Section 265.190 - Safety Features for Pools and Spas(a) Safety rope and float lines and floor markings.(1) Class A pools not being used for competitive events or lap swimming must have a rope and float line.(A) A rope and float line must be located between 1 and 2 feet from the 5-foot depth location, toward the shallow end of the pool. Floats must be spaced at no more than 7-foot intervals and secured so they do not slide or bunch. The size of the stretched rope and float line must provide a good handhold and be strong enough to support the load normally imposed by users.(B) A rope and float line must be fastened securely to a wall or deck anchor made of corrosion-resistant material that is recessed or removable and does not create a hazardous projection when the line is removed.(2) Class B pools over 5 feet deep must have: (A) a permanent method to mark the transition point of the pool floor from the shallow area to the deep area using a color contrasting with the bottom of the pool, such as a 4-inch minimum width row of floor tile;(B) a rope and float line located between 1 and 2 feet from the 5-foot depth location, toward the shallow end of the pool and floats must be spaced at no more than 7-foot intervals and secured so they do not slide or bunch; and (i) the size of the stretched rope and float line must provide a good handhold and be strong enough to support the load normally imposed by users; and(ii) the rope and float line may be removed when the pool is used for lap swimming or competitive events; and(C) the rope and float line is securely fastened to a wall or deck anchor made of corrosion-resistant material that is recessed or removable and does not create a hazardous projection when the line is removed.(3) Class C pools over 5 feet deep must have a permanent method to mark the transition point of the pool floor from the shallow area to the deep areas using a color contrasting with the bottom of the pool, such as a 4-inch minimum width row of floor tile.(A) A rope and float line may be used in addition to the transition line and must be located between 1 and 2 feet from the 5-foot depth location, toward the shallow end of the pool. Floats must be spaced at no more than 7-foot intervals and secured so they do not slide or bunch. The size of the stretched rope and float line must provide a good handhold and be strong enough to support the load normally imposed by users.(B) Rope and float lines must be securely fastened to a wall or deck anchor made of corrosion-resistant material that is recessed or removable and does not create a hazardous projection when the line is removed.(4) Wave pools, surf pools, and waterslide landing pools are not required to provide a safety rope on the shallow side of the change in floor slope.(b) Depth markers. (1) Depth markers must be placed in the top 4-1/2 inches of the pool or spa wall just under the coping and be positioned to be read by a user while in the pool or spa.(2) There must be no less than two depth markers for each pool or spa, regardless of size and shape.(3) Depth markers must be permanent with numbers and letters no less than 4 inches in height and be clearly marked in a color contrasting the background of the deck and vertical wall of the pool or spa.(4) Depth markers must be spaced uniformly around the perimeter of the pool or spa in intervals of no more than 25 feet.(5) Deck depth markers must be slip-resistant and positioned to be read while standing on the deck of the pool or spa.(6) Depth markers must have units of measurement that either spell out "feet" or "inches" or abbreviate "FT," "IN," or fractions of a foot.(c) Deck "NO DIVING" marker and symbol. Where a diving marker and symbol are required in pools, the marker and symbol must comply with the requirements in the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) and:(1) The no diving marker and symbol must not be less than 4 inches in height. The no diving symbol must consist of a diver's profile in a circle with a 45-degree slash through the diver.(2) The color of the letters and symbol must be permanent and contrast with the background.(3) The no diving marker and symbol on the deck must be slip resistant.(4) The no diving marker and symbol on the deck must be within 18 inches of the water's edge and positioned to be read while standing on the deck facing the water.(5) If a permanent structure above the pool deck is within 5 feet of the water's surface, the 4-inch no diving marker and symbol must be on the structure so the warning is visible to persons attempting to use the structure for diving. The no diving marker and symbol are not required on diving boards or diving platforms, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant chair lifts, slide flumes, lifeguard stands, or bridges over the water.(6) The no diving marker and symbol are not required on the interior tile line of a pool or spa.(d) Starting platforms. Starting platforms must be used during official competition only or when there is direct supervision by the team coach, a qualified instructor, or a lifeguard. Starting platforms must be removed or secured to prevent use without direct supervision.(e) Certain safety requirements for pools. In addition to safety signs required in the ISPSC, the following pool safety signs and operational procedures are required.(1) Signs must be securely mounted as applicable, readily visible to the pool user, and be posted within the pool yard unless otherwise stated within this subchapter.(2) Sign panels and lettering must be durable for the weather conditions.(3) Branding or artwork applied to signs must not distract from the message panel, and signs must have a distinct border.(4) Safety signs can be combined on one sign or posted individually.(5) Safety signs for pools constructed on or after the effective date of this section or safety signs replaced at pools constructed before the effective date of this section, must comply with Figure: 25 TAC § 265.190(e)(5). Attached Graphic
