(A) Slope.
(1) The slope of the bottom of any part of the pool shall not be more than one foot in every 12 feet where the water is less than five feet deep, and the slope must be even throughout.
(2) Any pool lawfully installed prior to the effective date of this article not meeting the slope requirements may continue in use if no safety hazard exists because of the slope. All portions of the pool bottom shall slope toward the pool drains.
(B) Steps, Ramps, Hand Rails, Ladders, and Seats.
(1) Criteria for Class A, Class B, and Class C pools shall be as follows:
(a) Steps for entering or leaving the pool shall be a minimum of four feet wide, unless corner or circular steps are used. If corner or circular steps are used, the maximum radius of the bottom steps shall be 42 inches, but no projection shall create a safety hazard.
(b) Ladders shall be located on at least one side of the deep end of the pool, except that pools greater than 30 feet in width shall provide ladders on both sides of the deep area.
(c) If the distance from the bottom of the pool to the runway at the shallow end is more than two feet, steps shall be placed at the shallow end of the pool except that ladders may be provided in lieu of steps on pools lawfully installed prior to the effective date of this article.
(d) Treads of ladders and steps shall be nonslip.
(e) There shall be a uniform height between ladder treads not to exceed 12 inches. Riser heights on steps shall be between seven and 12 inches and shall be uniform throughout except for the bottom riser when used as a bench or seat.
(f) Hand rails shall be provided and shall facilitate ingress and egress at all points of the steps. Grab rails shall be provided for ladders and recessed steps.
(g) Ramps may be substituted for steps depending on the proposed use of the pool, but only if a variance is granted by the Enforcement Authority.
(2) Criteria for Class D pools shall be as follows:
(a) Class D pools shall provide a minimum of one grab rail. Additional handrails shall be placed at all points of ingress where a step, ladder or ramp is provided.
(b) Steps which may also serve as benches shall be provided wherever pool depth is greater than two feet. Steps shall be 12 inch minimum width. Riser heights on steps shall be between seven and 12 inches. Riser heights shall be uniform throughout except for the bottom riser when used as a bench or seat.
(c) Benches and swimout seats shall not exceed 20 inches from the top of the water design level for Class A, B, and C pools nor 28 inches from the top of the water design level for Class D pools.
(C) Striping. For Class A pools, and all other classes of pools greater than 30 feet in width, dark contrasting stripes, a minimum of four inches wide, shall divide the pool in longitudinal lanes five to eight feet wide. The terminal ends of the striping shall be five to seven feet from the pool ends.
(D) Lifeline. A corrosion-resistant lifeline, the minimum diameter of which shall be 1/2 inch, shall be installed two feet into the shallow portion of the pool at the break in grade with its position marked by colored floats spaced no further than five feet apart. The lifeline shall be a color which contrasts with the background and shall be securely fastened to wall anchors of corrosion resistant material. Any restricted or special use areas in pools shall be separated from the rest of the pool by a lifeline attached to the side walls and supported by buoys or floats.
(E) Class C Pools. Class C pools intended primarily for the wading of small children shall have a maximum depth of 24 inches.
(F) Physical Hazards. There shall be no protrusions, extensions, obstructions, tripping hazards or other means of entanglement in the pool or on the pool deck which could cause bather injury or entrapment. Equipment and devices in the pool and at pool side, such as ladders, drain covers, anti-vortex covers, handrails, fill lines, and diving devices must be installed so they can only be removed or adjusted by the use of tools.
('74 Code, § 11-5-7A.18) (Ord. 12-1978; Am. Ord. 59-1987; Am. Ord. 51-1989; Am. Ord. 12-1993)