North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 15A - Environmental Quality › Chapter 18 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH › Subchapter A - SANITATION › Section .2500 - PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS › Section 18A .2511 - INSPECTIONS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a) Each public
				  swimming pool shall be inspected by the Department to determine compliance with
				  the rules of this Section. Where an operation permit is issued prior to
				  inspection of a public swimming pool, an inspection shall be completed within
				  60 days following issuance of the permit. Pools that open on or after April 1
				  and close on or before October 31 shall be inspected at least once during the
				  period of operation. All other pools shall be inspected at least twice a
				  year.
(b) Inspections of public
				  swimming pools shall be conducted by Environmental Health Specialists
				  authorized by the Department to enforce the rules of this Section. Inspections
				  shall be documented on Inspection of Swimming Pool Form DENR 3960. Items on the
				  grade sheet shall be divided into two, four and six-demerit items. Six-demerit
				  items are failures to maintain minimum water quality or safety standards and
				  warrant immediate suspension of an operation permit under
				  G.S.
				  130A-23(d). Four-demerit
				  items are rule violations which warrant denial of an operation permit or
				  notification of an intent to suspend an operation permit. Two-demerit items are
				  rule violations that do not warrant permit action unless such violation causes
				  an imminent hazard, a failure to meet water quality or safety standard, or a
				  suction hazard. Demerits shall be assessed for each item found not to be in
				  compliance with the rules of this Section. Demerits shall be assessed as
				  follows:
(1) Violation of Rule .2535(2) of
				  this Section regarding water clarity shall be assessed six demerits.
(2) Violation of Rule .2531(a)(10),
				  .2531(b)(3), .2535(3), (4), (5), (7), (8), or (9), or .2543(d)(7) or (e)(2) of
				  this Section regarding disinfectant residuals shall be assessed six
				  demerits.
(3) Violation of Rule
				  .2535(1) of this Section regarding pool water pH shall be assessed six
				  demerits.
(4) Violation of Rule
				  .2535(12) of this Section or regarding control of water temperature in heated
				  pools shall be assessed six demerits.
(5) Violation of Rule .2535(10), (11), or
				  (13), .2537(c), or .2540 of this Section regarding pool operator training,
				  water quality records and test kits shall be assessed four demerits.
(6) Violation of Rule .2518(j), .2537(b)(7)
				  or (16), or .2539 of this Section regarding pool drains and suction hazards
				  shall be assessed six demerits.
(7)
				  Violation of Rule .2537(b)(3), (8), (9) or (14) of this Section regarding
				  maintenance of pool walls and floor shall be assessed four demerits.
(8) Violation of Rule .2518(k) or (l),
				  .2531(4), .2532(4)(b) or .2537(b)(14) of this Section regarding water surface
				  skimmers shall be assessed four demerits.
(9) Violation of Rule .2523 or .2537(b)(6) of
				  this Section regarding depth markers and no diving markers shall be assessed
				  four demerits.
(10) Violation of
				  Rule .2515(d) or (f), .2523(e) or .2537(b)(12) of this Section regarding
				  floating safety ropes and contrasting color bands at breakpoints shall be
				  assessed two demerits.
(11)
				  Violation of Rule .2517, .2521, .2527, .2537(b)(10), .2527, or .2542 of this
				  Section regarding diving equipment, slides, ladders, steps, handrails and
				  in-pool exercise equipment shall be assessed two demerits.
(12) Violation of Rule .2518(i) or
				  .2537(b)(8) of this Section regarding inlets and other fittings shall be
				  assessed four demerits.
(13)
				  Violation of Rule .2516(b), .2521(b)(4), .2532(13) or .2537(b)(12) of this
				  Section regarding contrasting color bands on seats or benches shall be assessed
				  four demerits.
(14) Violation of
				  Rule .2532(7) or .2537(b)(11) of this Section regarding spa timers shall be
				  assessed four demerits.
(15)
				  Violation of Rule .2530(a), or (b), or .2537(b)(1) of this Section regarding
				  lifesaving equipment shall be assessed six demerits.
(16) Violation of Rule .2528, .2531(a)(7) or
				  .2537(b)(5) of this Section regarding fences, barriers and gates shall be
				  assessed four demerits.
(17)
				  Violation of Rule .2522 or .2537(b)(2) of this Section regarding decks shall be
				  assessed four demerits.
(18)
				  Violation of Rule .2530(c) of this Section regarding No Lifeguard warning signs
				  shall be assessed four demerits.
(19) Violation of Rule .2530(d) or
				  .2543(d)(13) of this Section regarding pet and glass container signs shall be
				  assessed four demerits.
(20)
				  Violation of Rule .2532(15) through (17), or .2537(b)(13) of this Section
				  regarding caution signs at hot water spas shall be assessed four
				  demerits.
(21) Violation of Rule
				  .2524, or .2537(b)(4) of this Section regarding pool and deck lighting and
				  ventilation shall be assessed four demerits.
(22) Violation of Rule .2530(f) of this
				  Section regarding emergency telephones shall be assessed six
				  demerits.
(23) Violation of Rule
				  .2535(6) of this Section regarding automatic chlorine or bromine feeders shall
				  be assessed four demerits.
(24)
				  Violation of Rule .2518 .2519, .2525, .2531(a)(1) through (3), .2532(1) through
				  (6), or .2543(b), (d)(1) through (6) or (e)(1) of this Section regarding pool
				  filter and circulation systems shall be assessed four demerits.
(25) Violation of Rule .2533, .2534 or
				  .2537(b)(15) of this Section regarding equipment rooms and chemical storage
				  rooms shall be assessed two demerits.
(26) Violation of Rule .2518(d) of this
				  Section regarding identification of valves and pipes shall be assessed two
				  demerits.
(27) Violation of Rule
				  .2513(b) of this Section regarding air gaps for filter backwash shall be
				  assessed two demerits.
(28)
				  Violation of Rule .2526 or .2543(d)(11) of this Section regarding accessible
				  dressing and sanitary facilities shall be assessed two demerits.
(29) Violation of Rule .2526 of this Section
				  regarding maintenance and cleaning of dressing and sanitary facilities and
				  fixtures shall be assessed two demerits.
(30) Violation of Rule .2512 of this Section
				  regarding water supplies shall be assessed two demerits.
(31) Violation of Rule .2513(a) of this
				  Section regarding sewage disposal shall be assessed two demerits.
(32) Violation of Rule .2526(c) of this
				  Section regarding floors in dressing and sanitary facilities shall be assessed
				  two demerits.
(33) Violation of
				  Rule .2526(c), or (d) of this Section regarding hose bibs and floor drains in
				  dressing and sanitary facilities shall be assessed two demerits.