News Flash

Code: 6-1.29 Swimming Pool Design Standards 5.1 – Shape (https://regs.health.ny.gov/content/section-6-129-swimming-pool-design-standards)

The Shape of any swimming pool shall be such that the circulation of pool water and control of swimmers’ safety are not impaired. 

• This will require a computational fluid dynamic model to submit to New York State Department of Health of review/acceptance. 
• Based upon experience, the current configuration would not pass in a bowl configuration, there will be dead spots.

Code: 6-1.29 Swimming Pool Design Standards 5.0 – Demarcation

5.4 – Area Marked – The boundary line between the shallow and deep areas shall be marked with a four-inch strip of contrasting color on the floor and walls of pool, and by a safety rope and floats equipped with float keepers. 

• Shape of pool is difficult to provide delineation of depths required by code.
• Current demarcation of water depth does not meet code. 

Code: 6-1.29 Swimming Pool Design Standards 9.5 Overflow Systems

 All pools shall be designed to provide continuous skimming (removal of surface water)… The gutter system shall be designed for continuous removal of water from the pool’s upper surface at a rate of at least 100 percent of the recirculation rate. 

• This will require a computational fluid dynamic model to submit to New York State Department of Health of review/acceptance. 
• Based upon experience, the current configuration would not pass in a bowl configuration, there will be dead spots.

Code: 6-1.29 Swimming Pool Design Standards 9.5.1.3 Surge Capacity

All overflow systems shall be designed with an effective surge capacity of not less than one gallon for each square foot of pool surface area. Surge shall be provided within a surge tank, in the gutter or filter above the normal flow line, or elsewhere in the system. Surge tanks, gutters and filter tanks should have overflow pipes to convey excess water to waste. Surge tanks shall be provided with means for complete draining.

• Water Surface Area - 70,894 sf (1.6 acres)
• Surge Requirements – 1gal/sf = 70,894 gallons for surge capacity

Code: 6-1.11 Treatment – Turnover Rate (https://regs.health.ny.gov/content/section-6-111-treatment)

(Existing Pool is grandfathered for an eight-hour turnover rate)

                        Flow rate 3,438 gpm.

(New Pool Facility must meet a minimum turnover rate of six-hours per NYS DOH requirements)

                        Flow rate 4,583 gpm. 

In addition, the zero entry portion of the pool basin (2 ft or less) requires the volume to be turned over every 2 hours: 120 min

                        Flow rate: 2,433 gpm

This will require two large systems for the single body of water, higher flow rates, and a larger filtration building. 

Code: 6-1.29 Swimming Pool Design Standards 10.0 Filtration (https://regs.health.ny.gov/content/section-6-129-swimming-pool-design-standards)

• Filtration requirements 
  • Hi-rate sand 330 square feet of filter area
    • 8 horizontal 5’ dia. x 10’ long
    • 2 triple cell 8’ dia. x 12’ tall
  • Diatomaceous earth (DE) filter 3,300 square feet of filter area
    • 3 filters 5’ dia. x 9.5’ tall 
  • Perlite/Regenerative Media Filter.. (double cost)
    • 3 filters 5’ dia. x 12’ tall 
• Pumping requirements
  • (3) 50 hp Pumps or (2) 60 hp Pumps
  • Note: Pumps over 40 hp are not typically shelf stock. A redundant pump system would be necessary in the event of system failure. This is double the cost, and an increase in power service to facility.

Code: 6-1.29 Swimming Pool Design Standards 11.0 Disinfection

Due to unique cone shape of pool, a hydrodynamic model will be necessary to illustrate that the pool will mix per code requirements.

NYS DOH approval for hydrodynamic model is necessary.

Potential for NYS DOH to not accept approach.

• Note: In the event of an Accidental Fecal Release (AFR), the facility would need to be shut-down for a day or more.
  • Water Volume: 1,650,000 gallons required chlorination to 10ppm prior to re-opening of facility.
  • The entire facility could be closed for more than one full day.

Code: 6-1.29 Swimming Pool Design Standards - 5.8 Ladders and Access 

Recessed steps, ladders or stairs shall be provided at the shallow and deep ends. Recessed steps or ladders shall be provided in the deep portion. If the pool is over 30 feet wide, such steps, ladders or stairs shall be installed on each side. 

However, with a bowl configuration, this is not possible, resulting in the following:

1. Increase chances of fecal incidence, due to inability for patrons to existing pool facility quickly as possible.
2. Potential increase in patron rescues, due to inability for patrons to exit pool facility under own abilities.
3. Challenges for water rescue and response times for lifeguards throughout the pool facility, and the ability to stabilize injured patrons with backboards and other emergency equipment.

Code: 6-1.23 - Supervision (https://regs.health.ny.gov/volume-title-10/913456451/section-6-123-supervision)

At least one aquatic supervisory staff of at least the required Supervision Level (certified Lifeguard) shall be provided for each 3,400 square feet of pool surface area or fraction thereof at pools required to use Supervision Levels II-III personnel. When pools exceed 3,400 square feet of pool surface area at least one additional aquatic supervisory staff (lifeguard) shall be provided when the number of bathers exceeds or is likely to exceed 50 percent of the pool bather capacity, based on 25 square feet of pool surface area per bather.

• Water Surface Area - 70,894 sf (1.6 acres)
• One Lifeguard per 3,400 sf of surface area
  • Requires: 21 guards +1 = 22 lifeguards to meet code requirements for life safety coverage.  Total of 44 lifeguards to staff daily. 

                        Average pay = $16.32/hr results staffing Lifeguard costs of:

                        $35,185.92 / week

                        $422,231.04 / 12 week summer season

• Total lifeguard staffing of current levels is not sustainable in NYS.  
• Zero entry around the entire perimeter of 1.6 acres of pool surface area requires guards to be in the pool in order to provide coverage for up to the 4 foot depth & deeper areas of the pool.
• Additional lifeguards required for shallow portions of the pool.
• In the event that there is a shortage of lifeguards, only a portion of the pool may be utilized at one time.