WAC 246-260-010   Definitions.  The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Abbreviations" (technical):

     "CPR" means cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

     "DE" means diatomaceous earth;

     "F" means Fahrenheit;

     "fps" means feet per second;

     "gpm" means gallons per minute;

     "mg/l" means milligrams per liter. When requirements in this regulation specify limits for liquid volume measurements using mg/l or ppm, either may be used depending on the type of testing equipment available;

     "ppm" means parts per million. See notation under mg/l for use;

     "TU" means turbidity unit as measured by the nephelometric method.

     (2) Acronyms:

     (a) "ALTI" means Advanced Lifeguard Training International;

     (b) "ANSI" means American National Standards Institute;

     (c) "APHA" means American Public Health Association;

     (d) "ARC" means American Red Cross;

     (e) "ASA" means American Standards Association;

     (f) "ASHRAE" means American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers;

     (g) "ASME" means American Society of Mechanical Engineers;

     (h) "ASTM" means American Society for Testing and Materials;

     (i) "AWWA" means American Waterworks Association;

     (j) "E&A" means Ellis and Associates;

     (k) "CPSC" means U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission;

     (l) "EPA" means U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;

     (m) "FINA" means Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur;

     (n) "IAPMO" means International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials;

     (o) "NAUI" means National Association of Underwater Instructors;

     (p) "NSF" means National Sanitation Foundation;

     (q) "NSPI" means National Spa and Pool Institute;

     (r) "PADI" means Professional Association of Diving Instructors;

     (s) "UBC" means Uniform Building Code;

     (t) "UL" means Underwriters' Laboratories;

     (u) "WRF" means water recreation facility;

     (v) "WRPA" means Washington Recreation and Parks Association;

     (w) "WSDA" means Washington state department of agriculture; and

     (x) "YMCA" means Young Men's Christian Association.

     (3) Definitions:

     "Anti-entrapment system" means a device or system designed to prevent entrapment by pool or spa single main drains or single equalizer line outlets, including:

     (a) Safety vacuum release system (SVRS) that ceases operation of the pump, reverses the circulation flow, or otherwise provides a vacuum release at a suction outlet when a blockage is detected, that has been tested by an independent third party and found to conform to ASME/ANSI standard A112.19.17 or ASTM standard F2387;

     (b) Suction limiting vent system with a tamper-resistant atmospheric opening;

     (c) Gravity drainage system that utilizes a collector or balancing tank; and

     (d) Drain disablement that eliminates the use of suction outlets.

     "Approved" means the department or local health officer has stated in writing that the design plans and specifications are in accordance with this chapter.

     "Architect" means a registered architect currently licensed under chapter 18.08 RCW in Washington state.

     "ASME A112.19.8 standard" means the ASME A112.19.8-2007 Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs standard and the ASME A112.19.8a-2008 Addenda and the ASME A112.19.8b-2009 Addenda.

     "Attendant" means a person appointed by the owner or manager meeting the training requirements of this chapter who monitors activities and conditions for the purpose of ensuring bather safety.

     "Bathing beach" means a bathing place, together with buildings and appurtenances, on a natural pond, lake, stream, or other body of fresh or salt water that is open to the public for bathing by express permission of the owner, operated for a fee, or openly advertised as a place for bathing by the public.

     "Board" means the state board of health.

     "Branch line" means suction piping between a junction fitting and a suction outlet.

     "Commercial strength ammonia" means ammonia having a strength of twenty-six degrees Baume'.

     "Communication system" means any combination of devices permitting the passage of messages between personnel and/or personnel and bathers. Systems can include but are not limited to two-way radios, hard wired intercoms, horns, whistles, hand signals, direct voice, signs, or equivalent.

     "Contaminant" means any physical, chemical, or biological substance present in the WRF water which may adversely affect the health or safety of the bather or the quality of the water.

     "Cross-connection" means any physical arrangement connecting:

     (a) Potable water system directly or indirectly, with anything other than another potable water system; or

     (b) WRF pool to any water source capable of contaminating either the WRF pool, its components, or potable water source as a result of backflow.

     "Department" means the state department of health.

     "Deep water" means water greater than five feet in depth.

     "Diving envelope" means the minimum dimensions of an area within the pool necessary to provide entry from a diving board, platform, or pool decking intended for users to dive.

     "Engineer" means a registered professional engineer currently licensed under chapter 18.43 RCW.

     "Equalizer line outlet" means a suction outlet located on the pool wall below the waterline and connected by pipe to the body of a skimmer to prevent air from being drawn into the pump if the water level drops below the skimmer weir.

     "Fall zones" mean the areas under and around play toys where a person playing on them could fall. These areas should be free of obstacles or other equipment so that there's plenty of room. Basic guidelines include the following:

     (a) Fall zones should extend a minimum of six feet in all directions from the perimeter of the play toy equipment.

     (b) If the height of an adjacent play toy is thirty inches or more, the minimum distance between pieces of play equipment should be at least nine feet.

     "General use pool" means any swimming, spa, wading, or spray pool regulated by this chapter not meeting the definition of a "limited use pool."

     "Handhold" means a structure not over twelve inches above the water line around the perimeter of the pool wall, affording physical means for the bather to grasp the pool sides.

     "Illness or injury report" means the written record of all facts regarding an injury or illness associated with the WRF.

     "Innovative design feature" means a design feature, equipment, device, or operative procedure not specifically covered by these rules or chapter 246-262 WAC.

     "Junction fitting" means a pipe fitting in the shape of a "T" or a "Y" used to connect suction outlets to a pump or a balancing tank, and provides two branch line connections and one trunk line connection.

     "Licensed medical practitioner" includes medical doctor, osteopath, chiropractor, naturopath, and medical therapist currently licensed in Washington state.

