Texas Administrative Code
Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES
Part 1 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 265 - GENERAL SANITATION
Subchapter L - PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS
Section 265.181 - General Provisions

(a) Scope and purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to implement Texas Health and Safety Code, § 341.064, Swimming Pools, Artificial Swimming Lagoons and Bathhouses, and §341.0645, Pool Safety.

(b) Adoption by reference. Department of State Health Services (DSHS) adopts by reference the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) regarding construction, alteration, renovation, enlargement, and repair of commercial swimming pools and spas; the ANSI/APSP-16 American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies (SOFA) for use in Pools Spas and Hot Tubs; and the ANSI/PHTA/ICC-7 American National Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Catch Basins as specified in subsection (c) of this section.

(c) ISPSC sections adopted. DSHS adopts by reference the following chapters and sections from the ISPSC, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section: Section 102 in Chapter 1, Scope and Administration; Chapter 2, Definitions; Chapter 3, General Compliance, only as these sections and chapters relate to the construction, alteration, renovation, enlargement, and repair of commercial swimming pools and spas; Chapter 4, Public Swimming Pools; Chapter 5, Public Spas and Public Exercise Spas; and Chapter 6, Aquatic Recreation Facilities.

(d) ISPSC sections not adopted. DSHS does not adopt by reference the following chapters and sections from the 2021 ISPSC: Sections 102.7.1, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109.2, 109.3, 110, 111, 112, 113, and 114 in Chapter 1, Scope and Administration; Definitions in Section 202 in Chapter 2: Code Official, Deep Area, Design Professional, and Jurisdiction; Section 412.2 in Chapter 4, Public Swimming Pools; Section 508.3 in Chapter 5, Public Spas and Public Exercise Spas; Section 603.3 in Chapter 6, Aquatic Recreation Facilities; Chapter 7, Onground Storable Residential Swimming Pools; Chapter 8, Permanent Inground Residential Swimming Pools; Chapter 9, Permanent Residential Spas and Permanent Residential Exercise Spas; and Chapter 10, Portable Residential Spas and Portable Residential Exercise Spas.

(e) Application of the rules. The rules in this subchapter establish minimum standards for swimming pools and spas concerning pool operation and management, water quality, safety standards unrelated to design and construction, signage, enclosures, and safety features intended to reduce to a practical minimum the possibility of drowning or injury to users.

(f) Date of construction. The date of construction of a pool, spa, or a bathhouse is the date that a building permit for construction is issued. If no building permit is required, the date that excavation or electrical service begins, whichever is earlier, is the date of construction. In the case of the latter, the owner or operator must produce adequate written documentation of the date of excavation or the beginning date of electrical service.

(g) Regulations not in the ISPSC. Regarding regulations in this subchapter not addressed by the ISPSC, local regulatory authorities may, with the exception of DSHS-approved alternate methods of disinfection set forth in § 265.196 of this subchapter (relating to Request for Alternate Method of Disinfectant), adopt standards that vary from the standards in this subchapter; however, such standards must be equivalent to or more stringent than the standards in this subchapter.

(h) References to public swimming pools and public spas. The rules specify whether a particular provision concerns pool operation and management, water quality, safety standards unrelated to design and construction, signage, enclosures, and safety features applies to pools and spas constructed on or after the effective date of this subchapter or whether it applies to all public swimming pools and public spas regardless of the date of construction.