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Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS

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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Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  6. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  7. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED
  8. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  9. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  10. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  11. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  13. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  14. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  15. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  16. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  17. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  18. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  19. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  20. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  22. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  25. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  26. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  27. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  28. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  29. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  30. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  31. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  32. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  33. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  34. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  35. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  36. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  37. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  38. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  39. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  40. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  41. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  42. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  43. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  44. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  45. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  46. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  47. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  48. Appendix H — SIGNS
  49. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  50. Appendix J — GRADING
  51. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  52. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix O — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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