The Oceanis pool can be supplied with an integrated electronic water filling system that is supplied with filling taps, a thermostatic mixer valve, shower head & hose, and all controls integrated into the external shell of the pool.

Alternatively, it can be supplied without any filling system and you can select your own filling taps and mixers.

If the pool is going to be freestanding in the middle of the room, we usually recommend including the integrated filling system, as sourcing another freestanding system may be difficult.

If the pool is being installed against an IPS wall, you can choose either option. The integrated filling system will usually reduce the installation time as it only needs to be connected to the utilities and it's ready to go.

You can read a more comprehensive article with images by clicking HERE

Why should we consider the Oceanis Integrated Electronic Water Filling System

In brief, the Electronic Water Filling System is fully installed at the factory and means that the pool is immediately ready for use, once connected to the utilities. This option avoids the need to separately source and install the correct length filling spout, compliant taps/temperature controls, mixer valves or shower control. It also avoids modifying the IPS wall panel to install your sourced solution.

The Over-Fill Prevention System is also a key feature of the Electronic Water Filling System. The pool is equipped with internal sensors to prevent over-filling that can lead to accidental room flooding. Many midwives tell us that this happened to them when the pools had been left filling when the midwife was distracted by a higher priority or emergency. The time, cost and operational disruptions from these incidents are preventable with this option.

Confirmation of items included in the Electronic Water Filling System can be found in this article – Items of the Integrated Electronic Water Filling System

The choice is completely yours though and the Oceanis will work perfectly well with either option. We’ve written this article to help you decide which is the best option for you – Oceanis Birth Pool – What are the Options for Filling?

Who manufactures the mixer valve in the integrated filling system?

The TMV is manufactured by Hansgrohe and is WRAS certified, which is an essential requirement for UK projects.

If we select the Oceanis integrated Electronic Water Filling System, can we replace the supplied shower head with disposable shower heads?

Yes, the supplied shower head and tube can be replaced with disposable items (terminal filter system) if preferred. If you wish to do this, the switch inside the birth pool (shown below) must be rotated to acknowledge the change.

Oceanis Shower Head Switch

Is there a backflow prevention system incorporated into the design of the Oceanis’ shower system?

Yes, our self-developed Safety Separation Station was designed with the highest attention to hygiene and safety and is compliant with the required standard of BS EN 1717.

The system is specifically designed for use with shower heads in birthing pools and prevents backflow into the clean water system utilising the design below:

Oceanis Shower Head Backflow Prevention System Image

If you would like further information on this system, please fill in this service request form with your NHS/company email address and we will send an explanatory document across to you.

What is the Oceanis' base specification and what other options should we consider?

The Oceanis is supplied with the inner shell, outer shell (both in white RAL 9010), an integrated birth seat with perineal cut-out, a service hatch for maintenance access and a pop-up waste system, that is controlled from the side of the pool.

The pool is fit for purpose in its base configuration, but you may wish to consider additional options to enhance the water birth experience.

As an example, underwater LED lights avoid submerging torches during examinations. These lights also deliver colour-changing mood lighting to create a gentle ambience in the room. Entry/exit steps with a handrail are useful to support birthing people as they get in and out of the pool in a safer manner. You can may want to add grab handles, a heat retention mat to help the water temperature stay warmer for longer, a digital water temperature display or under-body lighting.

You can read an article describing all available options with images by clicking HERE

Can we access CAD drawings?

Fill in this service request form with your NHS/company email address and we will send them across to you.

What drainage is supplied with the pool?

The pool is supplied with a pop-up waste that is raised/lowered using the dial on the external shell. It is also supplied with the bend from the trap (below). The pipework in red is not supplied.

Oceanis Drainage Pipework

What is the size of the drainage pipework?

The drainage pipework is DN 50. You can view the installation instructions by clicking HERE

What are the connection sizes for the hot and cold water feed?

They are 3/4" connections. You can view the installation instructions by clicking HERE

Where can I find the technical data sheet for the Oceanis?

To access the Oceanis technical data sheet, click HERE

What is the weight of the Oceanis?

