Pool Safety Standards Quiz

Pool Safety and Regulation Guidelines

• Depth markings must be clearly visible to individuals in the water.
• Wading pool and spa drains must be anti-vortex and secured.
• Pool drains should be secured and fastened with screws if they have holes.
• Immediate closure of the pool is required if filter equipment, chemical feed systems, or pumps stop working, or if the main drain cover is broken or missing.

Water Quality Standards

• Pools require Free Chlorine levels of 1.0-10.0ppm and Bromine levels of 2.0-10.0ppm.
• Wading pools and spas need Free Chlorine levels of 2.0-10.0ppm and Bromine levels of 2.0-10.0ppm.
• Chlorine levels should be one part per million in pools and two parts per million in wading pools or spas.

Chemical and Temperature Monitoring

• pH levels for all pools should range from 7.2 to 7.8.
• The temperature of heated pools should not exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The temperature of heated spas must not exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Daily recording of pool water temperature is necessary.
• Water quality checks must be conducted twice daily, at least six hours apart.

Inspection and Records

• At least one water quality test must be completed each day by the Certified Pool Operator (CPO).
• CPO must conduct a physical inspection and fill out the CPO checklist once per day.
• Total Alkalinity and Cyanuric Acid levels should be checked weekly.
• Daily written records of water quality need to be kept on-site for a minimum of six months.

Operational Requirements

• Pump and filtration systems must operate continuously, 24 hours a day.
• Pool water clarity should allow main drain covers to be visible from the deck.
• Pools must close due to the presence of algae, bacteria, lack of disinfectant, or fecal matter.

Safety Protocols and Signage

• Pools must be closed if glass, food, garbage, or human waste is introduced.
• In the event of fecal contamination in wading pools or spas, those should be drained and disinfected.
• A telephone must be mounted within the pool enclosure, with specified signage for emergencies.
• Signs must denote "WARNING - NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY" with letters at least four inches tall when lifeguards are absent.

Guidelines for Children and Pets

• Signs must indicate that children should not swim without adult supervision and adults should not swim alone.
• Prohibitions on pets and glass containers should be clearly posted.

Diving Regulations

• Pools not permitting diving or with depths less than five feet must display "NO DIVING" signs every 25 feet in at least four-inch letters.

Gates and Access Control

• Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, allowing closure from one inch open and from a fully open position.
• Self-closing/self-latching gates aren't required when lifeguards and gate attendants are present at all times.

Chemical Storage and Safety

• Chemicals should be stored in a weatherproof enclosure, kept dry and separate from electrical equipment.
• Chemical room access must be restricted, locked, and not opening to the pool area.
• Chemicals should be elevated off the ground with proper ventilation.

Certification and Equipment

• The pool operator must maintain current certifications from NSPF and Wake County as CPO.
• Pool safety equipment must include a 12-foot rigid pole with a body hook and either a rescue tube or a coast guard-approved ring buoy with a rope.

Incident Reporting

• The pool operator is required to report any deaths, serious injuries, or illness complaints related to the swimming pool to the local health department within two working days.

Spa Regulations

• For spas, a timer switch for the turbulence system must be present and set to a maximum of 15 minutes.

Miscellaneous Regulations

• Pets are strictly prohibited from entering pools.
• Indoor pools can apply for year-round permits, not exclusively indoor facilities.
• Each CPO needs to register annually with the health department and list the facilities under their care.