Abbreviations - 2012

[veghead]

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Please use the CURRENT version here:

PoolForum Abbreviations, 2018

instead of this old version.

PoolDoc

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I don't know if this is a problem for anyone except me, but most of the forum members discuss many pool related topics using abbreviations. I was wondering if there is a post somewhere of a list of all the abbreviations and what they stand for?

[AnnaK]

_______________________________________________

Please use the CURRENT version here:

PoolForum Abbreviations, 2018

instead of this old version.

PoolDoc

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Good point. There may be a list at poolsoutions.com. Here is a quick summary:

Chemistry & Testing

FC = free chlorine (chlorine that's 'free' to kill algae and germs)
CC = combined chlorine AKA "chloramines"
TC = total chlorine - TC = FC + CC
pH = Potential Hydrogen, a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution (pool water!)
TA = total alkalinity
CH or CAL = calcium hardness -- important if you have a concrete pool, high CH is a problem with heaters and SWCGs
CYA = cyanuric acid (stabilizer)
TDS = total dissolved solids. Usually this is NOT important, but used to be emphasized by pool stores, to sell chemicals.

ppm = parts per million; a measurement of the concentration of the different chemicals in the water (All of the tests above, except pH, report in ppm)
OTO = a test chemical that turns yellow, orange or brown if chlorine is present. It is bulletproof in that it does not bleach out at high chlorine levels and that it will always change color if chlorine is present. Recommended for reliable quick daily chlorine checks, to make sure everything is OK. Reacts to TC - total chlorine, so CC levels cannot be distinguished with OTO.
DPD = a test chemical for chlorine that turns pink or red. It is available in tablets or as a liquid. It will bleach out at high chlorine levels (usually staring around 10 ppm) so it is not good for testing very high FC levels. Many men have difficulty distinguishing between the shades of red. Used alone, it reacts to free chlorine, but when used with an iodide chemical, it can measure total chlorine.
FAS-DPD = A DPD based drop count method test (titration) for FC and CC is most accurate available method. It can test chlorine levels up to about 50 ppm with a precision as great as .2 ppm. It is a better chlorine testing method and can even be used by someone who is colorblind since the color change from pink to colorless is easy to see.

BBB = A 'brand' type term for the methods taught here, and at TroubleFreePool; refers to Bleach, Borax and Baking Soda from some PoolSolution pages in which Ben first explained how to buy some pool chemicals at the grocery store.
POP = Pool Owner Patience, the lack of which often makes pool owners victims of pool store sales tactics.

Chemicals

Dichlor = sodium dichloroisocyanurate; a fast dissolving stabilized granular chlorine source that adds 9 ppm CYA for every 10 ppm FC added
Trichlor = trichloro-isocyanuric acid; a slow dissolving stabilized chlorine source, often in pucks or sticks that adds 6 ppm CYA for every 10 ppm FC added

Cal Hypo = calcium hypochlorite; an unstabilized granular chlorine source that adds 7 ppm CH for every 10 ppm FC added, often sold as "shock"

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HEDP--a metal sequestrant that is sometimes needed if there are metals in the water.
MPS or KMPS--a non chlorine "shock" (oxidizer) that can be useful in hot tubs or indoor pools that have a problem with persistent combined chlorine. It is not a sanitizer in swimming pools but in conjunction with silver ions and hot water is an EPA approved sanitizer for hot tubs. It will test as CC on FAS-DPD testing and as TC on DPD and OTO testing so it does interfere with chlorine testing unless special procedures are used.
UV--ultraviolet light. UV can be useful in indoor pools to help combat persistent combined chlorine. It's pretty much useless in outdoor pools that are exposed to sunlight.
MSDS--material safety data sheet is an information sheet that must, by law, list all hazardous ingredients in a product. Only the hazardous ingredients need be listed and terms such as "proprietary mixture" or a general description of the other ingredients is permitted.
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Equipment

AG or AGP = avove-ground pool
IG or IGP = in-ground (pool)
SWCG = salt water chlorine generator

DE = diatomaceous earth, a fine powder used as a filter medium in some pool filters (DE filters) and as a filter aid in sand filters

]

[CarlD]

Of course, there's
B-B-B (most people write it as "BBB") for "Bleach, Borax and Brightener"...OOPS That was an old TV ad! (that'e where I got the idea...) B-B-B is Bleach, Borax and Baking Soda
POP and POPP: Pool Owner Patience, Pool Owner Patience and Persistence--the most important ingredient in cleaning up an algae-filled pool.

