Section 3162B
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
ANTI-ENTRAPMENT DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
1. The Legislature finds and declares that the public health interest requires that there be uniform state- wide health and safety standards for public swimming pools to prevent physical entrapment and serious injury to children and adults. It is the intent of the Legislature to occupy the whole field of health and safety standards for public swimming pools and the requirements established in this article and the regu- lations adopted pursuant to this article shall be exclu- sive of all local health and safety standards relating to public swimming pools.
2. As used in this section, the following words have the following meanings:
(a) “ANSI/APSP performance standard” means a
standard that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and pub-
476 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
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lished by the Association of Pool and Spa Pro- fessionals (APSP).
(b) “ASME/ANSI performance standard” means a
standard that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute and published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
(c) “ASTM performance standard” means a stan-
dard that is developed and published by ASTM International..
(d) “Public swimming pool” means an outdoor or
indoor structure, whether in-ground or above- ground, intended for swimming or recreational bathing, including a swimming pool, hot tub, spa, or nonportable wading pool, that is any of the following:
(i) Open to the public generally, whether for a fee or free of charge.
(ii) Open exclusively to members of an
organization and their guests, resi- dents of a multiunit apartment build- ing, apartment complex, residential real estate development, or other mul- tifamily residential area, or patrons of a hotel or other public accommoda- tions facility.
(iii) Located on the premises of an athletic
club, or public or private school.
(e) “Qualified individual” means a contractor who
holds a current valid license issued by the State of California or a professional engineer licensed in the State of California who has experience working on public swimming pools.
(f) “Safety vacuum release system” means a vac- uum release system that ceases operation of the pump, reverses the circulation flow, or other- wise provides a vacuum release at a suction outlet when a blockage is detected.
(g) “Skimmer equalizer line” means a suction out-
let located below the waterline, typically on the side of the pool, and connected to the body of a skimmer that prevents air from being drawn into the pump if the water level drops below the skimmer weir. However, a skimmer equalizer line is not a suction outlet for purposes of Sub- divisions (4) and (6).
(h) “Suction outlet” means a fitting or fixture of a
swimming pool that conducts water to a recir- culating pump.
(i) “Unblockable suction outlet” means a suction outlet, including the sump, that has a perforated (open) area that cannot be shadowed by the area of the 18-inch by 23-inch body blocking element of the ANSI/APSP-16 performance standard, and that the rated flow through any portion of the remaining open area cannot cre-
PUBLIC POOLS
ate a suction force in excess of the removal force values in Table 1 of that standard.
3. Subject to Subdivision (6), every public swimming pool shall be equipped with anti-entrapment devices or systems that comply with ANSI/APSP-16 perfor- mance standard or successor standard designated by the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.
a. A public swimming pool that has a suction outlet
in any location other than on the bottom of the pool shall be designed so that the recirculation system shall have the capacity to provide a com- plete turnover of pool water within the following time:
(i) One-half hour or less for a spa pool.
(ii) One-half hour or less for a spray ground.
(iii) One hour or less for a wading pool.
(iv) Two hours or less for a medical pool.
(v) Six hours or less for all other types of public
pools.
4. Subject to Subdivisions (5) and (6), every public swimming pool with a single suction outlet that is not an unblockable suction outlet shall be equipped with at least one or more of the following devices or sys- tems that are designed to prevent physical entrapment by pool drains:
(a) A safety vacuum release system that has been
tested by a nationally recognized testing labora- tory and found to conform to ASME/ANSI Perfor- mance Standard A112.19.17, as in effect on December 31, 2009, or ASTM Performance Stan- dard F2387, as in effect on December 31, 2009.
(b) A suction-limiting vent system with a tamper-
resistant atmospheric opening, provided that it conforms to any applicable ASME/ANSI or ASTM performance standard.
(c) A gravity drainage system that utilizes a collector
tank, provided that it conforms to any applicable ASME/ANSI or ASTM performance standard.
(d) An automatic pump shut-off system tested by a
department-approved independent third party and found to conform to any applicable ASME/ ANSI or ASTM performance standard.
(e) Any other system that is deemed, in accordance
with federal law, to be equally effective as, or more effective than, the systems described in paragraph (a) at preventing or eliminating the risk of injury or death associated with the circu- lation system of the pool and suction outlets.
