swimming pool codes

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First, a brief lesson in electricity. When you plug an appliance into a wall outlet and turn it on, it does not use up all the electricity coming to it. The electricity returns into the wall outlet. A special type of outlet, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), constantly monitors the returning current. If the current does not return because it goes to ground... (for example through you or other people), because you:

put a boom box on a starting block next to a swimming pool and it falls in, then sending the electricity into the pool water and the aqua aerobics class members

or

work out in the rain with a power tool that has a frayed wire and the wet 'hot' wire sends the electicity into you

or

don't have a long enough 'suitable for use with outdoor appliances' extension cord, so you string together a few that are not labeled for outdoor use, and not suitable for the distance/wattage of the mega-bright decorating lights you want to use, and the cord comes in contact with puddles on the deck and sends electricity into the water/people

... the GFI can prevent electrical shock by noticing the difference in the current and shuting off the current to the appliance/power tool (in as little as one-thirtieth of a second!).

Please note that GFIs can be damaged by lightning or other electrical surges and need to be tested regularly. Since they might not always be functional, putting that boom box/radio/hairdryer where it can fall in the swimming pool/spa/hot tub/bathtub/kitchen sink full of water is never a good idea.

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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

1) ---At the Santa Clara County Public Health Department website: (copy and paste the following into your browser if it does not function as a link)

http://www.sccgov.org/sites/deh/Consumer Protection Division/Laws, Policies - Legal Issues/Documents/794601POOLCODE.pdf

(no, you don't have to read the whole thing) scroll through the pages and do this research:

1) find the section of the law about ground fault circuit interrupters and write out what fixtures need to be protected by them

Big hint, scroll down to page 4, section 116049. Ground-fault interrupter.

2) find the section of the law that says whether dogs can be in a public pool or on the pool deck, and write what it says.

Big hint, scroll down to page 11, section 65533. Cleanliness of Pool.

3) find out how big the letters on a sign need to be that says: "Warning-No Lifeguard on Duty"

big hint, scroll down to page 12, section 65539. Lifesaving, First Aid and Control of Bathers.

4) How clear does water have to be in a wading pool? page 13, 65543. Wading Pool-Water Clarity.

5) How deep does water have to be under a three meter diving board? (see page 19, not 20)

6) How many people are allowed in a pool (not a spa) see page 27 3119B.1.2 Other Pools.

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2) ---read Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools

http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/116885/Pool.pdf

and write up the answers to these questions:

What percentage of child victims of drownings at home pools were last seen in the house?

What percent were trespassing on property where they didn't live or belong?

What percent of the swimming pool accident victims were missing for five minutes or less before they were found in the pool drowned or submerged?

How tall should a fence / pool barrier be? (number of inches)

What is the maximum mesh size for a chain link fence?

How quickly after a door from a house to the pool is opened should the alarm sound? (number of seconds)

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3) ---look at http://www.access-board.gov/recreation/guides/pdfs/pools.pdf

and find the answers to these questions:

Name the choices for a primary means of entry and the secondary means of entry for disabled persons at a swimming pool.

A large pool, (over 300 linear feet of pool wall), must have how many accessible means of entry for disabled persons?

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