[waterbear]

Here is what I have for now:

CH or CAL for calcium hardness, which is conspicuous in its absence above (but Anna K has a vinyl liner pool so it's excusable!)
ppm is parts per million and it is a measurement of the concentration of the different chemicals in the water. It is the same as 1 mg/liter or 1.5 grains/US gallon or .0034 oz./US gallon. Sometimes ppt (parts per thousand) is used for salt concentration and ppb (parts per billion) is used for phosphates.
Trichlor--a slow dissolving stabilized chlorine source, often in pucks or sticks that adds 6 ppm CYA for every 10 ppm FC added
Dichlor--a fast dissolving stabilized granular chlorine source that adds 9 ppm CYA for every 10 ppm FC added
Cal Hypo-- an unstabilized granular chlorine source that adds 7 ppm CH for every 10 ppm FC added and commonly sold as "shock"
DE--diatomaceous earth, used as a filter medium in some pool filters (DE filters) and as a filter aid in sand filters
OTO--a test for total chlorine (TC) that turns shades of yellow to orange and brown at very high chlorine levels. It is bulletproof in that it does not bleach out at high chlorine levels and that it will always change color if chlorine is present. It is good for a quick daily chlorine check to make sure everything is OK.
DPD--a test for both FC and TC that turns shades of red and the most common test used in better drop based kits and most pool store testing (unless they use strips). It will beach out at high chlorine levels (usually staring around 10 ppm) so it is not good for testing very high FC levels. Many men have difficulty distinguising between the shades of red.
FAS-DPD--A drop counting test (titration) for FC and CC. It can test chlorine levels up to about 50 ppm with a precision as great as .2 ppm. It is a better chlorine testing method and can even be used by someone who is colorblind since the color change from pink to colorless is easy to see. This, in combination with OTO for daily tests, is the preferred method of testing chlorine.
HEDP--a metal sequestrant that is sometimes needed if there are metals in the water.
MPS or KMPS--a non chlorine "shock" (oxidizer) that can be useful in hot tubs or indoor pools that have a problem with persistent combined chlorine. It is not a sanitizer in swimming pools but in conjunction with silver ions and hot water is an EPA approved sanitizer for hot tubs. It will test as CC on FAS-DPD testing and as TC on DPD and OTO testing so it does interfere with chlorine testing unless special procedures are used.
UV--ultraviolet light. UV can be useful in indoor pools to help combat persistent combined chlorine. It's pretty much useless in outdoor pools that are exposed to sunlight.
MSDS--material safety data sheet is an information sheet that must, by law, list all hazardous ingredients in a product. Only the hazardous ingredients need be listed and terms such as "proprietary mixture" or a general description of the other ingredients is permitted.

[waterbear]

Good idea. One suggestion is to keep them in alphabetical order since it makes it easier to find what you are looking for!

[AnnaK]

I like the groupings.

[BigDave]

Equipment:
VFD - Variable Frquency Drive. A type of motor for variable speed pumps
GFI/GFCI - Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor. An electrical circuit breaker that opens when a circuit is shorted to ground

Chemicals:
DHMO - DiHydrogen MonOxide - Water

InterWeb cliches:
OP - Original Poster
BTW - By The Way
IMO - In My Opinion
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
ROFL - Rolling On Floor Laughing

[Leehicks79]

What is PF in members' signatures?

[PoolDoc]

PF = pool factor.

If you add 1 lb of chlorine gas to a pool with a PF of 1 (120,000 gallons = 1,000,000 lbs) you get 1 ppm of chlorine.

If you add 1 lb of chlorine gas (100% chlorine) to a pool with a PF of 10, you get 10 ppm of chlorine.

If you add 1 lb of dichlor (55% chlorine) to a pool with a PF of 10, you get a 5.5 ppm of chlorine (1 x 10 x 0.55)