WAC 246-262-070:

246-262-060 << 246-262-070 >> 246-262-080

PDFWAC 246-262-070

Specific design, construction, and equipment.

(1) Owners shall provide specific design, construction, and equipment for the various types of RWCF attractions.

(2) Owners and manufacturers shall ensure adherence to recognized design and construction standards including, but not limited to:

(a) ASTM F-24 Standards on Amusement Rides and Devices;

(b) "Suggested Health and Safety Guidelines for Recreational Water Slide Flumes" U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, 30333;

(c) "World Waterpark Association Considerations for Operating Safety" published by the World Waterpark Association, 7474 Village Drive, Prairie Village, Kansas, 66208; and

(d) Department recognized or approved guidelines, criteria, or standards.

(3) Owners shall ensure design and construction for water slides or tubes, inner-tube rides, kiddie flumes, or ramp slides meet the following minimum standards:

(a) Flume or tube entry access points shall have:

(i) Means to control unauthorized entrance;

(ii) Handrails or slip-resistant surfaces provided to assist users; and

(iii) Attendant stations which provide:

(A) User entry spacing control;

(B) Attendant line of sight to the attraction; and

(b) Receiving pools shall have:

(i) Clearances and minimum distances as noted in Figure 3 [4] of this section for tube or flume entrances into pools.

FIGURE 4 MINIMUM CLEARANCES FOR FLUME OR TUBE ENTRY TO RECEIVING POOLS
MINIMUM
VALUE	DISTANCE	DESCRIPTION
A	5 feet	Minimum distance from edge of flume to side of pool.
B	6 feet	Minimum distance between sides of parallel flumes.
C	20 feet	Minimum distance between two flumes or tubes that are not parallel shall be so constructed so that the intersecting lines of each closest side does not intersect for a distance of at least twenty feet from the end of each flume.
D	20 feet	Minimum distance where flume terminates to opposite side of pool.

(ii) Flume or tube sliding surface ending below the pool operating water level when users ride unaided or on mats;

(iii) Flume or tube perpendicular for a minimum of ten feet to the wall of entry;

(iv) Handrails, when steps are provided for exiting; and

(v) Attendant and/or lifeguard stations with:

(A) Unobstructed access to users; and

(B) Ready access to communication system for contacting control station attendant and first-aid personnel.

(4) Owners shall design and construct barriers to prevent unauthorized entry or exit from any intermediate pool.

(5) Owners shall ensure design and construction of speed slides meet the following minimum standards:

(a) Entry points conforming with subsection (3)(a) of this section;

(b) Roller- or sled-type slides designed to prevent accidental flipping of the sleds or coasters when entering the water;

(d) Maintenance of critical water operation levels providing proper braking action of the user.

(6) Owners shall ensure design and construction of wave pools meet the following minimum standards:

(a) Walls of wave pools shall be vertical with minimum six inch radius of curvature between wall and pool bottom;

(b) Pool bottom sloped:

(i) Not exceeding one foot of drop in twelve feet of run where pool depths range from zero to three and one-half feet; or

(ii) Not exceeding one foot of drop in nine feet of run where depths range from three and one-half feet to six and one-half feet.

(i) For emergency exit only;

(ii) Spaced at intervals of fifty feet or less where pool water depths are greater than three and one-half feet. Pool water depths are measured without wave action.

(d) Deck width of at least ten feet along the shallow end;

(e) A fence or restrictive barrier a minimum of forty-two inches in height and at least two feet out from the pool/deck interface at the side walls of wave pools, with emergency exit openings.

(f) Lifeguard station locations appropriate to prevailing conditions;

(g) A push-button system to shut off the wave-making equipment with:

(i) Shut offs installed on sidewall decks and spaced at intervals no greater than one hundred feet, readily accessible to the lifeguards; and

(ii) Shock hazard protection.

(h) A communication system for use by authorized personnel which is clearly audible to all portions of the pool;

(i) A communication system for interaction between authorized personnel; and

(j) Maximum bathing load (users) not to exceed a value equal to S/12+ D/68 where:

(i) "S" equals surface area in square feet where depth is less than three and one-half feet;

(ii) "D" equals surface area in square feet where pool depth is three and one-half feet deep or greater; and

(iii) Pool depths are measured without wave action.

(7) If inner tubes, boogie boards, or surf boards are used, the owner shall ensure the design and operation of the wave pool provides for such activity, including:

(a) The establishment of rules for use;

(b) Operating and emergency procedures; and

(8) Owners shall ensure design and construction of any wading activity pool meets the following minimum standards. Wading activity pool areas are:

(a) Built with maximum water depth of two feet;

(b) Constructed with pool walls so that distance from deck to water level is six inches or less for at least seventy-five percent of the pool perimeter;

(d) Separated by at least a four foot high barrier when distance to any water area greater than four feet in depth is less than ten feet; and

(e) Protected from water areas greater than two feet by providing:

(i) A float line separating the two areas;

(ii) A six inch contrasting color line on pool bottom and side walls at float line; and

(iii) A transition zone with a maximum floor slope not exceeding one foot of drop in twelve feet of run.

(9) Owners shall ensure design and construction of drop slides or drop tubes meet the following minimum standards:

(a) Entry in accordance with subsection (3)(a) of this section;

(b) Receiving pool envelope:

(i) Conforming to CNCA standards noted in WAC 246-262-060 (5)(c)(vi)(A) if the point of exit is less than one-half meter (or twenty inches);

(ii) Conforming to FINA standards noted in WAC 246-262-060 (5)(c)(vi)(B) if the point of exit is one-half meter (or twenty inches) or greater.

(iii) Increasing in size to ensure user safety if warranted by angle of entry or speed of the user.

(d) Direct line of sight and direct communication between entry access point and receiving pool.

(10) Owners shall provide signs for specific RWCF attractions. Words, pictures, or symbols may be used to convey the following as appropriate:

(a) Prohibition of running, standing, kneeling, tumbling, horseplay, or stopping in the flumes or tubes;

(b) Failure to follow directions of attendant or failure to obey posted rules may result in removal from the RWCF;

(d) Prohibition of multiple user chains if applicable to ride;

(e) Requirement to leave the landing area promptly after exiting;

(f) Recommended minimum or maximum age or height for using this attraction; and

(g) Prohibition of head first sliding if applicable to ride.

(h) Additional information on wave pools including:

(i) Warning that wave pools can be very tiring;

(ii) Warning for small children and poor swimmers to use personal flotation devices in designated areas;

(iii) Requirement for adult supervision for children;

(iv) Prohibition of diving, jumping, or entering from sides of pool; and

(v) Prohibition of using surf boards during periods of general public use.

(11) If the proposed attraction design is not addressed by or exceeds limitations of standards and guidelines specified by this section, owners shall submit:

(a) Justification to the department or local health officer prepared by an engineer; and

(b) Information on the construction, maintenance, and operation of the proposed attraction.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.90.120. WSR 10-20-131, § 246-262-070, filed 10/5/10, effective 11/5/10; WSR 92-02-020 (Order 226B), § 246-262-070, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 91-02-051 (Order 124B), recodified as § 246-262-070, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.90.120. WSR 88-13-125 (Order 311), § 248-97-080, filed 6/22/88.]