Texas Administrative Code › Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES › Part 1 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES › Chapter 265 - GENERAL SANITATION › Subchapter L - PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS › Section 265.182 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this
					 subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
					 otherwise.
(1) AED--Automated External
				  Defibrillator. A device that automatically diagnoses the life-threatening
				  cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular
				  tachycardia and can treat those conditions by application of electricity which
				  stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective
				  rhythm.
(2) Alternate method of
				  disinfectant--A method of disinfectant for a pool or spa requiring approval by
				  DSHS.
(3) Alternative communication
				  system--Devices that alert multiple on-site staff when activated, such as pager
				  systems, radios, or walkie-talkie communication systems. Used to notify on-site
				  EMS, on-site medical staff, on-site certified staff such as lifeguards, or a
				  commercial emergency monitoring service.
(4) ANSI--American National Standards
				  Institute.
(5) APSP--Association of
				  Pool and Spa Professionals now known as the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance
				  (PHTA).
(6) ARC--American Red
				  Cross.
(7) Artificial swimming
				  lagoon--An artificial body of water used for recreational purposes with more
				  than 20,000 square feet of surface area, an artificial liner, and a
				  disinfectant method. The term does not include a body of water open to the
				  public that continuously recirculates water from a spring or a pool.
(8) ASPSA--American Swimming Pool and Spa
				  Association.
(9) ASTM
				  International--American Society of Testing Materials International.
(10) ASTM F2376--Standard Practice For
				  Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction, And Operation Of Water Slide
				  Systems.
(11) Backflow prevention
				  device--A device designed to prevent a physical connection between a potable
				  water system and a non-potable source, such as a pool or spa, or a physical
				  connection between a pool or spa and a sanitary sewer or wastewater disposal
				  system.
(12) Breakpoint
				  chlorination--The addition of enough of the chlorination compound to water to
				  destroy chlorine demand compounds, chloramines, and any combined chlorine that
				  is present. The amount added is normally 10 times the combined chlorine
				  concentration. Breakpoint chlorination, also called "superchlorination,"
				  results in a decrease in eye irritation potential and "chlorine
				  odors."
(13) BVM--Bag-Valve Mask. A
				  handheld device used to provide positive pressure ventilation to persons who
				  are not breathing adequately. Also known by its proprietary name, Ambu
				  bag.
(14) Chlorine--An element that
				  at room temperature and pressure is a heavy green-yellow gas that is used to
				  sanitize water. Chlorine, when mixed with water, forms hypochlorous acid, which
				  is the disinfecting agent, and hydrochloric acid.
(15) Cleansing shower--A shower with hot and
				  cold running water and soap for the purpose of removing dead skin, sweat, dirt,
				  and waste material from users.
(16)
				  Combined chlorine--Also known as "chloramine(s)." Formed when free chlorine
				  combines with nitrogen-containing compounds such as perspiration and ammonia.
				  Combined chlorine, or chloramines, can cause eye and skin irritation, strong
				  and unpleasant "chlorine" odors, and is not as effective as a sanitizer or
				  disinfectant.
(17) Commercial pool
				  and spa--A public swimming pool and spa as defined in paragraph (51) of this
				  section, referring to public pool and in paragraph (54) of this section,
				  referring to public spa.
(18)
				  Cross-connection control device--A backflow prevention device as defined in
				  this section.
(19)
Cryptosporidium parvum
--A microscopic parasite that is highly
				  tolerant to chlorine disinfection and that causes the diarrheal disease
				  cryptosporidiosis. It is commonly referred to as Crypto.
(20) Day camp--A day camp as described in the
				  Texas Youth Camps Safety and Health rules, §
										265.11 of this chapter (relating
				  to Definitions).
(21)
				  Disinfectant--Energy, chemicals, or a combination of both used to kill or
				  irreversibly inactivate microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and
				  parasites.
(22) DPD--A chemical
				  testing reagent (N, N-Diethyl-P-Phenylenediamine) used to measure the levels of
				  free chlorine or bromine in water by yielding a series of colors ranging from
				  light pink to dark red.
(23)
				  DSHS--Texas Department of State Health Services.
(24) EMS--Emergency medical
				  services.
(25) Emergency monitoring
				  service--A service that provides an emergency summoning device at pools and
				  spas that is monitored 24 hours a day off-site by personnel trained to identify
				  pool and spa related emergencies, such as drownings. A service capable of
				  contacting local EMS, providing a precise location of the emergency call to
				  local EMS, and that has personnel trained to offer the caller instructions for
				  assisting when possible.
(26)
				  Exercise spa or swim spa--For purposes of the rules in this subchapter related
				  to safety, operation and management, signage, and enclosures, exercise spas or
				  swim spas are a variant of a spa in which the design and construction includes
				  specific features and equipment to produce a water flow intended to allow
				  recreational physical activity including swimming in place.
(27) Facility--A pool, spa, public
				  interactive water feature or fountain, and restrooms, dressing rooms, equipment
				  rooms, deck or walkways, beach entries, enclosure, and other appurtenances
				  directly serving the pool or spa.
(28) FIFRA--The Federal Insecticide,
				  Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
(29) Filter media--A finely graded material
				  (for example, sand, diatomaceous earth, or polyester fabric) that removes
				  filterable particles from the water.
(30) FINA--Fédération
				  Internationale de Natation. The organization that administers international
				  competition in aquatic sports.
