Swimming Pools & Spas | Belmont County Health Department

SWIMMING POOLS & SPAS

Public swimming pools, spas and special use pools are regulated under the authority of Chapter 3749 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and the rules specified in Chapter 3701-31 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). A public swimming pool is defined as any indoor or outdoor structure, chamber or tank containing a body of water for swimming, diving or bathing, but does not include a private residential swimming pool. The rules establish minimum standards, applicable throughout Ohio, for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of these facilities in order to protect the bathing public from injury, minimize the potential for disease transmission and provide a safe and healthy aquatic recreational environment. The Belmont County Health Department license and inspects pools and spas located in city and private parks, hotels/motels and country clubs.

A public swimming pool collectively means a:

Public Swimming Pool
Public Spa
Special Use Pool
Wading Pool
Spray Ground

Public swimming pool vs. private residential pool?

A public swimming pool is defined as any indoor or outdoor structure, chamber, or tank containing a body of water that is intended to be used collectively for swimming, diving, or bathing.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ODH PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL PROGRAM

Technical assistance and training on the construction, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and evaluation of public swimming pools
Review and approval of engineered plans that have been designed to meet all of the requirements found within 3701-31 of the OAC
Inspections during the construction process to ensure that the pool is installed per the rules and approved plans
Guidance to local health district staff for the implementation of the public swimming pool/spa/special use pool regulatory program
Periodic surveys of local health district licensing programs to assess their compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements
Resource for the general public relative to aquatic recreation issues, protection from disease transmission, personal safety, and complaint investigations
Maintains approved lists of automatic chemical controllers, interior surface colors, and lifeguard, first-aid, & CPR training
Reviews all logos prior to approval and installation or application on the bottom of a public swimming pool

Public Swimming Pools, Spas and Special Use Pools Plans shall be submitted to ODH for approval prior to any construction or modifications.

Each plan submittal shall include the following prior to the start of the plan review per OAC 3701-31-05.

This application form (HEA 5215), signed, and with the appropriate fee payable to: “Treasurer, State of Ohio.”
Four sets of complete plans (one if submitted electronically*) including:
1. Four data sheets (HEA 5214) for each project for which a fee is to be paid; signed by the designer or consulting engineer*,<br>
  with one set of technical literature and specifications
2. A vicinity map with specific directions to the project site
3. A site plan of the project and significant details, including property lines, elevations, fencing and north arrow
4. Provide detailed drawings**, to scale, as follows
  - A plan view of the pool including the deck area and fixtures, (diving area, slides, ladders, stairs, steps ramps, fencing and north arrow)
  - A cross-section view of the pool, including depths and other dimensions
  - Details of construction, materials used and finish of the pool
  - A pipe schematic for the recirculation, disinfection and applicable hydrotherapy systems; all inlet and outlet fixtures and all pipes and pipe sizes shall be labeled
  - A layout of the filter room; all pipes, equipment and valves shall be labeled; show the source supply of fill water with applicable back siphonage protection and show the terminus for filter back-wash water or draining the pool (shall be to a sanitary sewer or other approved means)
5. Complete information relating to installation, safe use, and safe operation of water slides, fountains or other special features. Reproductions from other documents are acceptable if legible. Drawings should be to scale and legible.

Notes

Applications can be submitted online to ODH
To obtain building permits from a certified local building department or the Bureau of Construction Compliance of the Ohio Department of Commerce plans shall be signed and sealed by a professional engineer or an architect registered in Ohio.
Other additional information may be requested during review of the plans.
Provide complete information as required on forms including work that may be done by others.
Incomplete submittals will cause reviewing delays or the return of your plans.

Public Swimming Pool, Spa, and Special Use Pool Rules: Ohio Administrative Code 3701-31

Chapter 3749 ORC Swimming Pools

Pool – Injury Incident Reporting Form

Weekly Operation Report