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Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS

Section 3161B

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.

WADING POOLS

1. “Public wading pool” means a pool that meets all of the following criteria:

1.1. It has a maximum water depth not exceeding 18 inches (457 mm).

1.2. It is a pool other than a pool that is located on the premises of a one-unit or two-unit resi- dence, intended solely or the use of the resi- dents or guests.

2. “Public wading pool” includes, but is not limited to, a pool owned or operated by private persons or agen- cies, or by state or local governmental agencies.

3. “Public wading pool” includes, but is not limited to, a pool located in an apartment house, hotel or similar setting that is intended for the use of residents or guests.

4. “Alteration” means any of the following:

4.1. To change, modify or rearrange the structural parts or the design.

4.2. To enlarge.

4.3. To move the location of.

4.4. To install a new water circulation system.

4.5. To make any repairs costing fifty dollars ($50) or more to an existing circulation system.

5. A public wading pool shall have at least two circula- tion drains per pump that are hydraulically balanced and symmetrically plumbed through one or more T fittings, and are separated by a distance of at least 3 feet (914 mm) in any dimension between drains.

6. All public wading pool main drain suction outlets that are under 12 inches (305 mm) across shall be covered with antivortex grates or similar protective devices. All main drain suction outlets shall be covered with grates or antivortex plates that cannot be removed except with the use of tools. Slots or openings in the grates or similar protective devices shall be of a shape, area and arrangement that would prevent physical entrapment and would not pose any suction hazard to bathers.

7. The maximum velocity in the pump suction hydraulic system shall not exceed 6 feet per second (1.8 m/s) when 100 percent of the pump’s flow comes from the main drain system and any main drain suction fitting in the system is completely blocked.

8. On or after January 1, 1998, all newly constructed public wading pools shall be constructed in compli- ance with this section.

9. Commencing January 1, 1998, whenever a construc- tion permit is issued for alteration of an existing pub- lic wading pool, it shall be retrofitted so as to be in compliance with this section.

10. By January 1, 2000, every public wading pool, regardless of the date of original construction, shall be retrofitted to comply with this section. Authority: Health and Safety Code Section 116064 (e) Reference: Health and Safety Code Section 116064 AB 2114, (Statues 1995, c. 415).

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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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