1. (a) Surface skimming or perimeter overflow system required for post-10/01/99 pools and spas. A surface skimming system or perimeter overflow (gutter) system shall be designed and constructed to skim the surface of a post-10/01/99 pool or spa when the water level is maintained within the operating water level range of the system's rim or weir device.
2. (b) Safe design of surface skimming or perimeter overflow system for post-10/01/99 pools and spas. Surface skimmers and perimeter overflow systems in post-10/01/99 pools and spas shall be designed and installed to prevent body or limb entrapment. See §265.184(d) of this title (relating to General Construction and Design for Post-10/01/99 Pools and Spas) regarding equipment meeting any applicable NSFI Standard-50 standards.

3. (c) Specific requirements for surface skimmer systems for post-10/01/99 pools and spas. Surface skimmer systems for post-10/01/99 pools and spas shall comply with the following:

   1. (1) the return inlet(s) shall be located so as to help bring floating particles within range of the skimmers;
   2. (2) if surface skimmers are used, they shall be located to maintain effective skimming action throughout the pool or spa;
   3. (3) if surface skimmers are used in a pool as the sole overflow system, at least one surface skimmer shall be provided for each 500 square feet or fraction thereof of the water surface area (recessed areas such as steps, and swimouts shall not be considered in the calculation);
   4. (4) if surface skimmers are used on a spa, one surface skimmer shall be provided for each 150 square feet of the water surface area, or fraction thereof;
   5. (5) the circulation system shall be designed to handle 100% of water flow through surface skimmers;
   6. (6) flow rate shall be no less than 3 gallons per minute per skimmer per weir inch; and
   7. (7) skimmer covers located on a walking surface shall be securely seated, slip-resistant, of sufficient strength to withstand normal deck use, and not constitute a tripping hazard.

4. (d) Specific requirements for perimeter overflow (gutter) systems for post-10/01/99 pools and spas. Perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming systems for post-10/01/99 pools and spas shall comply with the following:

   1. (1) if a perimeter overflow (gutter) surface-skimming system is used as the sole surface skimmer system, the system shall extend around a minimum of 50% of the perimeter of the pool or spa;
   2. (2) if a perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming system is used, it shall be connected to the circulation system with a system surge capacity not less than 1 gallon for each square foot of pool surface; gutter as well as gutter piping capacity may be counted as surge capacity;
   3. (3) if a perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming system is used in a spa, it shall be connected to the circulation system with a system surge capacity not less than 2 gallons for each square foot of spa surface;
   4. (4) the hydraulic capacity of a perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming system shall be capable of handling 100% of the circulation flow; and
   5. (5) the operating water level for a perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming system shall be slightly over the overflow (gutter) lip or, in the case of surface skimmers, within the vertical operating range of the skimmers.

Source Note:The provisions of this §265.191 adopted to be effective September 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 7704.