Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
An owner shall ensure that:
A. A water recreational attraction:
(1) Is designed to eliminate or minimize
safety hazards such as entrapment, slipping, abrasions, cuts, falls, trip
hazards, impact injury, and drowning;
(2) Is in compliance with applicable State
and local codes and this chapter; and
(3) Has a communication system for use by
supervisors, watchers, and lifeguards;
B. Plans for supervision, attendants, and
lifeguards are submitted as part of the construction plans and include safety
personnel at all potentially hazardous activity areas;
C. A swimming pool slide is in conformance
with the American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools and has:
(1) Attachments that firmly anchor the
swimming pool slide;
(2) At the end
of the slide a minimum water depth of:
(a) 4
feet, or a water depth in conformance with the manufacturer's installation
instructions, for a distance of 10 feet along the slide centerline for a
swimming pool slide that does not slow an individual's entry into the water or
that drops the individual into the water; or
(b) 6 inches, or a water depth in conformance
with the manufacturer's installation instructions, for a swimming pool slide
designed to slow an individual to a near stop at the end of the
slide;
(3) A cushioned
landing mat below the end of a swimming pool slide if there is a potential for
impact or abrasion injury;
(4) A
centerline distance from the end of a slide to a wall, lifeline, transition
point, centerline from another slide, or obstruction that eliminates the
potential for an individual using the slide to strike a wall, lifeline,
transition point, an individual using another slide, or an
obstruction;
(5) A minimum side
distance of 4 feet from the centerline of a slide to a wall, lifeline,
transition point, or obstruction;
(6) A design that eliminates the potential
for an individual to strike the pool deck or coping while traveling down the
swimming pool slide;
(7) A slide
end that extends beyond the pool wall, deck, and coping; and
(8) A minimum side distance of 12 feet
between the centerline of a slide and a diving board, diving platform, or
starting block;
D. A
water slide:
(1) Complies with the conditions
set forth at COMAR 09.12.63 as evidenced by written documentation from:
(a) The Department of Labor, Licensing, and
Regulation; or
(b) If the water
slide is not subject to regulation by the Department of Labor, Licensing, and
Regulation, a registered professional engineer who certifies that the water
slide meets the design criteria set forth at COMAR
09.12.63.07B;
and
(2) Exits to a
plunge pool or slide runout;
E. A wave pool is provided with an emergency
shut-off switch at each guard station;
F. A tube ride has designated entry and exit
points;
G. A spray pool has:
(1) A bottom that slopes from 1/4 inch per
foot to 5/8 inch per foot to a drain with grate;
(2) No standing water; and
(3) No obstruction less than 4 feet in
height;
H. A single-lane
pool used for swimming laps has:
(1) A minimum
width of 7 1/2 feet; and
(2) A sign
on the deck that reads, "Warning: No Diving-Shallow Water" if the water depth
is 5 feet or less;
I. A
decorative fountain or waterfall installed in or connected to a pool or spa
does not create a health or safety hazard;
J. A spray fixture, fountain, piece of play
equipment, bridge, ramp, stair, float, swing, or other recreational equipment
located within a pool or spa:
(1) Is designed
to eliminate or minimize safety hazards such as entrapment, concealment,
slipping, abrasions, cuts, punctures, falls, trip hazards, impact injury, and
drowning;
(2) Is limited to a
shallow water area;
(3) Has a color
that contrasts with the pool or spa so that the structure is highly
visible;
(4) Has pipes or support
columns that are at least 6 inches in diameter;
(5) Is provided with an overhead clearance of
at least 7 feet from the pool floor and 4 feet from the water surface where a
person may walk under the fixture;
(6) Is provided with recirculated, treated
pool water for a spray, stream, or other flow of water; and
(7) Is installed according to the
manufacturer's directions;
K. The water surface is maintained at a level
that allows the surface overflow system to operate properly;
L. At least two interconnected main drains
are installed in the deepest part of a pool and are connected to the filtration
system;
M. A pump reservoir or
surge tank is provided for a slide or water feature circulation pump intake
and:
(1) Is made of concrete or other
impervious material with a smooth slip-resistant finish;
(2) Has inlets through a weir or a
gravity-fed drain with a secure grate;
(3) Has a volume equal to 2 minutes of the
combined flow of all pumps connected to the reservoir or tank;
(4) Is accessible only to authorized
individuals;
(5) Has pump intakes
located in the pump reservoir that are designed to allow cleaning without
danger of entrapment; and
(6) The
water velocity through grate or drain openings does not exceed 2 feet per
second;
N. A slide or
water feature circulation pump has a check valve on the discharge side;
and
O. Returns from a filtration
system are placed to provide even and positive circulation and to eliminate any
dead spots.
