Swimming Pool Construction Guide

County of Orange, Health Care Agency, Environmental Health
1241 E. Dyer Rd., Ste. 120, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Telephone (714) 433-6074

When submitting swimming pool plans for approval, a Plan Check fee for their review, a Health Services fee, and 3 sets of plans at ¼"=1' scale with the following information are required:

1. Name and mailing address of owner.

2. Address of the pool to be constructed.

3. Name, address and telephone number of pool company or pool builder.

4. Scaled plot plan showing pool location in relationship to adjacent buildings.

5. Floor plan of restroom facilities (when necessary) to be used by bathers.

If the farthest living quarters are over 300 feet in travel distance from pool side, separate and adjacent restroom facilities will be required. If it is less than 300 feet from pool side to the farthest living quarters, the accompanying plot plan must have dimensions to scale that indicate restrooms will not be required.
 

Restroom Facility Requirements (When necessary)

1. Separate restrooms for both men and women, with access for the handicapped.

2. View screen for privacy.

3. Smooth, moisture resistant wall finishes throughout.

4. Floor must extend upwards onto wall at least 5" with an integrally coved junction and shall slope to floor drains.

5. Shower or showers with adequate drainage and hot and cold water.

6. Hand lavatory with single-service soap and towel dispensers and hot and cold water.

7. Drinking fountain in the pool area.

8. A water closet in each restroom (minimum).

9. Carpet is not allowed in toilet or shower rooms.
 

Profile View (Longitudinal section) drawn through the center line of the pool must indicate the following data:

1. Overall length dimension.

2. Distance from shallow end wall to point of break in bottom slope from shallow to deep portions.

3. Distance from break in bottom slope to main drain (maximum depth).

4. Distance from main drain (maximum depth) to deep end wall.

5. Depth at shallow end wall (maximum depth of 3½ feet at base of steps).

6. Depth at break in bottom slope.

7. Depth at main drain.

8. Location of safety line anchors.

9. Height of step risers.

10. Design and location of handrail(s).
 

Top VIew must indicate the following data:

1. Diving board (if any) location and distance from board center to side walls and any other diving board.

2. Skimmer and suction line locations and sizes.

3. Four inch wide, slip resistant tiles, of contrasting color, along bottom of pool where water depth is 4½ feet. (Note: Pool with a maximum depth of 5 feet or less is not required to provide the depth marking line).

4. Fill line location (permanently installed).

5. Location and sizes of returns and main drain line.

6. Location of ladder and grab rails, steps and safety handrails (upper rail must be at least twenty-eight inches above deck level.)

7. Pool light location and wattage.

8. Width of pool at main drain (fifteen feet minimum).

9. Location of equipment room or area, copper face piping line size, and required equipment location.
 

Equipment Specifications (size for six hour turnover rate).

1. Filter, make, square footage and model number.

2. Pump, make, model number and horsepower.

3. Skimmer, make, model number with equalizer line, if not connected to main drain. (One for each five hundred square feet of fractional part thereof).

4. Chlorinator, make and model number.

5. Flow indicator, make and model number.

6. Slurry funnel or if feeder required, indicate make, model number.

7. Influent and effluent pressure gauges.

8. Backwash line to sewer interceptor with air-gap and sight-glass as required.

9. Color of plaster (must be white).

10. Anti-siphon valve on fresh water fill line at supply valve.

11. Equipment room floors must be concrete and slope to drainage.
 

Supporting Data (Indicate or list the following data)

1. Pool capacity in total gallons.

2. Square footage of pool.

3. Dimensions of pool length and width.

4. Pipe sizes of return lines and suction lines, also type of piping to be used, (copper, PVC, etc.).

5. Four feet of paved and unobstructed decking completely around all pools (sloped away from pool at 1/2 to 3/8 inch to drains) including special use pools and wading pools. The distance between any pool and spa pool must be at least six feet.

6. Depth markers on both sides (at break, minimum and maximum depths) and ends. If the pool is over 20 feet wide, the pool must have corresponding depth markers in pool deck.

7. Location of hose bibs in the pool area for washing of deck area. (Antisiphon valves required).

8. Main drain grates must be screwdown type and IAPHO approved.

9. Two return inlets for the first 10,000 gallons or fractional part thereof. Locate minimum eighteen inches below the water line.
 

Safety Equipment

1. Sign indicating, "No Lifeguard on Duty. Children under the age of 14 should not use pool without an adult in attendance."

2. Artificial respiration demonstration sign.

3. Emergency telephone numbers sign.

4. No Diving Allowed sign (if pool maximum depth is 6 feet or under).

5. Test kit for pH and chlorine.

6. First-aid kit.

7. Body hook on a twelve foot pole.

8. Life-ring with a 3/16 inch attached line long enough to span maximum width of pool.

9. Occupant load sign. (1 bather/20 square feet).
 

Additional Requirements

1. Step treads must be twelve inches wide. Top curved steps must be at least eighteen inches wide. Step risers must not exceed twelve inches in height.

2. All pools must be enclosed by a minimum five foot high fence. Fence openings cannot exceed four inches. Gates must be self-latching with latch at least 3½ feet above walk or deck. (More stringent fence requirements as required by Building Departments will be acceptable).

3. Submit section view of coping, drawn to scale.

SWIMCON.GDE Rev 6-27-01