R392-302-34. Special Purpose Pools: Water Slides

  (1) Water slides must meet all applicable requirements of all Sections of R392-302 in addition to those of this Section as they apply to special design features and uses of water slides.

  (a) Water slide projects require consultation with the local health department having jurisdiction.

  (2) Slide Flumes.

  (a) The flumes within enclosed slides must be designed to prevent accumulation of hazardous concentrations of toxic chemical fumes.

  (b) All curves, turns, and tunnels within the path of a slide flume must be designed so that body contact with the flume or tunnel does not present an injury hazard. The slide flume must be banked to keep the slider's body safely inside the flume.

  (c) The flume must be free of hazards including joints and mechanical attachments separations, splinters, holes, cracks, or abrasive characteristics.

  (d) Wall thickness of flumes must be thick enough so that the continuous and combined action of hydrostatic, dynamic, and static loads and normal environmental deterioration will not cause structural failures which could result in injury. The facility operator or owner shall insure that repairs or patchwork maintains original designed levels of safety and structural integrity. The facility operator or owner shall insure that repairs or patchwork is performed in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines.

  (e) Multiple-flume slides must have parallel exits or be constructed, so that the projected path of their centerlines do not intersect within a distance of less than 8 feet, 2.44 meters, beyond the point of forward momentum of the heaviest bather permitted by the engineered design.

  (f) A slide flume exit must provide safe entry into the splash pool. Design features for safe entry include a water backup, and a deceleration distance adequate to reduce the slider's exit velocity to a safe speed. Other methods may be acceptable if safe exiting from the slide flume is demonstrated to the Department.

  (3) Flume Clearance Distances.

  (a) A distance of at least 4 feet, 1.22 meters, must be provided between the side of a slide flume exit and a splash pool side wall.

  (b) The distance between nearest sides of adjacent slide flume exits must be at least 6 feet, 1.83 meters.

  (c) A distance between a slide flume exit and the opposite end of the splash pool, excluding steps, must be at least 20 feet, 6.10 meters.

  (d) The distance between the side of the vehicle flume exit and the pool side wall must be at least 6 feet, 1.83 meters.

  (e) The distance between nearest sides of adjacent vehicle slide flume exits must be at least 8 feet, 2.44 meters.

  (f) The distance between a vehicle slide flume exit and the opposite end of the splash pool, excluding steps, must be long enough to provide clear, unobstructed travel for at least 8 feet, 2.44 meters, beyond the point of forward momentum of the heaviest bather permitted by the engineered design.

  (4) Splash Pool Dimensions.

  (a) The depth of a water slide splash pool at the end of a horizontally oriented slide flume exit must be at least 3 feet, 9.14 centimeters, but may be required to be deeper if the pool design incorporates special features that may increase risks to bathers as determined by the Department.

  (b) The depth must be maintained in front of the flume for a distance of at least 20 feet, 6.10 meters, from which point the splash pool floor may have a constant slope upward. Slopes may not be designed or constructed steeper than a 1 to 10 ratio.

  (c) The operating water depth of a vehicle slide splash pool, at the flume exit, must be a minimum of 3 feet 6 inches, 1.07 meters. This depth must be maintained to the point at which forward travel of the vehicle ends. From the point at which forward travel ends, the floor may have a constant upward slope to the pool exit at a ratio not to exceed 1 to 10.

  (d) The Department may waive minimum depth and distance requirements for a splash pool and approve a special exit system if the designer can demonstrate to the Department that safe exit from the flume into the splash pool can be assured.

  (e) A travel path with a minimum width of 4 feet, 1.22 meters, must be provided between the splash pool deck and the top of the flume.

  (5) General Water Slide Requirements.

  (a) Stairways serving a slide may not retain standing water. Stairways must have non-slip surfaces and shall conform to the requirements of applicable building codes.

  (b) Vehicles, including toboggans, sleds, inflatable tubes, and mats must be designed and manufactured of materials which will safeguard the safety of riders.

  (c) Water slides shall meet the bather load requirements of R392-302-7(1)(d).

  (6) Water Slide Circulation Systems.

  (a) Splash pool overflow reservoirs must have sufficient volume to contain at least two minutes of flow from the splash pool overflow. Splash pool overflow reservoirs must have enough water to insure that the splash pool will maintain a constant water depth.

  (b) The circulation and filtration equipment of a special purpose pool must be sized to turn over the entire system's water at least once every hour.

  (c) Splash pool overflow reservoirs must circulate water through the water treatment system and return when flume supply service pumps are turned off.

  (d) Flume pumps and motors must be sized, as specified by the flume manufacturer, and must meet all NSF/ANSI 50-2015, Section 6. Centrifugal Pumps, standards for pool pumps.

  (e) Flume supply service pumps must have check valves on all suction lines.

  (f) The splash pool and the splash pool overflow reservoir must be designed to prohibit bather entrapment as water flows from the splash pool to the overflow reservoir.

  (g) Perimeter overflow gutter systems must meet the requirements of Section R392-302-19, except that gutters are not required directly under slide flumes or along the weirs which separate splash pools and splash pool overflow reservoirs.

  (h) Pump reservoir areas must be accessible for cleaning and maintenance.

  (7) Slide Signs.

  (a) Signs that meet the requirements in R392-302-39(1), (2) and (3)(c) and reflecting the slide manufacturer's recommendations must be mounted adjacent to the entrance to a water slide and at other appropriate areas in accordance with R392-302-39(1). The heading of the signs shall be, "SLIDE INSTRUCTIONS, WARNINGS, AND REQUIREMENTS". The body of the signs shall state at least the following:

  (i) Instructions including:

  (A) proper riding position,

  (B) expected rider conduct,

  (C) dispatch procedures,

  (D) exiting procedures, and

  (E) obeying slide attendants or lifeguards.

  (ii) Warnings to include:

  (A) slide characteristics such as speed, and

  (B) depth of water in splash zone.

  (iii) Requirements which include that riders being free of medical conditions identified by the manufacturer such as pregnancy, heart conditions, back conditions, or musculoskeletal conditions.