Subtitle 17 SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS › Chapter 01 Public Swimming Pools and Spas

.04 Application of Requirements. A. Operations and Maintenance Standards. All public pools and spas shall comply with Regulations .01—.04 and .13—.24 of this chapter for operations and maintenance standards. B. Construction Permits and Operation Permits. All public pools and spas…

.05 Construction and Alteration Permits. A. An owner who intends to construct or alter a public pool or spa shall obtain a construction or alteration permit from the Secretary in accordance with this regulation before beginning the construction or alteration. B. An owner may not …

.06 Approval After Construction or Alteration. A. A person may not operate or permit the use of a recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa that has not received written approval from the Secretary after its construction or alteration. B. The Secretary shall conduct an in…

.07 Replacements. A. An owner may replace a component at a recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa before obtaining approval from the Secretary. B. Before replacing a component at a recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa, an owner shall obtain necessary: (1) …

.08 Operating Permits. A. Annual Operating Permits. (1) A person may not operate a public pool or spa without an annual operating permit issued by the Secretary. (2) In the case of a public pool or spa that has received a temporary approval of construction pursuant to Regulation …

.09 Suspension, Revocation, and Hearings. A. Suspension. (1) The Secretary may: (a) Suspend an operating permit if an owner violates a requirement of this chapter; or (b) Summarily suspend an operating permit and close a public pool or spa when protection of the public health, sa…

.10 Inspections. A. The Secretary may enter, at a reasonable time, public or private property for inspecting and investigating conditions relative to the enforcement of this chapter. B. A person may not deny or interfere with the Secretary's entry onto public or private property …

.11 Compliance Schedules. A. The owner of a public pool or spa that has a structure, equipment, or appurtenance that is not in compliance with this chapter, as determined by the Secretary, may submit to the Secretary for approval a compliance schedule for meeting the requirements…

.12 Variances. A. An owner who has been granted a variance by the Secretary before February 10, 1997 may continue to operate under that variance. B. An owner may request a variance from a requirement of this chapter by submitting a written application that: (1) Contains specific …

.13 General Operations, Maintenance, and Required Signage. A. An owner of a public pool or spa shall ensure that: (1) An inspection of the pool or spa and related facilities is made at least once a week for the purpose of maintaining the pool or spa in compliance with this chapte…

.14 Indoor and Outdoor Environment. A. Illumination. (1) An owner shall ensure that an indoor recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa, or an outdoor recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa utilized during nighttime, is provided with: (a) Even illumination of t…

.15 Flow Rate, Recirculation, and Suction Entrapment Prevention. A. Flow Rate. (1) An owner of a public pool or spa shall ensure that the flow through a circulation system is maintained between the minimum turnover rate and the design capacity of the filter system and associated …

.16 Disinfection, Water Chemistry, and Water Temperature. A. An operator of a public pool or spa shall ensure that a disinfectant or combination of disinfectants is added to the water automatically through an approved chemical feeder to maintain continuously a residual level as s…

.17 Decks and Equipment. A. Deck Surface. An owner of a public pool or spa shall ensure that: (1) The deck's surface shall be slip resistant or nonskid; (2) An expansion joint between the coping and deck is sealed with a durable, watertight sealant; and (3) The deck does not trap…

.18 Filter and Equipment Room. A. An owner shall ensure that a recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa has a chemical storage area that: (1) Is protected against the weather, excess heat, and moisture; and (2) Has: (a) A minimum of 20 footcandles of illumination; and (b…

.19 Hygiene Facilities. A. An owner shall ensure that a swimsuit or towel furnished to an individual by the owner of a public pool or spa is: (1) Washed in a washing machine with laundry detergent in hot water with a temperature of at least 175℉; and (2) Rinsed in an effective di…

.20 Special Requirements for Water Recreational Attractions. An owner of a water recreational attraction shall ensure that: A. Plans for supervision, attendants, and lifeguards are submitted as part of the construction plans and include safety personnel at all potentially hazardo…

.21 Special Requirements for Limited Public-Use Pools. A. An owner of a limited public-use pool shall ensure that: (1) The following safety equipment is immediately available: (a) A first aid kit as recommended by the American Red Cross; (b) A mouth piece for cardiopulmonary resu…

.22 Policies and Management. A. User Load. An owner shall ensure that the: (1) Number of individuals in a public pool or spa and on the required deck area does not exceed the user load as set forth in Regulation .32 of this chapter for legacy pools and spas and specified during t…

.23 Pool Operator. A. Pool Operator. A person may not act as or perform the duties of a public pool or spa operator without a pool and spa operator certification card issued by the Secretary as required in §§B and G of this regulation. B. The Secretary shall issue a 3-year public…

.24 Critical and Major Violations. A. Critical Violations. (1) A critical violation is a violation that results from a product, practice, circumstance, or event that creates a situation that requires immediate correction or cessation of operation to prevent injury, illness, or de…

.25 Pool and Spa Operator’s Course. The Secretary shall approve a pool and a spa operator's course based on the following criteria: A. An approved course shall cover general aspects of public pool and spa operation including: (1) Applicable regulations; (2) Disease prevention; (3…

.26 Standards for Legacy Recreational and Semipublic Pools. An owner shall ensure that a legacy recreational or semipublic pool is in compliance with: A. This chapter; B. Applicable State and local laws, regulations, and ordinances; and C. The American National Standard for Publi…

.27 Standards for Legacy Public Spas. A. An owner shall ensure that a legacy public spa is in compliance with: (1) This chapter; (2) Applicable State and local laws, regulations, and ordinances; and (3) The American National Standard for Public Spas. B. An owner shall ensure that…

.28 Standards for Legacy Limited Public-Use Pools. A. Construction. The owner shall ensure that the construction of the legacy pool is in compliance with: (1) The American National Standard for Residential Inground Swimming Pools, if the pool is constructed in the ground or as a …

.29 Standards for Legacy Water Recreational Attractions. A. An owner shall ensure that a water recreational attraction: (1) Is designed to eliminate or minimize safety hazards such as entrapment, slipping, abrasions, cuts, falls, trip hazards, impact injury, and drowning; (2) Is …

.30 Standards for Legacy Public Wading Pools. An owner shall ensure that a legacy public wading pool is in compliance with: A. This chapter; B. Applicable State and local laws, regulations, and ordinances; and C. The American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools.

