AQUATHERMA Nature Series User manual

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Nature Series
Urbaine Series
January 2018 edition

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Description
Details
on page
Authorization
Permit
Before installing your spa, you must contact your municipality to understand and comply with local regulations.
Contact Info-Excavation (www.info-ex.com or 1 800 663-9228) and Hydro-Québec
(http://www.hydroquebec.com/securite/piscine.html so that you can comply with safety standards for
determining the location of your spa.
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Place-
ment
Establish the exact location of your spa. 6
Trace and then stake out the contours of the spa based on the excavation plan. 6
Safe-
ty
Do all the necessary checks to comply with the regulations in effect in your municipality regarding the obligation
to install a safety device around your spa. 18
Excavation
Using a small excavator of adequate size, dig according to the excavation plan for your spa model. 7
Unless you have a particular constraint, dig approximately 12" wider than the outside edge of the spa. 7
Except for a particular constraint, calculate the depth of the hole to be dug so that you can deposit about 3" to 6"
of gravel under the basin and also depending on the final level to obtain including the finishing materials provided
at the perimeter from the spa (zero point).
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Dig a trench approximately 18" wide and deep from the outlet of the pipes to the spa and to the location where
the technical housing will be placed (approximately 25’ from the spa)
Summary of the steps for installing your spa

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Description
Details
on page
Gravel
Use ONLY ½ net gravel for levelling the bottom and backfilling around the spa. In general, 8 to 12 tons of
gravel will be required to complete these steps. Refer to your dealer for details on approximate amounts
of gravel as these may vary depending on the spa model and the digging method.
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Preparing
the bottom
Spread a geotextile-type canvas over the entire hole. 8
Lay about 3" to 6" of gravel evenly over the bottom of the hole and over the geotextile fabric. 8
Reserve the rest of the gravel for backfilling the spa. 8
Levelling
Level the gravel at the bottom of the spa according to the digging plan. 8
Drainage
Vertically and immediately adjacent to the fibreglass spa, install a pipe about 6" in diameter that will serve
as a decompression well (also called SIGHT HOLE or DE-WATERING WELL). 9
This pipe should be about 6" deeper than the spa. It must be installed from the edge of the spa and up to
approximately 6'' deeper than it. It will be held in place by the gravel during backfilling.
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Summary of the steps for installing your spa

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Description
Details
on page
Manipulating
the
spa basin
WARNING:
Carefully follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the safe method for unloading and moving the spa
basin.
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Depending on the size of the spa, this stage will be done manually or with a excavator of a suitable size to unload,
move and place the spa basin in the hole. 10 - 11
Backfill
Using a long level, adjust the proper level of the basin by adding gravel under the spa basin where needed. Once
the spa basin is level, start filling it with water to stabilize it.
Use the rest of the gravel for backfilling around the spa basin. 12
Perform backfilling, taking care to fill all cavities below the basin, including under the seats. 12
Connections
While the backfilling is in progress, make connections (screw connections) to the technical box containing the
motor system. 14
Connect the hoses coming from the spa to the various accessories included in your project such as motor, filter,
heater, water treatment, etc. 14
It is MANDATORY to have the electrical connections of the accessories done by a master electrician. 15-16-17
Finishing
WARNING:
Never place heavy stones directly on the edges of the spa. 18
Perform the finishing work around the spa. 18
Summary of the steps for installing your spa

When carrying out a project of this size, there are several steps to plan before the delivery and installation of your spa. Here are some
tips and tricks to make your dream come true.
MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS
It is your responsibility to check with your municipality for rules applying to your property.
Here are some examples:
• The clearances of property lines
• The electrical standards of the municipality
• The need to obtain a permit
• The need to fence
• In some municipalities, regulations may be in effect
regarding heat pumps with respect to the distance from
the lot boundaries and the number of decibels.
CHOICE OF LOCATION
You must also plan the location of your spa taking into
account the following:
• The sunshine in the yard
•The location of the patio and shed
• Children's play area
• Overhead or underground electrical wires
• Trees and roots
We advise you to make a scale plan to ensure that you comply
all the regulations of your municipality.
For more information, visit the Hydro-Québec and Info-Excavation websites.
PLANNING
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Image of Hydro-Québec standards for illustrative purposes only

Upon delivery of the spa, you will receive the following:
- One fibreglass spa basin
- A hard cover (if included with the purchase)
- A wood housing (or fibreglass if included with the purchase)
including the items for the motor, filter and heating systems
- A set of pipe fittings
Note that spa models that contain more than 3 pumps generally do not include housing
because of their size. These larger systems will require a dry, larger space, such as a shed,
for the installation of motors and other accessories.
CONTENT
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Note
Depending on the type of transport chosen,
items can be shipped on pallets or simply
attached to a platform trailer.

