MECKLENBURG COUNTY Land Use and Environmental Services Agency Code Enforcement

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1 MECKLENBURG COUNTY Land Use and Environmental Services Agency Code Enforcement Exception: CODE INTERPRETATION Mechanical/Plumbing Subject: Minimum Facilities for Swimming Pools (Public and Private) Code Chapter Reference: Table NC Plumbing Code, Table NC Building Code, Rules Governing Public Swimming Pools, 15A NCAC 18A.2500, NCDHHS (.2526 Dressing and Sanitary Facilities), Submitted By: (.2529 User Loading) Effective Date: April 26, 2013 Prepared/Revision Date: May 2, 2013 Problem: Determining Occupant Count / Minimum Facilities for Swimming Pools Plumbing Fixture Counts for Swimming Pools DOI Interpretation per Bill Moeller, PE Pool Minimum Facilities Requirements This interpretation applies to public swimming pools in which the use is not restricted to one family or individual. As defined in the NC plumbing code private in the classification of plumbing fixtures applies to fixtures in residences and apartments, and to fixtures in non-public toilet rooms of hotels and motels and similar installations in buildings where the plumbing fixtures are intended for utilization by a family or an individual. As defined in the NC plumbing code, public applies to fixtures in general toilet rooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, airports, bus and railroad stations, public buildings, bars, public comfort stations, office buildings, stadiums, stores, restaurants and other installations where a number of fixtures are installed so that their utilization is similarly unrestricted. As stated in the NC Rules Governing Public Swimming Pools and as used in this interpretation, the term "public swimming pool" means any structure, chamber, or tank containing an artificial body of water used by the public for swimming, diving, wading, recreation, or therapy, together with buildings, appurtenances, and equipment used in connection with the body of water, regardless of whether a fee is charged for its use. The term includes municipal, school, hotel, motel, apartment, boarding house, athletic club, or other membership facility pools and spas.

2 Exception: Toilet room fixtures are not required for 1) a private pool serving a single family dwelling and used only by the residents of the dwelling and their guests 2) Therapeutic pools used in physical therapy programs operated by medical facilities licensed by the North Carolina Department of Public Health or operated by a licensed physical therapist or to therapeutic chambers drained, cleaned, and refilled after each individual use. 3) hotels, motels, condominiums, and apartments, where pool use is restricted to residents or guests, and the farthest unit is less than 300 feet from the pool, as measured along walkways provided for access by residents or guests to the pool area. The most conservative requirements from the NC Rules Governing Public Swimming Pools and the North Carolina Plumbing Code shall apply to the minimum plumbing fixture count calculations for swimming pools. The plumbing fixture counts shall be calculated under both methods and the worst case fixture count shall be used. These calculations are for the pool and pool deck only and do not include any ancillary buildings or structures which must be calculated separately and added to the number of occupants for the pool as appropriate. Design Case 1 - Use of the NC Plumbing Code for Both Pool and Deck The following requirements shall be used in determining minimum facilities for public swimming pools under the NC plumbing code. 1. Use table to determine the occupant load of the pool deck and any other area that is fenced and accessible to more than one family or individual around the pool. Divide the area of the pool deck by 15 square feet/person (gross area). 2. Use table to determine the occupant load for the pool by dividing the total pool area by 50 square feet per person (gross area). 3. Subtract the number of pool occupants from the number of deck occupants to determine a net deck occupant load. If this number is less than zero, the net deck occupant loading will be zero. 4. Add the calculated net deck occupant load to the pool occupant load this will determine the total pool and deck occupant load to be used for the minimum facilities calculation. 5. Use the total pool and deck occupant load found in 4. above and the plumbing fixture table of the 2012 NC Building Code or of the 2012 NC Plumbing Code to determining the minimum toilet facilities count. There are four cases to consider in items a, b, and c below. a. For indoor or outdoor pools without spectator seating use the A3 occupancy type. Use the category for auditoriums without fixed seating in the plumbing fixture table. b. For indoor pools with spectator seating use the A4 occupancy type. c. For outdoor pools with spectator seating use the A5 occupancy type. Use the category for stadiums, bleachers and grandstands for outdoor sporting events in the plumbing fixture table. 6. The number of drinking fountains required for the categories listed above shall be in accordance with the plumbing fixture table. 2

