A small amount of chlorine gas had escaped. 21 children and three adults suffered respiratory irritation, severe coughing and watery eyes and had to be taken to hospital. They were lucky in their misfortune. A larger quantity could have caused life-threatening pulmonary oedema.

"Chlorine gas is used in more than 70 percent of public pools in Germany to disinfect the bathing water. Its purity makes it indispensable. Unfortunately, however, accidents occur time and again, mostly due to improper handling of the chemical," says Thomas Beutel, expert for disinfection systems at Lutz-Jesco and, as an expert for swimming pool technology, head of the DIN working group "Chlorine gas systems in water treatment", among other things.

New manual teaches safe handling of chlorine gas on 132 pages

To increase safety when handling chlorine gas, Beutel will be presenting his new chlorine manual at Interbad 2024. "It is the first book in the swimming pool industry to summarize all the important information about chlorine gas in a compact format," emphasizes Beutel. It is intended to help swimming pool operators, planners and service technicians to recognize the actual dangers and ensure safe handling of the chemical." The chlorine handbook is available at Interbad and subsequently from Lutz-Jesco or bookshops.

The new 132-page handbook offers the reader a comprehensive introduction to the world of chlorine gas that is just as entertaining. Beutel sheds light on the history of chlorine as a disinfectant, which has been helping to contain epidemics such as cholera and typhoid for over 100 years. He tells the story of John L. Leal, who pioneered the first regular chlorination of the water supply in New Jersey in 1908, laying the foundations for modern water disinfection.

After this historical excursus, Beutel moves on to the technical details, such as the physical properties of chlorine gas, correct storage and dosing and the necessary safety precautions. Readers learn how chlorine gas is used in swimming pools and how safety guidelines, the installation of gas warning systems and training for operating personnel can prevent accidents. "The manual is intended to help the reader develop a sound understanding of chlorine gas, handle the chemical reliably and thus increase safety in swimming pools," says Beutel.

Thomas Beutel, a water expert since 1988

Thomas Beutel is an experienced expert in the water industry who has been working in the field of dosing and disinfection systems since 1988. He has been working at Lutz-Jesco GmbH since 1997. In addition to his main activity, he has established himself as an expert for swimming pool technology and dosing system construction since 2005. Beutel is actively involved in various committees and working groups in the drinking water and swimming pool industry. Among other things, he heads the DIN working group "DIN 19606 - Chlorine gas systems in water treatment". Its aim is to use innovative approaches to promote efficiency and sustainability in water treatment and ensure operational safety.

About Lutz Holding GmbH

Lutz Holding GmbH has stood for professional fluid management since 1954. The group of companies unites internationally active companies in pump technology as well as water treatment and disinfection and is represented by 13 subsidiaries and agencies in over 80 countries worldwide. The group includes Lutz Pumpen GmbH in Wertheim, Lutz-Jesco GmbH in Wedemark and Lutz-Jesco Suisse SA in Couvet, Switzerland. The portfolio includes pumps, systems and accessories for dosing, conveying, emptying and mixing processes for a wide range of media. Lutz Group products are used in numerous industries, including the chemical industry, food industry, automotive production, water and wastewater treatment as well as the paint and coatings industry.