Section SPS 390.11 - Basin design(1). GENERAL. (a) Except as provided in par. (b) or (c), pool and water attraction basins shall conform to all of the requirements in this section.(b) Therapy pool basin designs shall comply with the basic principles in s. SPS 390.10(1) (b).(c) Competition pool basins may be designed in accordance with the standards of the sanctioning organization.(d) Competition pool basins that do not comply with s. SPS 390.10(8) and made available for open swim shall be permitted only where another pool or water attraction that complies with s. SPS 390.10(8) is available at the site for open swim.(2). STRESS RELIEF. Provision shall be made for the relief of stress to basin walls and floors which may occur as a result of unbalanced hydrostatic pressures.(3). DIVING AREAS. (a) Basins that include diving apparatus shall conform to one of the following:1. The basin shall comply with the standards in this subsection.2. The basin shall comply with the standards of a sanctioning organization acceptable to the department. Note: See ch. SPS 390 Appendix for further information.
(b) The design of a basin that includes a diving area shall comply with the profiles in Figure 390.11-1 and Table 390.11-1. Figure 390.11-1
Diving Area Dimensions
See Image
Table 390.11-1
Type of Pool | | Depths | Lengths |
D-11 | D-2 | D-3 | A2 | B | C | D | E | F3 | G3 |
With 26 " (2/3 M) Diving Board | Min | 5 '0" | 9'0" | 8'6" | 2'6" | ** | 10'0" | 5'0" | 10'0" | * | * |
Max | D-2 | * | D-2 | 3'0" | * | * | * | * | 10'0" | 20'0" |
With 30" (3/4 M) Diving Board | Min | 5'0" | 10'0" | 9'6" | 3'0" | ** | 12'0" | 5'0" | 10'0" | * | * |
Max | D-2 | * | D-2 | 4'0" | * | * | * | * | 10'0" | 20'0" |
With One Meter Diving Board | Min | 5'0" | 11'0" | 10'6" | 4'0" | ** | 15'0" | 8'0" | 10'0" | * | * |
Max | D-2 | * | D-2 | 5'0" | * | * | * | * | 10'0" | 20'0" |
With 3 Meter Diving Board | Min | 5'0" | 12'0" | 11'6" | 5'0" | ** | 18'0" | 10'0" | 15'0" | * | * |
Max | D-2 | * | D-2 | 6'0" | * | * | * | * | 10'0" | 20'0" |
* No limiting dimension.
** Distance is as required by the diving equipment manufacturer.
1 The D-1 measurement shall be taken at the end wall or not more than 6 inches from the wall.
2 The diving board length extending over the pool shall not be less than "A" and in accordance with the diving equipment manufacturer's installation instructions.
3 This dimension is only applicable to pools with wall inlets.
(4). BASIN OBSTRUCTIONS. (a)1. Protrusions, extensions and other functional elements within a basin may not create a safety hazard.2. Protrusions, extension and other functional elements may not negatively impact the circulation system.3. When an obstruction is a recreational object in water of 24 inches or more in depth, the obstruction shall be a color that contrasts with the color of the basin.4. Basin obstructions in public swimming pools shall be no more than 2 feet in diameter, protrude undiminished in diameter to at least 5 feet above the pool floor and no less than 3 feet above the water level.5. Obstructions including handrails, exercise equipment and therapy structures may only be installed in therapy pools.(b) Stair and ladder handrails are not considered basin obstructions when installed in accordance with s. SPS 390.12.(5). WALLS AND BULKHEADS. (a)Basin walls.1. Basin walls shall be vertical.2. Except for vanishing edge designs, basin walls shall extend above the highest water level at all times during operation.3. Protruding corners shall be rounded so as to protect users from lacerations.(b)Interior walls and common walls. In addition to the requirements in par. (a), interior walls and common walls may not exceed 18 inches in width.(c)Bulkheads. Bulkheads may be installed only in pools with a department of health services-approved lifeguard staffing plan that addresses supervision of the bulkhead.(6). COLORS AND FINISHES. (a) All pool interiors shall be light in color, having a value of 6.5 or greater on the Munsell color-order system.(b) All colors, patterns or demarcation lines may not negatively impact observer's visualization of bathers.(c) All demarcation lines shall be of contrasting color to the pool interior.(7). FLOOR SLOPE. (a) Basin floors shall slope to drain.(b) Basin floor slopes may not exceed 1:12 in water depths less than 5 feet.(8). TRANSITIONAL RADIUS. (a) Basin walls shall be joined to the floor with a tangent radius.(b) For areas less than 5 feet in depth, the maximum radius between the floor and the basin wall shall be 6 inches. Note: See ch. SPS 390 Appendix for information on measuring the radius dimension.
(9). WATER DEPTHS. (a) Basin depths for diving areas shall comply with Table 390.11-1.(b) Basin depths for slide installations shall comply with Table 390.31-1.(c) Except as permitted for wading pools in s. SPS 390.20, the shallowest water depth of the shallow end of pools shall be a minimum of 30 inches and a maximum of 42 inches.(d) The water depth at the breakpoint in a combination pool shall be no less than 4.5 feet and no more than 5.5 feet.(10). VANISHING EDGES. A single vanishing edge basin wall occupying a maximum of 50% of the basin perimeter may be included within a water attraction when all of the following are included in the design:(a) The vanishing edge is located adjacent to water that is at least 5 feet deep.(b) A catch ledge, a minimum of 3 feet in width or equivalent protection, is included on the dry side of the basin wall.(c) The catch ledge shall be located outside of the basin within 3 feet vertically from the top of the basin wall.(d) The catch ledge shall be designed to prevent a patron from rolling off the catch ledge.(e) The catch ledge surface shall be constructed of materials that will not cause injury from abrasions or lacerations.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 390.11
CR 08-056: cr. Register February 2009 No. 638, eff. 3-1-09; correction in (1) (b), (d), (3) (b), (4) (b), (9) (a), (b), (c) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672. See ch. SPS 390 Appendix for further information on the design of vanishing edge basin walls.