The tub has a net weight (depending on the equipment) of 120-150 kg. The maximum capacity is 650 litres. The floor/subfloor must therefore be able to support a total load of 770-800kg.

How long does it take to install an Oceanis pool with the integrated filling system?

If the water, wastewater and electrics are all prepared, the actual installation time of the pool is 3-4 hours.

Where can I find the Oceanis birth pool installation instructions?

Click here to view the Oceanis Birth Pool Installation Instructions

How long does it take to fill and empty the Oceanis?

This depends on the supply and drainage capability of the room e.g. the size and flow velocity of the drain and the pressure of the water supply pipes. Good pressure = quicker filling time.

Can the outer shell of the pool be repaired if it sustains impact damage?

A trained specialist and polishing can remove damage such as small scratches. More extensive damage such as deep cracks cannot be repaired, so it is important to look after your pool.

Can the underwater LED lights run hot or burn out if they’re left on without being underwater?

The LED lights are protected from burning out by an integrated timer which switches them off after 20 minutes

How do the underwater LED lights work?

The underwater LED lights are turned on/off from the controls embedded in the external shell of the pool. The colours are selected from this control unit too.

Colours can be selected to gently cycle through the range or individual colours can be selected and held. Colours include lilac, pink, yellow, amber, green & blue to deliver mood lighting suited to the room theme. White is also available for examination and assessment.

You can watch a colour-change video by clicking HERE (please note that the speed of colour change in this video is accelerated for illustrative purposes)

Below is an extract from the user manual explaining how to operate the control panel:

Oceanis Under Water LED Light Control Instructions

Why is the pool not draining water?

The pool is designed to drain. Droplets of water may remain afterwards but these should be easily patted dry with a paper towel. If the pool has a significant drainage concern then there are 4 potential issues:

There is a blockage in the drain pipe
The drain plug cannot be opened because of a defect in the rotary actuator or the drain itself
There is not enough slope in the drain pipe to allow the tub to drain completely
The floor is not level and the pool has been installed on a slope. It is critical that the floor and pool are installed level

How do we clean the pool?

Click this link to view the Oceanis Cleaning Instructions

Can we use cream cleaners?

The short answer, is no. Only cleaning products listed in the instructions for use are permitted. Other cleaning products may only be used on approval from the manufacturer

Can we clean the pool using chlorine-based disinfectants?

Yes; however, it is important that the pools are rinsed thoroughly with fresh water and patted dry afterwards. This removes the chalky disinfectant residues after contact and prevents internal dis-colouration due to over-exposure.

Can the plug be removed for cleaning?

Yes. The drain plug can be removed and cleaned separately. Click this link to view the Oceanis Cleaning Instructions

How accurate is the digital temperature display?

The temperature display has an accuracy of +- 1°C.

How effective is the heat retention mat in retaining water temperature?

The heat retention mat does not heat the water, it slows down the loss of heat through the surface. The graph below shows the water temperature with and without the retention mat.

Oceanis Heat Retention Mat

Is the underbody lighting controlled by a remote control?

No. The underfloor lighting is controlled by a button installed in the side of the pool. This button can select all basic colours (red, blue, green, yellow, white). Alternatively, an automatic rotating colour change can be selected to cycle through each one.

How does the integrated Bluetooth sound system work?

Speakers are installed on the left side and the right side of the pool. They are located between the inner shell and outer shell. The sound transmits through the inner shell to the water. Bluetooth connection is made via a password. If connection is not possible for any reason, the system is easily re-set by turning the pool off for 30 seconds and re-starting.

Do you supply nets for evacuation from birth pools?

We don’t supply nets ourselves and we don’t advocate the use of a specific sling/net for use with our pools, but we have seen and tested the GAIRM sling from Care and Independence.

It comes with well-placed handles for holding during the transfer and it is robust and fit for purpose. We’ve seen it demonstrated in a number of simulation sessions with good feedback.

Click HERE to view it.

You may also be interested to read our Evacuation from Birth Pool Knowledge Hub article. Click HERE.

How long does it take to fill the Oceanis?

It really depends on the water pressure and how full you want the pool to be, but with 430 litres of water being delivered at 22 litres per minute with 3bar pressure, it will fill in approx. 18 minutes.