Pool & Spa Inspections
"A pool inspection can identify and address any possible issues or risks with your swimming pool.
10. Where an above ground 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:
the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of
access is a ladder or steps, then:
(a) The ladder to the pool or steps should be capable of being
secured, locked or removed to prevent access; or
secured, locked or removed to prevent access; or
(b) The ladder or steps should be surrounded by a barrier. When
the latter or steps are secured, locked or removed, any
opening created should not allow the passage of a 4-inch
diameter sphere.
the latter or steps are secured, locked or removed, any
opening created should not allow the passage of a 4-inch
diameter sphere.
Pool & Spa Inspection
Our objective Is to:
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Provide you with a visual non-destructive inspection of the pool &/or spa.
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Identify safety issues, hazards and address your concerns.
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Provide knowledge of common maintenance recommendations.
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Complete a water sample/Test (Extra Charges Apply)
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Provide you with an inspection & safety procedural checklist.
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Provide you with a written assessment.
Safety Barriers
Barrier Locations
Barriers should be located so as to prohibit permanent structures, equipment or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.
Each year in Canada, about 100 children under five years old drown in swimming pools and spas, usually a pool or spa owned by their family. In addition, more than 1000 children in that age group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries. The following information can help provide young children with the protection they deserve.
Barriers should be located so as to prohibit permanent structures, equipment or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.
Each year in Canada, about 100 children under five years old drown in swimming pools and spas, usually a pool or spa owned by their family. In addition, more than 1000 children in that age group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries. The following information can help provide young children with the protection they deserve.
Most jurisdictions require some type of barrier at a pool and spa to prevent drowning. Sometimes, the barrier is surrounding the pool, but not the spa. Be sure not to overlook the issues of barriers when inspecting the spa.
Health Matters - Pool Inspections
Health Matters - Pool Inspections
Pool Inspection Tips
To have adequate and functional water flow through the pool system, there are several things that need to be in good shape:
- There has to be enough water in the pool or spa. Check the level of the water.
- There shouldn’t be any water leaks at the plumping connections or equipment.
- All of the valves should be fully open.
- There should not be any trapped air in the system. Air at the filter tank should be purged routinely.
- The skimmer and Main drain should be clear of blockage and debris. Skimmers require cleaning.
- The strainer pot at the pump should be cleaned and routinely.
- There might be an ambience of the water chemistry, causing scaling. Check first scale causing clogging or restriction of water flow.
Things that make you think?
Pool & Spa Tidbits…Did you know?
Electrical
There is great potential of electrical shock hazards around a swimming pool or spa. Due to waters conductive properties, it provides a path for fault current, through the water to the earth. When a bather touches an energized metal component, the fault current path through that bather could be fatal.
A swimmer floating in a pool, not touching anything but the surrounding water, could become part of a fault current path, too. If an electrical device, such as a portable radio, falls into the swimming pool, an electrical potential might be created in the pool that could cause the person to be surrounded by different levels of voltage in the water, acting like the conductor.
Receptacles
- In measuring clearances between a pool or spa and the receptacle, measure the distance as the shortest path that an appliance supply cord connected to the receptacle would follow without penetrating a floor, wall, ceiling, doorway, window or other defective permanent barrier.
- Only a receptacles for specific equipment are permitted between 5 and 10 feet from the inside wall of the pool. They must be a single receptacle of the locking and grounding type, so that a typical radio, for example, could not be plugged into it. The receptacle must also be GFCI protected. There must not be any receptacle that is supplying power to appliances within 10 feet of the inside wall of the pool or spa.
- At least one 125 volt, 15 or 20 ampere receptacle is required to be installed. It should be located within 10 feet (and not further than 20 feet) from the inside wall of a pool or spa. This required receptacle should not be higher than 6 feet and 6 inches from the floor, platform or ground at the pool or indoor spa. This receptacle is not required for outdoor spas or hot tubs.
- All 15 and 20 ampere, single phase, 125 volt receptacles located within 20 feet of the inside wall of the pool or spa shall be protected by a GFCI. This is for portable and permanent pools and spas, indoor or outdoor. Receptacles that supply electricity to pumps rated at 15 or 20 amperes shall provide GFCI protection, regardless of their location.
Swimming Pool Inspection Checklist
An outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, above ground, or on ground pool, hot tub or spa, should be provided with a barrier that complies with the following standards:
- The top of the barrier should be at least 48 inches above grade, measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between the grade and the bottom of the barrier should be 4 inches, measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool. Where the top of the pool structure is above grade, such as an above ground pool, the barrier may be at ground level, such as at 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 top of the pool structure and the bottom barrier should be 4 inches.
- Openings in the barrier should not allow the passage of a 4 inch diameter sphere.
- Solid barriers that do not have openings, such as masonry or stone wall, should not contain indentations or protrusions, except for normal construction tolerances and tooled masonry joints.
- 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 should be located on the swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between vertical members should not exceed 1 ¾ inches in width. Where there are a decorative cutouts, spacing with in the cutouts should not exceed 1 ¾ inches in width.
- 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 should not exceed 4 inches. Where there are decorative cutouts, spacing within the cutouts should not exceed 1 ¾ inches in width.
- The maximum that mesh size for the chain link fence should not exceed 1 ¾ inches square, unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom, which reduces the opening to no more than 1 ¾ inches.
- Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as lattice vents, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal member should be no more than 1 ¾ inches.
- Access gates to the pool should be equipped to accommodate a locking device. Pedestrian access gates should open outward, away from the pool, and should be self -closing and have a self -latching device. Gates other than pedestrian access gates should have a self -latching device. Where the mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate:
(a) Release mechanism should be located on the poolside of the gate
at least 3 inches below the top of the gate.
(b) The gate and barrier should have no opening greater than at 1/2
inch within 18 inches of the release mechanism.
- Where a wall of the dwelling serves as part of the barrier, one of the
following should apply:
Indoor Pools, Chloramines and Air Quality
- All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall should be equipped with an alarm which produces an audible warning when the door and its screen, if present, are opened. The alarm should sound continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds within 7 seconds after the doors opened. The alarm should have a minimum sound pressure rating of 85 dB at 10 feet, and the sound of the alarm should be distinctive from other household sounds, such as smoke alarms, telephones and doorbells. The alarm should automatically reset under all conditions. The alarm should be equipped with Manual means, such as touch pads or switches, to temporarily deactivate the alarm for a single opening of odour from either direction. Such deactivation should last for no more than 15 seconds. The deactivation touch pads or switches should be located at least 54 inches above the threshold of the door.
- Other means of protection, such as self -closing doors with self-latching devices, are acceptable so long as the degree of protection afforded is not less than the protection afforded by (a) or (b) described above.
