Okla. Admin. Code § 310:315-7-4

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 310:315-7-4 - Pool features

(a)Structural.

(1) All pools shall be designed and constructed to withstand all anticipated structural loading, under both filled and empty conditions. A hydrostatic relief valve is required on all new below-grade pools.

(2) Facilities for the Handicapped. All pools open to the general public constructed after May 1, 1981 shall provide for the use of the entire facility by the handicapped as follows:

(A) Raised or cut out depth markings used in the pool and on the deck.

(B) A ramp or lift provided into the pool proper.

(C) Bathhouse construction such that all facilities are readily available to wheelchair and ambulatory handicapped.

(b)Pool shape. The shape of any pool shall be such that the circulation of pool water and control of swimmers' safety are not impaired. For all free form, non-diving pools containing any swimming area where the pool perimeter is curved at a radius of less than six (6) feet and the sidewall depth is five (5) feet or less, the design engineer shall separately certify the design of the pool as to its safety.

(c)Shallow depth. The pools sixty (60) feet or more in length, such as school pools, municipal pools, institutional pools, and other pools where competitive use is a consideration, the minimum depth of three and one-half (3-1/2) feet at the shallow end.

(d)Therapeutic pools. In the case of special pools for water therapy where a design depth less than three (3) feet or other special features are used, the engineer must include in his report a description of the intended use.

(e)Slope of bottom.

(1) The slope of the bottom of any portion of the pool having a water depth of less than five (5) feet shall not be more than one (1) foot in twelve (12) feet and said slope shall be uniform. An exception to this requirement will be made permitting a breakpoint to occur at a minimum water depth of four and one-half (4-1/2) feet for pools less than sixty (60) feet in length or special indoor pools used for instructional or therapeutic purposes.

(2) For pools without uniform bottom slope, without diving facilities, and with maximum depths of five (5) feet or more, the slope in the shallower section shall not exceed one (1) in twelve (12) and there shall be a life line at the change in slope. The slope of the transition section shall not exceed one (1) in three (3).

(f)Side walls.

(1) Walls of a pool shall be vertical for a water depth of at least five (5) feet below the water level, below which the wall shall be curved to the bottom with a radius equal to the difference between the depth and five (5) feet, except that for water depths under four (4) feet, a radius of one (1) foot shall be permitted; for water depths between four (4) and five (5) feet, a radius of two (2) feet may be used.

(2) Walls of pools without diving areas shall be vertical (constructed not more than eleven (11) degrees from plumb) for a water depth of at least three (3) feet in all areas where the side wall depth is five (5) feet or greater. The walls shall be vertical for a depth of at least two and one-half (2-1/2) feet in areas with less than five (5) feet side wall depth. The wall shall then be curved to the bottom with a radius equal to or less than the difference between the minimum vertical wall depth and the side wall depth. Side wall depth shall be defined as the distance between the water surface and the point at which the side wall curvature intersects the constant slope of the bottom.

(g)Diving area requirements. Wherever diving facilities are provided in connection with public bathing places, the design shall be such as to provide adequate, clear head room and diving depths to assure the safety of the bathers. It is recommended that pools with diving facilities be designed in accordance with standards promulgated by FINA, NCAA, or U.S. Diving, Inc. The following are minimum requirements.

(1) There shall be a completely unobstructed clear vertical distance of sixteen (16) feet above any spring board measured from a point at the center of the end of the board over the water, and the clear area extends horizontally at least eight (8) feet behind, eight (8) feet to each side, and sixteen (16) feet ahead of that point.

(2) A schedule of depths and their locations is given in Appendix A and B. These depths are to be interpreted as minimum requirements compatible with safety of design, and greater clearances are recommended.

