SWIMMING POOL, SPAS, HOT TUB REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES (Updated 3/2018) POOL/SPA CHECKLIST Submittal of two (2) sets of plans is required for permit issuance. Obtain approval from the Planning/Zoning Division and from Building Department. A swimming pool or hot tub and related equipment may occupy a required rear yard or side yard but shall not be within five feet (5 ) of a property line. Section 10.52.080 Show location of all existing underground and overhead utilities. Electrical service conductors and other open overhead wiring cannot cross over pools/spas within 10 feet horizontally and 22.5 clearance in any direction to the water level shall be required or a special cable must be installed. Contact Southern California Edison Company for special cable installation. See attached handout. Show location of pool equipment. Pool heater vent shall be: o A minimum 4 feet below or horizontally from any opening into any building. o Not less than 1 foot above any opening into any building. o Not less than 4 feet from any property line except a public way. Clearly show all enclosure fencing and locations of access gates. Provide information regarding the length of the pool enclosure fencing. Per Senate Bill No. 442, provide 2 of 7 listed safety features. Handout included, please circle and add to plans. Illustrate all existing conditions of fencing being used as part of the pool/spa enclosure. Show grade differences, planters or structures that may provide ladder type access over the enclosure from neighboring sites. Provide section detail on the plans. Cross-reference all details used on the pool/spa plan and delete those not used. Engineer of record must design special detailing for rockscapes and slides. All structurally built pools/spas require engineered plans and specifications stamped and wet signed by a licensed engineer. Some in-ground fabricated pool/spas require engineering plans. All fabricated pool/spas are required to have recognized listings by approved listing agencies. When providing door alarms, note on plans: Audible alarms at doors opening to pools shall be at least 85 dba when measured 10 feet away from the alarm mechanism and should sound for at least 30 seconds within 7 seconds after the door is opened. [UL 2017/ ASTM F2208] Show and identify all glazing within 5 feet of pool or spa water s edge. Glazing within 5 feet of the water edge and less than 60 inches above poolside grade shall be safety glazing. All equipment must be U.L. listed and provided for the building inspector. Provide a pool floor plan to show layout of rebar and spacing. All below ground vaults need shoring. All suction outlets shall be covered with antientrapment grates that cannot be removed except with the use of tools, as specified in the ANSI/APSP-16. Page 1 of 7
UNDERGROUND VAULT REQUIREMENTS: Vault: A room with one or more exterior walls more than 3 below grade or an entry more than 3 above any part of the vault floor. The location of the vault must be on the site plan A cross section must be provided indicating rebar placement, wall thickness and height as designed by an engineer. A scaled floor plan indicating the location, the code required work area, and the access to all equipment must be provided. A fixed metal ladder shall be installed when the vault entry is located more than 3 above the floor of the vault. The ladder must be made of corrosion resistant material. A switched light with the switch located near the entry shall be provided. When the entry threshold is more than 1-1/2 above the floor of the vault, the floor shall slope at ¼ per foot to a sump served by an ejector draining to the P-trap. All code required work area and access to all equipment must be maintained. Electrical panel boards must have a minimum working height of 6-6 located at a minimum 30 wide by 36 deep work area. A disconnect shall be installed for all electrical equipment unless the circuit breaker is within 50 and in a clear line of site from the served equipment. All electrical wiring methods and materials must be in a wet location. When a fuel gas appliance is installed in a vault with entry 3 above the floor, a hardwired, batterybackup carbon monoxide detector shall be installed. If a B vent appliance is installed, combustion air calculations prepared by a licensed mechanical engineer must be submitted. Page 2 of 7
