[R.O. 2009 §23-21; Code 1969 §38-7]
In addition to such other requirements as may be reasonably
imposed by the Building Official through rules and regulations promulgated
under this Article, the Building Official shall not issue a permit
to construct or approve the construction of any swimming pool or any
alteration, addition, remodeling or other improvement to a swimming
pool unless the minimum design and construction requirements specified
in this Article are observed in such construction. Swimming pools
shall be constructed and maintained in conformity with the minimum
requirements of this Article.
[R.O. 2009 §23-22; Code 1969 §38-8]
All swimming pools shall be so constructed as to, upon findings
of the Building Official, provide a tight, leak-proof tank designed
to withstand the expected forces to which it will be subjected.
[R.O. 2009 §23-23; Code 1969 §38-9]
All swimming pools shall be of the "flow through" recirculating
type.
[R.O. 2009 §23-24; Code 1969 §38-10]
No swimming pool or ancillary buildings related thereto or any
part thereof shall be situated closer than ten (10) feet from any
lot line.
[R.O. 2009 §23-25; Code 1969 §38-30]
A.
Depth
for swimming pools with skimmers shall be measured from the maximum
level as established by the skimmer or lip of the overflow gutter.
The depth of the shallow end of a swimming pool shall not exceed three
(3) feet six (6) inches. The minimum depth at the deepest end of a
swimming pool without a diving board shall be six (6) feet. There
shall be a gradual slope in all swimming pools six (6) to eight and
one-half (8½) feet in depth. This slope shall be equivalent
to not more than three (3) inches per foot from the deepest point
of the pool to the grade break. Pools with diving boards not over
thirty (30) inches above the water and extending not over three (3)
feet into the pool area shall be not less than eight (8) feet six
(6) inches deep, twelve (12) feet from the edge of the pool where
the diving board is located.
B.
Swimming
pools with diving boards not over one (1) meter above the water shall
be not less than eight (8) feet six (6) inches deep, fifteen (15)
feet from the edge of the pool where the diving board is located.
C.
Swimming
pools with three (3) meter diving boards shall be not less than ten
(10) feet deep, fifteen (15) feet from the edge of the pool where
the diving board is located.
D.
When
diving boards are provided, there shall be a gradual slope for a horizontal
distance at least twelve (12) feet from the deepest part of the bottom
of the pool to the grade break at the four (4) foot six (6) inch depth.
E.
Pools
designed and intended exclusively for training, diving or other special
use, need not meet the minimum depth requirements when approved by
the Building Official.
[R.O. 2009 §23-26; Code 1969 §30-31]
A.
Abandoned
or unused swimming pools and abandoned or unused wading pools situated
on residential premises which are not occupied or dwelt in for periods
of thirty (30) days or more shall be drained or equipped with a pool
cover approved by the Building Official as being adequate to prevent
accidental drownings.
B.
All
wading pools shall be drained at all times when not in use for a prolonged
period of time.
C.
Contractors
shall have the responsibility of properly protecting excavation sites
in the course of construction, so that no undue hazard is created
by periods of rainfall or work stoppage.
D.
Any
time that a swimming pool or wading pool are not in use, the gate
or opening through the enclosure shall be securely locked in such
manner to require a key or combination for opening.
[R.O. 2009 §23-27; Code 1969 §38-28]
Depth markings in one (1) foot increments shall be provided
for the shallow portion of the pool to the point where the slope exceeds
one (1) foot in twelve (12) feet, at the deepest water point and at
the deep end of the pool. The depth markings shall be easily seen
and be a minimum size of four (4) inches high and be located on the
pool walls above the lip of the overflow trough and shall be on both
sides of the pool. The depth markings shall contrast sharply in color
with the swimming pool lining.
[R.O. 2009 §23-28; Code 1969 §38-29]
A.
The
slope of the bottom of any part of a swimming pool which is less than
four (4) feet six (6) inches deep shall not be steeper than one (1)
foot in twelve (12) feet. A rope with floats not over five (5) feet
apart shall be attached to corrosion-resistant fastenings on opposite
sides of the pool, securely installed and completely recessed into
the wall. These fastenings shall be placed not less than two (2) feet
toward the shallow end from the point where the slope of the bottom
begins to exceed one (1) foot in twelve (12) feet.
B.
Side
walls of a pool shall be vertical to a minimum of three (3) feet or
shall have a slope or curvature meeting one (1) of the following conditions:
1.
