Boulder County Building Publications
Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs - B26

The provisions in this publication outline the design and construction requirements for swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs located on one‑ or two‑family residential lots. The information serves as general guidance and does not replace the adopted codes, and is based on the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), and the Boulder County Building Code Amendments (BCBC Amendments).

General Information

ISPSC Definitions

View the ISPSC Definitions.

The following are the most common terms and definitions for use with one- and two-family installations.

Barrier
A permanent fence, wall, building wall, or combination thereof that completely surrounds the pool or spa and obstructs the access to the pool or spa. The term “permanent” shall mean not being able to be removed, lifted, or relocated without the use of a tool.

Exercise Spa (Also known as a swim spa)
Variants of a spa in which the design and construction include specific features and equipment to produce a water flow intended to allow recreational physical activity including, but not limited to, swimming in place. Exercise spas can include peripheral jetted seats intended for water therapy, heater, circulation and filtration system, or can be a separate distinct portion of a combination spa/exercise spa and can have separate controls. These spas are of a design and size such that they have an unobstructed volume of water large enough to allow the 99th Percentile Man as specified in Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (APSP) 16 to swim or exercise in place.

Grade
The finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.

On-ground Storable Pool
A pool which can be disassembled for storage or transport. This includes portable pools with flexible or nonrigid walls that achieve their structural integrity by means of uniform shape, a support frame or a combination thereof, and that can be disassembled for storage or relocation.

Power Safety Cover
A pool cover that is placed over the water area and is opened and closed with a motorized mechanism activated by a control switch.

Residential Swimming Pool
A pool intended for use which is accessory to a residential setting and available only to the household and its guests. Other pools shall be considered public pools for purposes of this code.

• Type O. A non-diving residential pool.
• Types I-V. Residential pools suitable for the installation of diving equipment by type.

Safety Cover
A structure, fabric or assembly, along with attendant appurtenances and anchoring mechanisms, that is temporarily placed or installed over an entire pool, spa or hot tub and secured in place after all bathers are absent from the water.

Spa
A product intended for the immersion of persons in temperature-controlled water circulated in a closed system and not intended to be drained and filled with each use. A spa usually includes a filter, an electric, solar or gas heater, a pump or pumps, and a control, and can include other equipment, such as lights, blowers, and water-sanitizing equipment.

Self-Contained Spa
A factory-built spa in which all control, water heating and water-circulating equipment is an integral part of the product. Self-contained spas may be permanently wired or cord connected.

Swimming Pool
Any structure intended for swimming, recreational bathing or wading that contains water over 24 inches (610 mm) deep. This includes in-ground, above-ground and on-ground pools, hot tubs, spas, and fixed-in-place wading pools.

Swimming Pool, Spa-Design and Construction Standards

Swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs shall be designed and constructed in conformance with the following codes & standards:

• Residential Swimming Pool and Spa Energy Efficiency, residential pools and permanent residential spas, including In-ground pools – APSP/APSP/ICC-15
• Above ground/On ground Residential Swimming Pools– ANSI/APSP/ICC-4
• Permanently installed spas and hot tubs –ANSI/APSP/ICC-3.
• Portable Electric Spas, and hot tubs, Energy Efficiency – ANSI/APSP/ ICC-4
• Suction Entrapment Avoidance– ANSI/PHTA/ICC-7
• Boulder County Building Code Amendments to 2021 IRC Chapter 11 “BuildSmart”
• N1190.3 – Pool Energy Consumption
• N1190.6 – Spas

Note: See 2021 ISPSC Chapter 3 for most general construction requirements.

Barrier Requirements for Outdoor Swimming Pools and Spas

See 2021 ISPSC Section 305 for Barrier Requirements

Boulder County Building Code Amendments to 2021 IRC Chapter 11 BuildSmart

View the Boulder County Building Code Amendments to 2021 IRC Chapter 11 BuildSmart.

Exterior energy uses must be offset with on-site or off-site renewable energy production, see N1101.19 and N1190.

Pools

All heated swimming pools must be heated by solar thermal or other equipment that does not rely, directly or indirectly, on the burning of fossil fuels. Where heated pools are heated by the use of burning fossil fuels, directly or indirectly, they must have their energy use offset by on-site renewable energy generation equipment equivalent to the energy use by the swimming pool.

• Exception: Swimming pools having less than 200 sq. ft. of water surface area are exempt from the requirements to provide renewable energy.

