§ 34-573. Construction.

(a)

Finish and materials. Pools shall be constructed of inert, impervious, durable, non-toxic materials that will provide a smooth, watertight and easily cleanable surface. All horizontal, interior pool surfaces at pool depths of five feet or less, including steps, benches, or seats, shall slip-resisting. The surface shall have no cracks or open joints, and interior corners shall be coved. Except for water line tiles, maximum 12-inch wide racing lane markers, or wall turn targets, the surface below normal water level shall be finished in a very light color. Vinyl pool liners are not approved. Rough and abrasive materials are not approved. Any pool with a metal-based shell or utilizing dissimilar metals shall be provided with sacrificial anodes or other approved means to reduce galvanic action and electrolytic corrosion. There shall be no extensions, means of entanglement or other obstructions in the pool that may cause entrapment or injury to the use. Underwater ledges are not approved.

(b)

Design. Pools shall be constructed to provide adequate water circulation, bather access and egress, and to afford proper operational control. Pool proportioning between deep and shallow pool areas shall be in accordance with the anticipated uses of the pool, and with sound engineering, public health design, and construction principles. No pool shall be constructed in a manner that limits the use of life saving equipment, limits the pool operator's ability to supervise the facility, or creates a hazard to bathers. No pool shall have any part of its perimeter elevated including walls, coping, decks, or similar structures. All vertical edged corners and all protrusions greater than six inches below water level shall have a minimum three-inch radius. Horizontal edges and corners of steps, benches, seats, and similar surfaces shall have a minimum one-inch radius. The wall-to-floor juncture shall be coved with a minimum three-inch radius. Interior walls shall be vertical and shall not be greater than 11 degrees from plumb. Double level and above deck pools are not approved.

(c)

Size. The minimum pool surface area shall be 500 square feet, except where otherwise described in this article. Calculations for determining size of a pool and the number and type of associated facilities shall be based on the minimum bathing load required (see Appendix, section 34-609, calculation theoretical peak occupancy). Pool usage shall not exceed the pool maximum bathing load. The theoretical peak occupancy shall be calculated by dividing the surface area in square feet of the aquatic venue by the density factor (D) that fits the specific aquatic venue being considered.

(d)

Depths. Water depths shall be determined by the intended use of the pool. Depth at the required slope-break shall not be greater than five feet for pools with depths exceeding five feet. In the diving well, depth shall be as stipulated in section 34-584, entitled "diving areas and equipment".

(1)

Depth markers. Permanent, easily-readable, depth markers shall be provided with minimum four inch high, black numbers and letters with a white background, indicated in feet and, when applicable, in inches (i.e., 5 FT or 5 FEET; 3 FT 6 IN or 3 FEET 6 INCHES). Metric depth markings can be used in conjunction with, but not substitute for, required depth markers. The depth of water shall be indicated on the vertical pool wall at or above the waterline. Depth markers shall indicate the actual pool depth within three inches at normal operating water level when measured three feet from the pool wall or at a tangent point where the cove radius meets the floor, whichever is deeper. Depth markers on the vertical pool wall shall be positioned to be read from the waterside. Depth markers shall be placed in such a way that they allow as much of the numerical value to be visible above the waterline as possible. Deck depth markers shall be installed within 18 inches of the pool wall and positioned to be read while standing on the deck facing the pool water. Horizontal depth markers shall be slip resisting. Depth markers shall be installed at the maximum and minimum water depths and at all points of slope change. Depth markers shall be installed at intermediate increments of water depth not to exceed two feet and not to exceed four feet in pool areas designated for diving areas. Depth markers shall be spaced not to exceed 25 feet intervals. Depth markers shall be arranged uniformly on both sides and both ends of the pool. Depth markers on irregularly-shaped pools shall designate depths at all major deviations in shape.

(2)

"No Diving" markers. Deck areas at the shallow area of the pool, or where pool depths are five feet or less, shall be permanently marked "No Diving" in black letters with a white background with minimum two-inch high lettering, located next to depth markers. "No Diving" markers shall be easily readable and, slip resisting. An international "No Diving" symbol may be used in conjunction with, but shall not be a substitute for, approved, lettered, "No Diving" markers. "No Diving" markers shall be installed in the deck and within 18 inches of the pool wall.

(e)

Bottom slopes. The pool floor shall slope uniformly and continuously from the shallowest point of the pool at a maximum of one foot in 12 feet to the deep point, the slope break, or other approved depth change. In a pool with depths exceeding five feet, the bottom of the pool from the slope break to the deep area shall have a maximum, uniform slope of one foot in three feet (also see section 34-607, "minimum dimensions for diving portions of pools"). Each pool shall be constructed to enable complete drainage of the pool.

(f)

Steps and ladders. Steps and/or ladders shall be in such number and location as to provide bathers safe and adequate egress from the pool. They shall have an easily-cleanable, corrosion-resistant, impervious material, with treads that are self-draining and have a slip-resisting finish. Steps shall have a maximum riser height of 12 inches and a minimum tread of 12 inches. All steps shall have handrails anchored in the bottom step and extended over the coping and anchored in the deck, or a handrail double anchored in the deck that extends out to the center of the bottom step with a maximum height of six inches above the normal water level at that point. Recessed step treads shall have a uniform vertical spacing of 12 inches maximum and seven inches minimum, with a minimum depth of five inches and minimum width of 12 inches. The maximum distance from the top of the coping edge to the upper tread shall be 12 inches. Recessed treads shall be self-draining. Each set of recessed treads shall be provided with a set of handrails or grabrails to serve all treads. A minimum of one set of steps or stairs or a ladder shall be provided at the shallowest point of the pool. A minimum of one set of steps or a ladder shall be provided at the deepest point of the pool. A minimum of two egresses shall be provided, and an additional step or ladder will be required for each additional 75 feet or major fraction thereof of pool perimeter over 150 feet. Steps shall be shall be clearly and permanently marked on the horizontal surface within two inches of the step edge, by a two-inch dark, continuous line of slip resisting tile. Where water depths are 24 inches or less at the pool wall, such areas shall be considered as providing an approved mode of entry/exit into/from the pool. Pools over 30 feet in width shall be provided with approved entries/exits on both sides of the deepest end and/or diving areas of the pool.

