STATE OF
BUILDING COMMISSION
In the Matter of
DAN JOHNSON,
SWIM INCORPORATED,
2119 Global Court
Sarasota, Florida 34240
Petitioner.
_________________________/
DECLARATORY STATEMENT
The foregoing proceeding came before the Florida Building Commission (the Commission) by a Petition from Dan Johnson of Swim Incorporated, which was received on October 26, 2011. Based on the statements in the petition, the material subsequently submitted and the subsequent request by the Petitioner, it is hereby ORDERED:
Findings of Fact
1. The petition is filed pursuant to, and must conform to the requirements of Rule 28-105.002, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
2. The Petitioner is a pool contractor in Florida and performs work on pools in the State that is subject to the Florida Building Code (F.B.C.).
3. The Petitioner is in the process of designing a 10,700 gallon residential swimming pool with a therapy spa in Bradenton, Florida, in accordance with the 2010 Florida Building Code. The Petitioner is seeking clarification of the flow and velocity requirements for swimming pool piping contained in three standards referenced in the 2010 Florida Building Code: Section R4101.6.1, F.B.C., Residential Volume; NSPI-5; APSP-7; and APSP-15 found in Section 403.9 of the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation.
4. The Petitioner asks three questions regarding this project:
(a). Does a pool contractor achieve compliance with NSPI-5 and R4101.6.3, F.B.C., by applying the design flow rate when specifying pipe sizes?
(b) Does a pool contractor achieve compliance with ANSI/APSP/ICC-15 by applying the maximum design flow rate when specifying swimming pool filtration pipe sizes, where the maximum design flow rate is the greater of the calculated 6-hour turnover flow rate or the optional auxiliary feature (spa) with the highest design flow requirements if operated by the circulations pump?
(c) Does a pool contractor achieve compliance with ANSI/APSP-7 by applying the maximum operational flow rate when specifying suction pipe sizes?
Conclusions of Law
R4101.6.1, Conformance
standard. Design, construction and workmanship shall be in
conformity with the requirements of ANSI/NSPI 3; ANSI/NSPI 4; ANSI/NSPA 5;
ANSI/NSPI 6; and ANSI/APSP 7.
R4101.6.3, Water
velocity. Pool piping shall be designed so the water velocity will not exceed 10
feet per second (3048 mm/s) for pressure piping and 8 feet per second (2438
mm/s) for suction piping, except that the water velocity shall not exceed 8
feet per second (2438 mm/s) in copper tubing. Main suction outlet velocity must
comply with ANSI/APSP 7.
Exception: Jet
inlet fittings shall not be deemed subject to this requirement.
403.9 Swimming pools, inground
spas, and portable spas (Mandatory). The energy requirements for residential pools and inground spas shall be
as specified in Sections 403.9.1 through 403.9.4 and ANSI/APSP-15. The energy
requirements for portable spas shall be in accordance with Section 403.9.5 and
ANSI/APSP-14.
403.9.4
Residential pool pumps and pump motors. Pool
filtration pump motors shall meet the following requirements:
1. Pool pump motors shall not be split-phase, shaded-pole or capacitor start-induction run types.
2. Pool pumps and pool pump motors with a total horsepower (HP) of ≥ 1 HP shall have the capability of operating at two or more speeds. The low speed shall have a rotation rate of no more than ½ of the motor’s maximum rotation rate.
3. Pool pumps motor controls shall have the capability of operating the pool pump at a minimum of two speeds. The default circulation speed shall be the residential filtration speed, with a higher speed override capability for a temporary period not to exceed one normal cycle or 24 hours, whichever is less.
Exception: Solar pool heating systems shall be permitted to run at higher speeds during periods of usable solar heat gain.
The objective of this
standard is to provide recommended minimum guidelines for the design,
equipment, installation, and use of residential inground swimming pools. Maximum
velocity limits are: 10 feet per second (fps) in return side piping and 8 fps
in suction side piping. The flow and velocity requirements in this standard are
intended to insure adequate water flow for sanitation, filtration, filter
backwashing, etc. Maximum system flow is not defined in this standard; the flow
requirement is that the equipment shall be sized to provide a turnover of the
pool water at least once every twelve (12) hours.
b.