The pool wall may be vertical for two and one-half (2½) feet
from the water level below which the wall may be curved to the bottom
with a radius at any point equal to the difference between the depth,
at that point, and two and one-half (2½) feet.
[R.O. 2009 §23-29; Code 1969 §38-12]
Swimming pools shall be lined with concrete, tile or other material
approved by the Building Commissioner, having a white or light-colored,
water-proof finish which is smooth, durable and easily cleanable.
[R.O. 2009 §23-30; Code 1969 §38-13]
Swimming pools shall be free of any recessed areas which are
not completely within the view, from the front, of the lifeguard or
person in charge of the pool.
[R.O. 2009 §23-31; Code 1969 §38-14]
The inner surface of the swimming pool shall be covered, rounded
or bullnosed at all joints, corners, angles of bases, walls, floors
or curbs. Sharp corners or projections shall not be permitted. Floor
drains shall be flush with the finished surface.
[R.O. 2009 §23-32; Code 1969 §38-15]
A.
For
all swimming pools, except pools with six thousand (6,000) square
feet or less of surface area, there shall be built into the walls,
at the water surface, extending completely around the pool, an overflow
gutter which shall also serve as a handhold. This gutter shall continuously
remove water and return it to the filter. The gutter shall be designed
to remove all overflow water and shall be at least three (3) inches
deep with the overflow edge rounded and not thicker than two and one-half
(2½) inches for the top two (2) inches. The opening into the
gutter beneath the coping shall be not less than four (4) inches high
and the interior of the gutter shall be not less than three (3) inches
wide. The gutter and deck design shall be such that the gutter does
not serve as the top edge of the pool. The bottom of the gutters shall
slope to drains located at the deepest points, not over twelve (12)
feet apart if the pitch to the floor of the gutter is less than one-eighth
(⅛) of an inch per foot or not over twenty-five (25) feet apart
if the pitch to the floor of the gutter is one-eighth (⅛) of
an inch per foot or greater and located to completely drain all portions
of such gutter. The drains shall be provided with outlet pipes at
least two (2) inches in diameter and shall have a clear opening in
the grating at least equal to the cross sectional area of the outlet
pipe. Where overflow recirculation gutters are used which are designed
to handle the total filter capacity of the pool, a change in the number
of drains may be considered. All overflow gutters shall be connected
to the recirculation system through a properly designed surge tank.
B.
Overflow
gutters shall be constructed so that elbows and knee joints of bathers
climbing out shall not become wedged.
[R.O. 2009 §23-33; Code 1969 §38-16]
A.
Skimmers
may be permitted in lieu of overflow gutters on swimming pools with
not more than six thousand (6,000) square feet of surface area; provided
that acceptable handholds are installed and the skimming devices are
approved by the Building Official. At least one (1) skimming device
shall be provided for each eight hundred (800) square feet of surface
area or fraction thereof. Skimmers shall be located at least thirty
(30) feet apart. Handholds shall consist of a bullnosed coping not
over two and one-half (2½) inches thick for the outer two (2)
inches or an equivalent approved handhold. The handhold shall be no
more than nine (9) inches above the normal water line. Skimming devices
shall be built into the pool wall, shall adequately remove floating
oils and waste and shall meet the following general specifications:
1.
Each skimmer shall be designed for a flow-through rate of at least
thirty (30) gallons per minute and a total capacity of all skimmers
on any pool shall be at least fifty percent (50%) of the required
filter flow of the recirculation system.
2.
They shall be automatically adjustable to variations in waste level
over a range of at least three (3) inches.
3.
An easily removable and cleanable basket or screen through which
all overflow water must pass shall be provided to trap large solids.
4.
The skimmer shall be provided with a device to prevent airlock in
the suction line. If an equalizer pipe is used, it shall provide an
adequate amount of make-up water for pump suction should the water
of the pool drop below the weir level. This pipe shall be at least
two (2) inches outside diameter and shall be located at least one
(1) foot below the lowest overflow level of skimmer.
5.
An equalizer line shall be provided with a valve that will remain
tightly closed under normal operating conditions, but will automatically
open at a differential of not more than four (4) inches between the
pool level and level of overflow tank.
6.
The overflow weir shall be of sufficient length to maintain a rate
of flow of at least twenty (20) gallons per minute per lineal foot
to weir lip.
