South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-51 - Public Swimming Pools › Section 61-51.A - DEFINITIONS

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
1. "Alteration"
			 means any change in equipment or materials used in the construction of a public
			 swimming pool, after completion which does not conform to the original,
			 permitted plans, specifications, and change orders. Alterations include, but
			 are not limited to, such items as pool or deck resurfacing, painting, equipment
			 changes, and structural additions or deletions.
2. "ASSE" means the American Society of
			 Sanitary Engineering.
3.
			 "Attendant" means a person, 16 years of age or older, who supervises or
			 controls the entrance, exit or other activities of pool patrons. An attendant
			 may not act as a lifeguard.
4.
			 "Automatic Controller" means integrated electrical/electronic equipment,
			 connected to chemical feed equipment, to continuously monitor and control the
			 pH level and chlorine/bromine (O.R.P method or other method acceptable to the
			 Department) residual of swimming pool water.
5. "Bulk Storage" means any chemical storage
			 container greater than fifteen (15) gallons of liquid, or solid chemical
			 greater than the maximum capacity of the feeder.
6. "Certified Public Pool Operator" means
			 someone who holds a valid South Carolina Pool Operator Certificate from a party
			 approved by the Department.
7.
			 "Change Order" means written notification submitted to the Department on a
			 Swimming Pool Change Order Request Form detailing any proposed pool interior
			 coatings, equipment changes or material alterations which do not conform to the
			 original approved plans, specifications, or previously approved change
			 order.
8. "Competition Pool" means
			 a pool designed to be routinely used to host organized swim competitions such
			 as those sponsored by colleges, universities, swim leagues, and swim
			 clubs.
9. "Coping" means the
			 covering which joins the top of the pool wall with the pool decking and is
			 considered part of the minimum pool deck width requirement. If cantilevered
			 deck is employed, the last twelve (12) inches of this deck next to the pool
			 wall shall be considered coping.
10. "Contiguous" means within a one (1) foot
			 horizontal distance.
11.
			 "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
			 Control.
12. "Diatomaceous Earth"
			 is a type of filter media that is obtained from the fossil remains of
			 microscopic marine plants and is used in a thin coating over filter septa or
			 bags.
13. "Disinfection Equipment"
			 means any device used to supply approved disinfectants to the pool
			 water.
14. "Elevated Structure"
			 means any structure located within a ten (10) foot horizontal distance from the
			 pool edge, which is intended for patron access, and may unintentionally serve
			 as a raised platform for diving or jumping into a pool. This includes, but is
			 not limited to elevated walkways, stairs and landings, balconies, or any
			 construction which is interpreted by the Department as a structure intended for
			 use by patrons that could be used for diving or jumping into a pool. This does
			 not include pool equipment designed for, and approved by the department to be
			 used for diving or jumping into a pool.
15. "Emergency Equipment" means a backboard
			 with straps, two (2) blankets, cervical collars in adult and infant sizes or a
			 commercial head immobilizer.
16.
			 "Filter" means any apparatus containing filter media which is intended to
			 physically remove suspended particles from pool water.
17. "Filter Backwash Piping" means the piping
			 which extends from the backwash outlet of the filter to its terminus at the
			 point of disposal.
18. "Filter
			 Media" means the fine material which entraps the suspended particles as the
			 water passes through the filter.
19. "First Aid Kit" means a water resistant,
			 clearly labeled, latched container providing sufficient first-aid equipment to
			 treat up to fifteen (15) people. The kit will contain as a minimum: alcohol
			 wipes, antibiotic ointment, assorted adhesive bandages, a breathing barrier, a
			 cold pack, gauze, and disposable gloves.
20. "Flow Meter" means a device installed on
			 the pool return pipe (discharge line from filter) to indicate recirculation
			 flow of the pool in gallons per minute (gpm).
21. "gpm" means gallons per minute.
22. "Hand feeding" means the
			 dispensing of any pool chemical manually into the pool.
23. "Heater" means a device through which
			 pool water is circulated to increase the temperature of the water which is
			 specifically designed for pool or spa use.
24. "Hose Bibb" means water faucet with male
			 screw threads to which a hose is attached.
25. "Hybrid Pool" means any pool that has
			 multiple intended use zones such as kiddie play zones, slide landing zones,
			 lazy river zones, and swim zones.
26. "Hydrostatic Relief Valve" means a
			 device, usually installed in the main drains, used to relieve ground water
			 pressure imposed on the outer shell of the pool.
27. "Kiddie Play Park" means wading (kiddie)
			 or spray pools intended to be used exclusively by children where climb-on toys
			 and attractions are provided.
28.
			 "Lifeguard" means a person having the qualifications of and possessing a
			 current American Red Cross, YMCA, or equivalent Lifeguard Certificate, current
			 First Aid Certificate and current CPR (which includes adult, child, and infant)
			 Certificate.
29. "Lifeline Anchors"
			 means the devices recessed in the wall of the pool at the transition point
			 between shallow and deep areas.
30.