3 Design Case 2 - Use of the NC Rules for the Pool and NC Plumbing Code for Pool Deck The following requirements shall be used in determining minimum facilities for public swimming pools under the NC Rules Governing Public Swimming Pools. (1) Determine the maximum bather loading for the pool as follows: Pool Area bathers 5 feet deep or less 1 per 15 square feet Greater than 5 feet deep Diving areas Spas Interactive play attractions Pool deck (plumbing code) for area within the pool fence 1 per 24 square feet 1 per 300 square feet 1 per 25 square feet 1 per 25 square feet 1 per 15 square feet for entire fenced area around the pool excluding an 8 foot wide walking space around the pool perimeter (2) Determine the fixture count for the pool using the following requirements of the NC Rules for Public Swimming Pools. A. One water closet, one lavatory, and one urinal shall be provided for the first 100 male users. One additional water closet, lavatory, and urinal shall be provided for each additional 200 male users up to a total of 500 users. Where user load exceeds 500 male users, two additional water closets or urinals and one lavatory shall be provided for each additional 250 male users. Where the maximum bather load includes less than 50 male users, one water closet and one lavatory will be sufficient. B. Two water closets and two lavatories shall be provided for the first 100 female users. One additional water closet and lavatory shall be provided for each additional 100 female users up to a total of 500 users. Where user load exceeds 500 female users, two additional water closets and one lavatory shall be provided for each additional the 250 female users. Where the maximum bather load includes less than 50 female users, one water closet and one lavatory will be sufficient. (3) Urinals may be substituted for water closets; however, substitution rules of section 419 of the NC plumbing code shall be used in which up to 67 percent of the required water closets may be urinals in assembly occupancies. 3

4 (4) Calculate the deck occupant loading for the pool by subtracting an 8 foot wide deck exclusion area around the perimeter of the pool from the total deck area and dividing the result by 15 square feet per person per Table of the NC Building Code. (5) Use the deck occupant loading in step (4) above then subtract the number of pool occupants determined in step (1) above from the number of deck occupants to determine a net deck occupant load. If this number is less than zero, the net deck occupant loading will be zero. (6) Use the deck net occupant load calculation in step number (5) above to determine the maximum number of people to be used in the plumbing fixture tables in of the 2012 NC Building Code or of the 2012 NC Plumbing Code. The calculation will determine the minimum toilet facilities count for the deck only. There are four cases to consider in items a, b, and c below in determining the deck fixture count. A. For indoor or outdoor pools without spectator seating use the A3 occupancy type. Use the category for auditoriums without fixed seating in the plumbing fixture table. B. For indoor pools with spectator seating use the A4 occupancy type. C. For outdoor pools with spectator seating use the A5 occupancy type. Use the category for stadiums, bleachers and grandstands for outdoor sporting events in the plumbing fixture table. (7) The number of drinking fountains required for the categories listed above shall be in accordance with the plumbing fixture table (8) Add the minimum facilities determined in step (6) above to the number of minimum facilities calculated in step (2) above to determine the total minimum facilities required to meet the NC rules for pool facilities. The largest fixture count for each fixture type, as determined by the two design cases above, shall be used to determine the minimum facilities for the pool and pool area. (See example calculations) Special Public Health Requirements for Public Swimming Pools 1. Dressing and sanitary facilities shall be provided at all pools, except for pools at hotels, motels, condominiums, and apartments where pool use is restricted to residents or guests. At hotels, motels, condominiums and apartments where the farthest unit is more than 300 feet from the pool, as measured along walkways provided for access by residents or guests to the pool area, a toilet and lavatory shall be provided. All public swimming pools shall post a sign visible upon entering the pool enclosure directing pool users to shower before entering the pool. 2. Partitions between stalls shall be of material, not subject to damage by water and shall be designed so that a waterway is provided between partitions and floor to permit thorough cleaning of the walls and floor areas with hoses and rooms. 3. Dressing facility floors shall be continuous throughout the areas. Floors shall have a slip resistant surface that shall be smooth, to insure complete cleaning. Floor drains shall be provided, and floors shall be sloped not less than ¼ inch per foot toward the drains to insure positive drainage. 4. Hose bibs shall be provided such that all parts of the dressing facility interior can be reached with a 50 foot hose. 5. The water heater shall be inaccessible to users. The system shall be designed such that water temperature at the shower heads and lavatories cannot exceed 110 Fahrenheit. 6. The minimum number of fixtures required in dressing and sanitary facilities shall be based upon the maximum bather 4 load.