[R.O. 2009 §23-34; Code 1969 §38-11]
Drainage from swimming pools shall be by gravity or by pumps,
if approved by the Building Official. Swimming pool wastewater shall
not be drained into a storm water sewer or drainage ditch unless approved
by the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District. An indirect waste connection
with a storm sewer shall require a permit issued by the Metropolitan
Sewer District. A true copy of such permit shall be attached to the
application for a permit; provided that the Building Official may
issue such permit in the event of the failure or refusal of the Metropolitan
Sewer District to do so. Where no hazard, nuisance or unsanitary condition
would result therefrom and with the approval of the City Engineer,
the Building Official may approve the use of swimming pool wastewater
for irrigation by surface or subsurface spreading.
[R.O. 2009 §23-35; Code 1969 §38-24]
A.
There
shall be provided a pool outlet or main drain at the lowest point
of each pool. Outlet fittings and gratings shall have an open, unobstructed
area of at least twice the area of the pipe to which they discharge.
Each drain fitting shall be provided with a sturdy, corrosion-resistant
grating with openings not greater than three-eighths (⅜) of
an inch wide. When the main drain is also the suction supply to the
system, at least two (2) outlet fittings shall be installed in pools
more than thirty-five (35) feet wide.
B.
Pipes
receiving water from overflow gutter drains shall have a slope of
at least one-fourth (¼) of an inch per foot and shall be of
adequate capacity to completely drain the gutters to handle pool overflow
of short duration without flooding the overflow gutters.
C.
Materials
used for pool piping and fittings shall meet the Plumbing Code requirements
for water piping.
[R.O. 2009 §23-36; Code 1969 §38-25]
All cross-connections between the public water supply or the
sewer system shall be construed in a manner approved by the Building
Official.
[R.O. 2009 §23-37; Code 1969 §38-26]
All swimming pools shall be designed so that fresh water may
be added to the pool or recirculated through a fixed air-gap conforming
to the provisions of the Plumbing Code.
[R.O. 2009 §23-38; Code 1969 §38-27]
A.
There
shall be provided completely around every swimming pool and wading
pool a paved walk or deck which shall be not less than five (5) feet
wide for swimming pools and not less than four (4) feet wide for wading
pools, both measured from the pool side edge or coping of the pool
to the edge of the walk or to the fence or wall, whichever is closer.
At all swimming pools there shall be a clear, unobstructed, paved
area extending at least four (4) feet from both sides of the diving
board or its appurtenances.
B.
The
surface of the paved walk or deck shall not drain into the swimming
pool or wading pool or the overflow gutter thereof. The drainage shall
be conducted away from the pool area in a manner that will not create
a ponding or muddy condition. If floor drains are provided, these
shall be spaced and arranged so not more than six hundred twenty-five
(625) square feet of area is tributary to each drain and drains shall
be not over twenty-five (25) feet apart.
[R.O. 2009 §23-39; Code 1969 §38-34]
Lights used to illuminate any swimming pool shall be so arranged
and shaded as to reflect light away from adjoining premises.
[R.O. 2009 §23-40; Code 1969 §38-35]
No swimming pool or wading pool shall be filled with water until
the pool and all appurtenances shall have been inspected and approved
as complying with all provisions of this Chapter and of the Electrical
Code of the City by the Electrical Inspector of the City.
[R.O. 2009 §23-41; Code 1969 §38-36]
A.
Where
water heaters are used, they shall be regulated so that water entering
the pool is at a temperature of not over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit
(100°F).
B.
All
indoor pools when in use, when the outside temperature is below sixty
degrees Fahrenheit (60°F), shall be provided with facilities for
uniform and adequate heating of the water, pool room area and dressing
rooms.
[R.O. 2009 §23-42; Code 1969 §38-37]
A.
Diving
towers and steps shall be of substantial construction and sufficient
structural strength to safely carry the maximum anticipated loads.
Steps shall be of corrosion-resistant material, of easily cleanable
and non-slip design. Suitable handrails shall be provided at all steps
and ladders leading to diving towers. The decks of diving towers which
are over one (1) meter high shall be protected with suitable railings
to prevent falling, except into the water. If the vertical distance
from the bottom of the pool to the deck or walk is over two (2) feet,
steps or ladders shall be provided. If the width of the pool exceeds
thirty (30) feet, such steps or ladders shall be provided at each
side of the deep portion of the pool.
B.
Steps
leading into pools shall have a minimum tread of twelve (12) inches
and a maximum rise or height of not exceeding twelve (12) inches.
