| (a) Safety rope and float lines and floor markings.
(1) Class A pools not being used for competitive events
or lap swimming must have a rope and float line:
(A) provided between 1 and 2 feet on the shallow water
side of the 5-foot depth and floats must be spaced at not greater
than 7-foot intervals and secured so they will not slide or bunch
up, and the stretched rope and float line must be a size to provide
a good handhold and strong enough to support loads normally imposed
by users; and
(B) be securely fastened to wall or deck anchors made
of corrosion-resisting materials of the type that is recessed or removable
and must have no projection that will constitute a hazard when the
line is removed.
(2) Class B pools that are over 5-feet deep must have:
(A) a 4-inch minimum width row of floor tile or other
permanent method using a color contrasting with the bottom of the
pool at the transition point of the pool floor from the shallow area
to the deep area of the pool;
(B) a rope and float line between 1 and 2 feet on the
shallow water side of the 5-foot depth and floats must be spaced at
not greater than 7-foot intervals and secured so they will not slide
or bunch up; and
(i) the stretched rope and float line must be a size
to provide a good handhold and strong enough to support loads normally
imposed by users; and
(ii) the rope and float may be removed when the pool
is used for lap swimming or for competitive events; and
(C) rope and float lines securely fastened to wall
or deck anchors made of corrosion-resisting materials of the type
that is recessed or removable and must have no projection that will
constitute a hazard when the line is removed.
(3) Class C pools that are over 5-feet deep must have
a 4-inch minimum width row of floor tile or other permanent method
using a color contrasting with the bottom of the pool at the transition
point of the pool floor from the shallow area to the deep area of
the pool.
(A) A rope and float line may also be used in addition
to the transition line and must be provided between 1 and 2 feet on
the shallow water side of the 5-foot depth. The floats must be spaced
at not greater than 7-foot intervals and secured so they will not
slide or bunch up. The stretched rope and float line must be a size
to offer a good handhold and strong enough to support loads normally
imposed by users.
(B) Rope and float lines must be securely fastened
to wall or deck anchors made of corrosion-resisting materials of the
type that is recessed or removable and must have no projection that
will constitute a hazard when the line is removed.
(4) Wave pools, surf pools, and waterslide landing
pools are not required to provide a safety rope on the shallow side
of the change in floor slope.
(b) Depth markers. Depth markers in pools and spas
constructed or renovated after the effective date of the rules of
this subchapter or that are being replaced must be placed in the top
4-1/2 inches of the pool or spa wall just under the coping and be
positioned to be read by a user while in the pool.
(c) Depth markers in spas. Spa depth markers must comply
with the following:
(1) There must be no less than two depth markers for
each spa, regardless of spa size and shape.
(2) Depth markers in spas must be permanent in nature
with numbers and letters not less than 4 inches in height and must
be clearly marked in a color contrasting to the background on which
they are applied both on the deck and on the vertical wall of the
spa.
(3) Depth markers in spas on the vertical wall must
be positioned in the top 4-1/2 inches of the spa wall and be positioned
to be read by a user while in the spa.
(4) Depth markers in spas must be spaced at not more
than 25-foot intervals and must be uniformly located around the perimeter
of the spa.
(5) Deck depth markers for spas must be positioned
to be read while standing on the deck and must be slip-resistant.
(6) Depth markers for spas must have units of measurement
that either spell out "feet" or "inches" or abbreviate "FT," "IN,"
or fractions of a foot.
(d) Deck "NO DIVING" marker and symbol. Where no diving
markers and symbols are required in pools, the markers and symbols
must comply with the requirements in the International Swimming Pool
and Spa Code (ISPSC) and with the following:
(1) The no diving marker and symbol may not be less
than 4 inches in height. The no diving symbol must consist of a diver's
profile in a circle with a 45-degree slash through the diver.
(2) The color of the letters and symbol must contrast
with the background on which they are applied, and the color must
be permanent in nature.
(3) The no diving markers and symbols on the deck must
be slip resistant.
(4) The no diving marker and symbol on the deck must
be within 18 inches of the water's edge and positioned to be read
while standing on the deck facing the water.
(5) If a permanent structure above the pool deck is
within 5 feet of the water's surface, the 4-inch no diving marker
and symbol must be affixed to the structure so that the warning is
visible to persons who may attempt to use the structure for diving.
The no diving symbol and warning are not required on diving boards
or diving platforms, ADA-compliant chair lifts, slide flumes, lifeguard
stands, or bridges over the water.
(6) The no diving marker and symbol is not required
on the interior tile line of a pool or in a spa.
(e) Starting platforms. Starting platforms must be
used during official competition only or when there is direct supervision
by the team coach, a qualified instructor, or a lifeguard. Starting
platforms must be removed or secured to prevent inadvertent use when
the starting platforms are not directly supervised.
(f) Safety signage. In addition to safety signs required
in the ISPSC, the additional safety and operational signs are required
for pools as follows.
(1) Signs must be in the pool yard, securely mounted
as applicable, and readily visible to the pool user and must be posted
within the pool yard unless otherwise stated within this subchapter.
(2) Sign panels must be durable for the weather conditions
and the message surface must be clean and smooth and readily accept
paint or precut lettering adhesives.
(3) Theming or artwork applied to signs must not invade
the message panel and signs must have a distinct border.
(4) Multiple signs may be used or messages may be combined
on one sign.
(5) Safety signs for pools constructed on or after
the effective date of this subchapter or safety signs that are replaced
at pools constructed before the effective date of this subchapter
must be in compliance with Figure: 25 TAC §265.190(f)(5).
Attached Graphic
(6) In areas of Texas where the majority of residents
are non-English speaking, in addition to signs in English, signs and
other written warnings or information required by the rules in this
subchapter may be posted in the predominant language.
(7) Variations of the language of the required safety
signs in Figure: 25 TAC §265.190(f)(5) are allowed if the language
of the safety signs is substantially equivalent to the language in
Figure: 25 TAC §265.190(f)(5) and if local regulatory officials
that regulate swimming pools and spas approve the variations before
the sign is posted in the pool yard.
(g) Rescue equipment. A pool must have at least one
ring buoy with throwing rope and a reaching pole for every 2000 square
feet of pool surface area up to 6000 square feet. If the pool has
over 6000 square feet of surface area an additional ring buoy, throw
rope, and reaching pole must be provided for each additional 4000
square feet of surface area or fraction thereof. The reaching poles
and ring buoys with rope must be visible and readily accessible from
all areas of the pool yard.
(1) The reaching pole must be light, strong, non-telescoping,
and at least 12 feet long. The pole must be constructed of fiberglass
or other material that does not conduct electricity and must have
a body hook or shepherd's crook with blunted ends attached.
(2) The throwing rope must be 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch
in diameter, with a length at least two-thirds the maximum width of
the pool. A USCG-approved ring buoy, maximum 24-inches in diameter,
must be attached to the throwing rope.
(h) Certain safety requirements for spas.
(1) Signs for spas constructed on or after the effective
date of this subchapter or safety signs that are replaced at spas
constructed before the effective date of this subchapter must be securely
mounted and readily visible to spa users and must be inside the spa
enclosure as required in Figure: 25 TAC §265.190(h)(4), Required
Spa Signs.
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