A. General: Pools, spas and water features shall be constructed of reinforced concrete conforming to the currently adopted building code, or other materials as may be approved by the building official. If ground water is present, a hydrostatic valve shall be installed at the deepest point of the unit. Approved, listed manufactured pools, spas and water features shall be installed in accordance with manufacturer's installation instructions and their listing.
B. Concrete And Steel Reinforcement:
1. Concrete and steel reinforcement of concrete pools, spas and water features shall be designed by a licensed state registered professional engineer or architect. The minimum design strength of the concrete shall be two thousand five hundred (2,500) pounds per square inch.
2. The continuity of a bond beam shall not be interrupted for the installation of skimmers or similar apparatus. Reinforcing steel shall be continuous around the apparatus to tie in with the remainder of the bond beam.
C. Walls And Floors:
1. The materials used in pool, spa and water feature wall and floor construction shall conform to the provisions of the currently adopted building code. Walls and floors shall be designed and constructed of nonabsorbent material in a manner to be leakproof, and structurally sound under all the conditions of the site.
2. The inner surface of the pool or spa shall be coved, rounded or bullnosed at all joints, corners, angles of bases, walls, floors or curbs. No sharp corners or projections shall be permitted.
D. Entry/Egress:
1. Pools and spas with a depth greater than two feet (2') at pool walls shall be provided with a means of entry/egress. Pools exceeding thirty feet (30') in width or length shall have entries/egresses provided on opposite sides of the pool.
2. Water features with walls that are inclined greater than forty five degrees (45o) shall have a means of entry/egress.
3. An entry/egress for a pool, spa or water feature shall be constructed to minimize hazards and consist of a ladder, stairs or recessed treads or an alternate method or means approved by the building official. The ladder, stairs or recessed treads shall comply with the following requirements, respectively:
a. Ladder: Ladders shall be of a corrosion resistant material and be provided with two (2) handholds or handrails. Ladder treads shall have a uniform vertical spacing of seven inch (7") minimum and twelve inch (12") maximum. Vertical spacing variation within each ladder shall not exceed one inch (1"). Treads shall have a minimum horizontal depth of one and one-half inches (11/2"). The top tread of the ladder shall be a maximum of twelve inches (12") below the coping, deck or exterior edge of the pool or spa.
b. Stairs: Stair steps shall have a slip resistant surface and rounded corners. Steps shall have a maximum riser height of ten inches (10") with a minimum horizontal tread depth of twelve inches (12"). Riser height variation within each stair shall not exceed one inch (1"). (The distance from the bottom of the pool to the bottom step shall not be considered a riser.) The top step of the stair shall be a maximum of ten inches (10") below the coping, deck or exterior edge of the pool, spa or water feature.
Exception: Private pools, spas and water features may have a maximum riser height of twelve inches (12").
c. Recessed Treads: Recessed treads shall be provided with a set of handrails or handholds to serve all treads and risers. Recessed treads shall have a uniform vertical spacing of seven inch (7") minimum and twelve inch (12") maximum. Recessed treads shall have a minimum depth of five inches (5") and a minimum width of twelve inches (12"). The uppermost tread shall be a maximum of twelve inches (12") below the coping, deck or exterior edge of the pool or spa.
E. Deck, Seat Or Handholds: Pools and spas greater than three feet (3') in water depth shall be provided with a deck, seat or handholds. The deck, seat or handholds shall comply with the following requirements, respectively:
1. Deck: The deck shall run continuously around the pool or spa and be placed a maximum of twelve inches (12") above the water surface. Decks shall be a minimum of thirty inches (30") wide for private pools and spas and a minimum of four feet (4') wide for public pools and spas. Decks shall be sloped to effectively drain to either deck drains or perimeter areas away from the pool or spa.
2. Seat: An underwater seat, bench or swimout shall be located a minimum of every four feet (4') around the perimeter of the pool or spa. They shall be a minimum of twelve inches (12") wide by twelve inches (12") long, and a maximum of twenty four inches (24") below the water surface.
3. Handhold: A handhold shall be located a minimum of every four feet (4') around the perimeter of the pool or spa. A handhold shall consist of any of the following:
a. A continuous coping or ledge of a minimum width of six inches (6") and placed a maximum of twelve inches (12") above the water surface.
b. A permanently secured rope of a minimum diameter of three-fourths inch (3/4") or a railing of one and one-fourth inches (11/4") to two inches (2") in diameter placed at a maximum of twelve inches (12") above the water surface.
c. Ladders, steps or recessed treads complying with subsection D of this section.
F. Site Drainage: Site drainage shall be provided to direct all perimeter deck drainage, general site and roof drainage away from the pool, spa and adjacent buildings.
G. Wind Sensors: Water features shall be equipped with an integral automatic wind sensor device calibrated to shut off airborne and moving water when wind velocity exceeds twenty (20) miles per hour. (Ord. 188, 7-8-1997)