Public Pool Regulations

(1) Subject to subsection (2), bathhouses must be designed on the assumption that half of the bathers will be male and half will be female.

(2) An officer may allow a bathhouse to be designed on a different ratio if there is a demonstrated need for the difference and there will still be facilities for both sexes.

(1) The maximum bather load a pool may accommodate is based on the following equation:

Maximum = Area of Pool (m²) bather load 1.5

(2) The number of bathers in the pool and on the pool deck at any one time must not exceed the maximum bather load.

(1) Before any recreational equipment is installed that may affect bather safety, the design and location of the equipment must be approved.

(2) Recreational equipment must be installed and used only in accordance with the specifications of the manufacturer.

(1) All indoor pools, and those outdoor pools operated after sundown, must have an approved lighting system which illuminates the pool water surface and pool deck.

(2) A bathhouse must be illuminated in an approved manner.

(1) Where artificial lighting is used, an independent emergency lighting system that operates automatically whenever the main lighting system fails must be provided.

(2) The emergency lighting system must be so designed as to illuminate the pool water surface, pool deck and bathhouse facilities to allow persons safe evacuation from the pool area.

(3) The emergency lighting system must be tested daily to ensure it is in good working condition.

(1) Subject to section 3.3, a bathhouse must contain

(2) Where a shower has both hot and cold water, it must be equipped with a temperature sensing valve on the hot water system to prevent scalding the user. R-117-92,s.6.

(1) Before the initial construction of a pool or bathhouse, the operator shall apply for permission from an officer and provide the officer with information on

(2) In the case of a class B pool, the operator shall submit plans and specifications for the pool prepared by a professional engineer.

(3) The officer shall consider the information supplied and, if the proposed pool or bathhouse conforms to these regulations, he or she shall give permission for initial construction of it to commence.

(4) Where the officer gives permission under subsection (3), the officer shall designate the type of pool to be constructed. R-117-92,s.8.

(1) No person shall operate a pool unless prior permission for its initial construction has been received from an officer.

(2) No person shall make any major changes to a pool or bathhouse or their location except with the permission of an officer.

(1) The pool operator shall maintain daily log sheets to record pool operating data each day the pool is in use.

(2) The log sheets must include

(1) Only clean water taken from an approved source shall be used in the pool.

(2) Pool water must be filtered by an approved method.

(3) The clarity of pool water must be such that a black disc, 15 cm in diameter on a white field, placed at the deepest point of the pool, is visible from the pool deck at a distance of at least 9 m.

(4) A disc must be kept available at all times for testing.

(1) Pool water must be disinfected with chlorine or another approved method.

(2) Where a method other than chlorine is approved, an officer shall advise the operator of the testing methods and the schedule the operator is to follow.

(3) An approved pool water test kit must be used for testing the pool water.

(1) Pool chemicals must be stored in a cool, dry, secure place away from the pool deck and the public.

(2) Pool chemicals shall only be handled by those persons authorized by the operator.

(1) A hydrogen-ion concentration test of the pool water must

(2) Where chlorine is used to disinfect pool water, a test for free chlorine in the pool water must

(3) Where chlorine is used to disinfect pool water, a test for combined chlorine in the pool water must

(4) Where bromine is used to disinfect pool water, a test for bromine residual in the pool water must

(5) Where cyanurate stabilization is maintained, a test for cyanuric acid concentration must

R-117-92,s.9.

(1) At least one bacteriological sample of the pool water a week must be submitted to a water testing laboratory for examination.

(2) A bacteriological sample must be collected in an approved bottle from below the water surface near an outlet, while the pool is in use.

(3) The coliform count in the pool water must not exceed two colonies for each 100 ml when the Standard Membrane Filter Technique is used.

(1) The operator shall ensure that there is no access to the pool deck by the public when the pool is closed.

(2) Spectators shall be restricted to spectator areas specifically designated by the operator.

(3) No person other than bathers, lifeguards and persons authorized by the operator shall use the pool deck.

(4) No person shall cause the deck and walkways to be obstructed at any time.

(5) The deck and walkways must not be cleaned with cleansers which leave a slippery residue. R-005-2003,s.3.

(1) The operator shall not allow any food or beverages in the pool area except in eating and drinking areas designated by the operator.

(2) Persons operating concession stands serving food or drink near the pool shall not use glass containers to distribute their goods.

(3) No person shall use glass containers in or near the bathhouse or pool.

(4) No person shall consume alcohol or smoke in or near the bathhouse or pool.

(1) Every pool must be equipped with at least the following pieces of equipment:

(2) An explanation of emergency procedures must be prominently displayed in an area used by pool staff.

(3) Emergency procedures must be practised regularly by all pool staff and an in-service training log shall be kept indicating the procedures covered during these practices.

