Aqua Design International Projects

Aqua designs for international projects require specialized training and knowledge.

International Codes

Many international locations have few, if any, aqua design codes or standards.  So what codes should apply?

In this litigious society we live in, designers should do their best to comply with the most stringent published code.  Most of those codes reside right here in the United States.  The leader for commercial pool standards is the State of California.

Avoiding Litigation

If the designer is based in the United States, a reasonable line of legal questioning in foreign litigation would be:

"Are you trained to design and build projects that are compliant with the more stringent US codes and standards?"
"In the absence of local regulations or building codes, wouldn't it be prudent to design and build to those same margins of safety?"
"So, by not designing to those same US standards, you are saying that a life in this foreign country is worth less than a life in the US?"

Keep in mind that in many foreign countries, errors and omissions are often construed as criminal negligence.  A designer may not just be trying to avoid financial losses, but jail as well.

Bottom Line

When designing foreign projects, it is best to design a project to be in compliance with the most stringent standards or codes that exist, unless they are in direct conflict with a local regulation.

The standards established by the ADA, IBC, NEC, ISPSC, APSP, NSF, ACI, TCNA, ANSI and VGBSA may not be the adopted code in a foreign locale.  However, these standards were established for a reason - life safety and user convenience.  

Don't the people in foreign countries deserve the same levels of protection?


Paolo Benedetti, SWD - Aquatic Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness, International Aquatic Designer and Builder
Contact the author at: info@aquatictechnology.com or 408-776-8220 
"Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa©
©www.aquatictechnology.com All rights reserved.

Soils Reports and Project Structural Engineering are the law

Swimming pool expert witness explains why soils reports and project specific structural engineering are required by law (the building codes).

Structural Engineering 


Swimming pools must be designed to withstand any force that will be exerted upon the structure.  These forces are called "surcharges."  The leading surcharge on an in-ground pool are the soils surrounding the pool itself.

Soils

The soils must be able to support the structure and prevent movement.  Soil conditions can very from lot to lot in the same subdivision.

For example, these soils can be expansive, non-supportive, prone to sliding or vertical uplift or subject to liquifaction.

One cannot ascertain the characteristics of the underlying soils by looking at the top soil.  That is unless they are Superman with x-ray vision.

Structural Engineer needs a soils report

A structural engineer cannot design the structure, without knowing the characteristics of the underlying soils.

Therefore, they need a soils report to tell them what site conditions are present.

Required by Law (Building Codes)

The 2012 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code states:
802.1 Materials of components and accessories.
The materials of components and accessories used for permanent inground residential swimming pools shall be suitable for the environment in which they are installed. The materials shall be capable of fulfilling the design, installation and the intended use requirements in the International Residential Code.
802.2 Structural design.
The structural design and materials shall be in accordance with the International Residential Code.  

The International Residential Code goes into further depth as to the requirement for project specific engineering, soils reports, minimum concrete strengths, foundation requirements, shotcrete strengths, rebar installation, special inspectors, laboratory testing, etc.

Since the 2012 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code has been incorporated into the International Building Code, which is THE building code for the entire United States... it has defacto become the swimming pool code for the United States.  

The Swimming Pool Code's counter reference to the IBC and IRC places a lot of additional minimum specifications and requirements on the construction of a concrete swimming pool or spa (gunite/shotcrete).

It helps to know the law.

Paolo Benedetti 
Aquatic Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness 
"Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa ©www.aquatictechnology.com