RESIDENTIAL CODE OF NEW YORK
STATE
APPENDIX
G
SWIMMING POOLS, SPAS AND HOT TUBS
SECTION AG101
GENERAL
AG101.1 General. The provisions of this appendix shall control the
design and construction of swimming pools, spas and hot tubs installed in or on
the lot of a one and two-family dwelling.
SECTION AG-102
DEFINITIONS
ABOVE-GROUND/ON-GROUND
POOL.
See
“Swimming pool”
BARRIER. A fence, wall, building wall
or combination there of which completely surrounds the swimming pool and
obstructs access to the swimming pool.
HOT TUB. See “Swimming
Pool.”
In-GROUND
POOL. See
“Swimming Pool.”
RESIDENTIAL.
That which
is situated on the premises of a detached one or two-family dwelling or a one
family townhouse not more then three stories in height.
SPA. NONPORTABLE. See “Swimming pool.”
SPA. PORTABLE. A nonpermanent structure
intended for recreational bathing, in which all controls, water heating and
water circulating equipment are an integral part of the
product.
SWIMMING
POOL. Any
structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over
24 inches (610 mm) deep. This includes in-ground, aboveground and on-ground
swimming pools, hot tubs and spas.
SWIMMING POOL, INDOOR.
A swimming pool that is totally contained
within a structure and surrounded on all four sides by walls of said
structure.
SECTION
AG103
SWIMMING POOLS
AG103. In ground pools. In ground pools shall
be designed and constructed in conformance with ANSI/NSPI-4 as listed in Section
AG107.
SECTION
AG-104
SPAS AND HOT TUBS
AG104.1 Permanently
installed spas and hot tubs. Permanently installed spas
and hot tubs shall be designed and constructed in conformance with ANSI/NSPI-3
as listed in Section AG107.
AG104.2 Portable spas and
hot tubs.
Portable spas and hot tubs shall be designed and constructed in conformance with
ANSI/NSPI-6 as listed in Section AG107.
SECTION
AG105
BARRIER REQUIREMENTS
AG105.1 Application.
The
provisions of this chapter shall control the design of barriers for residential
swimming pools, spas and hot tubs. These design controls are intended to provide
protection against potential drowning and near drowning by restricting access to
swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.
1. The top of the barrier shall
be at least 48 inches (1219mm) above the grade, measured on the side of the
barrier, which faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance
between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches (51mm) measured on
the side barrier, which faces away from the swimming pool. Where the top of the
pool structure is above grade, such as an above ground pool, the barrier may be
at ground level, such as the structure, or mounted on top of the pool structure.
Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical
clearance between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier
shall be 4 inches. (102mm).
2. Openings in the barrier
shall not allow passage of a 4-inch diameter (102mm)
sphere.
3. Solid barriers, which do not
have openings, such as masonry or stonewall, shall not contain indentations or
protrusions except for normal construction tolerances and tooled masonry
joints.
4. Where the barrier is
composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of
the horizontal members is less than 45 inches (1143mm), the horizontal members
shall be located on the swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between
vertical members shall not exceed 1.75 inches (44mm) in width. Where there are
decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not
exceed 1.75 (44mm) inches in width.
5. Where the barrier is
composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of
the horizontal members is 45 inches (1145mm) or more, spacing between vertical
members shall not exceed 4 inches (102mm). Where there are decorative cutouts
within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1.75 inches
(44mm) in width.
6. Maximum mesh size for chain
link fences shall be a 1.25 inch (32mm) square unless the fence is provided with
slats fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the openings to not more
then 1.75 inches (44mm).
7. Where the barrier is
composed of diagonal members, such as a lattice fence, the maximum openings
formed y the diagonal members shall not be more than 1.75 inches
(44mm).
8. Access gates shall comply
with the requirements of Section AG105.2. Items 1 through 7, and shall be
securely locked with a key, combination or other child proof lock sufficient to
prevent access to the swimming pool through such gate when the swimming pool is
not in use or supervised. Pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from
the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Gates other
than pedestrian gates shall have a self-latching device. Where the release
mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches (1372mm)
from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism and openings shall comply
with the following.
8.1 The release mechanism shall
be located on the pool side of the
gate at least 3 inches (76mm) below the top of the gate,
and
8.2 The gate and barrier shall have no openings greater than 0.5 inch
(12.7mm) within 18 inches (457mm) of the release mechanism.
9. Where a wall of a dwelling
serves as part of the barrier one following
conditions must be met:
9.1 The pool shall be equipped
with a powered safety cover in compliance with ASTM F1346
or
9.2 All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall shall be
equipped with an alarm which produces an audible warning
when the door and its screen, if present are opened. The alarm
shall sound continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds
immediately after the door is opened and be capable of being
heard throughout the house during normal household activities.
The alarm shall automatically reset under all conditions. The alarm
system shall be equipped with a manual means, such as a touchpad
or switch to temporarily deactivate the alarm for a single opening.
Such deactivation shall last for not more than 15 seconds. The
deactivation switch (es) shall be located at lest 54 inches
(1372mm) above the threshold of the door; or
9.3 Other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-
latching devices which are approved by the governing body, shall
be acceptable so long as the degree of protection afforded is no
less than the protection afforded by Item 9.1 or 9.2 described
above.
10. Where an above ground pool structure is used as a barrier or where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, then:
10.1 The ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access, or
10.2 The ladder or steps shall be surrounded by a barrier, which meets the requirements of section AG105.2, items 1 through 9. When the ladder or steps are secured, locked or removed, any opening created shall not allow the passage of a 4-inch diameter (102mm) sphere.
AG105.3 INDOOR SWIMMING POOL. All walls surrounding an indoor swimming pool shall comply with Section AG105.2 item 9.
AG105.4 PROHIBITED LOCATIONS. Barriers shall be located so as to prohibit permanent structures, equipment or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.
AG105.5 BARRIER EXCEPTIONS. Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover, which complies with ASTM F1346, as listed in Section AG107, shall be exempt from the provisions of this appendix.
SECTION AG106
ABBREVIATIONS
AG106.1
General.
ANSI--- AMERICAN
NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE
WEST
42ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10036
ASTM---AMERICAN
SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
1916 RACE STREET,
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103
NSPI---NATIONAL SPA
AND POOL INSTITUTE
11 EISENHOWER AVE.,
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
SECTION AG107
STANDARDS
AG107.1
GENERAL.
ANSI/NSPI
ANSI/NSPI-3 Standard for permanently installed
Residential spas. ---------------------------- AG104.1
ANSI/NSPI-4 Standard for above-ground/on ground
Residential swimming pools----------------AG103.2
ANSI/NSPI-5 Standard for residential in-ground
Swimming pools-----------------------------AG103.1
ANSI/NSPI-6 Standard for residential
Portable spas---------------------------------AG104.2
ASTM
ASTM F 1346-91 Standard performance specifications for safety covers and labeling requirements for all covers for swimming pools, spas and
hot tubs--------------------------AG105.2, AG105.5