(1) No person shall enter the bathhouse or pool enclosure if that person

(2) An operator may ask a person to produce a medical certificate stating that a disease, infection or health condition is not transmissible in a pool or bathhouse. R-117-92,s.10.

(1) No person under the influence of drugs or alcohol shall enter the area of the pool or bathhouse.

(2) An operator shall not allow a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or appearing to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, to enter the area of the pool or bathhouse.

(1) When a pool is open for public use the operator shall ensure that adequate qualified staff are on duty as set out for class A and class B pools in Parts II and III respectively.

(2) Operators shall have on record up-to-date proof of staff qualifications and these records shall be made available to an officer on request.

(1) Lifeguard supervision is not required

WARNING: NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY BATHERS UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE ARE NOT ALLOWED WITHIN THE POOL ENCLOSURE UNLESS SUPERVISED BY A PARENT OR ADULT AT LEAST 16 YEARS OF AGE.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(d), an officer may require the operator of a semi-private pool to provide lifeguard supervision where

(3) For the purposes of this section, "recreational equipment" includes

but does not include

R-117-92,s.12.

(1) An officer may at any time enter and inspect any pool or bathhouse to ensure that the facility and its design and operation comply with these regulations.

(2) An officer may conduct any test he or she deems necessary to ensure the health and safety of bathers.

(3) Where, in the opinion of an officer, any provision of these regulations is not being observed the officer may issue such directions to the operator as are necessary to ensure compliance with these regulations.

(1) An officer may order the operator to close the pool to the public where the operator fails to comply with these regulations.

(2) Where an officer is satisfied that a condition exists in or around a pool not otherwise provided for in these regulations which may become injurious to public health or hinder the prevention or mitigation of disease, he or she may order the pool to be closed to the public.

(3) The officer shall notify the operator in writing as soon as practicable after issuing the order to close the pool indicating the reasons for the closure and offering suggestions as to how to resolve the condition which justified the closure.

(4) A pool ordered closed by an officer shall remain closed until the officer is satisfied that the circumstances justifying the order to close the pool have been rectified.

(1) Where the operator of a pool objects to a closure order issued under section 52, he or she may within seven days of receipt of the order appeal in writing to the Minister.

(2) On receipt of the appeal, the Minister shall cause such inspections to be made and hear such representations as he or she deems advisable, following which he or she may affirm, amend or rescind the order of closure.

(3) The decision of the Minister is final.

(1) This Part applies only to class A pools.

(2) The provisions of this Part apply in addition to those of Part I.

(1) The pool site must be designed so that surface water on the land around the site drains away from the site.

(2) The pool site must be located away from any source of pollution.

(3) The pool tank must be located entirely above ground to facilitate its erection and dismantling and the walls of the tank shall not exceed 1.5 m in height.

(4) The pad on which the pool sits must be level, stable and, if constructed of gravel, protected from erosion.

(5) The perimeter of the pad for the pool must be designed so that water does not accumulate under the deck or at the base of the pool tank.

(1) A barrier or guard-rail at least 1 m in height must surround the entire outer perimeter of the deck except at the exit and entry points.

(2) Stairs with a non-skid finish and handrails must be provided at all deck exit and entry points.

(1) A pool may be erected and operated near existing dressing, shower, toilet and hand-washing facilities if, in the opinion of an officer, these facilities are in a satisfactory sanitary condition and are safely accessible.

(2) A walkway at least 1 m wide must be provided between the shower area and the pool.

(3) A walkway must be of a material that is easily cleaned.

(1) Chlorine may be manually added to the pool after the chlorine has been dissolved in water.

(2) If chlorine is manually added to the pool, it must be evenly distributed over the surface of the pool.

(3) The pool must be closed to bathers while chlorine is added to the pool water and must remain closed to bathers for at east one hour after chlorine is added.

(1) The operator of a class A pool shall ensure that staff are on duty while the pool is open for public use in accordance with the bather-lifeguard ratios as set out in Schedule A.

(2) An assistant lifeguard shall not supervise bathers alone.

(3) A lifeguard may act instead of an assistant lifeguard but an assistant lifeguard shall not act instead of a lifeguard.

(1) This Part applies only to class B pools.

(2) The provisions of this Part apply in addition to those of Part I.

(1) One recessed set of stairs or one ladder must be provided at the shallow end of a pool if the water depth exceeds 1 m.

(2) One ladder must be provided at the deep end of the pool.

(3) A ladder in the deep end of the pool must be placed so as to direct the swimmers away from any diving board or diving area.

(4) Recessed steps with grab-rails may be used in place of a ladder.

(1) A diving board or platform must be rigidly constructed and properly anchored at the base with sufficient bracing to ensure stability under the heaviest load rated for it by the manufacturer.

(2) There must be no less than 5 m of free, unobstructed space above a diving board or platform.

