CATEGORIES

PHTA’s Awards of Excellence program has a robust category list for installations in and outside of the United States and Canada.

RESIDENTIAL POOL CATEGORIES

CONCRETE

Vanishing Edge - Any shape, design, or type of construction of water surface area. Water feature in which water flows over the edge of at least one of the pool walls and is collected in a catch basin.
Freeform - Combination of non-geometric curves (and straight lines) of water surface area.
Geometric - Combination of straight lines and angles, and/or radius curve of water surface area.
Traditional - e.g., rectangle, Roman-/Grecian-ended
Pools with Automatic Covers - Includes pools with fiberglass and/or metal walls and concrete or rolled glass floor.
Screened Enclosed Pools - Any type of construction.

NON-CONCRETE POOLS

Fiberglass Pools - Includes pools with fiberglass and/or metal walls and concrete or rolled glass floor.
Vinyl-Lined Pools - Any shape, design or type of construction
Pools with Automatic Covers - Includes pools with fiberglass and/or metal walls and concrete or rolled glass floor.
Screened Enclosed Pools - Any type of construction.

COMMERCIAL POOL CATEGORIES

COMPETITION POOLS

Swimming pools that are constructed specifically for competition events would include swim meets, board and/or platform diving, water polo games, synchronized swimming, and/or other competitions. *Facilities may include Municipal, Secondary Schools, YMCA, College/Universities, Homeowners Association and Development, Country Clubs.

RECREATION / LEISURE POOLS

Swimming pools are constructed specifically for leisure and recreation.*Facilities may include Municipal, College or University (recreation specific, non-competition use), Home Owner Associations and Developments, Resorts, Country Clubs, and HMAC (Hotels, Apartments, and Condos). Private residences (single dwellings through four-plexes) are excluded if not part of a Homeowners Association.

POOL INGENUITY CATEGORIES

POOL RENOVATIONS

Construction with some aspect of the original pool, still in existence. Includes both residential and commercial installations. Photographs before construction commences, during construction, and after construction must be submitted. All photos are to be taken from the same vantage point. Photos taken during renovation are NOT acceptable as “Before” photos. Be sure to label “Before”, “During” or “After” in the filename of the photo. One picture MUST be of the equipment pad.

TECHNICAL/ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT

Swimming pools of any size or type constructed under unusual circumstances requiring unique technical/ engineering expertise. Must include photos taken during construction highlighting the technical expertise/unusual circumstances.

ELEVATED POOL AND/OR SPA STRUCTURE

Any pool and/or spa structure, commercial, public, or residential that is constructed over occupied space. These may be constructed out of concrete (gunite, shotcrete, etc.), metal (stainless steel), or fiberglass.

RESIDENTIAL WATER FEATURES

Non-bathing entities such as fountains or atriums, connected to or part of a swimming pool, used only for aesthetic purposes.

COMMERCIAL WATER FEATURES

Non-bathing entities such as fountains or atriums, connected to or part of a swimming pool, used only for aesthetic purposes.

HOT TUBS AND SWIM SPAS

EXTERIOR/INTERIOR PORTABLE HOT TUBS

Self-contained units with hydromassage jets that are manufactured from prefabricated materials at a factory. Units are made of metal (stainless steel), acrylic, or thermoplastic shell and are surrounded by a cabinet that houses the controls, pump, heater, and filter. Portable hot tubs can be moved to another location and reinstalled.

SPAS BUILT IN CONJUNCTION WITH SWIMMING POOLS

Permanently installed units with hydromassage jets that are constructed out of concrete (gunite, shotcrete, etc.) and attached to a pool. The pool portion of the installation cannot have been submitted in a previous year’s competition, nor can it be entered in the current year’s competition.

STANDALONE SPAS

Permanently installed units with hydromassage jets that are constructed out of concrete (gunite, shotcrete, etc.). It cannot be connected to or in the same yard as a pool.

SWIM SPAS

A vessel that may include hydromassage jets but must include swim jets designed for recreational or fitness use. Can be manufactured from prefabricated materials at a factory or constructed out of concrete (gunite, shotcrete, etc.).