| (a) Handholds for new pools and spas. A new pool or spa shall be provided with a handhold around its perimeter in areas where depths exceed 42 inches. Handholds shall be provided no farther apart than three feet to include, but not limited to, one or a combination of the following items: (1) handholds such as coping, rope, railing, ledge, or deck along the immediate top edge of the pool which provides a slip-resistant surface shall be at least four inches minimum horizontal width and located at or not more than nine inches above the design water level. The coping, decking or other material shall have rounded, slip-resistant edges, and shall not exceed three and one-half inches in thickness. The overhang of the coping, decking or other material shall not exceed two inches nor be less than one inch; and (2) ladders, stairs, or seat ledges, in accordance with §265.186(b) of this title (relating to Deck Entry/Exit, and Diving Facilities, and Other Deck Equipment (Entries and exists for new pools)). (b) Float lines and floor markings for new pools. Float lines with floats and floor markings for a new pool shall comply with the following. (1) For Class A and B pools, a rope and float line shall be provided between one foot and two feet on the shallow side of the five foot depth along and parallel to this depth from one side of the pool to the other side. The floats shall be spaced at not greater than seven foot intervals. The floats shall be secured so they will not slide or bunch up. The tightly stretched float line shall be of sufficient size and strength to offer a good handhold and support loads normally imposed by users. (2) For Class A and B pools, the transition point of the pool from the shallow area to the deep area (five foot deep) shall be visually set apart with a four inch minimum width row of floor tile, a painted line, or similar means using a color contrasting with the bottom. (3) For Class C pools, the transition point of the pool from the shallow to the deep area shall be visually separated with one of the following: (A) preferably a visible rope and floats spaced at not greater than seven foot intervals; or (B) a four inch minimum width row of floor tile, painted line, or similar means using a color contrasting with the bottom. (4) Where lap lanes are provided, the lanes shall be separated from other areas of the pool (i.e., shallow, beginning, diving) areas with the use of rope and float line. (5) Rope and float line shall be securely fastened to wall anchors of corrosion-resisting materials and of the type which shall be recessed or have no projection that will constitute a hazard when the line is removed. (c) Depth markers for new pools. New pools shall comply with the following depth marker requirements. (1) Vertical sidewall depth marker numbers and units of measurement shall be four inches in height. These vertical sidewall depth marker number and units of measurement shall be plainly and conspicuously posted above the actual water level on the vertical pool wall and be positioned to be read by a user while in the pool. If a vertical sidewall depth marker number and units of measurement cannot be placed on the vertical wall with the entire marker above the actual water level (e.g. zero depth pool edge or other coping types which do not allow sufficient space for the four inch depth markers) other methods may be used to mark the depth and unit of measurement, such as eight inches in height markings placed above the pool deck level and on a wall, fence, or sign no further than 12 feet from the pool or by some other means to display the depth to a patron in the pool. If it is not possible to display the vertical depth marker numbers and units of measurement by a method described above, or an equivalent method, then such display will not be required. (2) Vertical sidewall depth markers and deck depth markers shall indicate the pool depth from the design water level to the floor of the pool with a vertical measurement taken three feet from the pool wall. (3) Depth markers and units of measurement on deck and vertical sidewall shall be of contrasting color to the background on which they are applied, and the color shall be of a permanent nature. (4) On pool decks, depth marker number and units of measurement shall be within 24 inches of the water edge and positioned to be read while standing on the deck facing the water. These deck depth marker numbers and units of measurement shall be four inches in height. (5) Units of measurement shall either spell out "feet" or "inches" or abbreviate "Ft.", "In." or feet and fractions of a foot. In addition to feet and inches the depth of water may also be displayed in meters. Units of measurement for meter depth markers may be spelled out "meters" or abbreviated "M". (6) Vertical sidewall depth markers and deck depth markings and units of measurement shall be arranged uniformly around the pool. (7) Vertical sidewall depth markers and deck depth markings and units of measurement shall be installed at the maximum and minimum water depths and at all points of bottom slope change. (8) Vertical sidewall depth markers and deck depth markers and units of measurement on irregularly shaped pools shall designate depths at all major deviations in shape as well as conform to all other requirements of this subsection. (9) Vertical sidewall depth markers and deck depth markers and units of measurement shall be installed at intermediate increments of water depth not to exceed two feet, nor spaced at distances greater than 25 foot intervals, and with a minimum of at least one marker per pool side. (10) Depth marker number and units of measurement on the deck shall be slip-resistant. (d) Deck "NO DIVING" wording and international symbol warning signs for new and existing pools. This subsection applies to new and existing pools. The warning words "NO DIVING" and the international symbol for no diving shall be clearly marked on the pool deck with an acceptable contrasting color and letters at least four inches in height. The warning shall be placed at least every 25 feet or fraction thereof, around the pool where the water depth is six feet or less, and it is recommended that such signage be marked on the pool deck in water deeper than six feet. At least two warnings including the "NO DIVING" and international symbol for no diving, one at the extreme ends of the minimum depth and one at the extreme ends of the maximum depth at six feet, shall be provided on each side of the pool or on each of the longer dimensional sides of the pool. These warning signs shall be slip-resistant. The warning "NO DIVING" and international symbol on the