The Quebec Building Code | SWIMMING POOLS
DIVISION 3 SWIMMING POOLS
SWIMMING POOLS
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
Section 1. - Construction
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The basin, deck, pipe-work and accessories of a swimming pool must be constructed with materials that are inert, non-toxic for humans, impermeable, durable and non-corrosive, with smooth surfaces that may easily be cleaned, unless otherwise indicated in this Chapter.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The basin of the swimming pool, taking its useful life into account, must
be constructed in such a way as to have sufficient structural resistance and integrity to safely withstand all the loads, effects and other forces that may be reasonably expected;
be designed to avoid resonance; and
be waterproof, durable and smooth, without cracks, corners or sharp edges.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The walls of a pool must be vertical down to 150 mm from the bottom for the section that is between 750 mm and 1,400 mm deep, and vertical down to 75 mm from the bottom for the section that is less than 750 mm deep, except for the section occupied by stairs or a ladder.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The walls of a pool must be equipped with recessed fittings in the shallow end, at a minimum distance of 300 mm before the change in slope of the pool bottom from gentle to steep, to which a safety line supported by buoys can be attached to warn bathers of the change in slope.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The maximum slope of the pool bottom must be
300 mm vertically in 3.6 m horizontally for a water depth less than 1,400 mm; and
300 mm vertically in 900 mm horizontally for a water depth between 1,400 mm and 2,000 mm.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A ladder or stairs must be installed
in the shallow end of the pool if the difference in elevation between the bottom of the pool and the deck is greater than 600 mm; and
on both sides of the deep end of the pool.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
Swimming pool stairs have steps
with a uniform rise between 125 and 200 mm;
with a uniform tread of at least 250 mm;
with nosing in a contrasting colour; and
with a non-slip surface.
The stairs may not project into the pool.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A swimming pool ladder must have rungs
with a minimum length of 300 mm between the rails; and
with a non-slip surface.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
Swimming pools must be surrounded by a deck adjacent to the top of the walls. The deck must
have a non-slip surface;
have a minimum clear width of 1.5 m;
provide a clear passage of at least 900 mm behind a springboard, diving platform or accessory and its supporting structure;
provide a clear passage of at least 900 mm in front of or behind a structural column; and
be equipped with a guardrail having a height of 1,070 mm if a drop greater than 600 mm exists between the level of the deck and the level of the adjacent surface.
Despite the first paragraph, in the section of the pool where the water is 1,400 mm or less in depth, there may be a deck along one side of the pool only, provided that no point in the pool is further than 3.6 m from the edge of the deck.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The submerged surfaces of the pool must be white or a pastel colour, except for the markings indicating swimming corridors.
Basins used exclusively for underwater diving may be another colour.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The markings for swimming corridors must be a contrasting colour, no more than 250 mm wide and placed in a single direction.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The water depth must be clearly marked on the deck in letters at least 100 mm high, in a contrasting colour, on each side of the basin and opposite
the deepest point;
the change in slope between the gentle and steep bottom slopes; and
the shallow end.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A black circle 150 mm in diameter must be placed at the deepest point of the swimming pool.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A “no diving” sign must be placed on the deck, using a pictogram or letters at least 100 mm high, in the section where the water depth is 1,400 mm or less.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A swimming pool may be constructed with a slope towards the centre from the deck and such pool is not subject to sections 10.06 to 10.13, 10.15 and 10.16, provided that
the bottom is covered with a rigid white or pastel finish;
the maximum slope of the bottom is 300 mm vertically in 3.6 m horizontally;
the water depth does not exceed 1.8 m;
the entire pool is surrounded by a deck that is at least 3 m wide;
the bottom of the pool is marked, along its length, with a broken black line 250 mm wide; and
there is no diving platform, springboard or accessory.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
Section 2. - Water treatment
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The water supply and recirculation system for a swimming pool must be separated from the drinking water system by a shut-off valve and backflow preventer, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter III “Plumbing” of this Code.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The devices in the filtration system, overflows and floor drains in the deck must be connected indirectly to the drainage system in accordance with the provisions of Chapter III “Plumbing” of this Code.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
Pipes, fittings, joints and filtration equipment in the water recirculation system of a swimming pool must be designed to resist at least 1 1/2 times the maximum rated operating pressure.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The water recirculation system of a swimming pool must be designed to avoid trapping any swimmer who comes into contact with a drain or suction outlet. The system must be equipped, for each pump, with
at least 2 drain or suction outlets at least 1 m apart;
a device to limit the water flow through the openings in each outlet to the maximum prescribed by the drain cover manufacturer;