5. Every public swimming pool constructed on or after January 1, 2010, shall have at least two suction out- lets per pump that are hydraulically balanced and symmetrically plumbed through one or more “T” fit- tings, and that are separated by a distance of at least three feet in any dimension between the suction out- lets. A public swimming pool constructed on or after
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
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PUBLIC POOLS
January 1, 2010, that meets the requirements of this subdivision, shall be exempt from the requirements of Subdivision (4).
6. A public swimming pool constructed prior to January 1, 2010, shall be retrofitted to comply with Subdivi- sions (3) and (4) by no later than July 1, 2010, except that no further retrofitting is required for a public swimming pool that completed a retrofit between December 19, 2007, and January 1, 2010, that com- plied with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 8001 et seq.) as in effect on the date of issue of the construction permit, or for a nonportable wading pool that completed a retrofit prior to January 1, 2010, that complied with state law on the date of issue of the construction permit. A pub- lic swimming pool owner who meets the exception described in this subdivision shall do one of the fol- lowing prior to September 30, 2010:
a. File the form issued by the department pursuant
to subdivision (g), as otherwise provided in sub- division (h).
b. File a signed statement attesting that the required
work has been completed.
c. Provide a document containing the name and
license number of the qualified individual who completed the required work.
d. Provide either a copy of the final building permit,
if required by the local agency, or a copy of one of the following documents if no permit was required:
(i) A document that describes the modification in a manner that provides sufficient informa- tion to document the work that was done to comply with federal law.
(ii) A copy of the final paid invoice. The amount
paid for the services may be omitted or redacted from the final invoice prior to submission.
7. Prior to March 31, 2010, the department shall issue a form for use by an owner of a public swimming pool to indicate compliance with this section. The depart- ment shall consult with county health officers and directors of departments of environmental health in developing the form and shall post the form on the department’s Internet Web site. The form shall be completed by the owner of a public swimming pool prior to filing the form with the appropriate city, county, or city and county department of environmen- tal health. The form shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
a. A statement of whether the pool operates with a
single suction outlet or multiple suction outlets that comply with Subdivision (5).
b. Identification of the type of anti-entrapment
devices or systems that have been installed pur-
suant to Subdivision (4) and the date or dates of installation.
c. Identification of the type of devices or systems
designed to prevent physical entrapment that have been installed pursuant to Subdivision (4) in a public swimming pool with a single suction out- let that is not an unblockable suction outlet and the date or dates of installation or the reason why the requirement is not applicable.
d. A signature and license number of a qualified
individual who certifies that the factual informa- tion provided on the form in response to para- graphs (a) to (c), inclusive, is true to the best of his or her knowledge.
8. A qualified individual who improperly certifies infor- mation pursuant to Paragraph (d) of Subdivision (7) shall be subject to potential disciplinary action at the discretion of the licensing authority.
9. Except as provided in Subdivision (6), each public swim- ming pool owner shall file a completed copy of the form issued by the department pursuant to this section with the city, county, or city and county department of envi- ronmental health in the city, county, or city and county in which the swimming pool is located. The form shall be filed within 30 days following the completion of the swimming pool construction or installation required pursuant to this section or, if the construction or installa- tion is completed prior to the date that the department issues the form pursuant to this section, within 30 days of the date that the department issues the form. The public swimming pool owner or operator shall not make a false statement, representation, certification, record, report, or otherwise falsify information that he or she is required to file or maintain pursuant to this section.
10. In enforcing this section, health officers and directors of city, county, or city and county departments of environmental health shall consider documentation filed on or with the form issued pursuant to this sec- tion by the owner of a public swimming pool as evi- dence of compliance with this section. A city, county, or city and county department of environmental health may verify the accuracy of the information filed on or with the form.
f city, county, or city and county departments of_ environmental health shall consider documentation filed on or with the form issued pursuant to this sec- tion by the owner of a public swimming pool as evi- dence of compliance with this section. A city, county, or city and county department of environmental health may verify the accuracy of the information filed on or with the form.
11. To the extent that the requirements for public wading pools imposed by Section 116064 conflict with this section, the requirements of this section shall prevail.
