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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 25. FOOD OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY HYGIENE FACILITIES |
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SubTilte 25-C. SWIMMING POOL AND SPA REGULATIONS |
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Chapter 25-C99. DEFINITIONS |
Section 25-C9999. DEFINITIONS - GENERAL PROVISION AND DEFINITIONS
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9999.1 The terms and phrases used in this title shall have the meanings set forth in this chapter, unless the text or context of the particular chapter, section, subsection, or paragraph provides otherwise.
9999.2DEFINITIONS
Abrasion hazard – a sharp or rough surface that would scrape the skin by chance during normal use.
Accessible – easy exposed for inspection and the replacement of materials and/or parts with the use of tools.
Agitated water – an aquatic venue with mechanical means (aquatic features) to discharge, spray, or move the water's surface above and/or below the static water line of the aquatic venue. Where there is no static water line, movement shall be considered above the deck plane.
Algae – a marine plant classified along with Fungi and Bacteria in the group Thallophyta; thrives in sunny places on land or water utilizing photosynthesis for energy production; and can be destroyed easily with chlorine sanitizers.
Alteration – any change in equipment or materials used in the construction of a public swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna that does not conform to DCRA or DOH-approved plans, specifications, and change orders. Or, any act which changes or alters the original characteristics of the pool that requires a Building Permit issued by DCRA or DOH-approval, including but not limited to: pool or deck resurfacing, painting, equipment changes, structural additions or deletions, including but not limited to changes in the recirculation systems, decking, treatment systems, disinfection system, or pool shape modifications.
ASME/ANSI – a safety standard accredited by the American National Standards Institute and published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Aquatic feature – an individual component within an aquatic facility, such as slides, structures designed to be climbed or walked across, and structures that create falling or shooting water.
Aquatic facility – an artificially constructed structure or modified natural structure where the general public is exposed to water intended for recreational or therapeutic purpose. Such structures do not necessarily contain standing water, so water exposure may occur via contact, ingestion, or aerosolization. Examples include swimming pools, wave pools, lazy rivers, surf pools, spas (including spa pools and hot tubs), therapy pools, waterslide landing pools, spray pads, and other interactive water venues.
Barrier – a fence, safety cover, wall, building wall or a combination thereof, which completely surrounds or covers the swimming pool or spa and obstructs access to the swimming pool, or spa pool, including a natural or constructed topographical feature that prevents unpermitted access by bathers to a swimming pool, and with respect to a hot tub, a lockable cover. All access through the barrier shall have (1) one or more of the following safety features: alarm, key lock or self-locking or self-latching doors and gates.
Bather – any person using a swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna and adjoining deck area for the purpose of water sports, recreation therapy or related activities.
Bather load – the maximum number of persons allowed in the pool / spa area at one time.
Beginners’ areas – water depths of three feet (3 ft.) or zero point nine one four four meter (0.9144 m) or less.
Breakpoint Chlorination – elimination of inorganic chloramines by adding enough Free Chlorine to destroy the inorganic chloramines that contribute to combined chlorine. Ten times the Combined Chlorine minus the existing Free Chlorine is used.
Bromine – a chemical sanitizing agent that is not as effective as chlorine in normal conditions and is not affected by heat, and continues disinfecting after combining making it great for spas.
Chemical feeder – a mechanical device used for applying chemicals to the water in swimming pools, spa pools, and saunas.
Chloramine – a compound formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen or ammonia causing eye and skin irritations and has a strong, objectionable odor.
Chlorination – the process of introducing chlorine to water to remove undesired contaminates and acts as a sanitizer, algaecide and strong oxidizer.
Circulation equipment – the mechanical components that are part of a circulation system in a swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna. Circulation equipment includes but is not limited to categories of pumps, hair and lint strainers, filters, valves, gauges, meters, heaters, surface skimmers, inlet/outlet fittings, and chemical feeding devices. The components have separate functions, but when connected to each other by piping, perform as a coordinated system for purposes of maintaining swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna in a clear, sanitary and desirable condition.
Circulation system – an arrangement of mechanical equipment or components, connected by piping to a swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna in a closed system. The function of a circulation system is to direct water from the pool or spa, causing it to flow through the various system components for purposes of clarifying, heating, purifying, and returning the water back to the original body of water.
Clarifier – a chemical that coagulates and neutralizes suspended particles in water. There are two (2) types: inorganic salts of aluminum or iron and water-soluble organic polyelectrolyte polymers, also called coagulant or flocculent.