5 7. Soap dispensers with either liquid or powdered soap shall be provided at each lavatory or required shower. The dispenser shall be of all metal or plastic type, with no glass permitted in these units. 8. If mirrors are provided, they shall be of shatterproof materials. 9. Toilet paper holders with toilet paper shall be provided at each water closet. 10. Dressing and sanitary facilities shall be kept clean and in good repair. North Carolina 2012 plumbing code provisions apply in all cases where more stringent than requirements of the NC Rules for Public Swimming Pools. Sample Pool Calculation Total deck area is = square feet Entire pool is less than or equal to five feet in depth. 5

6 Calculate the pool and deck using the NC Plumbing Code Divide the deck area by 15 square feet per person to get the occupant load of persons Divide the pool area by 50 square feet per person to get persons. Subtract the number of persons in the pool from the pool deck occupancy load. If the number of persons on the deck calculated above is negative, then this number is zero. Add the two occupant loads together Using the A3 occupancy type, calculate the number of water closets. One-half of the occupant load is male and one-half of the occupant load is female. Calculate the number of lavatories Calculate the number of drinking fountains 6

7 Calculate the pool and deck using the NC Rules for public pools Divide the deck area (less the 8 foot wide deck area around the perimeter of the pool) by 15 square feet per person (NCBC ) to get the pool deck occupant load Divide the pool area by 15 square feet per person to get the maximum bather load for depths <=5 ft. (per NC rules for pools, specific to this example) Subtract the number of persons in the pool from the pool deck occupancy load. If the number of persons on the deck calculated in this last calculation is negative, then this number is zero. Calculating the pool deck fixture count using the NC Plumbing Code Using the A3 occupancy type, calculate the number of water closets. One-half of the occupant load is male and one-half of the occupant load is female. Calculate the number of lavatories Calculate the number of drinking fountains per NC plumbing code requirements for pool deck 7

8 Calculate the pool fixture count per the NC Rules for Public Pools Male water closet 1 for the first additional per 200 for /200 = Male water closet subtotal Male Urinals 1 for the first additional per 200 up to /200= Male Urinal subtotal Female water closets 2 for first to 500, 1 added per /100 = Female water closet subtotal Male lavatories 1 for first additional per 200 for /200 = Male lavatory Subtotal Female lavatories 2 for first to 500, 1 added per /100 = Female lavatory subtotal Calculate the number of showers required by the NC rules for public pools The number of showers is three, rounded up to 2 for male and two for female. 8

9 Add the pool deck and pool fixture counts and round up to the nearest number of fixtures. Summary Calculation/determination of design values Fixture type NC building code for NC rules for pools method with Design value Male water closet = Male Urinal Optional * 1.597= Female water closet = Male lavatory = Female lavatory = Drinking fountain (2 high, 2 low) Shower male, 2 female * Urinals may be substituted for water closets; however, substitution rules of section 419 of the NC plumbing code shall be used in which up to 67 percent of the required water closets may be urinals in assembly occupancies. MECKLENBURG COUNTY ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS In addition to the interpretation above from the Department of Insurance, Mecklenburg County has two local interpretations to assist designers in the construction of pool facilities. Public and Private Pool exceptions: 1) For both public and private pools if a separate building is provided which contains the pool facilities, chemical storage room, pool equipment room and a small office space of 1000 sq. feet or less the office space will not require separate or additional minimum facilities under the following conditions; The pool minimum facilities shall be accessible and available at all times to the office personnel from inside the building. 2) When an outside shower is provided on the pool deck the shower shall not be deducted from the gang shower count for the pool. If the shower has only a cold water connection it may drain directly onto the pool deck without a curb. When a hot water connection is provided the shower shall be separately curbed and a drain connected to the sanitary sewer shall be provided. Willis W. Horton, MCP, CBO Plumbing /Mechanical Code Administrator Code Enforcement Department 700 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC Phone: (704) Willis.Horton@mecklenburgcountync.gov 9