12. The department shall have no authority to take any enforcement action against any person for violation of this section and has no responsibility to administer or enforce the provisions of this section.
Authority: Health and Safety Code Section 116064 (e) Reference: Health and Safety Code Section 116064.2 AB 2114, (Statutes 2012, c. 679).
478 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
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PUBLIC POOLS
FIGURE 31B-4 PERPENDICULAR FENCING DIMENSIONS ON SLOPING GROUND
EFFECTIVE FENCING HEIGHT
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
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PUBLIC POOLS
TOP VIEW
TRANSVERSE SECTION
FIGURE 31B-6 DEPTHS AND DIMENSIONS FOR SPA POOLS
480 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
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PUBLIC POOLS
| TABLE 31B-6 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEPTH OF WATER | DEPTH OF WATER | LENGTH OF SECTION | LENGTH OF SECTION | |
| DIMENSION | D1 | D2 | L1 | L2 |
| Minimum | — | 24" | 12" | 24" |
| Maximum | 24" | — | 24" | — |
Notes for Figure 31B-6 and Table 31B-6: 1. Bottom slope shall not exceed 1:10 and must be uniform. 2. Bench ramping shall not exceed 1:10 uniform slope, measured at the inner circumference of the bench. 3. Six inch minimum radius at “pinch points.” 4. See Section 3111B for step and handrail dimensions.
Triangular Step Corner Step Concave Step
FIGURE 31B-7 STAIR AND HANDRAIL DIMENSIONS
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
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PUBLIC POOLS
| TABLE 31B-7 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSION | T-1 STANDARD | T-1 TRIANGULAR, CONCAVE, CONVEX |
T-2 | T-3 | W-1 | H-1 | H-2 |
| Minimum | 14" | 21" | 12" | 3" | 24" | 6" | 28" |
| Maximum | 18" | 24" | 16" | — | — | 12" | 36" |
Note for Table 31B-7: 1. Six-inch minimum radius at “pinch points”.
DEPTH MARKER LOCATIONS
Notes: 1. Maximum depth. 2. Minimum depth. 3. Each end of pool. 4. Both sides at the shallowest and deepest parts of pool. 5. At the break in the bottom slope between the shallow and deep end. 6. Along the perimeter of the pool at distances not to exceed 25 feet.
482 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
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CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
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Ask AI about this code▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
- Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
- Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
- Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
- Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
- Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED
- Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
- Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
- Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
- Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
- Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
- Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
- Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
- Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
- Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
- Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
- Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
- Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
- Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
- Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
- Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
- Chapter 21 — MASONRY
- Chapter 22 — STEEL
- Chapter 23 — WOOD
- Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
- Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
- Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
- Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
- Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
- Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
- Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
▸Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
Overview- Section 3101B
- Section 3102B
- Section 3103B
- Section 3104B
- Section 3105B
- Section 3106B
- Section 3107B
- Section 3108B
- Section 3109B
- Section 3110B
- Section 3111B
- Section 3112B
- Section 3113B
- Section 3114B
- Section 3115B
- Section 3116B
- Section 3117B
- Section 3118B
- Section 3119B
- Section 3120B
- Section 3121B
- Section 3122B
- Section 3123B
- Section 3124B
- Section 3125B
- Section 3126B
- Section 3127B
- Section 3128B
- Section 3129B
- Section 3130B
- Section 3131B
- Section 3132B
- Section 3133B
- Section 3134B
- Section 3135B
- Section 3136B
- Section 3137B
- Section 3138B
- Section 3139B
- Section 3140B
- Section 3141B
- Section 3142B
- Section 3143B
- Section 3144B
- Section 3145B
- Section 3146B
- Section 3147B
- Section 3148B
- Section 3149B
- Section 3150B
- Section 3151B
- Section 3152B
- Section 3153B
- Section 3154B
- Section 3155B
- Section 3156B
- Section 3157B
- Section 3158B
- Section 3159B
- Section 3160B
- Section 3161B
- Section 3162B
- Chapter 31C — RADIATION
- Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
- Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
- Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
- Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
- Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
- Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
- Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
- Appendix H — SIGNS
- Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
- Appendix J — GRADING
- Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
- Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
- Appendix O — EMERGENCY HOUSING