			 "Life Saving Equipment Unit" means a coast guard approved ring buoy at least
			 twenty (20) inches in diameter attached to a throwing line having a length of
			 one and one-half (1 1/2) times the width of the pool up to a fifty (50) feet
			 maximum length of rope and a life hook of the shepherd's crook style with
			 minimum twelve (12) foot handle attached with stainless steel nut and bolt. For
			 Type "A" and "E" pools a rescue tube may be used in place of a shepherd's crook
			 and life ring.
31. "Main Body of
			 the Pool" means the major portion of the pool body excluding any recesses,
			 niches, coves, etc.
32. "Main
			 Drain" means the outlet(s) at the bottom of the pool. These outlets are
			 suction/gravity outlets connected to the recirculation piping.
33. "Main Drain Piping" means the piping
			 connecting the main drain to either the pump suction, surge tank, or the vacuum
			 filter.
34. "Major Fraction" means
			 twenty-five percent (25%) or more.
35. "Minimum Flow Rate" means the least flow
			 of water through the water treatment system that must be maintained to provide
			 adequate treatment and is calculated by dividing the volume of the pool, in
			 gallons, by the required turnover time, in minutes (gallons/minutes).
36. "Normal Operating Level" means the water
			 level at one-half (1/2) the skimmer throat depth or at the gutter
			 lip.
37. "Non-Slip" means having a
			 coefficient of friction of 0.6 or greater when wetted for manufactured tile; or
			 broom finish or other textured finish for concrete as recognized by the
			 American Concrete Institute; or for other surfaces, incorporated features
			 designed to prevent slippage.
38.
			 "Obstruction" means any structure or object which blocks or limits access to
			 the perimeter area of the pool. This includes but is not limited to planters,
			 walls, water features, pillars, etc.
39. "Overflow Gutter" means a device at the
			 normal water level which is used as an overflow and to skim the pool surface,
			 in lieu of a surface skimmer.
40.
			 "Owner" means the owner of the facility or his/her designated agent such as a
			 property manager or on-site representative.
41. "Pool Area" means any area located within
			 the fenced perimeter of the pool to include but not limited to the pool deck.
			 The pool deck will define this area for facilities which do not have a
			 perimeter fence. Where a fence is not required the pool area will include but
			 not be limited to the pool deck.
42. "Pool Deck" means the paved area around
			 the pool which is specifically constructed for use by swimmers.
43. "Pool Depth" means the distance between
			 the floor of the pool and the normal operating level when the pool is in
			 use.
44. "Portable Kiddie Slide"
			 means a single flume slide with a starting height no greater than five (5) feet
			 above the deck, made as a complete unit by a single manufacturer, and intended
			 for use by children, which may be moved when not in use.
45. "Public Swimming Pool or pool" means an
			 artificial structure either above or below the ground surface to provide for
			 such recreational uses as bathing, swimming, diving, wading, spraying, sliding,
			 floating, rafting, or other similar usage which is not built in connection with
			 a single family residence, or duplex (two living units within a single
			 structure) and the use of which is not confined to the family of the residence
			 and their private guests, or which is not owned, constructed, operated, or
			 maintained by a church, synagogue, or religious organization, or facility
			 exempted under Title 45, Chapter 4, of the South Carolina Bed and Breakfast
			 Act. Public swimming pools are listed in the following categories based upon
			 specific characteristics of size, usage, and other factors:
(a) Type "A" means any pool open to the
			 general public, except for Type "E" pools, which does not require a membership
			 or that a person be a guest of a member to gain entrance to the pool, or is not
			 operated solely for and in conjunction with a residential development or a
			 place of lodging.
(b) Type "B"
			 means swimming pools at hotels, motels, apartments, mobile home parks,
			 condominium developments, country clubs, schools, swim clubs, health clubs,
			 campgrounds, subdivisions and other pools of similar usage. Lazy rivers
			 constructed at the above facilities shall be considered Type "B"
			 pools.
(c) Type "C" means wading
			 pools, kiddie pools, spray pools, spray decks, or wet decks. Spray decks,
			 splash pads, or wet decks that use water from a public water system, as defined
			 by R.61-58 State Primary Drinking
			 Water Regulations, and do not recirculate the water are exempt from these
			 regulations.
(d) Type "D" means spa
			 pools and hot tubs. Rehabilitation or therapy pools located at hospitals,
			 sports therapy clinics, doctors offices, or other medical facilities which will
			 be used solely for therapy and rehabilitation purposes and under the
			 supervision of a physical therapist or other qualified medical personnel are
			 excluded from this regulation.
(e)
			 Type "E" means those pools at water parks such as water flumes, water slides,
			 lazy rivers, wave parks, inner tube rides, kiddie play parks, etc. Type "E"
			 also means pools at subdivisions that have a slide that is in use, or not able
			 to be secured to prevent access when not in use. If the slide can be secured to
			 prevent access when not in use, the pool may be open as a type "B" pool when
			 the slide is not in operation and secured.
(f) Type "F" means special purpose pools used
			 exclusively for limited activities such as scuba diving lessons, helmet diving
			 lessons, underwater work training, or similar, limited uses.
(g) Type "G" means hybrid pool.