The first comprehensive swimming pool and spa code to upgrade pool safety will be available in March 2012 for adoption by jurisdictions and use by contractors. The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) is published by the International Code Council and will allow code enforcement officials, designers, and builders to more effectively ensure that pools and spas are built safely.
There are currently a multitude of differing pool codes used across the country that lack consistency and are not updated regularly. By adopting the ISPSC, the industry and the public will benefit from nationwide uniformity, advances in safety and technology, and for the first time, unprecedented protection for users of commercial and residential aquatic facilities.
The code specifies that suction fittings for all aquatic vessels must be in accordance with APSP 16, a federal requirement adopted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
It also mandates that occupant loads for decks around water park aquatic vessels should be increased from one person per 15 square feet to 50 square feet. Operator experience indicates deck areas in these types of facilities are often overcrowded, leading to concerns about egress problems during an emergency.
