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Domes in Detail

The following is a general description of a basic pool dome. Although it is very descriptive, the information below may or may not include all the details of your particular dome. Please use this information as a guide to understanding a dome and its functions. And please don't hesitate to call us with your questions! We're happy to help!

Air domes are fully air supported, not requiring a frame or under structure. There are 8 main parts on a dome:

• Anchors – either concrete anchors (‘RedHead’ type used in construction) Holes are drilled into the concrete, the anchor is inserted, and an eyebolt screws into the anchor. Other anchoring methods can be used for wood decks (t-nut as in lower right picture) or earth.
• Zinc-coated anchors & brass eyebolts are the standard equipment provided with the dome.
• Stainless steel hardware is available at 10% upcharge

• Anchor cable – a 3,000 lb test stainless steel, vinyl coated cable that hooks through eyebolts in the deck.
Anchor hem or skirt – a continuous reinforced pocket of material that holds the anchor cable. This extends around the whole base of the dome.

• Air seal or flap – on the inside of the dome attached to the anchor hem. Approximately 18” long, provides an air seal as it lays flat and seals to the deck. Below you can see the blower "snorkle tube" coming through the flap.

• Wall – heat-welded to the anchor hem. The top of the wall is approximately 66” tall.

• Ceiling or roof – heated-welded to the top of the wall, will be dome-shaped when the dome is inflated. The center height of the dome ceiling is dependent on dome size and air temperatures (material expands in the heat and contracts in the cold).

  
• Blower – inflates the dome and keeps it inflated. Comes with protective cover (“doghouse”) and adjustable pressure regulating switch. The pressure switch senses the amount of air pressure inside the dome. When the air pressure drops, the switch turns the blower on; when the dome is at full air pressure, the blower shuts off. Optimally, the blower will run about 50% of the time. For overseas use, 50 hz blowers are available. A stepdown transformer is required. Specifications:

• ¼ hp, 7.5 amps, 110V Electricity


 

• Entry/exit – Zippers are the standard entry option, either a straight vertical zipper or an L-shaped zipper.
  • Straight Zipper (shown). Slide zipper open gently, allow some air to escape the dome so that the wall relaxes, step through the opening.
  • The L-shaped Zipper is like a tent flap; one zipper up and down, one across the bottom – easy to enter and easier to bring in patio furniture or equipment.
  • Rotary Door – an airlock door, as used in dark rooms or dust-free environments. 2 sizes are available – standard or wheelchair accessible. Great for commercial domes.

There are a few different types of materials used in domes, two of the most common are:

• The basic residential dome under 3,000 square feet uses a 20 mil vinyl. However, larger domes require a sturdier material that will handle the amount of air to be enclosed.
• 18 ounce reinforced vinyl material. It is a flexible vinyl that has PVC strands woven into the material. There are a variety of colors to choose from, but standard colors are white, blue, and tan. Custom colors are available at a 10% upcharge.

When using the reinforced material, most people choose white for the walls to make it brighter inside the dome. The reinforced material is opaque, meaning it will allow light to pass through although you cannot see through it. Unfortunately “clear” is not offered in the reinforced material.

The material is fire-resistant – if exposed directly to flame, the material will catch flame but the flame will go out quickly. Fire retardant reinforced material is available at a 10% upcharge. Due to condensation in the dome, the material will be wet, so unless there are strict codes in your city, the standard fire resistant material will work just fine. (It’s not often that there will be a roaring fire of wet vinyl over a filled swimming pool!)

The vinyl is rated to -30° and has a heat retention rate of about 75%.

Condensation – Because of cooler temperatures outside and warm water inside, there will be condensation (fog) inside the dome. The amount of fog depends on temperatures. To prevent condensation, use a solar blanket or other pool cover over the water. You can leave part of the water exposed to allow heat from the pool to warm up the dome.

Inside temperatures – Generally you’ll see a 15 ° to 20 ° difference from the temperature of the pool water. If the water is heated to 85 ° , the outside temperature is 34 ° , then the inside of the dome will be about 65 ° . The heat index will rise when the outside temperature rises. (Snow melts as it hits the dome, although if it is a very wet, heavy snow that is coming down very fast, accumulation may occur. In this case, turn off the blower and allow the dome to deflate until the storm is over.)

Inflation & deflation – Inflation will take about 45 minutes, depending on size of dome. Deflation…. Should the electricity ever go out, the dome would very slowly begin deflating, taking hours if the zippers are kept closed. With zippers open, the deflation will take about 20 – 30 minutes. If you’re in a hurry to deflate, a corner of the dome can be unhooked from the eyebolts and lifted up.

Wind – Domes can withstand a great amount of wind, and we’ve heard of them still standing through winds of 80 mph. However, we suggest deflating the dome if you know that a bad storm with high winds (over 30 mph) is coming. If you cannot deflate the dome before the storm hits, then increase the pressure in the dome so the walls are stiffer and they won’t ‘whip’ in the wind.

Maintenance – Basically, a dome is pretty maintenance free. A washing at time of takedown with mild detergent or Simple Green and a soft brush will remove dirt and acid rain. If mildew appears, use a 20% chlorine solution and soft brush (1 part bleach to 5 parts water).

Zippers – Zippers are the part of the dome that takes the most abuse. Keep the zipper lubricated with silicon spray and make sure users do not tug or yank the zipper open. Replacement zippers are available and are easily installed.

Patching - If your dome gets punctured or torn, it can be easily patched, like an inner tube or air mattress. Your dome will be shipped with extra material and glue for this purpose.

Take down – Have several people on one long side of the dome gathering the material onto the deck as the dome deflates. The dome must be put away as dry, so try to keep it out of the pool (use a pool cover during the process), and if possible, lay the dome out in the sun to dry. If the dome is stored wet, it will mildew. Store in a cool, dry place.

Please also visit our FAQ's page for more helpful information!

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Rontimco P.O. Box 1696 Chico, California 95927 Int'l phone  530-589-9000 fax  530-5267-7729 email:  info@rontimco.com

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