.31 Standards for Legacy Public Therapy Pools. A. An owner shall ensure that a legacy public therapy pool is in compliance with: (1) This chapter; (2) Applicable State and local laws, regulations, and ordinances; and (3) The American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools. B…

.32 Legacy User Load. The Secretary shall determine the user load for a legacy pool or spa, based on the following criteria: A. For a legacy pool and its deck, one individual is allowed for: (1) Every 12 square feet of water surface in shallow areas; (2) Every 15 square feet of w…

.33 Legacy Public Pool or Spa Site. An owner shall ensure that a legacy public pool or spa site: A. Drains away from the pool or spa area; B. Has water and waste water facilities that conform to the requirements of: (1) COMAR 09.20.01; (2) COMAR 26.04.01—.04; and (3) Local plumbi…

.34 Legacy Barriers. A. Except as set forth in §§B—D of this regulation, an owner of a legacy pool or spa shall ensure that a recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa, including the required deck area, is completely surrounded by a barrier that complies with the followin…

.35 Legacy Decks. A. An owner shall ensure that: (1) A deck at a legacy recreational or semipublic pool: (a) Completely surrounds the pool; (b) Is continuous with a minimum unobstructed width of 4 feet and an average width of 6 feet, and (c) Is in conformance with the American Na…

.36 Legacy Equipment Rooms. An owner of a legacy pool or spa shall ensure that a recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa has an equipment room that: A. Houses the pool or spa circulation, filtration, and disinfection equipment; B. Has: (1) Weathertight construction to p…

.37 Legacy Pipe Material. An owner shall ensure that pipe material for a legacy public pool or spa conforms to COMAR 09.20.01. Cross References 10.17.01.28C(16)

.38 Legacy Circulation Systems. A. Gauges and Release Valves. An owner of a legacy pool or spa shall ensure that the circulation system for a recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa includes the following: (1) A pressure gauge on the filter or on the influent side of th…

.39 Legacy Circulation System Components. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, an owner of a legacy recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa shall ensure that circulation system components, including skimmers, pumps, filters, multiport valves, adjustable outpu…

.40 Legacy Diving Area and Equipment. A. Competitive Aquatic Events. An owner of a legacy public pool used for accredited competitive aquatic events as defined in §3 of the American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools shall ensure compliance with §6.4.1 of the American Na…

.41 Legacy Suction Entrapment Prevention. A. To prevent a suction entrapment hazard, an owner of a legacy public pool or spa shall ensure that the requirements of §B—D are met. B. Main Drain. The owner of a legacy public pool or spa shall ensure that a main drain, drain covering,…

.42 Legacy Chemical Storage Area. An owner shall ensure that a legacy recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa has a chemical storage area that has: A. A lockable door which can be opened from the inside; and B. Ventilation that is sized at 2 cfm per square foot of floor…

.43 Legacy Hydrostatic Relief Valves. An owner shall ensure that a legacy inground recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa has hydrostatic relief valves as needed to relieve the hydrostatic pressure from ground water when the pool or spa is empty.

.44 Legacy Ventilation of Indoor Facilities. An owner shall ensure that a legacy indoor recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa has: A. A ventilating system capable of exhausting 1 1/2 cfm of air per square foot of enclosed area or dehumidifying the recirculated air fro…

.45 Legacy Plumbing. A. Water Supply System. An owner shall ensure that a water supply system at a legacy public pool or spa is in conformance with: (1) COMAR 26.04.01; (2) COMAR 26.04.03; (3) COMAR 26.04.04; (4) COMAR 09.20.01; and (5) Local plumbing code requirements. B. Sewage…

.46 Legacy Toilet, Hand Sink, and Shower Facilities. A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation, an owner shall ensure that a legacy recreational pool, semipublic pool, or public spa has: (1) A bathhouse, toilets, hand sinks, and showers within 100 feet of an entrance gate to…

.47 Accommodations for Disabled Individuals. An owner shall ensure that a legacy public pool or spa is in compliance with all applicable federal, State, and local codes governing facilities for disabled individuals, including COMAR 05.02.02. Cross References 10.17.01.04C(1) 10.17…

.48 Sanitary Quality of Water. Although routine testing is not required, an owner shall ensure that the water in a public pool or spa: A. Has a coliform bacteria level of less than 1 coliform per milliliter; and B. Is free of pathogenic organisms. Cross References 10.17.01.05B(4-…

.49 Chemical Handling and Storage. An owner shall ensure that a: A. Material safety data sheet for a potentially hazardous chemical is available to the operator; B. Chemical is handled, used, stored, and disposed of in accordance with the material safety data sheet and all applic…

.50 Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases. A. An owner may not knowingly permit an individual to enter the water of a public pool or spa who has: (1) An infectious or contagious disease that may be transmitted through water; (2) An open cut, blister, or other lesion; or (…