Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-3-5-.11 - Surface Skimmer Systems

(1) A surface skimming system shall be provided on all swimming pools and spas and shall be designed and constructed to skim the pool or spa surface when the water level is maintained within the operational parameters of the system's rim or weir device. Surface skimming devices shall comply with NSF Standard 50.

(2) Skimming devices shall be designed and installed so as not to constitute a hazard to the user.

(3) Automatic Surface Skimmers. Where automatic surface skimmers are used as the sole overflow system in pools, at least two surface skimmers shall be provided for the first four hundred square feet or fraction thereof of the water surface area and one skimmer shall be provided for each additional four hundred square feet of surface area. In spas, one skimmer shall be provided for each one hundred square feet of surface area.

(a) Nominal recessed areas such as stairs and swimouts, shall not be considered in the calculation.

(b) When skimmers are used, they shall be located to maintain effective skimming action over the entire surface of the pool or spa.

(c) The skimmer flow rate shall not be less than twenty- five gallons per minutes or more than fifty-five gallons per minutes unless they are based on the manufacturer's design specifications. The flow rate for the skimmers shall comply with manufacturer data plates or NSF/ANSI 50 including Annex K.

(d) Each skimmer shall have a weir that adjusts automatically to variations in water level over a minimum range of four inches.

(e) Each skimmer shall be equipped with a trimmer valve capable of distributing the total flow between individual skimmers.

(f) The skimmer equalizer lines, when used, shall be located on the wall with the center no more than eighteen inches below the maximum operating level.

(g) The skimmer equalizer lines shall be protected by an approved cover/grated with a flow rating equal the maximum system flow divided by the number of skimmers in the system or the maximum flow rating of the skimmer, whichever is greater.

(h) Additional skimmers may be required to achieve effective skimming under site-specific conditions.

(i) The base of each skimmer shall be level with all other skimmers in the pool within a tolerance of plus or minus one-half inch.

(4) Perimeter Surface Skimmer (Gutter). Where a perimeter type surface skimming system is used as the sole surface skimming system, this system shall extend completely around the perimeter of the pool except at steps or recessed ladders.

(a) The lip of the gutter shall be level and shall be designed to serve as a handhold for bathers.

(b) The perimeter surface skimming system shall be connected to the circulation system with a system surge capacity of not less than one gallon for each square foot of pool surface or two and one half gallons for each square foot of spa surface.

(c) The hydraulic capacity of the overflow system shall be capable of handling one hundred percent of the circulation flow.

(d) Gutters shall be level within a tolerance of plus or minus one-sixteenth inch around the perimeter of the pool.

(e) Automatic makeup water supply equipment shall be provided to maintain continuous skimming of pools with perimeter overflow systems.

(f) Makeup water shall be supplied through an air gap or other approved backflow prevention device.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-3-5-.11

O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-6, 31-12-8, 31-45-10.

Original Rule entitled "Surface Skimmer Systems" adopted. F. Oct. 15, 2013; eff. Nov. 4, 2013. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Jan. 11, 2017; eff. Jan. 31, 2017.