Chapter 8 Permanent Inground Residential Swimming Pools

The provisions of this chapter shall govern permanent inground residential swimming pools. Permanent inground residential swimming pools shall include pools that are partially or entirely above grade. This chapter does not cover pools that are specifically manufactured for above-ground use and that are capable of being disassembled and stored. This chapter covers new construction, modification and repair of inground residential swimming pools.

Permanent inground residential pools shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 3.

The materials of components and accessories used for permanent inground residential swimming pools shall be suitable for the environment in which they are installed. The materials shall be capable of fulfilling the design, installation and the intended use requirements in the International Residential Code.

The structural design and materials shall be in accordance with the International Residential Code.

The construction tolerance for dimensions for the overall length, width and depth of the pool shall be ± 3 inches (76 mm). The construction tolerance for all other dimensions, except the location of the design waterline, shall be ± 2 inches (51 mm), unless otherwise specified by the design engineer. The construction tolerance for the location of the design waterline shall be in accordance with Table 803.1.

The minimum diving water envelopes shall be in accordance with Table 804.1 and Figure 804.1. Negative construction tolerances shall not be applied to the dimensions of the minimum diving water envelopes given in Table 804.1.

Walls in the shallow area and deep area of the pool shall have a wall-to-floor transition point that is not less than 33 inches (838 mm) below the design waterline. Above the transition point, the walls shall be within 11 degrees (0.19 rad) of vertical.

Offset ledges shall be not greater than 8 inches (203 mm) in width.

Where an offset ledge is located less than 42 inches (1067 mm) below the design waterline, the width of such ledge shall be proportionately less than 8 inches (203 mm) in width so as to fall within 11 degrees of vertical as measured from the top of the design waterline.

Floor slopes shall be in accordance with Sections 807.1.1 through 807.1.3.

The design water depth as measured at the shallowest point in the shallow area shall be not less than 33 inches (838 mm) and not greater than 4 feet (1219 mm). Shallow areas designed in accordance with Sections 809.6, 809.7 and 809.8 shall be exempt from the minimum depth requirement.

Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment shall be in accordance with this section. Manufactured and fabricated diving equipment and appurtenances shall not be installed on a Type O pool.

Manufactured diving equipment shall be designed for swimming pool use.

Where manufactured diving equipment is installed, the installation shall be located in the deep area of the pool so as to provide the minimum dimensions as shown in Table 804.1 and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Manufactured diving equipment shall have a permanently affixed label indicating the manufacturer’s name and address, the date of manufacture, the minimum diving envelope and the maximum weight limitation.

Diving equipment shall have slip-resistant walking surfaces.

For the application of Table 804.1, Point A shall be the point from which all dimensions of width, length and depth are established for the minimum diving water envelope. If the tip of the diving board or diving platform is located at a distance of WA or greater from the deep end wall and the water depth at that location is equal to or greater than the water depth requirement at Point A, then the point on the water surface directly below the center of the tip of the diving board or diving platform shall be identified as Point A.

Where a pool is designed for use with diving equipment, the location of steps, pool stairs, ladders, underwater benches, special features and other accessory items shall be outside of the minimum diving water envelope as indicated in Figure 323.2.

Stationary diving platforms and diving rocks built on-site shall be permitted to be flush with the wall and shall be located in the diving area of the pool. Point A shall be in front of the wall at the platform or diving rock centerline.

The forward tip of manufactured or fabricated diving equipment shall be located directly above Point A as defined by Section 808.6.

The maximum elevation of a diving board above the design waterline shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Manufactured diving equipment installation and use instructions shall be provided by the diving equipment manufacturer and shall specify the minimum water dimensions required for each diving board and diving stand combination. The board manufacturer shall indicate the water envelope type by dimensionally relating their products to Point A on the water envelopes as shown in Figure 804.1 and Table 804.1. The board manufacturer shall specify which boards fit on the design pool geometry types as indicated in Table 804.1.

The height of a stationary diving platform or a diving rock above the design waterline shall not exceed the dimensions in Table 808.12.

The diving equipment manufacturer shall specify the minimum headroom required above the board tip.

Slides shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Pools shall have a means of entry and exit in all shallow areas where the design water depth of the shallow area at the shallowest point exceeds 24 inches (610 mm). Entries and exits shall consist of one or a combination of the following: steps, stairs, ladders, treads, ramps, beach entries, underwater seats, underwater benches, swimouts and other approved designs. The means of entry and exit shall be located on the shallow side of the first slope change.

Where water depth in the deep area of a pool exceeds 5 feet (1524 mm), a means of entry and exit as indicated in Section 809.2 shall be provided in the deep area of the pool.

Pools over 30 feet (9144 mm) in width at the deep area shall have an entry and exit on both sides of the deep area of the pool.

The design and construction of stairs into the shallow end and recessed pool stairs shall conform to Sections 809.5.1 through 809.5.3.

The slope of the floor in beach and sloping entries used as a pool entrance shall not exceed 1 unit vertical in 7 units horizontal (14 percent slope). The top of the slope of the entry floor shall be at a uniform elevation. Where the top of the slope is a straight line, the floor slope shall be developed from lines that are perpendicular or uniformly skew to the top of slope. Where the top of the slope is a curved line, the floor slope shall be developed from lines perpendicular to tangents to the curved line. The length of the development lines shall be equal except for those lines that intersect longer slope development lines. The flatness of the sloping entry floor, across the width of the slope and from the top of the slope to the toe of the slope, shall be within +/- 1/2 inch (13 mm). The top of the slope of the floor shall transition uniformly at the same or lesser slope of the sloped entry and without a step, to the top of the deck adjacent.

Where steps or benches are located adjacent to the side of a sloped floor of a beach or sloping entry, the vertical distance shall not exceed 12 inches (305 mm). Steps and benches shall not be located along the top of the slope of a beach or sloping entry.

Surfaces of architectural features shall not be required to comply with the 1 unit vertical in 7 units horizontal (14 percent slope) slope limitation.

The horizontal surface of underwater seats, benches and swimouts shall be not greater than 20 inches (508 mm) below the design waterline.

The circulation system equipment shall be sized to provide a turnover of the pool water not less than once every 12 hours. The system shall be designed to provide the required turnover rate based on the manufacturer’s specified maximum flow rate of the filter, with a clean media condition of the filter.

Pressure filter systems shall be provided with a strainer located between the pool and the circulation pump.

In pools where the point of first slope break occurs, a rope and float assembly shall be installed across the width of the pool. The rope assembly shall be located not less than 1 foot (305 mm) and not greater than 2 feet (610 mm) towards the shallow side of the slope break. Rope anchoring devices shall be permanently attached to the pool wall, coping or deck. Rope ends shall attach to the rope anchor devices so that the rope ends can be disconnected from the rope anchor device.