Rule 120-3-27-.27 - Water Flumes, Structural Design(1) Structural Design. The slides structural design and materials shall be in accord with generally accepted good structural engineering practices and shall provide a durable structure which will safely sustain all weights and pressures (dead load, live load, liquid, hydrostatic and earth pressures) for the expected operating life of the structure. The flumes and pools shall be watertight and their surfaces shall be inert, nontoxic, smooth and easy to clean. The flumes shall be designed or ventilated, or both, to prevent a possible hazardous concentration of toxic disinfectant fumes.(2) Dimensional Design: All curves, turns and tunnels within the path of a slide flume shall be designed so that body impact with the walls of the flume or ceiling of a tunnel does not present a hazard. The slide flume shall be banked to keep the slider's body safely inside the flume or curve under all foreseeable circumstances.(3) All slopes within the path of the slide flume shall be designed so that the slider's speed does not exceed a level where a safe equilibrium of dynamic forces cannot be maintained on any curve or turn within that path, as specified by (2) above.(4) In sections of the elevated flumes where, contrary to intended use, a slider may stop, there shall be safety walls or other provisions to keep the slider from falling out of the flume.(5) The construction, the dimensions and the mechanical attachment of slide flume bed components shall be such that the surface of the slide flume is continuous and smooth for the entire length.(6) Wall thickness of flumes should be designed so that the continuous and combined action of hydrostatic, dynamic and static loads and normal environmental deterioration do not cause structural failures which could result in injury.(7) Flume exit sections shall be designed to assure safe entry speeds, angles and stopping distances.(8) The distance between the centerline of a flume exit and a splash pool side wall shall be at least 5 feet. The distance between sides of adjacent flume terminuses shall be at least 6 feet center line to center line. The distance between a flume exit and the opposite side of the splash pool, excluding steps, shall be at least 20 feet. (a) High-Speed Slides: Special provisions shall be made in flume exit design, pool depth and pool width, measured from flume exit, to safely accommodate slide specifically designed with greater slopes or other special features which allow an unusually rapid descent.(b) Multiple-exit slides: Multiple-exit slides shall have parallel exits or be constructed so that their centerlines do not intersect for a distance of at least 20 feet from the exists of each flume. If slides with nonparallel exits discharge bathers at a high speed, the centerlines should not intersect for at least 30 feet.(9) A flume exit system shall provide safe entry into the splash pool. Present practices for safe entry include a water backup, a deceleration distance and an altitude control. Other methods are acceptable as long as safe exit velocities and proper user attitudes are assured under normal use.(10) Splash pool depth at the end of a flume shall be at least 3 feet. This depth shall be maintained in front of the flume for a distance of at least 20 feet, from which point the splash pool floor may have a constant slope upward to the minimum water depth. These slopes shall be no more than 1 foot in 7 feet. If special exit systems that assure safe exit from the flume and safe entry to the splash pool are used, the 3-foot depth and minimum maintenance distance for this depth can be waived.(11) Decks along the exit side of the splash pool which have the function of providing an exit route only for sliders, shall be a minimum of 5 feet in width. If the deck is utilized by both sliders exiting the plunge pool and observers, the said deck shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width. All deck surfaces shall have a slip-resistant surface and shall be sloped away from the plunge pool so as to prohibit surface water from entering the plunge pool. The said slope shall not exceed 1 foot in 7 feet.
(a) Provisions shall be made to eliminate standing water at all deck areas adjacent to the entrance at the top of the flume.(b) Decks along the side opposite the pump reservoir shall be at least 4 feet wide and shall have the same slip resistance and drainage requirements as top and splash pool decks.(c) The pump reservoir area shall be accessible, for cleaning and maintenance, by a 3-foot minimum width walkway deck.(12) A 4-foot minimum width walkway, walkway steps, or stairway shall be provided between the plunge pool and the top of the flume. Walkways and steps shall be well drained, non-slippery and separated from the flume by a physical barrier, set back far enough from the operating flume so that users cannot contact it on the way down.(13) All stairways used as part of a slide shall not retain standing water and should conform to the requirements of local building codes.(14) Visitor and Spectator Areas: The spaces used by visitors and spectators shall be distinctly and absolutely separated from those spaces used by sliders. Visitors and spectators in street clothes may be allowed within the perimeter enclosure if they are confined to an area separated from the space the sliders use.(15) Typical Posted User Safety Warnings for Slide Operational Use:(a) No running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, or stopping in flumes or tunnels.(b) No diving from flume at any time.(c) Never use this slide when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.(d) Only one person at a time. Obey instructions of top pool supervisor and lifeguard at all times.(e) Never form chains unless authorized by slide manager or by posted instructions.(f) Keep hands inside the flume.(g) Leave the landing pool promptly after exiting from slide.(h) Keep all glasses, bottles and food away from pools.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-27-.27
O.C.G.A. Sec. 25-15-53.
Original Rule entitled "Water Flumes, Structural Design"adopted. F. Sep. 4, 2013; eff. Sept. 24, 2013.