Pool Danger update

update on pool

Swimming Pool/Spa Inspection Standards Comments

Send comments to
inspectorbruce@cox.net
ASHI Standards Committee by November 30, 2009
For more information please go to
Home Inspector Swimming Pool/Spa Standards Invitation for Public Comment

To Bruce Barker
ASHI Standards Committee Chair
Dear Mr Baker,

I would like to comment on the use of slippery materials inside the swimming pools.
This pertains to single family and multifamily housing.
Residential Swimming Pool Comments.

1) The Interior surfaces called Footings are all areas inside the pool which are below 4.5 feet deep.
2) These areas are required to have a slip resistant surface. (International Building Codes)
3) Many contractors are installing glazed tiles which are not slip resistant.
The inspector can require that he be supplied with a rating of the Coefficient of friction.
4) Contractors and Home owners are also installing these materials inside the spas, jacuzzi.
5) The danger of using this surface should be brought to the attention of the person requesting the inspection and the public or who ever is the intended user of the pool.
6) The problems caused by the use of inappropriate materials include Drownings and injury to users including Children, Disabled and the Elderly.

Recommendation:
1) The slippery surfaces must not be used.

2) Owners must be made aware of the danger of these materials and given suggestions for use of safer materials which often times are less expensive and give a similar appearance.

Teach your kids to swim

If the pool footings are glazed tile you can got get a grip that would enable you to balance yourself to hold someone up or to balance yourself.

International Pool Safety Standards regarding Pool Surfaces

The following British - European Common Union Standards will be adopted by the American and International Engineering Standards very soon!.

BS EN 15288-1 contains the following recommendations.

Areas below 1.35m [4.43 feet] are non swimmer areas, in these areas abrupt changes in depth are not permitted and the slope on the floor must be less than 10% although in the UK and in the standard less than 6% is preferred.

There are slip resistant standards in Europe and the UK which are used to specify tiled surfaces and in this area the criteria are:

in water depth of less than 0.8m [2.6 feet] the slip resistance of the floor shall be to Rating group 18º of EN 13451-1 in water depth of 0.8m to 1.35m [2.6 to 4.43 feet]the slip resistance of the floor shall be to Rating group 12º of EN 13451-1

You can buy these standards 15288-1 and 13451-1 from /www.bsigroup.com/upload/Standards%20&%20Publications/shop.html

Ralph Riley

Pool Danger Links

http://www.slip-resistant-solutions.com/index.html

City and county of Honolulu Regulations:

http://www.honolulu.gov/refs/roh/16a7.htm

Childrens Safety in Pools

Children are very likely to drown in a pool when they swim and can not stand up and swim.
There were 2 cases in Hawaii of Kids who went into a slippery pool and could not stand up and drowned.