Spas

Spas must be offset by on-site renewable energy generation equivalent to the energy use by the spa. Plans must show the annual energy use of the spa, the calculation method used to determine the expected energy use, and the on-site renewable energy system(s) which will be used to offset the energy used by the spa. All spas must be equipped with an insulated cover that is listed to provide a minimum R-value of at least 12.

• Exception: Spas and hot tubs which have been tested and listed for compliance with the requirements of the California Energy Commission (CEC) Title 20 and are less than 64 square feet in surface area shall be exempted from the requirement to offset their energy usage by on-site renewable energy generation.
• Note: If a Solar PV or Solar Thermal system is required for energy offset per BCBC Amendments to IRC sections N1101.19, N1190.3 and/or N1190.6, the applications for these systems must be made (reviewed and approved) prior to the Pool/Spa permit being issued. A final inspection for the proposed Solar system(s) must be completed, prior to the pool/spa completing final inspections.

Swimming Pool and Spa/Hot Tub Checklist

Building Permit Submittal Requirements

All building permit applications must be submitted online in PDF format: Boulder County Permit Records & Online Application Submittals

Factory Built CEC Title 20 Compliant Spa Tubs

Those that are less than 64 square feet of surface area and listed to CEC Title 20 are required to submit the following:

• Site plan or floor plan showing spa location
• Product listing sheet for the specific model of Spa appliance
• Product listing sheet for the required insulated cover (minimum R-12)
• An ASTM F1346 locking cover or a pool barrier per 2021 ISPSC section 305 is required
• Please submit the CEC Title 20 listing along with spa submittals. The following link can be used to search spas/hot tubs that comply with the CEC Title 20 standards: California CEC Title 20 Appliance Search website.

Swimming Pools and Spas

Those that do not meet the CEC Title 20 Standards are required to submit the following:

Site Plan

• Show dimensions between structures and property lines
• Show the location and dimensions of Pool/Spa
• Pool Barrier and gate locations, as applicable
• Electrical installation
• Pool and Spa equipment
• Existing utility easements
• New exterior lighting, including low voltage
  • Note: Provide submittal sheets for proposed exterior light fixtures

Floor Plan – Equipment Within a Building as applicable

• A floor plan showing the location of all equipment within structures
• Label all new or existing equipment with descriptions. Label the use of the room in which the equipment is placed.
• Show service clearances of the equipment.
• Dimensioned section and elevation drawings for the pool barrier as applicable per 2021 ISPSC section 305 to include:
  • Construction materials
  • Barrier connection details
  • Gate details including latch hardware
  • Barrier Exceptions: Where spas or hot tubs are equipped with a lockable safety cover complying with ASTM F1346, and swimming pools are equipped with a powered safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346, the areas where those spas, hot tubs or pools are located shall not be required to comply with barrier requirements.

General Equipment Requirements

Provide the following general information and product listing sheets:

• Pool engineering with original signature and seal on plan
• A complete one-line pool mechanical drawing
• Pool design detail must demonstrate compliance with the 2021 ISPSC. All equipment and materials to comply with Chapter 11 reference Standards.
• Heaters – N1190.3.1 and Table N1103.9.1 Minimum Equipment Efficiency Values
• Control modules – N1103.1
• Covers – N1190.3.3 & ASTM 1346
• Filters – section 312 (ISPSC)
• Pumps – N1190.3.4
• Suction Entrapment – ANSI/PHTA/ICC-7

Electrical Requirements

• One-line electrical bonding diagram to include:
• • All pool equipment
  • Pool/spa shell and deck
  • Ladders, diving boards, automatic covers and lighting
• Cut sheets for proposed bonding lugs
• Locking covers

Grading Plan

Provide the following information:

• Grading narrative, to describe the volume of pool/spa cut/fill and include if excess is to be hauled off site or spread on-site.
• Clearly show the areas on the site plan and the gradient thickness of the spread where the pool/spa cut is proposed to be spread on-site.
• Note: A separate grading permit and planning process is required for grading more than 50 cubic yards (combined cut and fill).
• If the cut is proposed to be trucked offsite and out of Boulder County to a landfill, receipt for its acceptance will be required prior to final inspections.
• If the cut is proposed to be trucked offsite and deposited within Boulder County (and is more than 50 cubic yards), a grading permit by the recipient would be required.

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