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 265.190 - Safety Features for Pools and Spas
Universal Citation: 25 TX Admin Code ยง 265.190
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Safety rope and float lines and floor markings.
(1)
Class A pools not being used for competitive events or lap swimming must have a
rope and float line.
(A) A rope and float line
must be located between 1 and 2 feet from the 5-foot depth location, toward the
shallow end of the pool. Floats must be spaced at no more than 7-foot intervals
and secured so they do not slide or bunch. The size of the stretched rope and
float line must provide a good handhold and be strong enough to support the
load normally imposed by users.
(B)
A rope and float line must be fastened securely to a wall or deck anchor made
of corrosion-resistant material that is recessed or removable and does not
create a hazardous projection when the line is removed.
(2) Class B pools over 5 feet deep must have:
(A) a permanent method to mark the transition
point of the pool floor from the shallow area to the deep area using a color
contrasting with the bottom of the pool, such as a 4-inch minimum width row of
floor tile;
(B) a rope and float
line located between 1 and 2 feet from the 5-foot depth location, toward the
shallow end of the pool and floats must be spaced at no more than 7-foot
intervals and secured so they do not slide or bunch; and
(i) the size of the stretched rope and float
line must provide a good handhold and be strong enough to support the load
normally imposed by users; and
(ii)
the rope and float line may be removed when the pool is used for lap swimming
or competitive events; and
(C) the rope and float line is securely
fastened to a wall or deck anchor made of corrosion-resistant material that is
recessed or removable and does not create a hazardous projection when the line
is removed.
(3) Class C
pools over 5 feet deep must have a permanent method to mark the transition
point of the pool floor from the shallow area to the deep areas using a color
contrasting with the bottom of the pool, such as a 4-inch minimum width row of
floor tile.
(A) A rope and float line may be
used in addition to the transition line and must be located between 1 and 2
feet from the 5-foot depth location, toward the shallow end of the pool. Floats
must be spaced at no more than 7-foot intervals and secured so they do not
slide or bunch. The size of the stretched rope and float line must provide a
good handhold and be strong enough to support the load normally imposed by
users.
(B) Rope and float lines
must be securely fastened to a wall or deck anchor made of corrosion-resistant
material that is recessed or removable and does not create a hazardous
projection when the line is removed.
(4) Wave pools, surf pools, and waterslide
landing pools are not required to provide a safety rope on the shallow side of
the change in floor slope.
(b) Depth markers.
(1) Depth markers must be placed in the top
4-1/2 inches of the pool or spa wall just under the coping and be positioned to
be read by a user while in the pool or spa.
(2) There must be no less than two depth
markers for each pool or spa, regardless of size and shape.
(3) Depth markers must be permanent with
numbers and letters no less than 4 inches in height and be clearly marked in a
color contrasting the background of the deck and vertical wall of the pool or
spa.
(4) Depth markers must be
spaced uniformly around the perimeter of the pool or spa in intervals of no
more than 25 feet.
(5) Deck depth
markers must be slip-resistant and positioned to be read while standing on the
deck of the pool or spa.
(6) Depth
markers must have units of measurement that either spell out "feet" or "inches"
or abbreviate "FT," "IN," or fractions of a foot.
(c) Deck "NO DIVING" marker and symbol. Where a diving marker and symbol are required in pools, the marker and symbol must comply with the requirements in the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) and:
(1) The no diving marker and
symbol must not be less than 4 inches in height. The no diving symbol must
consist of a diver's profile in a circle with a 45-degree slash through the
diver.
(2) The color of the letters
and symbol must be permanent and contrast with the background.
(3) The no diving marker and symbol on the
deck must be slip resistant.
(4)
The no diving marker and symbol on the deck must be within 18 inches of the
water's edge and positioned to be read while standing on the deck facing the
water.
(5) If a permanent structure
above the pool deck is within 5 feet of the water's surface, the 4-inch no
diving marker and symbol must be on the structure so the warning is visible to
persons attempting to use the structure for diving. The no diving marker and
symbol are not required on diving boards or diving platforms, Americans with
Disabilities Act-compliant chair lifts, slide flumes, lifeguard stands, or
bridges over the water.
(6) The no
diving marker and symbol are not required on the interior tile line of a pool
or spa.
(d) Starting platforms. Starting platforms must be used during official competition only or when there is direct supervision by the team coach, a qualified instructor, or a lifeguard. Starting platforms must be removed or secured to prevent use without direct supervision.
(e) Certain safety requirements for pools. In addition to safety signs required in the ISPSC, the following pool safety signs and operational procedures are required.
