| (2) Pre-10/01/99 pools shall have a minimum of two entry/exits, one serving the shallow end if the vertical distance from the bottom of the pool to the deck is over 2 feet and one serving the deep end. Two entry/exits, one on each side of the deep end, shall be installed in the deep end if the pool is over 30 feet wide. Entry/exits may consist of ladders, steps, recessed treads, zero depth entries or combinations thereof. (3) Pre-10/01/99 pools shall comply with applicable requirements for disability access for pools under federal, state, and local fair housing and handicap access laws. A handrail serving all treads of stepped entry shall be provided in pools for which a lifeguard is required under these rules. When provided, handrails shall be installed in such a way that they cannot be removed without the use of tools. (e) Diving facilities in post-10/01/99 pools. Except for diving facilities in pools covered by subsection (g) of this section, diving facilities in post-10/01/99 pools shall comply with the following: (1) post-10/01/99 pools with diving facilities in excess of 3 meters in height or pools designed for platform diving, shall comply with the pool dimension design requirements of one of the organizations listed in subsection (g) of this section; (2) post-10/01/99 Class B and C pools with diving areas shall conform to the minimum water depths, areas, slopes, and other dimensions shown in paragraph (6) of this subsection. Diving equipment on post-10/01/99 Class B and C pools shall have a fixed fulcrum unless the design and construction of the pools meets the standards for a Class A pool as stated in subsection (g) of this section; (3) at post-10/01/99 pools, there shall be a completely unobstructed clear vertical distance of 16 feet above any diving board measured from the center of the front end of the board. This area shall extend horizontally at least 12 feet behind, 12 feet to each side and 16 feet ahead of Point A, as described in paragraph (6) of this subsection; (4) the tip of the diving board at a post-10/01/99 pool shall be located at directly above Point A, as described in paragraph (6) of this subsection, which is the reference point of all other dimensions. If the board is given more overhang, other dimensions shall move further outward by the same amount respectively; (5) when other types of equipment or devices are provided for water entry at post-10/01/99 pools, installation of the equipment or devices shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions regarding location, size, and depths of the required water envelope. At post-10/01/99 pools, a label shall be permanently affixed to the equipment or device and shall include the applicable items found in paragraph (9) of this subsection; (6) minimum dimensions for diving areas of post-10/01/99 Class B and C pools are contained in the table: Attached Graphic (7) at post-10/01/99 pools, supports, platforms, steps, and ladders for diving equipment shall be designed to carry the anticipated loads. Steps and ladders shall be of corrosion-resistant material, easily cleanable and with slip-resistant tread; (8) in post-10/01/99 pools, diving equipment shall be installed according to manufacturer's instructions supplied with each unit; (9) on post-10/01/99 pools, a label shall be permanently affixed to the diving equipment or diving board and shall include the following: (A) manufacturer's name and address; (B) board equipment length; (C) identification as to diving or jump board; (D) fixed fulcrum setting; (E) reference to the applicable article(s) in the American National Standards Institute/National Swimming Pool Institute-1 (ANSI/NSPI-1 1991) Standards for Public Swimming Pools; (F) weight limitations as specified by the board manufacturer, if available; and (G) date of installation; (10) in post-10/01/99 pools, post-10/01/99 diving stands higher than 21 inches measured from the deck to the top butt end of the board shall have steps or a ladder and handrails. Step treads shall be self-draining; (11) on post-10/01/99 pools, platforms and diving equipment of 1/2 to 1 meter in height shall be protected with guardrail(s) that shall be at least 30 inches above the diving board and extend from the butt end of the equipment to the edge of the pool wall. All platforms or diving equipment higher than 1 meter shall have dual guardrails that are approximately 18 inches and 36 inches above the diving board. A means shall be provided on platforms or diving equipment higher than 1 meter to prevent slips or falls through the equipment onto the deck surface; (12) on post-10/01/99 pools, diving equipment shall have slip-resistant tread surfaces; (13) on post-10/01/99 pools, diving equipment shall be permanently anchored to the pool deck; (14) at post-10/01/99 pools, the top of the diving board from the deck end to the tip shall be level or have an upward slope of 5/8 inch per foot maximum, provided elevation difference shall not exceed 6 inches from the deck end to the tip of the board; and (15) at post-10/01/99 pools, the maximum construction tolerances for the installation of diving equipment shall be plus or minus 2 inches to allow for construction variances only on Class B and C pools. (f) Diving facilities in pre-10/01/99 pools. Except for diving facilities in pools covered by subsection (g) of this section, diving facilities in pre-10/01/99 pools shall comply with the following: (1) diving areas for pre-10/01/99 Class A, B, and C pools shall conform to the minimum water depths, areas, slopes, and other dimensions in Figure: 25 TAC §265.186(e)(6); (2) in pre-10/01/99 pools, new diving stands higher than 21 inches measured from the deck to the top butt end of the board shall have steps or a ladder and handrails. Step treads shall be self-draining; and (3) when other types of equipment or devices are provided for water entry at pre-10/01/99 pools, installation of the equipment or devices shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions regarding location, size, and depths of the required water envelope. (g) Platform or diving facilities in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools. Post-10/01/99 Class A, B, and C pools containing platform or diving facilities shall be designed and constructed according to dimensions specified by either the Federation Internationale De Natation Amateur-2002, the United States Swimming Association-2002, the United States Diving Association-2002, the National Federation of State High School Association-2002, or the National Collegiate Athletic Association-2003. Pre-10/01/99 Class A, B, and C pools containing platform or deck diving facilities shall conform to one of the above standards. (h) Starting blocks in post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools. In post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools: (1) starting blocks shall be installed to meet the standards, depth specifications and other requirements of the national competitive pool organization having jurisdiction over the competition; (2) starting blocks shall only be used during official competition or when there is direct supervision by the team coach or another qualified instructor; and (3) starting blocks shall be removed or secured to prevent inadvertent use when use of the starting blocks is not directly supervised. (i) Play equipment for post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools. Playground equipment that is installed on or after October 1, 1999 in a post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pool yard or spa yard and that is not covered by the Amusement Ride Safety Inspection and Insurance Act, Chapter 2151, Texas Occupations Code, shall be designed and installed according to the CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety, Publication Number 325-1997, or the ASTM Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, F1487-1995. (See subsection (k) of this section.) (j) Slides for post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools. Slides at post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools that are of the slide configuration and type covered by the CPSC Standard for Swimming Pool Slides as published in the Code of Federal Regulations, 16 CFR, Part 1207, shall comply with those standards. (k) Exclusion of post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pools. This section is not intended to cover amusement rides as defined in the Occupations Code, §2151.002 (relating to the Amusement Ride Safety Inspection and Insurance Act) and 28 TAC §§5.9001 - 5.9014, Subchapter J, Rules to Implement the Amusement Ride Safety Inspection and Insurance Act (that regulates large slides and other such types of amusement devices used at post-10/01/99 and pre-10/01/99 pool facilities). |