(3) The area of deep water provided shall comply with the following requirements: For pools utilizing deck level boards which will be not more than eighteen (18) inches above the normal operating level of the pool, and other small pools used for diving, the diving area shall have a minimum depth of eight (8) feet. The area where this minimum depth shall prevail shall be described as follows: at a point on the center line of the axis of the diving board eight (8) feet from the deep end wall, a circle shall be circumscribed with a six (6) foot radius: from a point eleven (11) feet from the deep end wall or three (3) feet in front of the first center, also on the diving board center line axis, a second circle shall be circumscribed with a five (5) foot radius extending from where the arc of the second circle intersects the arc of the first circle on one side to the point of intersection on the other side; all of that area within these two (2) circles shall have a normal operating depth of not less than eight (8) feet; all of this combined area shall be sloped to a point or points where main drains are located and where the depth is not less than eight (8) feet six (6) inches.

(4) In free form pool design (such as kidney-shaped), a deck level diving board may be accommodated in Appendix C design using a pool width of sixteen (16) feet at the tip of the diving board. The deck shall not encroach on the pool water surface inside a triangle whose base is sixteen (16) feet long and is centered at the tip of and is perpendicular to the center line of the diving board and whose apex is three (3) to four (4) feet back from the tip of the diving board. (This places the apex at the wall below the diving board.)

(A)Slides, swings, and recreational equipment. It is recommended that where slides, swings, climbing walls, and similar recreational equipment are installed at pools, a lifeguard be on duty at the pool when it is in use.

(B)Diving boards or platforms.

(i) Because of the hazards involved, diving boards or platforms exceeding three (3) meters in height must not be available to the general public and will be approved only for instructional or competitive pools, supervised by capable instructors or coaches. Water depths below such platforms shall conform to NCAA, AAU, or FINA Standards. Preliminary plans for the pool construction shall be submitted for appraisal and concurrence prior to the submission of final construction plans. Preliminary plans shall provide sufficient information on the operation of the pool to allow determination as to whether or not the high diving platforms can be used without hazard.

(ii) These design requirements are for recreational swimming and diving. Where it is anticipated that pools with diving boards will be used for competitive diving events or training for such events, greater water depths will be required. In such instances the water depths given in the listed standards shall be used in order to avoid safety hazards for this type of activity.

(h)Safety ledges.

(1) Safety ledges are acceptable for instructional pools where full-time lifeguards are on duty, provided the ledges are located not less than four (4) feet nor more than five (5) feet below the water surface. The corners shall be rounded.

(2) Ledges shall be painted or constructed with a material of contrasting color to be easily visible. Ledge surfaces shall have slip-resistant textures.

(3) Off-sets or protrusions from the pool wall resulting from design or construction variations shall fall within the area defined by an eleven (11) degree line from plumb and a plumb line starting at the junction of the pool wall and water surface.

(i)Depth markings.

(1) The depth of water shall be plainly marked at or above the water surface on the vertical wall of the swimming pool and on the edge of the deck or walk next to the swimming pool, at maximum and minimum points; at the points of break between the deep and shallow portions; and at intermediate one (1) foot increments of depth in the shallow end up to the breakpoint; and at two (2) foot increments of depth from the breakpoint to the deep end wall, spaced at not more than twenty-five (25) feet intervals measured peripherally; and at two (2) foot increments of depth (with at least three (3) markers per pool) throughout the length of non-diving pools with uniform bottom slope.

(2) Depth markers shall be in numerals of four (4) inches minimum height and a color contrasting with the background. Where depth markers cannot be placed on the vertical walls above the water level, other means shall be used, and be plainly visible to persons in the pool area.

(3) It is strongly recommended that a six (6) inch black stripe be painted on the bottom of the pool at the breakpoint between the swimming and non-swimming areas, and that lengthwise stripes be painted on the pool bottom for better delineation of the bottom contour.

(j)Coping. Bullnosed or rounded coping is recommended. Other coping will be approved on a case-by-case basis. None shall extend more than three (3) inches inside the pool wall nor have sharp corners, and the top surface shall not be more than nine (9) inches above the normal water level.

(k)Isolation panels. Where movable panels are used to separate pools, such as in a water channel connecting an indoor and outdoor pool, the design shall include a system of counterweights or springs, or other device, to prevent "guillotine" action. Also, a minimum of one (1) additional inlet shall be positioned on each side of the panel to assure disinfectant distribution in the connecting water channel.

Okla. Admin. Code § 310:315-7-4

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 39, Issue 24, September 1, 2022, eff. 9/11/2022