Job Address The following list is now part of the plans and shall be kept attached to the approved plans. The items listed herein are reminders of some of the Codes. Others may be noted by the Inspectors during the course of the job. INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS 1. Overhead Wire Clearance: Electrical service conductors and other open overhead wiring cannot cross over pools/spas within ten (10) feet horizontally or a special cable must be installed. Contact Southern California Edison Company for special cable installation. 2. Main Drain: All types of pools and spas shall have anti-vortex drains with listed outlet covers. Spas are required to have two (2) outlets separated by a minimum of three (3) feet, or located on two different planes. All circulating piping connected to the pool/spa system shall be pressure tested with a minimum of thirty-five (35) pounds constant pressure for 15 minutes. 3. Steel: All reinforcing steel shall be deformed bars conforming to A.S.T.M. A615 graded. All pool construction shall conform to expansive soil details. Minimum clearance between earth and steel to be three (3) inches. A 9 in.² listed bonded plate must be installed, in contact with the pool water, for steel inspection. [2010 CEC 680.26 (c)] 4. Electrical Bonding: All metallic parts of the pool/spa structure, reinforcing steel, light fixture housings, metal ladders, diving boards, and any metal objects within five (5) feet of pool edge shall be bonded with a minimum of a #8 gauge solid copper bond wire and approved clamp. Bonding to perimeter surfaces shall be attached to the pool reinforcing steel or copper conductor grid at a minimum of four (4) points uniformly spaced around the perimeter of the pool [2010 CEC 680.26 (B) (2)]. 5. Backflow Device: Auto-fill valve (usually installed at edge of pool inside a skimmer box) requires a backflow device [CPC 603.4.5]. We now require a pressure vacuum breaker or reduced-pressure backflow preventer, as no valves can be downstream of an atmospheric vacuum breaker. The pressure-type device must be installed, tested and certified by a licensed backflow technician before final signoff and then certified yearly, thereafter. Public Works inspects backflow devices, please call ext.5306 IMPORTANT: Upon completion and Inspector s approval of the above items, pool may be gunited. 6. During Placement of Shotcrete: All swimming pools and spas utilizing shotcrete (gunite) will require special inspection in accordance with Section 1701.5(12) CBC. The special inspector shall demonstrate that he/she is qualified to inspect the work by submitting evidence of appropriate certifications prior to reporting to the job site. The special inspector shall be present during the taking of test specimens and placing of all shotcrete (gunite). The special inspector is required to provide continuous inspection of the placement of the reinforcement and shotcrete and shall submit a statement indicating compliance with the plans and specifications. Strength test report shall be submitted prior to final inspection approval. The special inspector must be have a City of Manhattan Beach Business License. Page 3 of 7
7. Underground Electric: Electrical conduit may be plastic PVC Sch 40 U.L. listed, eighteen (18) inches below grade. Above ground conduit shall be plastic PVC Sch 80 U.L. listed or rigid galvanized 40 mil. plastic tape (total 120 mil. Cover) to a height of six (6) inches above grade. All electrical boxes must be approved weatherproof outdoor type boxes. All junction boxes and panels must be supported with rigid metal supports in addition to non-metallic conduits and be a minimum of eight (8) inches above the pool water line. Where a permanent pool/spa is installed, at least one 125 volt convenience receptacle shall be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from but not more than twenty (20) feet from the edge of the pool/spa. This receptacle shall be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (G.F.C.I.) One 125 volt G.F.C.I outlet shall be located a minimum of five (5) feet and not more than ten (10) feet from the inside wall of a spa or hot tub. 8. Gas Piping/Test: Gas lines must be pressurized to ten (10) pounds of pressure and hold constant for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes. Underground piping may be factory coated steel pipe installed a minimum of twelve (12) inches below grade. All metal pipe fittings shall be wrapped with approved 10 mil tape, half overlap double wrap to six (6) inches above grade (min. 40 mil cover). A shut off valve must be installed within three (3) feet of the heater. A flex gas line may not be used inside of the heater. Black steel iron pipe above grade must be painted to protect the pipe from corrosion. 9. Receptor: All pool/spas shall dispose of swimming pool waste water into a three (3) inch P-trap connected to the building sewer outside the house. The P-trap cannot be connected to a house cleanout or house drain. It must go straight to the building sewer. The P-trap must be installed on all pools and spas. If it is a cartridge type or DE filter, the P-trap is still required, no exceptions. The receptor shall be a minimum six (6) inches above grade. Cleanouts are required and a strainer must be provided on the inlet. Backwash drain lines shall not be less than one and one-half (1 ½) inch in size, must be solid PVC. This is for DE filters and cartridge type and provides a two (2) inch minimum air gap. Exception: Spas less than 750 gallons need not discharge into a sewer system. Trap Primer must have a solenoid connected to the cold water supply. 10. Decking: All pool/spa decks shall be designed and constructed for expansive soil conditions and have a minimum sand base with expansion joints every 100 square feet of deck. All reinforcing steel mesh or rebar shall be bonded with common #8 gauge bare copper bond wire and approved clamp. Page 4 of 7
