Spa Pools, Whirlpools and Hot Tubs
Construction
All pools must be watertight with an impervious, smooth and easily cleaned surface which is light in color. Molded fiberglass pools are acceptable. Redwood hot tubs are not allowed.
Materials used for deck construction must be inert, non-toxic, impervious, and easily cleanable, such as sealed concrete or unglazed ceramic tile. Wood decking in not permitted.
The access side of the whirlpool must be provided with a 5-foot wide deck free from fixed obstructions. If a 5-foot deck is not provided on the other sides of the spa pool, then those sides of the pool must be placed within 12 inches of a wall or similar barrier as measured from the vertical pool wall to the barrier.
Where access is provided by sitting on the edge of a raised pool and swinging the legs into the pool, deck requirements above must be met, the pool must be no less than 18 inches nor more than 20 inches above the deck, steps with equal risers and 12 inch minimum treads must be provided outside the pool which line up with the steps inside the pool, and the pool edge must not exceed 12 inches in width.
Steps with handrails leading into the pool must be provided and be of nonslip design and have a minimum tread of 12 inches and a maximum rise of 10 inches. Steps in molded fiberglass units must closely approximate the required dimensions.
Skimmers are required on spa pools, and the piping from the skimmers must be designed to handle at least 80 percent of the required filter flow of the recirculation system. No skimmer shall be designed for a flow-through rate of less than 30 gallons per minute.
Go to > top
Main drains must allow complete drainage of the pool. The main drain must consist of a grate-covered opening at least 100 square inches in size or a bottom opening with an anti-vortex cover. Skimmers and main drains must be valved separately to permit balancing of the recirculation flow.
The recirculation rate of the spa pool must be sufficient to provide a 30 minute turnover or at least 30 gpm per skimmer, whichever is greater.
A rate-of-flow indicator located on the pool return line must be provided.
An inline thermometer located near the outlet to the pool is required.
Spa pools must have an automatic disinfectant feeder which is installed to permit continuous operation.
Spa pools must have at least two remotely located inlets for the water treatment recirculation system.
Filters, pumps, and disinfection feeders must comply with NSF International Standard 50 requirements.
The agitation system must be separate from the water treatment recirculation system. The agitation whirlpool pump must be controlled by a 15-minute maximum timer with the switch accessible to pool users but at least five feet from the pool.
If sidewall suction fittings are used, the agitation whirlpool pump must have at least two inlets, remotely located, for safety.
Make-up water supply to the pool or recirculation system must be protected by an appropriate backflow prevention device, or a fixed air gap.
The minimum clearance between the top of the pool rim and the ceiling must be no less than seven feet, although higher ceilings are recommended.
All indoor pools, bathhouses, dressing rooms, shower rooms, and toilet spaces shall be adequately ventilated by mechanical means. Equipment rooms must have natural or mechanical ventilation.
If a sauna is located in the spa pool area, shower provisions must be immediately accessible to the area to permit showering between sauna and pool use.
Deck drains must be provided for indoor pools, and they must be indirectly connected to the plumbing drainage system in such a way as to preclude the possibility of sewage back-up onto the pool deck.
Carpet must not be used within 10 feet of any pool.
Go to > top
Operation
Whirlpools should be completely drained at least once a week to prevent buildup of organic material and permit maintenance of proper water chemistry.
When chlorine is used, a free chlorine residual of at least 2.0 parts per million, but no more than 5.0 parts per million, must be maintained throughout the pool. When bromine is used, a residual of at least 4.0 parts per million, but no more than 10.0 parts per million, must be maintained throughout the pool.
The pH must be maintained between 7.2 and 8.0.
The maximum allowed temperature in a pool is 104-degrees Fahrenheit.
The water treatment recirculation system must operate continuously.
Records must be kept of all testing for disinfectant residual, pH, alkalinity, cyanuric acid, and temperature.
A sign embodying personal regulations and instructions must be posted. This sign must include showering requirements, persons with infectious or communicable diseases are not permitted in the pool, no running, no spitting, no glassware, no diving, no pets. Also, a sign containing instructions regarding emergency calls must be prominently posted and a “no lifeguard on duty, children must be accompanied by an adult” sign. Also, a sign warning against use while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, if pregnant or suffering from heart or blood pressure problems or diabetes except under advice of a physician, and that a reasonable time limit must be observed.
The lifesaving equipment, and “no diving” sign requirements for a swimming pool are not required for a spa pool installation. Depth markers are required for all spa pools.
Spa pools must be limited to one user for each three linear feet of seating space provided in the spa pool, as measured along the front edge of the seats.
Go to > top
The owner or operator must designate a trained operator to operate the pool in accordance with Minnesota Rule, parts 4717.0150 to 4717.3975. The trained operator must be certified as successfully completing a pool operator training course as specified. Acceptable training courses are:
A) the National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool Operator course;
B) the National Spa and Pool Institute Tech l and Tech ll courses (both
required); or
C) the National Recreation and Park Association Aquatic Facility Operator
Course.
A certified trained operator must successfully complete a training course as specified at least once every five years. A copy of the trained operator’s training certificate must be posted at the facility whenever the pool is open for use.
An operations manual must be available that provides operational information to all pool equipment.
Go to > top