Section 110.4 — MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR POOL AND SPA SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT

(a) Certification by manufacturers. Any pool theater for a pool, spa, or a pool and spa combination shall be installed only if the manufacturer has certified that the system or equipment has all of the following:

1. Efficiency. Equipment subject to State or federal appliance efficiency standards shall comply with the applicable provisions of Section 110.1; and

2. On-off switch. A readily accessible on-off switch, mounted on the outside of the heater that allows shutting off the heater without adjusting the thermostat setting; and

3. Instructions. A permanent, easily readable and weatherproof plate or card that provides the energy efficiency rating and instruction for the energy efficient operation of the pool and/or spa heater; and

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

ALL OCCUPANCIES—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF SYSTEMS, EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING COMPONENTS

(b) Installation. Any pool and/or spa system or equipment shall meet the following requirements:

1. Heating equipment. Equipment installed to heat water for pools and/or spas shall be selected from equipment meeting the standards shown in Table 110.4-A.

TABLE 110.4-A—HEATING EQUIPMENT STANDARDS

2. Piping. At least 18 inches of horizontal or vertical pipe shall be installed between the filter and the heater or dedicated suction and return lines, or built-in or built-up connections shall be installed to allow for the future addition of solar heating equipment;
3. Covers. Outdoor pools and/or spa with electric or gas heating equipment shall be installed with a pool cover.
4. Directional inlets and time switches for pools. If the system or equipment is for a pool: i. The pool shall have directional inlets that adequately mix the pool water; and ii. A time switch or similar control mechanism shall be permanently installed as part of a pool water circulation control system that will allow all pumps to be set or programmed to run only during off-peak electric demand period, and for the minimum time necessary to maintain the water in the condition required by applicable public health standards.

inlets that adequately mix the pool water; and ii. A time switch or similar control mechanism shall be permanently installed as part of a pool water circulation control system that will allow all pumps to be set or programmed to run only during off-peak electric demand period, and for the minimum time necessary to maintain the water in the condition required by applicable public health standards.

(c) Heating source sizing. Heating systems or equipment for pools and/or spas shall meet one of the sizing requirements 1 through 5 below:

1. A solar pool heating system with a solar collector surface area that is equivalent to the following: A. For nonresidential and multifamily buildings, 65 percent or greater of the pool and/or spa surface area. B. For single-family buildings, 60 percent or greater of the pool and/or spa surface area.
2. A heat pump pool heater as the primary heating system that meets the sizing requirements of Reference Joint Appendix JA16.3. The supplementary heater can be of any energy source; or
3. A heating system that derives at least 60 percent of the annual heating energy from on-site renewable energy or on-site recovered energy.
4. A combination of a solar pool heating system and heat pump pool heater without any additional supplementary heater; or
5. A pool heating system determined by the Executive Director to use no more energy than the systems specified in Items 1, 2, 3, or 4 above.

Exception 1 to Section 110.4(c): Portable electric spas compliant with 20 CCR §1605.3(g)(7) of the Appliance Efficiency Regulations.

Exception 2 to Section 110.4(c): Alterations to existing pools and/or spas with existing heating systems or equipment.

Exception 3 to Section 110.4(c): A pool and/or spa that is heated solely by a solar pool heating system without any backup heater.

Exception 4 to Section 110.4(c): Heating systems that are used exclusively for permanent spa applications in existing buildings with gas availability.

Exception 5 to Section 110.4(c): Heating systems that are used exclusively for permanent spa applications where there is an inadequate Solar Access Roof Area (SARA) as specified in Section 150.1(c)14 for a solar pool heating system to be installed.

(d) Controls for heat pump pool heaters with supplementary heating. Heat pump pool heaters with supplementary heaters shall have controls that meet the following:

1. A supplementary heater shall not operate when the heating load can be met by the heat pump pool heater alone; and
2. The cut-on temperature for heat pump heating is higher than the cut-on temperature for supplementary heating, and the cut-off temperature for heat pump heating is higher than the cut-off temperature for supplementary heating.