deck shall be within 24 inches of the water edge and positioned to be read while standing on the deck facing the water. (e) Signs for new and existing pools. New and existing pools shall comply with the following sign requirements. (1) Signs shall be securely mounted as applicable and readily visible to the pool user from inside the pool enclosure. (2) For Class C and D pools where no lifeguard is provided, a sign shall be placed in plain view and shall state "NO DIVING" along with an international warning symbol for no diving. The letters "NO DIVING" and the symbol shall be at least four inches high. (3) For pools where no lifeguard service is required, a warning sign shall be placed in plain view and shall state "WARNING-NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY" with clearly legible letters at least four inches high. In addition, the sign shall also state in letters at least two inches high "CHILDREN SHOULD NOT USE POOL WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION". The additional signage required in this subsection may be included on the sign described in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The language on the sign may impose stricter adult supervision requirements for children using the pool. (4) When a required telephone is not readily visible from a new or existing pool or spa, directions shall be posted regarding its location as stated in subsection (i) of this section. (5) In addition to English, in areas of Texas where a majority of citizens are non-English speaking, it is also recommended that signs, and other written warnings required by these standards, be posted in the predominant language. (f) Lifeguard personnel standards and lifeguard equipment at new and existing pools. New and existing pools shall comply with the following lifeguard requirements. (1) Lifeguards and second responders shall be provided at new and existing Class A pools during competitive events and B pools and at Class C pools with diving boards. At pools where lifeguards are not provided, refer to subsection (e)(3) of this section relating to signs. (2) When a lifeguard is provided at a pool, the following shall apply. (A) At all times the pool is in use, at least one lifeguard (and more as necessary) shall be positioned and actively performing pool user surveillance and be able to meet the 10/20 rule for all areas of the pool in use. No user shall be permitted in a pool area unless a lifeguard(s) is/are present. (B) The lifeguard(s) shall hold a current and have available on request the American Red Cross (ARC) "Lifeguard Training" certificate or the equivalent certification from an aquatic safety organization, which also includes training in (ARC) "Adult, Infant, and Child CPR" and "Community First Aid" or their equivalent. Management at each facility will maintain a current file on each staff's current certification including expiration dates. (C) An additional lifeguard, or second responder who is monitoring and readily available at the pool, who has a minimum training in (ARC) "Adult, Infant, and Child CPR" and "Community First Aid" certificate or equivalent certificate, shall also be in the pool area when the pool is in use. (D) Lifeguard(s) conducting surveillance of pool users shall not be subject to duties that would distract their attention from proper observation of the patrons, or that would prevent immediate assistance to persons in distress in the water. (E) Pool facilities shall provide alertness/response drills and other training including documentation of the following: (i) a pre-season training program; (ii) a continual "in-service" training programs for all lifeguards, and other aquatic personnel totaling a minimum 60 minutes per week; and (iii) performance "audits" based on the 10/20 rule as recommended by the ARC or YMCA or equivalent aquatic safety organization certification. (F) Owners shall maintain an emergency action plan similar to the one outlined by the ARC or YMCA or equivalent aquatic safety organization. All lifeguards and second responders shall receive training in the application of effective pool emergency procedures for events such as submersions, suspected spinal injury, medical emergencies, missing persons, bad weather, etc. Such training will be reviewed as necessary and kept current. Each lifeguard's ability to meet the 10/20 rule shall be evaluated and documented. Each lifeguard shall be given an assigned surveillance area commensurate to ability. (G) Owners shall allow lifeguards to have sufficient break time from guarding activities as recommended by the ARC or YMCA or equivalent aquatic safety organization. It is recommended that a lifeguard not guard for more than one hour without a break of at least ten minutes. It is recommended that when multiple guards are on duty they rotate stations every 30 minutes. (H) When a lifeguard is conducting active surveillance to meet the 10/20 rule, he/she shall not be in the water except in the line of duty. (g) Lifeguard chairs and lifeguard equipment. New and existing pools shall comply with the following requirements, as applicable. (1) A new pool that has a diving board(s) shall have at least one elevated lifeguard chair, located to provide a clear unobstructed view of the pool bottom in the diving area. (A) The seat of the lifeguard chair in the diving water area shall be located at an elevation at least four feet above the pool deck. The lifeguard chair may be the portable type so that its location can be optimized to prevent glare and provide proper supervision. (B) Where a pool width is 45 feet or more, an additional elevated chair or station shall be provided and shall be located in the diving area on the opposite side of the pool. (C) Such lifeguard platforms or chairs shall be placed in locations to reduce sun glare on the water, and in positions which allow complete visual coverage of the pool and the pool bottom within a field of view no greater than 90 degrees on either side of a line of sight extending straight out from the platform or chair. (2) At new and existing pools. At new and existing pools, lifeguard(s) shall have standard rescue tube(s) or buoy(s) and attached rope/strap in sufficient numbers, and other equipment as necessary for use by the lifeguard(s), immediately accessible at all times as recommended by the ARC or YMCA or equivalent organization. At new and existing pools, lifeguard(s) and second responder shall be dressed in swimming attire so that they are readily identifiable as members of the staff. (h) Pool safety equipment for new and existing pools. New and existing pools shall comply with the following standards. Cont'd... |
