The swimming pool may be a wellness oasis and place of relaxation—until you scrape your knees or bump your head against the AGsidewalls. To the rescue comes Alveolen NS foamed polyolefin sheets from Sekisui Alveo AG (Lucerne, Switzerland) to cover pool walls, floors, and stairs. The flexible foam bonds without difficulty to concrete, adapts to pool shapes, is resistant to chemicals, and shows negligible water absorption. Besides reducing injury risk through its soft surface, closed-cell foam Alveolen NS also insulates pools to help reduce energy costs in heating the water, and it resists fungi and bacteria growth.

Foam elements can be cut and connected using a corresponding adhesive tape or by hot knife welding. Once affixed, a vinyl film lining is laid as a seal over the foam, says Oliver Bürklin, marketing segment manager at the company. Unlike cheaper products on the market, this foam is compressed only marginally by the swimming pool water. Material thickness decreases are dependent on temperature and pressure, Bürklin says. —[email protected]