(3) There must be no less than 3 m of free, unobstructed space surrounding the sides and front of a diving board or platform down to the water.

(4) Guard-rails must be provided around all portions of a diving board or platform not over the water where it is more than 1 m above the pool deck.

(5) A diving board or platform and its steps must have a non-slip surface.

(1) A pool must be equipped with at least one lifeguard tower.

(2) Lifeguard towers must be elevated between 1.2 m and 1.8 m above the pool deck and must be anchored securely to permit the lifeguard to ascend and descend quickly and safely.

(3) Portable lifeguard chairs may be used instead of lifeguard towers if they permit safe and quick ascent and descent.

(1) Pools must have separate showers, toilets and hand-washing facilities for each sex.

(2) Change rooms, toilets, showers and hand- washing facilities must be well ventilated.

(3) Lavatories must be equipped with a hand basin, running water, soap and towel dispensers and waste baskets.

(1) A telephone that is easily accessible to persons authorized by the operator must be provided for emergency use.

(2) A list of emergency telephone numbers for the nearest available medical assistance, ambulance service, police and fire department and emergency maintenance personnel must be posted conspicuously next to each telephone.

(1) In this section, "wave action machine" means a device designed to produce waves in the water of a pool.

(2) A pool equipped with a wave action machine must be equipped with an alarm system designed to provide an audible and visible warning signal.

(3) A wave action machine must not be activated in a pool unless the alarm system is first used to provide sufficient warning to enable bathers to leave the pool before the commencement of wave action.

(1) A hypochlorinator or other adjustable output rate chemical reading equipment must conform to the Joint National Swimming Pool Institute - National Sanitation Foundation standard relating to "adjustable output rate chemical feeding equipment for swimming pools" and shall bear the seal of a federally approved testing laboratory.

(2) A hypochlorinator must be equipped so as to prevent siphoning when installed above the surface of the pool water.

(1) Where elemental chlorine is used, a water operated gas chlorinator must be used which controls and regulates the flow of the gas.

(2) The chlorinator referred to in subsection (1) must provide an automatic shut-off of gas when water pressure fails and must vent gas leakage to the outside atmosphere.

(1) Where gaseous chlorination equipment is used, the provisions of this section shall apply.

(2) The mechanical proportioning device and all cylinders of chlorine must be housed in a gas-tight, corrosion-resistant and mechanically-vented chlorinator room of sufficient size to house the chlorinator and as many extra tanks of gas as may be used.

(3) The chlorinator room must store only the chlorination equipment.

(4) A separate mechanical exhaust ventilation system for the chlorinator room must be installed which gives one complete air change a minute.

(5) Switches for fans and lights must be placed outside the chlorinator room at the entrance, with a signal light which indicates when the ventilation fan is operating.

(6) The air outlet from the chlorinator room must be 15 cm above the floor and the point of discharge must be located so as not to contaminate air inlets to buildings used by the public.

(7) Air inlets must be located near the ceiling of the chlorinator room.

(8) The air temperature in the chlorinator room must be kept at such a level that it does not adversely affect the chlorination equipment.

(9) The vent hose from the chlorine feed equipment must discharge to the outside atmosphere above the ground and in a location not used by the public.

(10) While in use chlorine cylinders must be set on a scale which shows the weight of the cylinder.

(11) A chlorinator room must be heated to at least 15°C but must be protected from excessive heating.

(12) Cylinders must be protected from temperatures above that of the chlorine feed equipment.

(13) Two gas masks must

(14) All pools must use an audible and visual monitor alarm system which activates in the event of a chlorine leak emergency.

(15) There must be an inside window to the chlorinator room and enough artificial illumination in the room so that the chlorinator and its operating parts are visible at all times from the outside of the chlorinator room.

(16) All chlorine cylinders housed in the chlorinator room must be securely positioned to prevent them from falling.

(17) The apparatus and cylinder valves must be checked for leaks of chlorine gas by the use of aqueous ammonia at least once a week.

(18) A supply of aqueous ammonia must be available at all times but must not be stored in the chlorinator room.

(19) The operator shall make a specific person responsible for the chlorination operations and ensure that that person is trained in the performance of routine operations, emergency procedures and leak control procedures.

(1) The operator of a class B pool shall ensure that staff are on duty when the pool is open for public use in accordance with the bather-lifeguard ratios as set out in Schedule B.

(2) An assistant lifeguard shall not supervise bathers alone.

(3) There must never be more assistant lifeguards than lifeguards supervising the pool at any time.

(4) A lifeguard may act instead of an assistant lifeguard but an assistant lifeguard shall not act instead of a lifeguard.

(1) Operators of pools designated as spa pools must conform to the requirements of this Part.

(2) Where there is a conflict between this Part and another Part of these regulations, this Part applies. R-117-92,s.13.