North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 15A - Environmental Quality
Chapter 18 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Subchapter A - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Section .2500 - PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS
Section 18A .2508 - DEFINITIONS

Universal Citation: 15A NC Admin Code 18A .2508

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024

The following definitions apply throughout this Section:

(1) "Department" means North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

(2) "Equipment replacement" means replacement of individual components of the hydraulic and disinfection systems such as pumps, filters, and automatic chemical feeders.

(3) "Public swimming pool" means public swimming pool as defined in G.S. 130A-280. Public swimming pools are divided into five types:

(a) "Swimming pools" are public swimming pools used primarily for swimming.

(b) "Spas" are public swimming pools designed for recreational and therapeutic use that are not drained, cleaned, or refilled after each individual use. Spas may include units designed for hydrojet circulation, hot water, cold water mineral bath, air induction bubbles, or any combination thereof. Common terminology for spas includes "therapeutic pool," "hydrotherapy pool," "whirlpool," "hot spa," and "hot tub."

(c) "Wading pools" are public swimming pools designed for use by children, including wading pools for toddlers and children's activity pools designed for casual water play ranging from splashing activity to the use of interactive water features placed in the pool.

(d) "Water recreation attractions" are pools designed for special purposes that differentiate them from swimming pools, wading pools, and spas. They include:
(i) water slide plunge pools and run out lanes, which transfer the kinetic energy of the users' velocity through friction to the slide;

(ii) wave pools;

(iii) rapid rides;

(iv) lazy rivers;

(v) interactive play attractions that incorporate devices using sprayed, jetted, or other water sources contacting the users and that do not incorporate standing or captured water as part of the user activity area;

(vi) training pools deeper than a 24 inch deep wading pool and shallower than a 36 inch deep swimming pool; and

(vii) artificial swimming lagoons as defined in G.S. 130A-280.

(e) "Special purpose and therapy pools" are pools designed and used for therapeutic treatments or physical training and fitness outside of a licensed medical facility or practice of a licensed physical therapist. They include:
(i) float tanks used for float therapy in a salt brine solution;

(ii) swim spa training pools which use jetted water for stationary swimming against a water current;

(iii) exercise therapy and treadmill pools equipped for water resistance exercise therapy; and

(iv) scuba pools designed and used for training swimmers to use self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

(f) "Display spa at a temporary event" or "DSTE" is a portable, above ground spa that contains water but is not used for body immersion and is displayed at a temporary event.

(4) "Registered Design Professional" means an individual who is registered or licensed to practice engineering as defined by G.S. 89C or architecture as defined by G.S. 83A.

(5) "Remodeled" means renovated in a manner requiring disruption of the majority of the pool shell or deck, changes in the pool profile, or redesign of the pool hydraulic system.

(6) "Repair" means returning existing equipment to working order, replastering or repainting of the pool interior, replacement of tiles or coping, and similar maintenance activities. This term includes replacement of pool decks where the Department has determined that no changes are needed to underlying pipes or other pool structures.

(7) "Safety vacuum release system" means a system or device capable of providing vacuum release at a suction outlet caused by a high vacuum occurrence due to suction outlet flow blockage.

(8) "Splash zone" means the area of an interactive play attraction that sheds water to a surge tank or container to be recirculated.

(9) "Temporary event" means a non-permanent fair, carnival, circus, festival, or public exhibition.

(10) "Unblockable drain" means a drain of any size and shape that a human body cannot sufficiently block to create a suction entrapment hazard.

(11) "Water feature" means any component within a public swimming pool that pumps, jets, or sprays water above the waterline.

Authority G.S. 130A-280; 130A-282;
Eff. May 1, 1991;
Temporary Amendment Eff. June 1, 1994 for a period of 180 days or until the permanent rule becomes effective, whichever is sooner;
Amended Eff. April, 1, 2013; May 1, 2010; March 1, 2004; April 1, 1999; January 1, 1996; October 1, 1994;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. July 20, 2019;
Temporary Amendment Eff. December 3, 2019;
Amended Eff. July 1, 2022; October 1, 2020.

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