Case Study: Camber Sands Holiday Park – Leisure Pool Control Panel Replacement Project Overview

Camber Sands Holiday Park features a busy leisure pool complex with multiple attractions, including flume slides, rapids, spa areas, and dedicated pools for children and teaching. Reliable control of these features is essential not only for guest enjoyment but also for safe operation.

Our involvement with the site dates back to the early 2000s, when we were first called to address major faults within the original control system. At that time, we carried out a full panel replacement, which remained in service for over two decades.

In 2024, we were invited back to design and install a modern replacement system, ensuring continued reliability while adapting to significant changes made to the plant and pool features over the years.

The Challenge

Over the lifespan of the previous panel, the site had undergone numerous modifications:

• Changes to pump configurations and plant room layout

• Updates to pool features and attractions

• Evolving operational requirements from the management team

In addition, the existing control panel enclosure had suffered from corrosion, due to its location within a chemically aggressive plant room environment.

The client required a like-for-like functional replacement, but with:

• Improved reliability

• Modern control hardware

• Updated sequencing to match current operational needs

• A durable enclosure suitable for the environment

Site Survey & Design

Before beginning the design, we carried out a full site survey to understand the current operating philosophy of the pool.

This included reviewing:

• How each feature operates

• The sequencing of attractions

• Safety considerations for lifeguard supervision

• Any changes made since the original installation

Using this information, we redesigned the system around a control panel replacement using a modern PLC platform, ensuring flexibility, reliability, and ease of operation.

A new enclosure was specified to address the environmental challenges within the plant room.

Engineering Solution

The new control system was designed to manage all major pool features, including:

• Pool filtration

• Chemical dosing

• Flume slide

• Rapids (high-pressure water feature)

• Spa blowers and jacuzzi area

• Children’s pool

• Teaching pool

A key feature of the system is its automated sequencing capability.

Rather than operating all attractions simultaneously, the system allows the pool to be set to an automatic mode, where features cycle in a controlled sequence.

This approach delivers two major benefits:

1. Enhanced Safety

• Lifeguards can focus their attention on the active feature

• Reduces risk by avoiding multiple high-activity areas running at once

2. Improved Operational Control

• Predictable and consistent feature operation

• Simplified control for staff

Installation & Commissioning

The installation was carefully planned to take place during a scheduled shutdown period in 2024.

Our team completed:

• Removal of the existing panel

• Installation of the new control panel and enclosure

• Integration with existing plant and field devices

• Full testing and commissioning

All works were successfully completed within a 3–4 day visit, minimising disruption to the site and ensuring a quick return to operation.

Outcome

The new control panel has now been in operation for over a year and has delivered:

• Reliable, fault-free performance with zero callouts

• Improved alignment with current plant and feature requirements

• Enhanced safety through controlled feature sequencing

• A robust solution designed for the harsh plant room environment

The system operates exactly as required by the pool management team, providing a simple and effective interface for daily use while maintaining high levels of safety and performance.

Conclusion

This project highlights the importance of adapting legacy systems to modern operational needs while maintaining continuity for the client.

By combining detailed site understanding with updated control technology, we delivered a solution that not only replaces ageing infrastructure but also improves how the facility operates on a day-to-day basis.

The result is a future-ready control system that supports both operational efficiency and user safety at one of the UK’s popular holiday park leisure facilities.

Get in Touch

If you're looking to upgrade or design a bespoke control system, we'd be happy to help. Email us on hello@pslcontrols.co.uk