Facility Safety Course

Facility Safety

How to properly inspect and maintain the pools

Safety Equipment

Pools must be stocked with proper safety equipment in order to:

• Ring buoy with throwing rope and reaching pole for every 2000 sq ft of pool surface area
• Ring Buoy must be USGC certified
• Throw rope for buoy must be 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch in diameter, have a length at least two thirds the maximum width of the pool, and be attatched to buoy
• Both reaching poles and buoys must be easily accessible and visible from all areas of pool enclosure
• Reaching pole must be light, no telescoping, at least 12 feet long, and be made of nonconductive material. body hook or shephers hook must be attatched

Emergency Phone

In the event of an emergency, it is important to call 911 as quickly as possible,

• Emergency phone must be within 200 ft of pool and be fuctional AT ALL TIMES
• Phone must be ina fixed location, have no visible obstructions, and have identification for users
• Shall not be answered by an on-site office unless pool is in a remote location
• Must be capable of makingcalls to 911 dispatch or an emergency service, and must directly connect when activated
• Sign shall be posted above device with the precise location of the pool such as address, buiilding number, GPS location, or other identifying infomation in minimum 1 inch lettering

Required Signage

Similar to fencing, it is important to know the requirements and locations for various signs in the case of an inspection. Some signs have special requirments. Such as the no diving signs, which require clearly visible symbols and must be permanant and slip resistant. They also must display the water depth and be present:

• At the minimum and maximum water depths
• On both sides and at each end of the pool
• At all points of slope change
• Every 25 feet
• At water depth changes in increments of less than 2 feet

Pool Chemistry

It is essential that we maintain proper water chemistry in order to keep our patrons safe and pools sanitary. If any chemical exceeds or goes below the required parameters, pool closure is required. Water chemistry is checked every hour. When testing water chemistry, use a Taylor testing Kit.

• Free Chlorine: 1.0-8.0 ppm
• Ideal: 2.0-3.0 ppm
• Bromine: 3.0-10.0 ppm
• Ideal: 4.0-6.0 ppm

• Combined Chlorine Max: 0.4 ppm
• Ideal: 0.0 ppm
• Alkalinity: 60-180 ppm

• Calcium Hardness: 150-1000 ppm
• 150-400 ppm
• Algae: None
• pH: 7.0-7.8
• Ideal: 7.2-7.6
• Cyanuric Acid: 0-100 ppm
• Ideal: 30-50 ppm

Gates, Fencing, and Physical Barriers

In the event of a city official coming to inspect any of our facilities, it is important to know the fencing requirements of the pools.

• Pool enclosure must consist of one or a combination of a fence, building, wall, or other durable enclosure that meet requirements
• Enclosure must be at least 48 inches from the ground
• Openings in enclosure must be smaller than 4 inches
• Gates must have self-closing and self-latching device and open outwards
• Opening hardware for gates and doors must be at least 42 inches above the ground
• Gates must not be propped open

Pump Room and Turnover Rates

A pump suction (vacuum or combination vacuum/pressure) gauge installed according to manufacturer's instructions and located on the suction side of the pump

• a filter inlet pressure gauge installed at the point of greatest pressure
• a filter outlet gauge
• a flow measuring device for pools certified, listed and labeled to NSF Standard 50, NSF Standard 60, or NSF Standard 61 located to show the rate of flow through the filter
• All exposed piping must be labeled to identify the piping function and direction of flow

The turnover rate is the amount of time it takes for the full volume of water in the pool to go through the system. The maximum turnover rate for Senior pool, Gilda, and JMAC are all 2 hours.

Annual GFCI Letter

A pump suction (vacuum or combination vacuum/pressure) gauge installed according to manufacturer's instructions and located on the suction side of the pump

• a filter inlet pressure gauge installed at the point of greatest pressure
• a filter outlet gauge
• a flow measuring device for pools certified, listed and labeled to NSF Standard 50, NSF Standard 60, or NSF Standard 61 located to show the rate of flow through the filter
• All exposed piping must be labeled to identify the piping function and direction of flow

The turnover rate is the amount of time it takes for the full volume of water in the pool to go through the system. The maximum turnover rate for Senior pool, Gilda, and JMAC are all 2 hours.