Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Administrative Rules
4717.3870 POOL SLIDES.
Subpart 1.
General.
All slides used at a pool must be specifically designed and intended for use with a pool, and for use as a slide.
Subp. 2.
Standard pool slide.
Standard pool slides must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission Standard "Safety Standard for Swimming Pool Slides," Code of Federal Regulations, title 16, part 1207, as amended through December 18, 1978.
Subp. 3.
Slides in wading pools.
Slides for use by children in wading pools must be designated by the manufacturer for use in 24 inches or less of water, and installed accordingly.
Subp. 4.
Drop slides.
A slide other than a standard pool slide that discharges to a pool with a drop of more than two inches to the water surface must meet the requirements in this subpart.
A.
At least one attendant must be continuously present observing the slide and controlling its use.
B.
Slide entry areas must be designed so the rider is able to properly enter and position before sliding down the chute. This area must be a platform or flat portion of the chute with assist bars.
C.
Handrails must be present on both sides of the ladder or steps. Platforms and landings must have 42-inch high guardrails, with at least one intermediate-height rail.
D.
A landing area must be provided that extends five feet on either side of the center line of the slide and from the back wall to 20 feet in front of the slide terminus.
(1)
The landing area must not infringe on the required landing area for any other slide or diving equipment.
(3)
A slide mounted in a separate diving area may be allowed to use the separate diving area if access to the diving well is restricted to patrons using the slide and diving equipment.
F.
The terminus of the slide chute must extend beyond the pool wall and be so oriented that the landing area in front of the slide does not interfere with the landing area of another slide or other pool equipment.
G.
The maximum angle of the slide runway at the exit must be between zero degrees and 11 degrees, measured downward from horizontal.
H.
The area from the slide terminus outward to six feet in front of the slide terminus must have a depth as specified in this item.
(2)
If the depth of the terminus area is five feet or less, the bottom of this area must have a maximum slope of one inch in 12 inches and the slide must be located at least five feet from any change to steeper slope of the pool bottom.
(3)
If the slide exit is 12 inches or less above the water, the water depth from the slide terminus to six feet in front of the terminus must be in the four to five feet range.
(4)
If the slide exit is more than 12 inches above the water, the water depth from the slide terminus to six feet in front of the terminus must be at least eight feet.
J.
If water is pumped from a pool to the slide, the pump intake must be enclosed or constructed to prevent injury or entrapment of pool users. Intake velocity must not exceed 1-1/2 feet per second.
K.
Slides must be located and constructed to allow easy supervision. When a slide is not supervised, or not open for use, it must be secured to prevent access.
L.
The slide must have posted a set of rules that include the requirements in subitems (1) to (6).
History:
19 SR 1419; 19 SR 1637
Published Electronically:
October 3, 2013
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes