Chapter 16.36
SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODE
Sections:
16.36.030 Adoption of specific codes.
16.36.060 Amendments to the California Building Code.
16.36.070 Amendments to the California Residential Code.
16.36.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known and cited as the Rancho Cordova swimming pool and spa code. [Ord. 25-2022 § 1].
16.36.020 Purpose.
The purpose of the Rancho Cordova swimming pool and spa code is to provide minimum requirements and standards for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare within this jurisdiction, as well as to reference the many different codes that pertain to swimming pools, spa and hot tub safety. [Ord. 25-2022 § 1].
16.36.030 Adoption of specific codes.
2022 California Building Code, Chapter 31, Section 3109.2, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, the 2022 California Residential Code Appendix AX Swimming Pool Safety Act, Title 24 Part 2.5 of the California Code of Regulations, and any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference herein. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter and Chapter 16.02 RCMC, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the city of Rancho Cordova. [Ord. 25-2022 § 1].
16.36.040 Scope.
The provisions of the Rancho Cordova swimming pool and spa code shall serve as the administrative, organizational, and enforcement rules and regulations for the technical codes that regulate the site preparation and construction, alteration, moving, demolition, repair, use, and occupancy of swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and other water-containing devices intended for human immersion, and associated service equipment within this jurisdiction. [Ord. 25-2022 § 1].
16.36.050 Definitions.
Definitions for the administrative, organizational, and enforcement rules and regulations for the technical codes that regulate the site preparation and construction, alteration, moving, demolition, repair, and use of swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and other water-containing devices intended for swimming or recreational bathing, and associated service equipment within this jurisdiction, are contained within the 2022 California Building Code, Chapter 2, the 2022 California Residential Code, Chapter 2, and California Health and Safety Code Section 115921. [Ord. 25-2022 § 1].
16.36.060 Amendments to the California Building Code.
A. California Building Code Chapter 31, Section 3109.2, “115921(c),” is amended to read as follows:
115921. (c) “Enclosure” means a permanent fence wall, or other barrier that isolates a swimming pool from access to the home or neighboring properties. The term “permanent” shall mean not being able to be removed, lifted, or relocated without the use of a tool.
B. California Building Code Chapter 31, Section 3109.2, “115922,” is amended to read as follows:
115922. (a) Except as provided in Section 115925, when a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming pool or spa or the remodeling of an existing swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home, the respective swimming pool or spa shall be isolated from access from other properties by an enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923, and at least two of the following seven drowning prevention safety features:
(1) An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 and isolates the swimming pool or spa from the private single-family home.
(2) Removable mesh fencing that meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications F2286 standards in conjunction with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device.
(3) An approved safety pool cover, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 115921.
(4) Exit alarms on the private single-family home’s doors that provide direct access to the swimming pool or spa. The exit alarm may cause either an alarm noise or a verbal warning, such as a repeating notification that “the door to the pool is open.”
(5) A self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor on the private single-family home’s doors providing direct access to the swimming pool or spa.
(6) An alarm that, when placed in a swimming pool or spa, will sound upon detection of accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. The alarm shall meet and be independently certified to the ASTM Standard F2208 “Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms,” which includes surface motion, pressure, sonar, laser, and infrared type alarms. A swimming protection alarm feature designed for individual use, including an alarm attached to a child that sounds when the child exceeds a certain distance or becomes submerged in water, is not a qualifying drowning prevention safety feature.
(7) Other means of protection, if the degree of protection afforded is equal to or greater than that afforded by any of the features set forth above and has been independently verified by an approved testing laboratory as meeting standards for those features established by the ASTM or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
(b) Before the issuance of a final approval for the completion of permitted construction or remodeling work, the local building code official shall inspect the drowning safety prevention features required by this section and, if no violations are found, shall give final approval.
115923. An enclosure shall have all of the following characteristics:
(a) Any access gates through the enclosure open away from the swimming pool and are self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground.
(b) A minimum height of 60 inches.
(c) A maximum vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure of two inches.
(d) Gaps or voids, if any, do not allow passage of a sphere equal to or greater than four inches in diameter.
(e) An outside surface free of protrusions, cavities, or other physical characteristics that would serve as handholds or footholds that could enable a child below the age of five years to climb over.
[Ord. 25-2022 § 1].
16.36.070 Amendments to the California Residential Code.
A. California Residential Code Appendix AX, Section “115921(c),” is amended to read as follows:
115921. (c) “Enclosure” means a permanent fence wall, or other barrier that isolates a swimming pool from access to the home or neighboring properties. The term “permanent” shall mean not being able to be removed, lifted, or relocated without the use of a tool.
B. California Residential Code Appendix AX, Section “115922,” is amended to read as follows:
115922. (a) Except as provided in Section 115925, when a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming pool or spa or the remodeling of an existing swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home, the respective swimming pool or spa shall be isolated from access from other properties by an enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923, and at least two of the following seven drowning prevention safety features:
(1) An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 and isolates the swimming pool or spa from the private single-family home.
(2) Removable mesh fencing that meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications F2286 standards in conjunction with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device.
(3) An approved safety pool cover, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 115921.
(4) Exit alarms on the private single-family home’s doors that provide direct access to the swimming pool or spa. The exit alarm may cause either an alarm noise or a verbal warning, such as a repeating notification that “the door to the pool is open.”
(5) A self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor on the private single-family home’s doors providing direct access to the swimming pool or spa.
(6) An alarm that, when placed in a swimming pool or spa, will sound upon detection of accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. The alarm shall meet and be independently certified to the ASTM Standard F2208 “Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms,” which includes surface motion, pressure, sonar, laser, and infrared type alarms. A swimming protection alarm feature designed for individual use, including an alarm attached to a child that sounds when the child exceeds a certain distance or becomes submerged in water, is not a qualifying drowning prevention safety feature.
(7) Other means of protection, if the degree of protection afforded is equal to or greater than that afforded by any of the features set forth above and has been independently verified by an approved testing laboratory as meeting standards for those features established by the ASTM or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
(b) Before the issuance of a final approval for the completion of permitted construction or remodeling work, the local building code official shall inspect the drowning safety prevention features required by this section and, if no violations are found, shall give final approval.
115923. An enclosure shall have all of the following characteristics:
(a) Any access gates through the enclosure open away from the swimming pool and are self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground.
(b) A minimum height of 60 inches.
(c) A maximum vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure of two inches.
(d) Gaps or voids, if any, do not allow passage of a sphere equal to or greater than four inches in diameter.
(e) An outside surface free of protrusions, cavities, or other physical characteristics that would serve as handholds or footholds that could enable a child below the age of five years to climb over.
[Ord. 25-2022 § 1].