ONLINE ON-DEMAND COURSES
IACET CEUs offered: 2.4
Duration: 24 hours
Taught by: David J. Peterson, P.E., IWI | Bill Drakeley, ACI, IWI | Paolo Benedetti, IWI
The Essentials of Pool Construction
In this information-rich course, students work through 22 modules of online, on-demand lecture and instruction, carefully examining the key elements of swimming pool construction with a focus on how basic engineering directly determines construction methods and details.
Section One defines basic engineering, Section Two describes key construction phases including layout, forming, utilities, safety barriers, shotcrete, waterproofing, tile and coping, all with an eye toward exceeding standards and best practices. The program concludes with Section Three, in-depth examinations of concrete decking, plaster science and start-up methods.
Enrollment in this course includes unlimited access to the lecture and reading material, a hard copy of the Essential Pool Construction manual. This online, on-demand course concludes with the Certified Watershape Foreman exam and upon successful completion of that exam, confers the Certified Watershape Foreman badge.
What you will learn:
List engineering disciplines: geotechnical, hydraulic, structural and electrical.
Examine project layout, form design/construction, shotcrete application and waterproofing measures.
Examine artisan points: tile and coping, decking, plaster preparations, cementitious finishes, materials science.
Discuss start-up procedures, punch-list execution and project conclusion/hand over.
Your instructors.
Paolo Benedetti, IWI
Paolo Benedetti is the President/CEO of Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa and Lux Environs, one of the world’s leading luxury design and build construction firms. As a licensed pool builder and general building contractor, he has managed the design or construction of residential and commercial aquatics projects, vacation resorts, and high-end luxury residences spanning five continents. Widely published and recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on watershape design, he is currently a faculty member for Watershape University.
Bill Drakeley, ACI, IWI
William Drakeley is principal and founder of Drakeley Pool Company, a New England-based luxury design and build custom watershaping firm; and, Drakeley Industries, an international consulting firm focusing on shotcrete applications and techniques. He is an award-winning shotcrete technologist specializing in concrete science and construction, particularly shotcrete applications, techniques and standards. He has thirty-plus years of experience in shotcrete installation, watershape geotechnical design and detailed custom construction—services include consultation and review, training and testing and expert testimony. As an educator and advocate for the highest industry standards, Bill is co-founder of Watershape University (WU), an industry-leading education provider of the highest quality live instruction covering business, design, engineering and construction—reaching students at all levels of pool, spa, aquatics and outdoor living sectors. He has conducted training for the Colorado School of Mines, the American Society of Landscape Architects, World of Concrete, NESPA Pool Show, and most notably for the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority underground tunneling projects. His technical writing has been widely published in trade magazines and e-publications. Bill is chairman of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Swimming Pool Shotcrete Committee, which in 2024 published the country’s first legal document for proper pool shotcrete protocol, ACI PRC-506.8-24. He is also a connoisseur of fine wine and a recent winery co-owner.
David J. Peterson, P.E., IWI
Peterson is President/CEO of Watershape Consulting, Inc., an international planning, design and engineering firm providing owners, architects, contractors, and the legal profession with services relating to residential, commercial and institutional pools, spas and water features.
He obtained his B.S. Civil Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is a registered engineer in several states. Peterson has been in the watershape industry since 1994 when he began his career designing life support systems for large aquariums and marine mammal exhibits. He was Vice President Engineering at Polaris Pool Systems where he developed and patented several products.
Peterson reorganized the Genesis 3 Design Group into GENESIS® University in 2012. When GENESIS merged with the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) in 2016, Peterson became Director of Education for GENESIS, a position he held until forming Watershape University.
Become certified.
Certified Watershape Foreman
This industry-recognized certification shows that you have the skills and knowledge to build basic pools, spas, and other water features to a high, global standard. This certification is also the first step toward earning more advanced credentials in the industry.
Requirements: C2111 + Exam
Resources.
Questions about this course or certification?
Call us at 858.720.1001 or