(g)

Benches and seats. Benches and seats shall be clearly and permanently marked on the horizontal surface within two inches of the bench or seat edge, by a two-inch dark, continuous line of slip resisting tile.

(h)

Decks. A deck no less than five feet in width, as measured from the inside wall of a pool, shall completely surround the pool.

(1)

Minimum deck width. A minimum of four feet of unobstructed deck is required behind diving boards and platforms as measured from the edge of the board's or platform's ladder or handrail, whichever is the greatest distance. A minimum of ten feet of complying deck shall separate a pool from any other pool.

(2)

Minimum deck area. The minimum, complying deck area required shall be equal in size to or greater than the pool surface area.

(3)

Deck surface. The required deck shall be unobstructed in all directions and shall be constructed at the same elevation as the outside edge of the coping. Minimum vertical clearance throughout the deck area shall be six feet, eight inches, except the ceiling for an indoor pool, which shall be eight feet. The deck shall have a light-colored finish and a slip resisting, easily-cleanable, impervious, durable surface that drains properly. Rough and abrasive surfaces are prohibited. Prohibited deck surfaces include gravel, pea gravel, epoxy gravel, wood, carpeting, and vinyl within the required deck area. A sample of the deck surface material shall be submitted upon request, other than broom-finished concrete, for approval prior to installation.

(4)

Deck slope and drainage. Decks shall have a minimum transverse slope of one-quarter inch per foot and a maximum of one-half inch per foot away from the pool or toward deck drains. The plane of the deck surface shall be uniform, with no steps, curbs, or similar structures, within the minimum required, complying deck area. Decks shall not retain any standing water greater than one-eighth inches in depth or greater than one square foot of area for a period of time not to exceed 20 minutes. Deck drainage shall not be incorporated with any pool water or any potable water source. Deck drain grates shall be secured, yet easily removable with an appropriate tool to facilitate cleaning the drains. Adjacent areas to the deck and walkway(s) within the pool enclosure shall be safe and well drained.

(5)

Coping. A coping block made with a bull nosed, raised projection or other approved design, with a minimum one-inch radius, shall be installed along the entire perimeter of the pool except at the entry point for zero-depth entry pools. The coping shall not retain any water. The coping shall be considered as pool decking.

(6)

Hose bibs. Hose bibs, with backflow prevention, shall be installed within the pool enclosure and located no more than 100 feet apart but not located within the minimum, required deck area.

(7)

Deck joints and gaps. The maximum gaps in decks, between pool decks and the coping, or between other decks or walkways, shall be one-half inch of horizontal clearance with a maximum vertical elevation of one-quarter inch. Control joints in decks shall be provided to minimize the potential for cracks Construction joints where pool coping meets concrete deck(s) or other adjacent structures shall be watertight. Wood material to fill expansion joints is not approved.

(8)

Deck edges. The edge and corners of deck(s) shall be rounded, tapered and designed and constructed to eliminate sharp edges and corners.

(9)

Trash receptacle. A minimum of one covered and lined trash receptacle shall be provided and placed in a convenient location in the pool area.

(i)

Sun/tanning shelves. Sun or tanning shelves shall be constructed entirely outside, but part of, the internal wall of a pool, with no extensions or the leading edge of the shelf extending beyond the vertical plane of the pool wall. The normal operating water depth within the shelf shall be a minimum of six inches with a maximum water depth of ten inches. A complying deck surface shall completely surround the shelf except for the edge-to-pool portion of the shelf edge. The distance from the surface of the deck to the surface of the shelf shall be a maximum of 12 inches. A continuous line of two-inch by two-inch, dark-colored, slip-resistant tile shall be installed along the entire top edge of the shelf. A continuous line of two-inch by two-inch, dark-colored, glazed tile shall be installed along the entire front edge of the shelf. The shelf edge shall have a minimum radius of one inch. A minimum of one additional inlet per 100 square feet, or major fraction thereof, of shelf surface area, shall be centrally located and installed into pool's circulation system. A minimum of one additional skimmer per 200 square feet, or major fraction thereof, of shelf surface area, shall be properly located and installed into pool's circulation system. The shelf surface shall be self-draining with a maximum slope of one foot per 12 feet, and shall comply with all other pool surface requirements. The shelf area must be installed at the most shallow portion of the pool. If the shelf is constructed as part of ingress, such as steps into the pool, then a handrail must be installed in compliance with subsection (f) (steps and ladders). Interactive play devices shall not be installed in this area.

(j)

Construction tolerances. The certified pool contractor shall state on the plans of a pool that construction and design tolerances shall comply with the current edition of the ANSI/NSPI (APSP), "American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools."

(k)

Ventilation required for indoor pools. Mechanical ventilation shall be provided for each indoor pool. Each ventilation system shall be sized and maintained according to applicable state and local codes. Written evidence shall be provided by a licensed ventilation contractor certifying compliance with all applicable codes.

(Ord. No. 09-0120, 1-7-09; 15-0314, 5-6-15)