10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 202, § 6 - SPECIFIC SAFETY FEATURES AND REQUIREMENTS

A. Handholds - Public Pools

1. A public pool must be provided with a suitable handhold around its perimeter in areas where depths exceed 3 feet, 6 inches. Handholds must be provided no further apart than 4 feet and must consist of any 1 of (or a combination of) the items listed in Section 6(A) (1)(a) - (c). (C)

a. Coping, ledge, or deck along the immediate top edge of the pool which provides a slip-resisting surface of at least 4 inches minimum horizontal width and located at, or not more than, 12 inches above the waterline; or

b. Ladders, stairs, or seat ledges; or

c. A secured rope or railing placed at, or not more than, 12 inches above the waterline.

B. Rope and Float Line - Inground Public Pools Only (C)

1. A rope and float line must be provided between 1 and 2 feet of the shallow side of the break in grade between the shallow and deep portions of the pool, with its position marked with visible floats at not greater than 7-foot intervals. This line may be removed for swim meets, lap swimming, aerobics, etc.

2. The rope and float line must be securely fastened to wall anchors of corrosion resisting materials and of the type which must be recessed or have no projection that will constitute a hazard when the line is removed.

3. The line must be of sufficient size and strength to offer a good handhold and support loads normally imposed by users.

C. Depth Markers - Inground Public Pools Only (C)

1. Depth of water in feet must be plainly and conspicuously marked at, or above, the waterline on the vertical pool wall and on the top of the coping or edge of the deck or walk next to the pool.

2. Depth markers on the vertical pool wall must be positioned to be read from the water side.

3. Depth markers on the deck must be within 18 inches of the water edge and positioned to be read while standing on the deck facing the water.

4. Depth markers must be slip-resisting. Depth markers must be installed at the maximum and minimum water depths and at all points of slope change. Spacing must be at distances not greater than 25 feet.

5. Depth markers must be arranged uniformly on both sides and both ends of the pool.

6. Depth markers on irregularly shaped pools must designate depths at all major deviations in shape, as well as conform to Section 6(C)(1) - (7).

7. Depth markers must have a 4-inch minimum height. Numbers must be of contrasting color to the background on which they are applied, and the color must be of a permanent nature.

8. The edges of steps, ledges or seats must have a 4-inch stripe of contrasting color. This stripe should be 2 inches on the thread and 2 inches on the riser.

9. The transition point of a new pool from the shallow area to the deep area must be visually set apart with a 4-inch marked line of contrasting color.

D. Lifesaving Equipment for Public Pools and Spas (C)

1. Public pools must have lifesaving equipment conspicuously and conveniently on hand at all times by the side of the pool.

2. Each pool must be equipped with a light, strong pole not less than 12 feet long, including a body hook.

3. Each pool must be equipped with a minimum 1/14 inch diameter throwing rope as long as 1 and one-half times the maximum width of the pool, or 50 feet, whichever is less, to which has been firmly attached a US Coast Guard-approved ring buoy, with an outside diameter of 15 inches or greater.

4. The location of the nearest telephone must be posted with dialing instructions in the immediate vicinity of the public pool or spa. This telephone must have posted names and phone numbers of the nearest available police, fire, ambulance service and/or rescue unit.

5. A first aid kit including barrier protection (gloves and rescue breathing), must be available at all times for public pools and spas. Barrier precautions such as gloves and rescue breathing must be included.

6. Every public pool and spa without a lifeguard must post a conspicuous sign near the pool or spa, stating that there is no lifeguard on duty and that all children must be supervised in the pool or spa area.

E. Entrapment Prevention for Public Pools and Spas (C)

1. If the suction outlet system, (such as a filtration system, booster system, automatic cleaning system, etc.), has a single suction outlet, or multiple suction outlets which can be isolated by valves, each suction outlet must protect against user entrapment by a suction outlet cover/grate that has been tested, certified, and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, in accordance with the most recent edition of Suction Fittings for Swimming and Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Whirlpool Bathtub Appliances (ANSI/ASME A112.19.8).

2. In addition to the requirements of Section 6(E)(1), public pools and spas with a single suction outlet, or multiple suction outlets that can be isolated by valves, must have a safety vacuum release system (SVRS) that has been tested, certified, and listed for that purpose by a nationally recognized testing laboratory as conforming to Manufactured Safety Vacuum Release Systems (SVRS) for residential and commercial swimming pools, spa, hot tub and wading pool suction systems (ANSI/ASME A112.19.17) or Standard Specifications for Manufactured Safety Vacuum Release Systems (SVRS) for swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs (ASTM F 2387-04). Other allowable approaches include a suction-limiting vent system, a gravity drainage system, and an automatice pump shut-off system, as referenced in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

3. Main drains in pools and existing, or under construction at the time of the effective date of these Rules, must not be disabled. Pools and spas constructed after the effective date of these Rules that have no main drain as part of the plan must show proof of proper and complete recalculation of filtered and sanitized water. Pools with main drains as part of the plans must have at least two main drains separated by at least 3 feet on center.

F. Color Coding and Labeling for Public Pools and Spas

All exposed piping must be color-coded in accordance with the following table:

PIPING	COLOR CODE	WASTE LINES	COLOR CODE
Potable water lines	Dark blue	Backwash waste	Dark brown
Filtered water	Light blue	Sewer (sewer or other)	Dark gray
Skimmer or gutter return	Green	Deck drains	Light brown
Main drain	Black
PIPING	COLOR CODE
Alum	Orange
Soda ash	White
Acid	Pink

Where two colors do not have sufficient contrast to easily differentiate between them, a 6-inch band of contrasting color should be colored on 1 pipe at approximately 30-inch intervals. The name of the liquid, and arrows indicating direction of flow, should be shown on the pipe.

G. Valve Labeling for Public Pools and Spas

1. Valves must be tagged with numbers affixed to the valves. These tags must be metal or rigid plastic, permanently attached to the valve with chain or other means, so the valve will remain marked throughout the life of the valve.

2. Procedures and instructions for system operations must reference valves by their respective numbers.

H. Rules Posted

1. Facility rules for the safe use of the pool or spa must be posted in a conspicuous place. See Appendix C for sample wording for the posting of such rules.

Notes

10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 202, § 6