Signage for Public Swimming Pools

This fact sheet is for public swimming pool operators. It outlines requirements for notices, markings and signsfor Class B pools (as required in Ontario Regulation 565/90).

Class B pools are those operated in motels, hotels, condominiums, apartment buildings, and campgrounds.

The following weatherproof signs
or markings are required:

Signs

Supervision

a) A water surface area of 93 square metres (1,000 square feet) or less requires the following notice, printed in letters at least 25 millimetres (1 inch) high, displayed in a clearly visible location within the pool enclosure:

Caution

THIS POOL IS UNSUPERVISED.  BATHERS UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE ARE NOT ALLOWED WITHIN THE POOL ENCLOSURE UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR HIS OR HER AGENT WHO IS NOT LESS THAN 16 YEARS OF AGE.

(b) A water surface area larger than 93 square metres (1,000 square feet) and for no more than 10

bathers requires the following notice, printed in letters at least 25 millimetres (1 inch) high
posted in a clearly visible location within the pool enclosure:

CAUTION

THIS POOL IS UNSUPERVISED.  BATHERS UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE ARE NOT ALLOWED WITHIN THE POOL ENCLOSURE UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR HIS OR HER AGENT WHO IS NOT LESS THAN 16 YEARS OF AGE.  THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BATHERS ON

THE DECK AND IN THE POOL SHALL NOT EXCEED 10.

(c) If a pool has a water surface area greater than 93 square metres (1,000 square feet) and more than 10 bathers, provide supervision according to the Regulation.

General

Every owner and every operator shall make sure that the following notices and markings are shown in the places indicated below:

In no less than two (2) places at the pool, notices that set out:

1. that no person infected with a communicable disease or having open sores on his or her body shall enter the pool.
2. that no person shall bring a glass container onto the deck or into the pool,
3. that no person shall pollute the water in the pool in any manner and that spitting, spouting of water and blowing the nose in the pool or on the deck is not allowed,
4. that no person shall engage in boisterous play in or about the pool,
5. the maximum number of bathers permitted on the deck and in the pool at any time.

It is recommended that one notice be put at the back entrance to the pool and the other in the pool enclosure. Letters should be a minimum of 25 millimetres (1 inch) in size and be a dark colour and on a light background.

Notice to Shower

At the entrance to each shower area and at every entrance to the deck used by bathers, notices must be posted requiring each bather to take a shower using warm water and soap and thoroughly rinse off all soap before entering or re-entering the deck.

This sign can be included in the general sign and the letters should be 25 millimetres (one inch) in size.

Emergency Telephone

(a) In not fewer than two places at the pool (at the entrance and in the pool enclosure) a notice must be posted that shows the location of the emergency telephone.

It is recommended that dark letters 50 millimetres (two inches) in size be provided on a light background.

(b) At the emergency telephone, a notice must be posted saying it is the emergency telephone and listing the names, telephone numbers and addresses of persons who are available for resuscitation, medical aid and fire services or indicating the services to which the telephone is directly connected.

There is no size provision for this sign.

Diving Signs

(a) In a clearly visible location, where a pool has a maximum water depth of less than 2.50 metres
(8 feet), in letters not less than 150 millimetres (6 inches) high a sign stating:
CAUTION - AVOID DEEP DIVES or the words SHALLOW WATER - NO DIVING must be posted.

(b) At a Class B pool that is equipped with a diving board where the end of the board is 600 millimetres or less in height above the water, and less than 9.00 metres but not less than 7.5 metres from any point having a water depth of at least 1.35 metres, a sign must be posted in a location clearly visible to divers, in letters at least 150 millimetres high, stating:
DANGER-AVOID DEEP or LONG DIVES.

Markings

On the deck, clearly marked in figures not less than 100 millimeters (4 inches) high there must be markings that set out the water depths indicating the deep points, the breaks between gentle and steep bottom slopes and the shallow points. The words DEEP AREA and SHALLOW AREA must be marked at the appropriate locations.

Every owner and every operator, other than an owner and operator of a modified pool, shall ensure that the pool is equipped with a black disc 150 millimetres (6 inches) in diameter on a white background. This is placed in the deepest part of the pool to show the clarity of the pool water.

All of the above are minimum requirements.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact KFL&A Public Health at 613-549-1232 or 1-800-267-7875.