2000 Michigan Residential Code
Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs

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SECTION AG101
GENERAL

AG101.1 General:  The provisions of this appendix shall control the design and construction of swimming pools, spas and hot tubs installed in or on the lot of a one- and two-family dwelling.

SECTION AG102
DEFINITIONS

AG102.1 General:  For the purposes of these requirement, the terms used shall be defined as follows and as set forth in Chapter 2.

Above-ground/on-ground pool: See definition of  "swimming pool". 
Barrier: A fence, a wall, a building wall, the wall of an above-ground swimming pool or a combination thereof, which completely surrounds the swimming pool and obstructs access to the swimming pool. 
Hot tub: See definition of "swimming pool". 
In-ground pool: See definition of "swimming pool".
Residential:  That which is situated on the premises of a detached one- or two-family dwelling or a one-family townhouse not more than three stories in height.
Spa, non-portable:  See definition of "swimming pool".
Spa, portable:  A nonpermenent structure intended for recreational bathing, in which all controls, water-heating and water-circulating equipment are an integral part of the product.
Swimming Pool:  Any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 24 inches deep.  This includes in-ground, above-ground and on-ground swimming pools, hut tubs and spas.
Swimming Pool, Indoor:  A swimming pool which is totally contained within a structure and surrounded on all four sides by walls of said structure.
Swimming Pool, Outdoor:  Any swimming pool which is not an indoor pool.

SECTION AG103
SWIMMING POOLS

AG103.1 In-ground pools.  In-ground pools shall be designed and constructed in conformance with ANSI/NSPI-5 as listed in Section AG107.

AG103.2 Above-ground and on-ground pools.  Aboveground and on-ground pools shall be designed and constructed in conformance with ANSI/NSPI-4 as listed in Section AG107.

SECTION AG104
SPAS AND HOT TUBS

AG104.1.  Permanently installed spas and hot tubs.  Permanently installed spas and hot tubs shall be designed and constructed in conformance with ANSI/NSPI-3 as listed in Section AG107.

AG104.2 Portable spas and hot tubs.  Portable spas and hot tubs shall be designed and constructed in conformance with ANSI/NSPI-6 as listed in Section AG107.

SECTION AG105
BARRIER REQUIREMENTS

AG105.1 Application.  The provisions of this chapter shall control the design of barriers for residential swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.  These design controls are intended to provide protection against potential drowning and near-drownings by restricting access to swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.

AG105.2 Outdoor swimming pool.  An outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, aboveground or on-ground pool, hot tub or spa shall be provided with a barrier which shall comply with the following>

1.    The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches (1219 mm) above grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool.  The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches (51mm) measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool.  Where the top of the pool structure is above grade, such as an aboveground pool, the barrier may be at ground level, such as the pool structure, or mounted on top of the pool structure.  Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between the op of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier shall be 4 inches (102 mm).

2.    Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter (102mm) sphere.

3.    Solid barriers which do not have openings, such as a masonry or stone wall, shall not contact indentations or protrusions except for normal construction tolerances and tooled masonry joints.

4.    Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is less than 45 inches, the horizontal members shall be located on the swimming pool side of the fence.  Spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 1.75 inches in width.  Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1.75 inches in width.

5.    Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is 45 inches or more, spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 4 inches.  Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1.75 in width.

6.    Maximum mesh size for chain link fences shall be a 1.25 inch square unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the openings to not more than 1.75 inches.

7.    Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as a lattice fence, the maximum openings formed by the diagonal members shall not be more than 1.75 inches.

8.    Access gates shall comply with the requirements of Section AG105.2, Items 1 through 7, and shall be equipped to accommodate the locking device.  Pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device.  Gates other than pedestrian access gates shall have a self-latching device.  Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism and openings shall comply with the following:

    8.1    The release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, and

    8.2    The gate and barrier shall have no opening greater than 0.5 inch within 18 inches of the release mechanism.

9.    Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier one of the following conditions shall be met:

    9.1    The pool shall be equipped with a powered safety cover in compliance with ASTM F1346; or

    9.2    All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall shall be eqquiped with an alarm which produces an audible warning when the door and its screen, if present, are opened.  The alarm shall sound continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds immediately after the door is opened and be capable of being heard throughout the house during normal household activities.  The alarm shall automatically reset under all conditions.  The alarm system shall be equipped with manual means, such as touchpad or switch, to temporarily deactivate the alarm for a single opening.  Such deactivation shall last for not more than 15 seconds.  The deactivation switch(es) shall be located at least 54 inches (1372mm) above the threshold of the door; or

    9.3    Other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching devices, which are approved by the governing body, shall be acceptable so long as the degree of protection afforded is not less than the protection afforded by Item 9.1 or 9.2 described above.

10.    Where an aboveground pool structure is used as a barrier or where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, then:

    10.1    The ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access, or

    10.2    The ladder or steps shall be surrounded by a barrier which meets the requirements of Section AG105.2, Items 1 through 9.  When the ladder or steps are secured, loced or removed, any opening created shall not allow the passage of a 4-inch (102mm) sphere.

AG105.3 Indoor swimming pool.  All walls surrounding an indoor swimming pool shall comply with Section AG105.2, Item 9.

AG105.4 Prohibited locations.  Barriers shall be located so as to prohibit permanent structures, equipment or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.

AG105.5 Barrier exceptions.  Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover which complies with ASTM F1346, as listed in Section AG107, shall be exempt from the provisions of this appendix.

SECTION AG106
ABBREVIATIONS

AG106.1 General.  

ANSI - American National Standards Institute, 25 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY  10036

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA  19103

NSPI - National Spa and Pool Institute, 2111 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA  22314

SECTION AG107
STANDARDS

AG107.1 General.

ANSI/NSPI

ANSI/NSPI-3 Standard for Permanently Installed Residential Spas - AG104.1

ANSI/NSPI-4 Standard for Above-ground/On-ground Residential Swimming Pools - AG103.2

ANSI/NSPI-5 Standard for Residential In-ground Swimming Pools - AG103.1

ANSI/NSPI-6 Standard for Residential Portable Spas - AG104.2

ASTM

ASTM F1346-91 Standard Performance Specifications for Safety Covers and Labeling Requirements for All Covers for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs - AG105.2, AG105.5

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