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Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS

Section 3136B

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

POOL SKIMMING SYSTEMS

The pool shall be equipped with one or more skimming meth- ods to provide continuous skimming of the pool water and shall be capable of continually withdrawing not less than 100 percent of the flow rate.

3136B.1 Surface skimmers.

Each surface skimmer shall comply with the following provisions:

1. The skimmer shall be recessed into the pool wall; and

PUBLIC POOLS

2. The skimmer shall be individually adjustable for the rate of flow with either an external or internal device; and

3. If used, a skimmer equalizer suction outlet shall be con- nected to at least two suction grate assemblies that meet the ANSI/APSP-16 2011 performance standard and are located at least 3 feet (915 mm) apart in any dimension between the suction outlets; and

4. The skimmer weir shall automatically adjust to varia- tions in the pool water level over a range of not less than 4 inches (102 mm); and

5. Each skimmer shall be provided with a removable and cleanable screen or basket to trap objects. The screen or basket shall be accessible through an opening in the deck above the skimmer; and

6. There shall be a minimum of one skimmer for every 500 square feet or less of pool water surface area or an adequate number to meet 100 percent of pump flow at the manufacturer’s maximum flow rating, whichever is greater; and

7. Each skimmer shall be located in relation to pool inlets to aid recirculation and surface skimming; and

8. All surface skimmers shall comply with applicable requirements established by the NSF/ANSI 50-2012 performance standard effective September 2012.

3136B.2 Perimeter overflow systems.

A perimeter overflow system shall be required in pools whose water surface area equals or exceeds 5,000 square feet (464.52 m 2 ). Perimeter overflow systems shall be designed by an engineer or archi- tect who has experience working on public pools and shall comply with the following provisions:

1. Location. The overflow system shall be integrated with the pool structure and extend completely around the pool parallel to the pool deck except where an entry or exit may require interruption; and

2. Channel detail. The overflow channel shall be not less than 3 inches (76 mm) deep, the section shall not diverge with depth of the channel, and the width of the bottom shall be not less than 3 inches (76 mm). The opening beneath the coping into the overflow system shall be a minimum of 4 inches (102 mm) beneath the coping in any direction measured radially from the inner edge of the overflow channel lip; and

3. Channel lip. The overflow channel lip shall be not more than 12 inches (305 mm) below the level of the coping or deck. The lip edge shall be rounded and shall be not thicker than 2 1 /2 inches (64 mm) or thinner than 1 inch (25 mm) for the top 2 inches (51 mm); and

4. Channel covering. Covered overflow channels shall be permitted provided the openings do not exceed 1 /2 inch in the smaller dimension; and

5. Channel outlets. Channel outlet spacing and channel bottom slope shall be hydraulically designed by an engineer or architect who has experience working on public pools; and

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. 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.

PUBLIC POOLS

6. Channel outlet covers. Overflow channel outlet cov- ers shall be accessible for cleaning and maintenance. Openings of the channel outlet covers shall not pass a 1/2 inch (13 mm) sphere in the smaller dimension; and

7. Channel drain piping. Channel drain piping shall pro- vide drainage of the overflow system, carry overflow water to a surge basin and return to skimming within 10 minutes after being flooded by a sudden displace- ment of the pool water by pool users; and

8. Surge storage capacity. A perimeter overflow system shall be provided with a minimum surge storage capac- ity of not less than 1 gallon per square foot (40.75 L/ m 2 ) of pool water surface area. Surge storage shall be permitted in the surge basin, perimeter overflow chan- nel and in the channel drain piping returning to the surge basin.

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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. Appendix N — REPLICABLE
  6. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED
  7. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  8. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  9. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  10. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  11. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  13. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  14. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  15. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  17. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  18. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  19. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  20. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  21. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  22. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  23. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  24. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  25. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  26. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  30. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  31. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  32. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  33. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  34. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  35. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  36. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  37. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  38. ▸Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
    Overview
    1. Section 3101B
    2. Section 3102B
    3. Section 3103B
    4. Section 3104B
    5. Section 3105B
    6. Section 3106B
    7. Section 3107B
    8. Section 3108B
    9. Section 3109B
    10. Section 3110B
    11. Section 3111B
    12. Section 3112B
    13. Section 3113B
    14. Section 3114B
    15. Section 3115B
    16. Section 3116B
    17. Section 3117B
    18. Section 3118B
    19. Section 3119B
    20. Section 3120B
    21. Section 3121B
    22. Section 3122B
    23. Section 3123B
    24. Section 3124B
    25. Section 3125B
    26. Section 3126B
    27. Section 3127B
    28. Section 3128B
    29. Section 3129B
    30. Section 3130B
    31. Section 3131B
    32. Section 3132B
    33. Section 3133B
    34. Section 3134B
    35. Section 3135B
    36. Section 3136B
    37. Section 3137B
    38. Section 3138B
    39. Section 3139B
    40. Section 3140B
    41. Section 3141B
    42. Section 3142B
    43. Section 3143B
    44. Section 3144B
    45. Section 3145B
    46. Section 3146B
    47. Section 3147B
    48. Section 3148B
    49. Section 3149B
    50. Section 3150B
    51. Section 3151B
    52. Section 3152B
    53. Section 3153B
    54. Section 3154B
    55. Section 3155B
    56. Section 3156B
    57. Section 3157B
    58. Section 3158B
    59. Section 3159B
    60. Section 3160B
    61. Section 3161B
    62. Section 3162B
  39. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  40. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  41. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  42. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  43. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  44. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  45. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  46. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  47. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  48. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  49. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  50. Appendix H — SIGNS
  51. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  52. Appendix J — GRADING
  53. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  54. Appendix P — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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