Pool ladders shall be corrosion-resistant and shall be equipped with
non-slip treads. All ladders shall be so designed as to provide a
suitable handhold and shall be rigidly installed. There shall be a
clearing of not more than five (5) inches nor less than three (3)
inches between any ladder and pool wall.
[R.O. 2009 §23-56; Code 1969 §38-17]
A.
All
swimming pools shall be equipped with a recirculating filtration and
chemical disinfecting system as approved by the Building Official
and necessary to maintain the pool water in a clear, clean, sanitary
condition.
B.
A satisfactory
recirculating system for the pool shall be installed consisting of
circulating pumps, chemical dosing equipment, alum and alkali or surge
tank, float valve control on water supply if surge tank is used, hair
and lint catcher, chlorinator, indicator, flow meters, pressure gauges
and piping connections to inlets and outlets; and all other necessary
fixtures and connections.
C.
All
swimming pools shall have a recirculating system with an hourly capacity
equal to the pool volume divided by eight (8).
[R.O. 2009 §23-57; Code 1969 §38-19]
Pump filter, disinfecting systems, chemical equipment for treating
the water, rate-controlling devices and operating valves shall be
of a size and type as approved by the Building Official. All valves,
pumps and equipment shall be installed so as to be readily accessible
for operation, maintenance and inspection. Filters and pumps shall
be provided with air-release valves.
[R.O. 2009 §23-58; Code 1969 §38-20]
A.
Filter
sand shall be a hard, uniformly graded, silica material with effective
particle sizes, between one and forty-five hundredths (1.45) and one
and fifty-five hundredths (1.55) millimeters in diameter, with a uniformity
coefficient of one and forty-five hundredths (1.45) to one and sixty-nine
hundredths (1.69). There shall be no limestone, clay or deleterious
matter present.
B.
Filter
sand shall be no less than nineteen (19) inches in depth with a freeboard
of no less than nine (9) inches or more than twelve (12) inches.
C.
There
shall be no less than four (4) grades of rock which shall be clean,
non-crushed, rounded, non-porous, non-calcareous material.
D.
The
total depth of the rock-supporting bed shall be no less than fifteen
(15) inches and each grade shall be two (2) inches or greater in depth.
Each layer of rock shall be leveled to prevent intermixing of adjacent
grades.
E.
The
top layer shall vary in size between one-eighth (⅛) of an inch
and one-fourth (¼) of an inch. The next layer shall vary in
size between one-fourth (¼) of an inch and one-half (½)
of an inch. The next layer shall vary in size between one-half (½)
of an inch and three-fourths (¾) of an inch. The bottom layer
shall vary in size between one (1) inch and one and one-half (1½)
inches.
[R.O. 2009 §23-59; Code 1969 §38-21]
A.
Diatomite
type filters shall be designed for operation under either pressure
or vacuum. The design capacity shall not exceed three (3) gallons
per minute per square foot of effective filter area for pressure filters
and not exceed two and one-fourth (2¼) gallons per minute per
square foot of effective filter area for vacuum filters.
B.
The
determination of the filter area shall be made on the basis of a true
and effective supported septum surface. In the case of fabric septums,
the area computation shall be made on the basis of measurements of
the septum support in a reasonable constant plane. Area allowance
shall not be granted for folds in the septum fabric or deviations
in the septum surface which would easily bridge.
C.
The
tank containing the filter elements shall be constructed of steel,
plastic or other suitable material, which will satisfactorily provide
resistance to corrosion, with or without coating. Pressure filters
shall be designed for a working pressure equal to the shutoff head
of the pump, with a factor safety of four (4). Vacuum filters shall
be designed to withstand the pressure developed by the weight of the
water contained herein and closed vacuum filters shall, in addition,
be designed to withstand the crushing pressure developed under a vacuum
of twenty-five (25) inches of mercury, both with a factor safety of
three and five-tenths (3.5).
D.
In
either type filter where the tank is fabricated from material which
may be corroded by water, then a suitable corrosion-resistant coating
shall be applied to retard such attack.
E.
The
filter elements shall be fabricated of corrosion-resistant materials
throughout. They shall be designed to be adequately resistant to a
differential pressure between influent and effluent of not less than
the maximum pressure, which can be developed by the circulating pump
and shall be of adequate strength to resist any additional stresses
developed during the cleaning operation. The filter septum, on which
the filter aid cake is deposited, shall be provided with openings,
the minimum dimensions of which shall be not greater than five-thousandths
(.005) of an inch.
F.
