S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-51.G

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 11, November 22, 2024

Section 61-51.G - DESIGN OF TYPE "E" POOLS

1. Applicability. Requirements of this section are applicable to all new construction and alterations of existing public swimming pools.

2. Type "E" Pools. In addition to all other applicable requirements of these regulations found in Section C, Type "E" pools must also have a recirculation system for filtering and disinfecting the water used, except as may be justified to and found acceptable by the Department.

3. Waterslides and Flumes.

(a) The slopes and radii of each flume and flume section must be acceptable to the Department. Each flume must be properly banked when used in any curved section; regardless of degree of curvature. Each flume must be designed to enter the landing pool in a safe manner. The landing pool must be of dimensions suitable to prevent accidental collision between users and/or walls. It may be necessary to obtain a certified inspection permit from the South Carolina Department of Labor if the law so provides for same.

(b) All sections of a flume must be properly formed and sealed together so as to prevent possible abrasions or injuries, i.e., no protrusions or gaps between sections. All protruding edges need to be deburred and polished so that there will be no cutting, pinching, puncture, or abrasion hazards. The permit for this type of facility will be invalidated, unless a good safety record is maintained.

(c) Details on submission of plans for waterslides must include:

(i) Detailed layout of the flumes indicating elevations, slopes, lengths of sections, and radius of each curve in the flumes.

(ii) Detailed cross sectional views of the flume on a straight away and going into all curves. The average water depth must be indicated.

(iii) Structural details of starting pools, flumes, landing pools, and if applicable, surge pools.

(iv) Total water volume for the whole waterslide facility.

(v) Top and profile views of the starting pool.

(vi) Top and profile views of the surge pool if applicable.

(vii) Top and profile views of the landing pool to include all equipment and applicable equipment spacing with all dimensions given or drawn to scale.

(d) Flume Design Criteria:

(i) The overall average slope of a flume shall conform to the design criteria of the recommendations of the ASTM F 2376, "Standard Practice for Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction, and Operation of Water Slide Systems."

(ii) The slope of each flume section shall conform to the design criteria of the recommendations of the ASTM F 2376, "Standard Practice for Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction, and Operation of Water Slide Systems."

(iii) Each flume shall be properly banked when used in any curved section; regardless of the degree of curvature. This is to properly ensure that the slider's body will remain within the flume.

(iv) Test runs down each channel shall be conducted to ensure its safety prior to formally opening the facility.

(v) A detailed engineering analysis of the flume structure must be submitted by the engineer assuming responsibility for the facility to ensure the strength and integrity of the material and structure under all circumstances.

(vi) Distance between the side of a flume exit and a landing pool wall shall be a minimum of five (5) feet.

(vii) Distances between sides of adjacent flume terminuses shall be a minimum of six (6) feet.

(viii) The distance between a flume exit and the opposite side of the landing pool or other obstruction(s) shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet.

(ix) Flumes shall terminate a maximum of two (2) inches above the water surface and the flume must be level for a minimum distance of ten (10) feet from the flume's end. Flumes cannot terminate at an angle.

(x) Safe entry into the landing pool shall be provided through a deceleration distance of at least twenty (20) feet.

(e) In addition to requirements for public swimming pools the following must also be met:

(i) A one hour filter turnover time is required.

(ii) Where night use is allowed, area lighting of at least two (2) watts per square foot of deck area shall be provided at the landing pool, along the slide, and at the starting pool.

(iii) Adequate supervision of all slide flumes entry and exit points must be provided.

(f) All items not covered above with regard to Type "E" Pools shall use the current edition of the ASTM F 2376, "Standard Practice for Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction, and Operation of Water Slide Systems" as guidelines.

4. Lazy Rivers. Lazy rivers with volumes of 60,000 gallons or greater shall have a minimum turnover time of six (6) hours. Those with volumes less than 60,000 gallons shall have a minimum turnover time of four (4) hours.

5. Wave Pool, Activity Pools and Kiddie Play Parks. Wave and activity pools with volumes of 60,000 gallons or greater shall have a minimum turnover time of six (6) hours. Those with volumes less than 60,000 gallons shall have a minimum turnover time of four (4) hours. Kiddie Play Parks shall have a minimum turnover time of one (1) hour.

6. Recirculation System. A recirculation system consisting of pumps, motors, piping, filters, inlets, outlets, disinfecting and other water conditioning equipment and necessary accessories must be provided for water purification in accordance with water quality criteria contained herein and must be designed to completely turnover at the rate required in Paragraphs 4 and 5 above. The recirculation system shall be designed to operate on a twenty-four (24) hour basis. The normal pattern of recirculation developed must be fifty (50) percent flow through the overflow or skimming facilities and fifty (50) percent through the main drains. The recirculation system must be designed with adequate capacity such that one hundred (100) percent of the recirculation flow can pass through the overflow or skimming facilities and 100 percent through the main drain. Waterparks may have several pools on one (1) main recirculation system provided it is proven to the Department that each pool meets the required turnover rate and the Department finds the overall design acceptable.

7. Automatic Controllers. All new Type "E" pools with water volumes of 1,500 gallons or less, shall be equipped with automatic controls to provide adequate feed rate of halogen and pH adjustment chemicals in order to keep the disinfectant and pH at the required levels on a continuous demand basis. A warning light or indicator shall be provided in a visible location for supervisory control. The device shall indicate absence of chemicals in feeders, improper adjustment of chemical dosage, or any other mechanical or operational malfunctions, e.g. recirculation flow stops.

8. Pool Deck. The pool deck must be constructed in accordance with R.61-51.C.6.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-51.G

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014.