Washington Public Spa and Hot Tub Operating Standards

Spa pool design, construction, and equipment. For more general design, and construction requirements that pertain to all pools see WAC 246-260-031 . (1) Walking surfaces. Owners shall design and maintain walking surfaces four feet or more wide around fifty percent or more of each spa pool. If spa pools are greater than one hundred square feet in surface area, then the entire perimeter must have a four-foot wide walking surface. If a spa has walking surfaces thirty inches or more in height above the floor, then they must have guardrails that conform with UBC codes. (2) Spa pool structure. Owners shall ensure spa pool facilities have: (a) White or light color surfaces, if a pool is one hundred square feet or more; (b) Uniform floor slopes not exceeding one foot of drop in twelve feet of run sloped to drain; (c) A minimum height of seven feet between the top of the pool rim and the ceiling; (d) A maximum operational depth of four feet measured from the water line, except for special purpose designed pools; and (e) Heater thermostat switches inaccessible to bathers. (3) Spa capacity. The spa capacity is the maximum number of persons allowed in the spa pool at any one time and is the most restrictive of the following: (a) The number of bathers able to be in the spa pool allowing ten square feet or more of water surface for each bather; (b) Maximum bather load as calculated using the formula in subsection (4) of this section;