Coliform – a group of naturally-occurring bacteria that are present in all surface water and are in the intestinal tract of human and other warm-blooded animals. The presence of coliforms in a swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna indicates possible deficiencies in chlorine residuals, water clarity, filter backwashing or cleaning, pool cleanliness, swimmer adherence to showering rules and/or proper sample collection technique.
Colorimetric – one of four (4) test methods used to determine the concentration of a chemical element or chemical compound in a solution with the aid of a color reagent.
Competition pool – a swimming pool designed to be routinely used to host organized swim competitions such as those sponsored by colleges, universities, swim leagues, and swim clubs.
Coping – edge between deck of pool and water.
Critical item – a provision of these regulations that, if in noncompliance, is more likely than other violations to serve as a vector for a waterborne illness, or an environmental health hazard. A critical item is denoted with an asterisk (*).
Critical limit – the maximum or minimum value to which a physical, biological, or chemical parameter must be controlled at a critical control point to prevent, eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the occurrence of a waterborne illness, or an environmental health hazard.
Critical violation – a condition or practice that violates these regulations and results in a waterborne illness, or endangers the public health, safety, or welfare.
Cyanuric – a chemical that helps reduce the excess loss of chlorine in water due to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It is also called stabilizer, isocyanuric acid conditioner or triazinetrione.
Dark – a Munsell Color Value from zero (0) to four (4).
DCRA – Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Decks – those areas immediately adjacent to or attached to a swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna that are specifically constructed or installed for use by users sitting, standing or walking.
Deep areas – water depths in excess of five feet (5 ft.) or one point five two four meters (1.524 m).
Department or DOH – Department of Health.
D.E. – the Diatomaceous Earth that is used as a filter aid in DE type filters, including alternative filter aids that have been approved under NSF / ANSI Standard 50-2007, and accepted by the filter manufacturer.
Disinfectant – energy or chemicals used to kill undesirable or pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms that have a measurable residual at a level adequate to make the desired kill.
Diving board – a recreational mechanism for entering a swimming pool, consisting of a semi-rigid board that derives its elasticity through the use of a fulcrum mounted below the board.
Duckboard – a boardwalk laid across a muddy ground or flooring; made of non-porous easily cleanable material when used in pool deck area.
Electronic – one of four (4) test methods used to determine the concentration of a chemical using a portable/hand held test meter for pool-side use.
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) – a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault (a break in the low-resistance grounding path from a tool or electrical system) within as little as 1/40 of a second, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) in publication OSHA 3007 1998 (Revised), an informational booklet.
Hose bibb – any connection to a potable water supply.
Imminent health hazard – a significant threat or danger to health that is considered to exist when there is evidence sufficient to show that a product, practice, circumstance, or event creates a situation that requires immediate correction or cessation of operations to prevent injury based on the number of potential injuries, and the nature, severity and duration of the anticipated injury.
Inaccessible – enclosed by an effective barrier.
Jump board – a recreational mechanism that has a coil spring, leaf spring or comparable device located beneath the board which is activated by the force exerted in jumping on the board.
Licensee – the owner of an aquatic facility.
Lifeguard – a person having the qualifications of and possessing a current American Red Cross, YMCA, or other Lifeguard Certifications, current First Aid Certificates, current CPR (which includes adult, child, and infant), Certificates issued by nationally recognized aquatic training organizations, such as the International Lifeguard Training Program™ (ILTP™), that are adopted and recognized by the D.C. Department of Health; and is responsible for the safety of the users of a public swimming pool, spa pool, and sauna.
Main drain – a submerged suction outlet typically located at the bottom of a swimming pool, spa pool, and sauna to conduct water to a re-circulating pump.
Marking or Markings – the placement and installation of visual marking cues to help patrons identify step, bench and swim out outlines, slope break location, depth designations, and NO ENTRY and NO DIVING warnings. When markings are specified to be dark the term “dark” shall have the meaning defined in this Regulation.
Membrane filter test – a swab sample taken from any hard surface.
N,N-Diethyl-p-Phenylenediamine (DPD) – pH indicator in liquid or tablet form is the most common chlorine/bromine testing reagent; the indicator turns pink in the presence of disinfectant residual and the pinker the sample, the higher the chlorine/bromine reading.
NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) – a means of measuring water clarity.
Oxidation reduction potential (ORP) controller – device used to measure sanitizer effectiveness and to control ozone generators, chlorine generators, and ionizers (in combination with chlorine). ORP is the only practical method to electronically monitor sanitizer effectiveness.