(31)
				  Floatation system--A combination of a float solution holding vessel and
				  treatment system for the immersion and floatation of a person or persons in a
				  temperature-controlled environment. Also known as a flotation system, sensory
				  deprivation system or floatation chamber. For purposes of this subchapter, a
				  floatation system is not considered a pool or spa.
(32) Free available chlorine or free chlorine
				  residual--That portion of the total chlorine remaining in chlorinated water
				  that is not combined with ammonia or nitrogen compounds and that will react
				  chemically with bacteria or other pathogenic organisms in the water of a pool,
				  spa, or lagoon.
(33) Gpm--Gallons
				  per minute.
(34)
				  Hyperchlorination--The intentional and specific raising of chlorine levels for
				  a prolonged period-of-time to inactivate pathogens following a diarrheal
				  release in a pool or spa as per the Centers for Disease Control and
				  Prevention's guidance titled "Healthy Swimming: Fecal Incident Response
				  Recommendations for Aquatic Staff".
(35) Island--A structure inside a pool where
				  the perimeter is surrounded by the water in the pool and the top is above the
				  surface of the pool.
(36) Langelier
				  Saturation Index--A number indicating the degree of saturation in water related
				  to calcium carbonate solubility. The number represents the ability of water to
				  deposit calcium carbonate, or dissolve metal, concrete, or grout.
(37) Licensed design professional--A person
				  licensed to engage in the practice of design in the state of Texas in
				  accordance with relevant licensing laws, including an architect, electrician,
				  and engineer.
(38) Licensed
				  architect--A person licensed to engage in the practice of architecture in the
				  State of Texas in accordance with the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1051, and
				  related rules.
(39) Licensed
				  electrician--A person licensed to perform electrical work on pools and spas in
				  accordance with the Texas Electrical Safety and Licensing Act, Texas
				  Occupations Code, Chapter 1305, and related rules.
(40) Licensed engineer--A person licensed to
				  engage in the practice of engineering in the State of Texas in accordance with
				  the Texas Engineering Practice Act, Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1001, and
				  related rules.
(41) Lifeguard--A
				  person who supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other
				  water sports participants and who has successfully completed and holds a
				  current ARC, Young Men's Christian Association, or equivalent Lifeguard
				  Certificate from an aquatic safety organization, a current First Aid
				  Certificate, and a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate
				  received for training in CPR for adults, infants, and children and the use of
				  an AED and BVM.
(42) Local
				  regulatory authority--A county, municipality, or other political subdivision of
				  the state having jurisdiction over pools and spas and associated
				  facilities.
(43)
				  mV--Millivolt.
(44) NCAA--National
				  Collegiate Athletic Association.
(45) NRPA--National Recreation and Parks
				  Association.
(46) ORP--Oxidation
				  Reduction Potential. The measure of the oxidation-reduction potential of
				  chemicals in water or the tendency for a solution to either gain or lose
				  electrons. It is generally measured in millivolts (mV) by means of an
				  electronic meter and depends upon types and concentrations of oxidizing and
				  reducing chemicals in water.
(47)
				  pH--A value expressing the relative acidic or basic tendencies of liquids, such
				  as water, on a scale from 0 to 14 with 7.0 being neutral, values less than 7.0
				  being acidic, and values greater than 7.0 being basic.
(48) PHTA--Pool and Hot Tub Alliance.
				  Formerly APSP.
(49) PIWF--Public
				  interactive water feature and fountain. A PIWF includes any indoor or outdoor
				  installation maintained for public recreation that includes water sprays,
				  dancing water jets, waterfalls, dumping buckets, or shooting water cannons in
				  various arrays for the purpose of wetting the persons playing in the spray
				  streams. It may be a stand-alone PIWF, also known as a splash pad, spray pad,
				  or wet deck, or may share a water supply, disinfection system, filtration
				  system, circulation system, or other treatment system that allows water to
				  co-mingle with a pool.
(50) Pool
				  yard or spa yard--An area that has an enclosure containing a pool or
				  spa.
(51) Public pool--For purposes
				  of the rules in this subchapter related to safety, operation and management,
				  signage and enclosures, pools are classified and referred to as follows: any
				  man-made permanently installed or non-portable structure, basin, chamber, or
				  tank containing an artificial body of water that is maintained or used
				  expressly for public recreation, swimming, diving, aquatic sports, or other
				  aquatic activity. Public pools include but are not limited to activity pools,
				  catch pools, lazy or leisure river pools, wave action pools, vortex pools,
				  therapy pools, and wading pools. A public pool may be publicly or privately
				  owned and may be operated by an owner, lessee, operator, licensee, or
				  concessionaire. A fee for use may or not be charged. The term does not include
				  a residential pool, artificial swimming lagoon, floatation system or chamber,
				  or a body of water that continuously recirculates water from a spring.
(A) Class A pool--Any pool maintained or
				  used, with or without a fee, for accredited competitive events such as FINA,
				  United States Swimming, United States Diving, NCAA, or National Federation of
				  State High School Association events. A Class A pool may also be used for
				  recreational swimming.
(B) Class B
				  pool--Any pool maintained or used for public recreation and open to the general
				  public with or without a fee.
(C)
				  Class C pool--Any pool that is not a Class A or B pool that is limited to
				  occupants, members, or students and their guests, but not to the general
				  public. It is a pool operated for and in conjunction with:
(i) lodging, such as hotels, motels,
				  apartments, condominiums, RV parks, or mobile home parks;
(ii) youth camps, property owner
				  associations, private organizations, or clubs; or
(iii) schools, colleges, or universities
				  while operated for academic or continuing education classes.