     "Lifeguard" means a person meeting the training requirements of these rules appointed by the owner or manager to maintain surveillance over the bathers on the deck or in the pool and to supervise bather safety.

     "Lifeguard station" means designated work station of a lifeguard.

     "Lifesaving equipment" means emergency equipment and barrier protection.

     "Lifesaving Society" means the organization in Canada that establishes training requirements and standards for lifeguard training.

     "Limited use pool" means any swimming, spa, wading, or spray pool regulated by this chapter at an apartment, boarding home, condominium, fraternity, home owners association, hotel, mobile home park, motel, recreational vehicle park, sorority or rental housing unit for the use of the persons living or residing at the facility and their resident's invited guests.

     When organized programs are provided at the facility (including, but not limited to, formal swimming or diving lessons, swim meets, or exercise classes), for users besides those specified under the limited use category, the pool facility shall be considered to be a general use pool during periods of such activity.

     "Local health officer" means the health officer of the city, county, or city-county department or district or a representative authorized by the local health officer.

     "Main drain" means a submerged suction outlet for transferring water from a swimming pool, spa pool, or wading pool.

     "Outlet drain" means a drain for transferring water from a spray pool.

     "Owner" means a person owning and responsible for a WRF or their authorized agent.

     "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, corporation, company, association, club, government entity, or organization of any kind.

     "Physical plant" refers to pool shell, piping, lighting, ventilation, locker rooms, chemical storage rooms, mechanical rooms, or other structural facility components that are not readily modified. It does not include pumps, filters or disinfection systems.

     "Play toy" is a water feature added to a pool for use by bathers that provides activity or action that enhances the overall use of the water environment. Such feature may include, but not be limited to, fixed stationary features, inflatable or floatable equipment, or other equipment with the intent to invite bathers to play on or around the feature.

     "Pool" means swimming pool, wading pool, spray pool, or spa pool or the like.

     "Private club" means a group or organization requiring membership enrollment.

     "Radius of curvature" means the radius arc denoting the curved surface from the point of departure from the springline (vertical sidewall) of the pool to the pool bottom.

     "Response time" means time between bather distress and initiation of rescue assistance contact by a lifeguard in facilities providing lifeguards.

     "Recreational water contact facility" means an artificial water associated facility with design and operational features that provide patron recreational activity which is different from that associated with a conventional swimming pool and purposefully involves immersion of the body partially or totally in the water, and that includes but is not limited to water slides, wave pools, and water lagoons. These facilities are regulated by chapter 246-262 WAC.

     "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health.

     "Serious injury" means any injury:

     (a) Requiring emergency service response where a person requires medical treatment as determined by the emergency medical response personnel; or

     (b) Resulting in a person seeking medical attention at a medical facility, hospital emergency room or admittance to a hospital.

     "Shallow water" means water equal to or less than five feet in depth.

     "Shallow water lifeguard" means a person appointed by the owner or manager to supervise bather safety in water depths not exceeding five feet who meets the training requirements of this chapter.

     "Spa pool" means a pool designed for relaxation or recreational use where the user is usually sitting, reclining, or at rest and the pool is not drained, cleaned, and refilled for each user. The spa pool may include, but not be limited to, hydrojet circulation, hot water, cold water, mineral baths, air induction bubbles in any combination.

     "Spray pool" means a pool or artificially constructed depression for use by bathers in which water is sprayed, but is not allowed to pond in the bottom of the pool.

     "Springline" means the point where the pool wall breaks from vertical and begins its arc in the radius of curvature (for cove construction) to the bottom of the pool.

     "Suction outlet" means a fitting, fitting assembly and related components including the sump or bulkhead fitting, cover and hardware, that provides a localized low pressure area for the transfer of water from a water recreation facility. Types of suction outlets include main drains, equalizer line outlets, and submerged outlet drains.

     "Swimming pool" means any structure, basin, chamber, or tank containing an artificial body of water for swimming, diving, relaxation, or recreational bathing and having a depth of two feet or more at any point and including all associated facilities.

     "Swim spa" means a type of spa pool used primarily for stationary swimming.

     "Trunk line" means suction piping between a junction fitting and a pump or a balancing tank.

     "Turnover time" means the minimum time necessary to circulate the entire volume of the pool facility through the treatment system.

     "Wading pool" means any artificial pool of water equal to or less than two feet deep and intended for wading purposes.

     "Walking surface" means any surface used as a direct access surface for a pool area and the walking surface's change room facilities where the user is barefoot.

     "Water treatment operator" means the appointed person operating the physical and mechanical equipment and performing related water quality monitoring and associated record keeping for proper operation of the physical facility.

     "Water recreation facility (WRF)" means any artificial basin or other structure containing water used or intended to be used for recreation, bathing, relaxation or swimming, where body contact with the water occurs or is intended to occur and includes auxiliary buildings and appurtenances. The term includes, but is not limited to:

     (a) Conventional swimming pools, wading pools, and spray pools;

     (b) Recreational water contact facilities as defined under RCW 70.90.110 and regulated under chapter 246-262 WAC;

     (c) Spa pools and tubs using hot water, cold water, mineral water, air induction, or hydrojets; and

     (d) Any area designated for swimming in natural waters with artificial boundaries within the waters.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.90.120. 10-20-131, § 246-260-010, filed 10/5/10, effective 11/5/10. Statutory Authority: Chapters 70.90 and 43.20 RCW. 04-18-096, § 246-260-010, filed 9/1/04, effective 10/31/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.90.120. 92-02-020 (Order 226B), § 246-260-010, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 91-02-051 (Order 124B), recodified as § 246-260-010, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.90.120. 90-07-010 (Order 042), § 248-98-001, filed 3/12/90, effective 4/12/90; Regulation .98.001, effective 3/11/60.]