Oxidation reduction potential (ORP) – a measure of the tendency for a solution to either gain or lose electrons; higher (more positive) oxidation reduction potential indicates a more oxidative solution.
Pool safety cover – a manually or power-operated safety pool cover that conforms to the entrapment protection standards of the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 performance standard, or any successor standard regulating swimming pools or drain covers.
Pool and Spa Operator – an individual directly responsible for the operation of a swimming pool, spa pool, and sauna facility with certifications that are registered by the National Swimming Pool Foundation, and who are in possession of a current District of Columbia Pool and Spa Operator’s Registration Card.
Precoat – the layer of diatomaceous earth deposited on the filter septa at the start of a filter run with D.E. filters.
Precoat feeder – a chemical feeder designed to inject diatomaceous earth into a filter in sufficient quantity to coat the filter septa at the start of a filter run.
Private residential swimming pools, spa pools, and saunas – residential swimming pool, spa pool, or sauna built in conjunction with a single family residence used or intended to be used solely by the owner or lessee, and the owner or lessee’s immediate family and guests invited to use it without payment of a fee.
Public pool – any public pool or pools serving multi-family units, as classified and defined within this definition that are used for swimming or bathing and are operated by an owner, lessee, operator, licensee, or concessionaire, regardless of whether a fee is charged for use. Public pools shall be further classified and defined as follows:
(a)Class A, Competition Pool – any pool intended for use for accredited competitive aquatic events such as Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), USA Swimming, USA Diving, USA Synchronized Swimming, USA Water Polo, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), or National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The use of the pool is not limited to competitive events.
(b)Class B, Municipal Pool – any pool intended for public recreational use.
(c)Class C, Semi-Public Pool – any pool operated solely for and in conjunction with lodgings such as hotels, motels, apartments, condominiums.
(d)Class D-1, Wave Action Pool – a pool designed to simulate breaking or cyclic waves for purposes of general play or surfing.
(e)Class D-2, Activity Pool – a pool designed for casual water play ranging from simple splashing activity to the use of attractions placed in the pool for recreation.
(f)Class D-3, Catch Pool – a body of water located at the termination of a manufactured waterslide attraction. The body of water is provided for the purpose of terminating the slide action and providing a means for exit to a deck or walkway area.
(g)Class D-4, Leisure River – a manufactured stream of water of near-constant depth in which the water is moved by pumps or other means of propulsion to provide a river-like flow that transports bathers over a defined path that may include water features and play devices.
(h)Class D-5, Vortex Pool – a circular pool equipped with a method of transporting water in the pool for the purpose of propelling riders at speeds dictated by the velocity of the moving stream of water.
(i)Class D-6, Interactive Play Attraction – a manufactured water play device or a combination of water-based play devices in which water flow volumes, pressures, or patterns can be varied by the bather without negatively influencing the hydraulic conditions for other connected devices. These attractions incorporate devices or activities such as slides, climbing and crawling structures, visual effects, user-actuated mechanical devices and other elements of bather-driven and bather-controlled play.
(j)Class D-7, Amusement Park Attraction – an attraction or ride traditionally found in amusement parks that are designed to permit bather contact with water.
(k)Class D-8, Natural Body of Water – a natural or man-made aquatic play area normally regarded as oceans, lakes, ponds, streams, quarries, or bodies of water that the local jurisdiction has designated as natural bodies of water.
(l)Class E – pools used for instruction, play or therapy and with temperatures above eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit (86° F) or (thirty degrees Celsius (30.0 ° C). Public pools are either a diving or non-diving type. Diving types of public pools are classified into types as an indication of the suitability of a pool for use with diving equipment.
(m)Type VI-IX – public pools suitable for the installation of diving equipment by type.
(n)Type O – a non-diving public pool.
Qualified lifeguards – individuals who have successfully completed nationally recognized aquatic training organizations adopted and recognized by the D.C. Department of Health, hold current certificates for such training, have met the pre-service requirements, and are participating in continuing in-service training requirements of the aquatic facility.
Quaternary ammonium (quats) – a compound derived from ammonium with hydrogen atoms replaced by organic groups; used as surface-active agent and disinfectant.
Recirculation system – a system consisting of pumps, motors, piping, filters, inlets, outlets, disinfecting and other water conditioning equipment and necessary accessories.
Return – pool water that is going back into the filtration system and chemical feeding cycle, usually from the gutters, skimmer or return lines.
Safety vacuum release system – a vacuum release system capable of providing vacuum release at a suction outlet caused by a high vacuum occurrence due to a suction outlet flow blockage.
