5th Edition (2014)

• On April 26, 2017, for health and sanitary reasons the Department of Health has required a perimeter overflow gutter system for public pools for over 30 years without incident and without having to fully comply with the specific stair specifications found in Section 454.1.2.5.3 of the Florida Building Code. The addition of the stair specifications Code as they relate to public swimming pools were added to Chapter 4 of the Florida Building Code in 2002 without being properly coordinated with the gutter system requirements when creating the state unified building code. The next edition of the Florida Building Code (6th Edition) has been amended to clarify the language in the Code, by adding an exception from the stairs requirement where a gutter is used as a top step in a pool stair. The exception states: “Where a gutter is used as top step, the gutter’s 2” slope from lip to the drain shall be continuous for the full length of the stairs, and the riser from the gutter to the next tread need not be uniform with the remaining risers and treads.” (Sections: 454.1.2.5.3; 454.1.6.5.3.1; 454.1.6.5.3.1.1)
• The FBC approved the Calder Sloan Swimming Pool Electrical Safety Task Force report that laid out nine unanimous recommendations by both the Swimming Pool and Electrical TACs to be sent to the Legislature, per HB 535.  A copy of that final Task Force report can be found HERE.
• On June 8, 2016 the Florida Building Commission held a rule development workshop to incorporate glitch changes to the 5^th edition of the Florida Building Code.  This was done to implement various changes provided in HB 535, this year’s building code bill that goes into effect on July 1, 2016 . Click here to view a PDF of the FSPA code change suggestions for HB 535.
• Download a PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL PERMIT PROCESS FLOWCHART to explain new public pool permitting process.
• Code books are also available from Building Trades Education Services. For more information, please call (941) 371-0485 or click here to visit their website.

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Petitions for Declaratory Statements (FBC answers contractor questions), Proposed Changes to any Florida Building Code Cycle, DOH Public Pool Rule, or Additional Documents such as  International Code Council information can be found in the members only area of the website.

Summary of changes for 2014 building code: Residential pool provisions remain the same as what was in the 2010 Code except that the ANSI/APSP-5 Standard for Residential In-ground Pools now referenced within is the 2011 edition (the 2010 code referenced the 2003 edition); therefore we encourage members to obtain a copy of this revised standard by contacting the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals.  Further the residential provisions have moved and can now be found in Chapter 42 of the Florida Residential Code book and Section 454.2 of the Florida Building Code book.

Public pool provisions originally found in 64E-9, F.A.C., were moved to the building code to ensure all elements were now found in the code versus the rule due to legislation that passed in 2012.  The public pool provisions have also moved and can now be found in Section 454.1 of the Florida Building Code book.  Public pool builders should look to 454.1 and 64E-9, as well as the public pool permit process flowchart to ensure they are going thru the new process as efficiently as possible when building a public pool and navigating the process with both the health and building departments (see flowchart link above).

Energy Efficiency provisions for pools and spas continue to be found in the same Sections of the Florida Energy Conservation Code book.  Commercial requirements remain the same as in the 2010 Code and are found in Section C404.7.  Residential requirements remain the same except that the specific pool pump provisions are not laid out within the code rather the code simply references the user to the ANSI/APSP-15 Residential Swimming Pool & Spa Energy Efficiency Standard 2013 edition and all provisions are found in Section R403.9.