adequate natural lighting so that all portions of the pool, including the bottom, may be readily seen without glare. Night swimming shall be considered one half hour before sunset to one half hour after sunrise. ● The association may use a pool cover or solar blanket only during times when the pool is closed. Unless the pool cover or solar blanket is secured around the entire perimeter and is designed to support a live load of an adult person, the pool area shall be inaccessible to unauthorized individuals during times of cover or blanket use. ● The association must locate lifesaving apparatuses in a conspicuous place, readily available for use, including: ○ A shepherd’s hook that is attached to a pole not less than 16 feet in length. ○ A minimum of one 18-inch-diameter lifesaving ring with sufficient rope to reach all parts of the pool. ○ A pool that is longer than 50 feet must have multiple shepherd’s hooks and at least one lifesaving ring on each of the longer sides. ○ Spas and wading pools that are less than 200 square feet are exempt from the requirements regarding lifesaving apparatuses. ○ All pools with a slope transition shall maintain safety line anchors and a safety line in place at all times. A safety line may be temporarily removed only when there is a safety attendant or lifeguard present, and it must be reinstalled to its proper location upon completion of the exercise.
updated). (The association must close the pool, and “shock” it [intentional over-chlorination].). In a spa, should any fecal accident occur, the association may be required to drain and disinfect the spa pool, filter system and all associated plumbing. Soil and debris left in and/around the pool and deck may require similar clean-up methods, such as ducks, raccoon bears and other wildlife making association pools their home. ● The pool water level must be maintained at an elevation suitable for continuous skimming without flooding during periods of non-use. ● Pools with heaters shall have a maximum water temperature of 104º F and a functional in-line thermometer. ● Depth indicators and other warnings such as “no diving” must be permanently set onto the coping and pool deck in a tile or similar material; stenciling is no longer permitted. ● Oils, body lotions, and minerals or materials not associated with chemicals used for water chemistry balance, algae control, and disinfection of the water are prohibited in a spa pool. ● Footbaths are prohibited. ● Individuals with a disability and service animal trainers may be accompanied by a service animal. However, the service animal is not allowed to enter the pool water or onto the drained area of an interactive water feature (IWF). ● The association must provide artificial lighting at all swimming pools that are used at night, or that do not have Fences and barriers While not required by F.S. 514 or F.A.C. 64E-9, most insurance companies will require the association to have a minimum 48-inch-high fence or other substantial barrier (such as a building), to limit access to pools. Access should be through self- Association pool signage The local jurisdictional building department determines what rules the association must post. Generally, the following are to be included in 1-inch-high lettering, No Diving in four-inch letters (for pools larger than 200 square feet), and Pool Maximum Depth in Feet in two-inch lettering (effective January 1, 2022). The association may also be required to post a sign with site- specific safety guidelines. These guidelines depend on the hazards unique to each pool. If any of these dangers exist, pool users must be appropriately notified. Example: ● NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY. ● Danger: Steep slope. ● Designated diving areas. ● Deep water. ● Underwater obstruction. If restrooms are not visible from the pool deck, the association must post directions in at least one-inch letters, positioned so that they can be read from any point on the pool deck. Americans with Disabilities Act In September 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) published revised regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) addressing access to swimming pools, both newly constructed and existing. These standards include pools accessible under Title III (Public Accommodations). The 2010 standards establish two categories of pools: large pools with more than 300 linear feet of pool wall and smaller pools with less than 300 linear feet of wall. USDOJ requires large pools to have two accessible means of entry, with at least one being a pool lift or sloped entry, and smaller pools to have one accessible means of entry, if it is either a pool lift or a sloped entry. To determine which pools must be made accessible, USDOJ requires that public accommodations consider factors, such as the nature and cost of the action and the overall resources of the site or sites involved.
closing self-latching lockable gates of 48-inch minimal height from the floor or ground with the latch located a minimum of 54 inches from the bottom of the gate or at least 3 inches below the top of the gate on the poolside.
In certain cases, association pools are exempt from meeting these standards. If it has not done so already, an association should evaluate the accessibility of its pool, and, with the assistance of local pool officials or a private engineer, determine if any remedial action is required, if the pool is considered to meet the ADA requirements, as it currently exists, or if the pool is exempt. An association should not initiate any renovations without a careful review of the requirements by its engineer and the association attorney. Because cities and counties often adopt more restrictive requirements, such as pool signage and fencing, it is a good plan for a CAM and the association to review local and state regulations to verify that its pool satisfies applicable legal guidelines.
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Book Code: CAMFL1524
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