an emergency shut-off easily accessible to swimmers at a clearly indicated location; and
drain or suction outlets covered by drain covers that comply with the standard “Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Whirlpool Bathtub Appliances”, ASME
112.19.8 M, and designed so that bathers cannot remove them without tools.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
Section 3. - Lighting and access
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
An outdoor pool used after sunset or an indoor pool must have
a lighting system which illuminates the underwater areas of the pool and also illuminates all parts of the deck and water surface with an illumination level of at least
30 decalux, for an indoor swimming pool; and
10 decalux, for an outdoor swimming pool; and
an emergency lighting system supplied by a generator or a recharging battery with an automatic relay to illuminate the bottom of the pool, the deck and the changing room for an average illumination of at least 1 decalux at floor level, the steps and water surface in case of a failure of the electric lighting power supply. Any self-contained emergency lighting units must comply with CSA Standard CSA C22.2 No. 141-M, “Unit Equipment for Emergency Lighting”.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A swimming pool must be designed in such a way as not to be accessible to the public outside opening hours. The enclosure used for that purpose must have a minimum height of 1.20 m and have no fixture, projection or opening enabling it to be climbed. It may, however, have openings provided that a spherical object of 100 mm in diameter cannot pass through them or, in the case of a chain link fence, that each link measures no more than 38 mm.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
When the deck of the swimming pool is adjacent to an area used for purposes other than bathing, an enclosure with a minimum height of 900 mm must separate the deck from that area. The enclosure used for that purpose must have no fixture, projection or opening enabling it to be climbed. It may, however, have openings provided that a spherical object of 100 mm in diameter cannot pass through them or, in the case of a chain link fence, that each link measures no more than 38 mm. The enclosure must be equipped at each entrance with a lockable barrier.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
Section 4. - Springboards, platforms and accessories
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The installation of a springboard or diving platform must comply with the minimum dimensions indicated in the table in Schedule III. The reference point when measuring is the plummet or vertical line passing through the centre of the end of the springboard or diving platform.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A springboard, diving platform or accessory
must be accessible only by stairs or a ladder; and
must have a walking surface designed with a non-slip finish, and the nosing of the springboard or diving platform must be in a contrasting colour.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A springboard, diving platform or accessory that is 3 m high or more may only be accessible by stairs equipped with a lockable barrier to control access at the deck level.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The part of a springboard, diving platform or accessory that is not over water and that is 1 m high or more must be equipped, on both sides, with a guardrail that prevents bathers from passing through but allows them to be seen by the safety supervisors.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The ladder of a springboard, diving platform or accessory must
have rungs of a minimum length of 300 mm between the rails; and
have rungs with a non-slip surface.
The part of the ladder above a height of 1 m must be equipped with handrails that comply with paragraphs
a and b of section 10.33.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The stairs of a springboard, diving platform or accessory must have steps
with a uniform rise between 125 and 200 mm;
with a tread between 210 and 355 mm;
with a uniform depth between 235 and 355 mm;
with nosing in a contrasting colour; and
with a non-slip surface.
Each flight of stairs must have a vertical height of not more than 3.7 m and be equipped, between each flight, with a landing of a length and width at least equal to the width of the stairs.
The stairs of a springboard, diving platform or accessory that is 1 m high or more must be equipped with a guardrail and a handrail.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The guardrails must
not have any opening allowing a spherical object of over 100 mm in diameter to pass through;
have a height of at least
1,070 mm in the part of a springboard, diving platform or accessory that is not over water and that is 1 m high or more;
920 mm measured vertically to the top of the guardrail from a line drawn through the outside edges of the stair nosings;
1,070 mm around the landings.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The handrails must
be not more than 40 mm in diameter;
be continuous with the handrail around all horizontal areas; and
have a minimum height between 865 and 965 mm on stairs.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A swimming pool equipped with a diving platform exceeding 3 m in height must be designed exclusively for diving or, to delimit the diving area, be equipped with a rigid barrier or recessed fittings to which a double safety line supported by buoys can be attached, the two lines being at least 300 mm apart. The minimum distance between the pool wall under the diving platform and the double safety line or rigid barrier must be as indicated in the following table:
Height of the diving platform Distance from the pool wall m m
5 11.5
7.5 12.5
10 15
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
A device to agitate the surface water must be installed in order to allow divers to distinguish the water surface under diving installations of 3 m or more.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.
The surface of a submersible platform must be free of cracks and corners, have a non-slip finish and be of a contrasting colour.
O.C. 115-2013, s. 1.