The installation and excavation of your spa must be determined according to your plan.
A spa located under trees will certainly look impressive, but consider that you will
eventually have to deal with falling leaves or twigs which will make spa maintenance a little
more difficult.
Make sure you have made all the usual checks with Info-Excavation and Hydro-Québec
before digging to prevent any potential damage to any underground wires and/or
pipes.
First outline the sides of the spa with stakes, ropes and paint cans.
It is possible you will need to level the ground in order to make up for a vertical drop and
thus create a platform that is sufficiently straight to accommodate the spa and its
rims/edges.
Plan the surroundings of the spa by providing landscaping such as contour stones
(coronation), cobblestone, plants, shrubs, a riprap or a small wall for a waterfall.
Provide a place where the technical housing will be permanently situated that is 25’ from
the spa starting from where the section where the pipes come out of it.
Check with your dealer if you need to plan for a greater distance.
The housing is made of wood and can stay outdoors. It is recommended to put a protective
coating on it.
Housing dimensions
1 pump systems: 42’’ L. X 24’’ W. X 30’’ H.
2 pump systems: 47-1/2’’ L. X 36-1/2’’ W. X 30’’ H.
LAGON spa systems: no housing available (see notes on page 23)
PREPARATION
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The excavation width should be approximately 12'' wider all around the spa basin.
For spas with a curved shape, you are not required to follow this shape with great precision
during the excavation. However, you may need more gravel for backfilling.
The excavation depth should be approximately 3" to 6" deeper than the total height of the
spa, in preparation for the application of a layer of gravel.
On the other hand, once the installation is complete, you want the edge of the spa to be
higher than the ground, you will have to reduce the depth of the hole by the same number
of inches/centimetres as the total and final desired height.
Dig a trench about 18 inches deep by about 18-24 inches wide to accommodate the
connecting pipes between the spa basin (see the outlet plan of the selected basin pipes),
up to the location intended for the technical housing.
NOTES
It is MANDATORY to pass all the light and keyboard wires through a rigid pipe
for ease of maintenance or subsequent change.
EXCAVATION
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INSTALLATION AND LEVELLING OF GRAVEL BOTTOM
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Have the required amount of gravel placed next to and, if possible, around the
hole. Refer to the table for the approximate amount required depending on the
spa model to be installed.
Once you have reached the right level of digging then roughly equalize the
bottom of the hole, spread a geotextile-like fabric over the entire bottom hole
surface and also on the edges.This step is intended to maintain and stabilize the
gravel that will be deposited.
Begin dumping the ½ net gravel in the hole, over the geotextile fabric.
Roughly level the gravel, while trying to respect the final level at which
you want the spa basin to be once completed.

CAUTION
Completely emptying a spa can have serious consequences such as shifting or lifting the spa. It is
therefore NOT recommended to do so without having first taken care to check in the well if there is
water under the spa.
Sometimes referred to as a de-watering well, the Sight hole is used to check soil moisture and
the depth of groundwater beneath the spa basin.
If necessary, it then serves as a passage to introduce a small pump to evacuate the water
present under the spa if draining it is necessary.
The well must be installed when backfilling the spa basin. It is made of a semi-flexible Big 'O’
type hose of at least 6" in diameter and it must be placed vertically, right next to the spa and
about 4" to 6" deeper than the bottom of the spa basin.
It will then be backfilled with ½ gravel, just like the rest of the spa contour.
Its lowest point must be positioned a few centimetres below the lowest point of the spa basin.
Its highest point should slightly exceed the final height of the spa once installed.This type of
pipe and its cover are not supplied with the spa.You can get them at hardware stores (just like
the geotextile canvas). The pipe with its cover can then be camouflaged through the
landscaping.
SIGHT HOLE / DE-WATERING WELL
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