Provision
shall be made to introduce filter aid into the filter in such a way
as to evenly precoat the filter septum before the filter is placed
in operation. The amount of filter aid shall be selected to provide
at least the same protection to the filter septum as would be provided
by the use of one-tenth (1/10) of a pound of diatomite filter aid
per square foot of filter area. Use of additional equipment to provide
body feed to the filter influent is optional. Where provided, such
equipment shall have the capacity to continuously and uniformly feed
at a rate of not less than one-tenth (1/10) of a pound of filter aid
per square foot of filter area per twenty-four (24) hours.
G.
The
filter piping shall be so designed that during the precoating operation
the effluent from the filter shall be recirculated or run to waste
and shall not be fed into the pool until free of filter aid. An exception
to this requirement may be made if the filter septum is of such construction
that no perceptible quantity of filter aid is introduced into the
pool when the effluent discharges therein.
H.
Where
dissimilar metals are used in the construction of the filter, which
may set up galvanic currents, then suitable provision shall be made
to resist electrolytic corrosion.
I.
Filters
shall be so designed and installed that they can be readily disassembled
and the filter elements removed.
[R.O. 2009 §23-60; Code 1969 §38-22]
A.
"Cartridge type filters" are those where the cartridge itself
is the filter aid. Cartridge filters can be either pressure or vacuum
type and are subject to the same general piping and tank specifications
as diatomite type filters. Replacement cartridges are divided into
two (2) types: depth and area. General specifications, however, are
the same for both. Cartridge filters shall not require the addition
of any flocculating agents such as ammonium alum, aluminum sulfate
or potassium alum. All types of cartridges shall have sufficient structural
strength to resist rupturing, channeling, collapsing or bursting at
a maximum pressure differential of fifty (50) pounds per square inch.
Cartridge seals shall be so designed as to prevent any by-passing
of unfiltered water. If provision is made for backwashing, it shall
be so arranged as to not permit any backwash water to enter the recirculating
system. No residue shall be permitted to remain in the filter housing
that could be picked up in the next filtering cycle. Cartridge elements
shall be divided into two (2) types:
1.
"Depth type cartridges" are elements where the porosity
varies from the inlet to the discharge surface. They shall have sufficient
depth to provide adequate dirt-holding capacity and be designed for
a flow of no more than one (1) gallon per minute per five (5) cubic
inches of volume with a pressure drop not to exceed two (2) pounds
per square inch across clean cartridges and not to pass any particulate
matter larger than twenty-five (25) microns.
2.
"Area or surface type cartridges" are those which
rely on the surface area for their dirt-holding capacity and they
shall follow the same flow per square foot of area as diatomite filters,
namely: three (3) gallons per minute per square foot of area for pressure
filters and two and one-fourth (2¼) gallons per minute per
square foot of filter area for vacuum filters.
B.
Filters
shall be capable of filtering entire contents in eighteen (18) hours
or less.
C.
Filter
capacity shall be such that it need not be cleaned more frequently
than once every four (4) days under proper conditions of water and
operation.
D.
All
filters shall be designed so as to permit easy removal of the cartridges.
[R.O. 2009 §23-61; Code 1969 §38-23]
All swimming pools shall have hair and lint interceptors so
installed that all water drawn from the pool for recirculation shall
pass through them before reaching the filter.
[R.O. 2009 §23-62; Code 1969 §38-18]
A.
The
recirculation inlet fittings shall be sized and spaced so as to produce
uniform circulation of water throughout all parts of the swimming
pool. The inlets from the recirculating system shall be submerged
at least eighteen (18) inches below the rim of the pool. The inlets
shall be designed for the following maximum capacity:
|
Maximum Flow Rates
(In Gallons Per Minute)
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Size
|
1 inch
|
1¼ inch
|
2 inch
|
2½ inch
|
3 inch
| |
|
G.P.M.
|
10
|
20
|
30
|
90
|
150
| |
B.
There
shall be at least one (1) inlet for each three hundred fifty (350)
square feet of pool water surface area with a minimum of two (2) inlets
for the smallest pool. For a pool of an average width of not more
than twenty-five (25) feet, inlets shall be provided not more than
twenty (20) feet apart and there shall be an inlet not more than ten
(10) feet from each corner of the pool. Arrangements shall be provided
to adjust the flow to various portions of the pool with either of
the adjustable-orifice inlet fittings. The entire recirculation inlet
piping system shall be of such size that with design flows velocities
do not exceed ten (10) feet per second.