(1) Signs must be securely mounted
as applicable, readily visible to the pool user, and be posted within the pool
yard unless otherwise stated within this subchapter.
(2) Sign panels and lettering must be durable
for the weather conditions.
(3)
Branding or artwork applied to signs must not distract from the message panel,
and signs must have a distinct border.
(4) Safety signs can be combined on one sign
or posted individually.
(5) Safety
signs for pools constructed on or after the effective date of this section or
safety signs replaced at pools constructed before the effective date of this
section, must comply with Figure: 25 TAC §
265.190(e)(5).
(6) In areas of Texas where
most residents are non-English speakers, signs and other written warnings or
information required by this subchapter may be posted in the predominant
language, in addition to English.
(7) Variations of the language of the
required safety signs in Figure: 25 TAC §
265.190(e)(5) are
allowed if the language of the safety signs is substantially equivalent to the
language in Figure: 25 TAC §
265.190(e)(5) and
local swimming pool and spa regulatory officials approve the variation before
the sign is posted in the pool yard.
(f) Rescue equipment. A pool must have at least one ring buoy with throwing rope and a reaching pole for every 2000 square feet of pool surface area up to 6000 square feet. A pool with more than 6000 square feet of surface area must have an additional ring buoy, throw rope, and reaching pole for each additional 4000 square feet of surface area or fraction thereof. Reaching poles and ring buoys with rope must be visible and readily accessible from all areas of the pool yard.
(1) The reaching pole must be light, strong,
non-telescoping, and at least 12 feet long. The pole must be constructed of
fiberglass or other material that does not conduct electricity and must have a
body hook or shepherd's crook with blunted ends attached.
(2) The throwing rope must be 1/4-inch to
3/8-inch in diameter and at least two-thirds the maximum width of the pool in
length. A USCG-approved ring buoy must be attached to the throwing
rope.
(g) Certain safety requirements for spas.
(1) Safety signs, for
spas constructed on or after the effective date of this section or safety signs
replaced at spas constructed before the effective date of this section, must be
securely mounted, readily visible to spa users, and inside the spa enclosure,
as required in Figure: 25 TAC §
265.190(g)(1).
(2) Safety signs can be
combined on one sign or posted individually.
(3) Variations of the language of the
required safety signs in Figure: 25 TAC §
265.190(g)(1) are
allowed if the language of the safety signs is substantially equivalent to the
language in Figure: 25 TAC §
265.190(g)(1) and
local swimming pool and spa regulatory officials approve the variation before
the sign is posted in the pool yard or spa yard.
(4) Safety signs for spas constructed on or
after the effective date of this section, or safety signs replaced at spas
constructed before the effective date of this section, must comply with Figure:
25 TAC §
265.190(g)(1).
(h) Emergency summoning device. A pool or spa must have a minimum of one emergency telephone, emergency monitoring contact device, or alternative communication system that is capable of immediately summoning emergency services and that is readily accessible, within 200 feet of the water, and functioning when the pool or spa is open for use. An emergency summoning device for a pool or spa with a seasonal operation schedule must function 24 hours a day during the season the pool or spa is in use. Clear operating instructions for the emergency summoning device must be posted.
(1) The fixed-location telephone, emergency
monitoring device, or alternative communication system must be visible, easily
identified by users, and have no obstruction to access.
(2) The telephone or emergency monitoring
device must not be answered by an on-site office. An alternative communication
system may be answered by an on-site office if the system complies with
paragraph (5) of this subsection.
(3) The telephone must be capable of making
calls to 911 dispatch or to an emergency service.
(4) When activated, the emergency monitoring
contact device must directly connect to a 24-hour monitoring service, 911
dispatch, or emergency medical services.
(5) An alternative communication system
contacting an on-site office may be used if the pool or spa is in a remote area
with limited or delayed emergency medical services response times and employees
on-site are trained and certified or licensed to perform emergency medical
intervention when the pool or spa is open for use.
(6) A cell phone dedicated for use at the
pool or spa, mounted in the pool yard or spa yard for public use, and labeled
as the emergency phone may be used if the cell phone is activated by a service
provider, has a permanent power supply, and can reach the emergency service
provider or 911 emergency services.
(7) A sign must be posted above the emergency
summoning device with the precise location of the pool or spa, such as an
address, building number, Global Positioning System (GPS) location, or other
location identifying information in letters a minimum of 1-inch in
height.
(i) Lighting at pools and spas. A pool or spa operating at night must have lighting providing visibility to all areas of the pool or spa while standing on the deck at the water's edge.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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