Sauna – aquatic feature including but not limited to the application of water vapor from hot water facilities such as Jacuzzis, hot tubs and steam baths.
Scum gutter - overflow line along the sides of the swimming pool, spa pool, and sauna that takes water to the return lines in the filtration system.
Shallow end of pool – the portion of a pool where the water’s depth is four feet (4 ft.) or less.
Shepherd’s hook – a pole twelve (12) to sixteen (16) feet in length with a loop on the end to grasp a person in the water who is in distress without entering the water.
Ship’s ladder – the entry and exit ladders found on the pool sides and ends.
Showers – baths where the bather’s body is sprayed with a fine stream of water from small jets.
Skimmer or surface skimmer – overflow water line that traps debris in the weir basket and returns the water to the filtration system for treatment.
Slip resistant – having a textured surface which is not conducive to slipping under contact of bare feet unlike glazed tile or masonry terrazzo and non-textured plastic materials. Manufactured surface products shall be designed by the manufacturer as suitable for walking surfaces in wet areas. Minimum acceptable static coefficient of friction to determine slip resistance is 0.7 on horizontal wet walking surfaces in the pool and for the wet deck area.
Spa pool – a structure intended for either warm or cold water where prolonged exposure in not intended. Spa structures are intended to be used for bathing or other recreational uses and are not usually drained and refilled after each use. It may include, but is not limited to, hydrotherapy, air induction bubbles, and recirculation.
Stationary diving platform – used for diving and are constructed or located on site, and may be natural or artificial rocks, pedestals or other items.
Super-chlorination – the addition of large quantities of chlorine-based chemicals that kills algae, destroys odor, or improves the ability to maintain a disinfectant residual.
Titrimetric – one of four (4) test methods used to determine the unknown concentration of a chemical by using a standard concentration of a known reagent.
Turbidimetric – one of four (4) test methods used to measure the amount of solid particles that are suspended in water and that cause light rays shining through the water to scatter and appear cloudy.
Turnover time – the period of time (usually hours) required to circulate the complete volume of water in a pool through the recirculation system.
Unblockable drain – a drain of any size and shape that a human body cannot sufficiently block to create a suction entrapment hazard.
UL Standard – a document published by UL, a global independent safety science company, detailing construction, performance, environmental, sustainability or other requirements utilized for certification.
Vacuum breakers – a plumbing device that prevents the pool’s recirculation pumps from being damaged by shutting the system down when there is a drop in air pressure.
Water Ionizer – an appliance that filters and converts water into ions; separates water into an alkaline fraction and an acid fraction by exploiting the electric charge of the calcium and magnesium ions present in nearly all sources of drinking water. In the case of water chemistry sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach) is converted into hypochlorous acid (HCIO), the active sanitizing agent in pool water.
Water recreation attraction – a facility with design and operational features that provide patron recreational activity and purposefully involves immersion of the body partially or totally in the water. Water recreation attractions include water slides, water activity pools, interactive water features, wave pools and any additional pool within the boundaries of the attraction.
Water-safe – a bather who is able to swim and capable of exercising proper judgment in taking action for self-preservation under emergency conditions.
Water therapy facilities – swimming pools, spa pools, or saunas used exclusively for water therapy to treat a diagnosed injury, illness, or medical condition, wherein the medical treatment or physical therapy is provided under the direct supervision of medical personnel licensed pursuant to the Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985 Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 23, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-247; D.C. Official Regulation § 3-1205.01 (2016 Repl.)); and the prescribing physician authorizes a plan of treatment justifying use of a pool for health care purposes.
Weir – baskets found at the skimmer line that trap and prevent debris from entering the filtration system in the return lines which could damage the pumps or obstruct the filters.
Wet deck area – the four foot wide unobstructed pool deck area around the outside of the pool water perimeter, curb, ladders, handrails, diving boards, diving towers, pool slides, waterfalls, water features, starting blocks, planters, or lifeguard chairs.
Zones of patron surveillance – when qualified lifeguards are used, the staffing plan shall include diagrammed “zones of patron surveillance” for each aquatic facility where:
(a) A qualified lifeguard is capable of viewing the entire area of the assigned “zones of patron surveillance”;
(b) A qualified lifeguard is able to reach the furthest extent of the assigned “zones of patron surveillance” within 20 seconds;
(c) Identify whether a qualified lifeguard is in an elevated stand, walking, in-water and/or other approved position;
(d) Identifying any additional responsibilities for each zone; and
(e) All areas of each aquatic venue are assigned a “zones of patron surveillance”.