ANSI/APSP-7, 2006 Standard
for Suction Entrapment Avoidance in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, Hot
Tubs and Catch Basins.
The objective of this standard is to provide
recommended minimum guidelines for suction entrapment avoidance in the design,
equipment, operation and installation of new and existing swimming pools,
wading pools, spas, hot tubs and catch basins for builders, installers, pool
operators and service professionals Maximum water velocity limits are: in
branch suction piping (piping between dual or multiple outlets) shall be
limited to 6 feet per second when one of a pair is blocked. All other suction
piping velocities shall be 8 fps for residential pools. This standard does not
address return side velocities. The flow and velocity limits in this standard
are intended to prevent suction entrapment. I quote “This standard was written
to move performance criteria for each identified hazard and allow state
authorities to define clear codes for use by designers, builders and
inspectors”. Maximum system flow rate is defined as “The flow resulting from
the lowest possible total dynamic head (TDH) for a circulation system.
c.
ANSI/APSP/ICC-15, 2011 Standard
for Residential Swimming Pool and Spa Energy Efficiency
The objective of this newly adopted conformance
standard is to provide recommended minimum guidelines for the energy efficiency
of permanently installed residential aboveground/onground and inground swimming
pools and inground spas Maximum water velocity limits are 8 fps in return
piping and 6 fps in suction line piping. Maximum filtration flow rate is defined
in this standard as “the flow rate needed to turn over the pool water volume in
6 hours (pool volume in gallons ÷ 360 = gpm) or a flow rate of 36 gpm,
whichever is greater”. Maximum system flow rate is defined in this standard as
“the maximum flow rate for the auxiliary pool loads (a spa for example) or the
filtration flow rate, whichever is greater.”
The maximum flow rate for pools without optional auxiliary loads is
determined by a mathematical calculation based on pool volume divided by size
hours – not the maximum potential flow and/or velocity as defined in the
ANSI/APSP-7, 2006 standard. The intent of the ANSI-15 standard is most clear
when evaluating a swimming pool system without optional auxiliary pool loads, a
situation where pipe size is determined exclusively by the calculation pool
volume in gallons ÷ 360 = maximum flow rate in gpm.
4. In response to the Petitioner’s first question, for the project in question a pool contractor achieves compliance with NSPI-5 and R4101.6.3, F.B.C. by applying the design flow rate when specifying pipe sizes.
5. In response to the Petitioner’s second question, for the project in question a pool contractor achieves compliance with ANSI/APSP/ICC-15 by applying the maximum design flow rate when specifying swimming pool filtration pipe sizes, where the maximum design flow rate is the greater of the calculated 6-hour turnover flow rate or the optional auxiliary feature (spa) with the highest design flow requirements if operated by the circulations pump.
6. In response to the Petitioner’s final question, for the project in question a pool contractor achieves compliance with ANSI/APSP-7 by applying the maximum operational flow rate when specifying suction pipe sizes.
7. The answers to the above stated questions were given with the understanding that the said questions are to be considered individually and not collectively.
Petitioner and all other interested parties are hereby advised of their right to seek judicial review of this Order in accordance with Section 120.68(2)(a), Florida Statutes, and Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.110(a) and 9.030(b)(1)(C) and 9.110(a). To initiate an appeal, a Notice of Appeal must be filed with Agency Clerk, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1000 and with the appropriate District Court of Appeal not later than thirty (30) days after this Order is filed with the Clerk of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. A Notice of Appeal filed with the District Court of Appeal shall be accompanied by the filing fee specified by Section 35.22(3), Florida Statutes.
DONE AND ORDERED this _____ day of ______________, 2012 in Jacksonville, Duval County, State of Florida.
______________________________
RICHARD S. BROWDY
Chair, Florida Building Commission
CERTIFICATE OF
FILING AND SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing order has been filed with the undersigned and furnished by U.S. Mail to the persons listed below this____ day of ____________________, 2012.
___________________________________
Agency Clerk, Department of Business and
Professional Regulation & Florida Building Commission
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399‑1000
Via U.S. Mail Via Hand or Inter-Office Delivery
Dan Johnson Mo Madani, C.B.O. Manager
Swim Incorporated Codes and Standards Section
2119 Global Court Department of Business and Professional
Sarasota, Florida
34240 Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee,
Florida 32399