IMPORTANT: ABOVE INSPECTIONS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE INSPECTOR PRIOR TO COVERING OR INSTALLATION OF A DECK. 11. Equipment Foundations: All mechanical equipment and pump motors shall be set on a concrete base or slab a minimum of two (2) inches above grade. All heating and electrical equipment shall be approved for outdoor use. Clearances for gas appliance and electrical panels must be per Code. All motors and equipment shall be secured to the pad/foundation. ELECTRICAL FINAL: No plug receptacles shall be installed within ten (10) feet of the inside face of the walls of the pool/spa. All lighting fixtures within five (5) feet horizontally and five (5) feet vertically of water edge must be G.F.C.I. circuited. All electrical equipment (120/240 motors), including power-supply cords, used with storable pools shall be protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters [2010 CEC 680.32]. All ground wires shall be properly connected to junction boxes. Motors and heaters are to be hooked up along with being properly grounded, bonded and accessible. All pump motors, blowers and lighting shall have separate circuits. Disconnects shall be identified for each. Lighting shall be protected by G.F.C.I. circuits. Pool/spa light must function properly. Junction boxes must be listed by U.L. for installation of swimming pools. They must have grounding screws in the box with means of independently terminating not less that two grounding conductors. All 120v and 240v portable spas and pools will be protected by a G.F.C.I. Electric pool covers shall be protected by G.F.C.I. Time clocks are required for all pool/spa circulation. Pumps then can be set to run in off-peak electric demand periods (unless required to operate an active solar pool heating system) and for the minimum time necessary to maintain water in a clean and sanitary condition. SAFETY BARRIER: Whenever a construction permit is issued for construction of a new swimming pool or spa at a private single family home, 2 of the 7 following safety features are required: 1. The pool shall be isolated from the home by a barrier fence: 60 inches high Without openings that allow a 4 inch sphere to pass through No configuration allowing ladder-like access 2. Access gates shall be self-closing, self-latching with release device located 60 inches above grade and shall open outward away from the pool/spa 3. The residence shall be equipped with exit alarms (battery powered or hardwired) on those doors providing direct access to the pool. 4. All doors providing direct access from the home to the swimming pool shall be equipped with a selfclosing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor. Page 5 of 7
5. Approved safety pool cover. 6. Self-closing and latching door with release mechanism placed no lower than 54 above the floor. IMPORTANT: UPON COMPLETION OF ABOVE AND BUILDING INSPECTOR S APPROVAL, FINISH PLASTER MAY BE APPLIED. PLUMBING/MECHANICAL FINAL: All hose bibs must be protected with anti-siphon devices. A length of plumbing (36 minimum) between the filter and the fossil fuel heater must be provided to allow for the future addition of solar heating equipment. All new pools shall be equipped with directional inlets for good mixing of the pool water. Gas pool heaters shall have an on-off switch mounted on the outside of the heater for easy access to allow shutting off the operation of the heater without adjusting the thermostat setting. A permanent weatherproof plate or card must be provided that provides instructions for the energy efficient operation of the swimming pool and for the proper care of swimming pool water when a swimming pool covers is used. No electric resistance heating. Solar collectors shall provide not less than 60% of the energy for heating swimming pools and spas with the following exceptions (CEC 110.4): Exception 1. Listed package units with fully insulated enclosures and with tight-fitting covers that are insulated to at least R-6 Exception 2. Pools or spas deriving at least 60 % of the annual heating energy from site solar energy or recovered energy Outdoor pools equipped with a heat pump or gas heater must also be equipped with a thermal pool cover or blanket rated at not less than R-2 (MBMC 9.36.140). All water piping exposed to sunlight must be painted for protection from ultra violet sun rays. IMPORTANT: HOMEOWNER OR POOL COMPANY MUST NOTIFY THE BUILDING & SAFETY AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DIVISIONS for a final inspection and approval. For inspections, please call 310-802-5542 before 3pm for next work day inspection. Provide the address, permit number, inspection code (type of inspection). Final pool inspection is #900. Call 310-802-5306 for Final Public Works inspection, code # 901. I have read this list and will comply with all Codes, Ordinances, and regulations pertaining to pools and hot tubs. Permittee Signature Date Page 6 of 7
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