INTERPRETATION CODE Mechanical/Plumbing Code …charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/luesa/codeenforcement/inspections/... · clude any ancillary buildings or structures which must be

Subject: Minimum Facilities for Swimming Pools (Public and Private)

Submitted By:

Effective Date: April 26, 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 indi-vidual.

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 installa-tions 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, gymnasi-ums, 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.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY Land Use and Environmental Services Agency

Code Enforcement

Code Chapter Reference: Table 403.1 NC Plumbing Code, Table 1004.1.1 NC Building

Code, Rules Governing Public Swimming Pools, 15A NCAC

18A .2500, NCDHHS (.2526 Dressing and Sanitary Facilities),

(.2529 User Loading)

Prepared/Revision Date: May 2, 2013

Exception:

Mechanical/Plumbing CODE

INTERPRETATION

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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 in-clude any ancillary buildings or structures which must be calculated separately and added to the num-ber 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 un-

der the NC plumbing code.

1. Use table 1004.1.1 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 1004.1.1 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 2902.1

of the 2012 NC Building Code or 403.1 of the 2012 NC Plumbing Code to determining the mini-

mum 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 cate-

gory 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 stadi-

ums, 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.

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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 1 per 24 square feet

Diving areas 1 per 300 square feet

Spas 1 per 25 square feet

Interactive play attractions 1 per 25 square feet

Pool deck (plumbing code) for area within the pool

fence

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 addi-

tional 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 suffi-

cient.

(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.

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(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 1004.1.1 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 2902.1 of the 2012

NC Building Code or 403.1 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 cate-

gory 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 stadi-

ums, 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 403.1.

(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, condo-

miniums, and apartments where pool use is restricted to residents or guests. At hotels, motels, condomini-

ums and apartments where the farthest unit is more than 300 feet from the pool, as measured along walk-

ways 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 maxi-

mum bather load.

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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 Swim-

ming Pools.

Sample Pool Calculation

Total deck area is 13652 + 4212 = 17864 square feet

Entire pool is less than or equal to five feet in depth.

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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 1190.933 persons

Divide the pool area by 50 square feet per person to get 131.64 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 oc-

cupant load is female.

Calculate the number of lavatories

Calculate the number of drinking fountains

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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 1004.1.1) 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 occu-

pant load is female.

Calculate the number of lavatories

Calculate the number of drinking fountains per NC plumbing code requirements for pool deck

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Calculate the pool fixture count per the NC Rules for Public Pools

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.

Male water closet 1 for the first 100 1

1 additional per 200

for 101-500

119.4/200 = 0.597

0.597

Male water closet subtotal 1.597

Male Urinals 1 for the first 100 1

1 additional per 200

up to 500

119.4/200= 0.597 1.597

Male Urinal subtotal 1.597

Female water closets 2 for first 100 2

101 to 500, 1 added

per 100

119.4/100 = 4.3293 1.194

Female water closet subtotal 3.194

Male lavatories 1 for first 100 1

1 additional per 200

for 101-500

119.4/200 = 0.597 0.597

Male lavatory Subtotal 1.597

Female lavatories 2 for first 100 2

101 to 500, 1 added

per 100

119.4/100 = 4.3293 1.194

Female lavatory subtotal 3.194

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Add the pool deck and pool fixture counts and round up to the nearest number of fixtures.

Summary Calculation/determination of design values

* 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 occu-

pancies.

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 fa-

cilities, 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 fol-

lowing 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 di-

rectly 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 28202

Phone: (704) 336-4301

E-mail: [email protected]

Fixture type NC building code for NC rules for pools method with Design value

Male water closet 4.7637 1.8853+1.597 = 3.4823 4

Male Urinal Optional * 1.597= 1.597 2

Female water closet 9.1610 3.6256+3.194 = 6.8196 10

Male lavatory 2.9773 1.1783+1.597 = 2.7753 3

Female lavatory 2.9773 1.1783+3.194 = 4.3723 5

Drinking fountain 2.3819 0.9427 4 (2 high, 2 low)

Shower 0 2.1940 2 male, 2 female