(6) In areas of Texas where most residents are non-English speakers, signs and other written warnings or information required by this subchapter may be posted in the predominant language, in addition to English.(7) Variations of the language of the required safety signs in Figure: 25 TAC § 265.190(e)(5) are allowed if the language of the safety signs is substantially equivalent to the language in Figure: 25 TAC § 265.190(e)(5) and local swimming pool and spa regulatory officials approve the variation before the sign is posted in the pool yard.(f) Rescue equipment. A pool must have at least one ring buoy with throwing rope and a reaching pole for every 2000 square feet of pool surface area up to 6000 square feet. A pool with more than 6000 square feet of surface area must have an additional ring buoy, throw rope, and reaching pole for each additional 4000 square feet of surface area or fraction thereof. Reaching poles and ring buoys with rope must be visible and readily accessible from all areas of the pool yard. (1) The reaching pole must be light, strong, non-telescoping, and at least 12 feet long. The pole must be constructed of fiberglass or other material that does not conduct electricity and must have a body hook or shepherd's crook with blunted ends attached.(2) The throwing rope must be 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch in diameter and at least two-thirds the maximum width of the pool in length. A USCG-approved ring buoy must be attached to the throwing rope.(g) Certain safety requirements for spas.(1) Safety signs, for spas constructed on or after the effective date of this section or safety signs replaced at spas constructed before the effective date of this section, must be securely mounted, readily visible to spa users, and inside the spa enclosure, as required in Figure: 25 TAC § 265.190(g)(1). Attached Graphic
(2) Safety signs can be combined on one sign or posted individually.(3) Variations of the language of the required safety signs in Figure: 25 TAC § 265.190(g)(1) are allowed if the language of the safety signs is substantially equivalent to the language in Figure: 25 TAC § 265.190(g)(1) and local swimming pool and spa regulatory officials approve the variation before the sign is posted in the pool yard or spa yard.(4) Safety signs for spas constructed on or after the effective date of this section, or safety signs replaced at spas constructed before the effective date of this section, must comply with Figure: 25 TAC § 265.190(g)(1).(h) Emergency summoning device. A pool or spa must have a minimum of one emergency telephone, emergency monitoring contact device, or alternative communication system that is capable of immediately summoning emergency services and that is readily accessible, within 200 feet of the water, and functioning when the pool or spa is open for use. An emergency summoning device for a pool or spa with a seasonal operation schedule must function 24 hours a day during the season the pool or spa is in use. Clear operating instructions for the emergency summoning device must be posted. (1) The fixed-location telephone, emergency monitoring device, or alternative communication system must be visible, easily identified by users, and have no obstruction to access.(2) The telephone or emergency monitoring device must not be answered by an on-site office. An alternative communication system may be answered by an on-site office if the system complies with paragraph (5) of this subsection.(3) The telephone must be capable of making calls to 911 dispatch or to an emergency service.(4) When activated, the emergency monitoring contact device must directly connect to a 24-hour monitoring service, 911 dispatch, or emergency medical services.(5) An alternative communication system contacting an on-site office may be used if the pool or spa is in a remote area with limited or delayed emergency medical services response times and employees on-site are trained and certified or licensed to perform emergency medical intervention when the pool or spa is open for use.(6) A cell phone dedicated for use at the pool or spa, mounted in the pool yard or spa yard for public use, and labeled as the emergency phone may be used if the cell phone is activated by a service provider, has a permanent power supply, and can reach the emergency service provider or 911 emergency services.(7) A sign must be posted above the emergency summoning device with the precise location of the pool or spa, such as an address, building number, Global Positioning System (GPS) location, or other location identifying information in letters a minimum of 1-inch in height.(i) Lighting at pools and spas. A pool or spa operating at night must have lighting providing visibility to all areas of the pool or spa while standing on the deck at the water's edge.25 Tex. Admin. Code § 265.190
The provisions of this §265.190 adopted to be effective September 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 7704; Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 52, December 25, 2020, TexReg 9537, eff. 1/1/2021; Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 51, December 23, 2022, TexReg 8671, eff. 1/1/2023; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 17, April 26, 2024, TexReg 2695, eff. 5/2/2024