1. (a) Safe surface skimming and perimeter overflow system for new pools and spas. A surface overflow device in a new pool or spa shall be designed and installed so as not to constitute a hazard to the user. Skimmer and perimeter overflow systems shall be designed to prevent entrance or entrapment of a limb, body or hair. Also see §265.184(c) of this title (relating to General and Structural Design (regarding equipment meeting any applicable NSFI Standard-50 standards)).
2. (b) Surface skimming and perimeter overflow system provided for new pools and spas. A surface skimming or perimeter overflow (gutter) system shall be provided and shall be designed and constructed to skim the surface of a new pool or spa when the water level is maintained within the operating water level range of the system's rim or weir device. The operating water level for a perimeter overflow system shall be slightly over the overflow (gutter) lip or, in the case of surface skimmers, within the vertical operating range of the skimmers.

3. (c) Surface skimmer systems for new pools and spas. Surface skimmer systems for new 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) when surface skimmers are used, they shall be located to maintain effective skimming action throughout the pool or spa;
   3. (3) where 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 stairs, and swimouts shall not be considered in the calculation);
   4. (4) where surface skimmers are used on a spa, one surface skimmer shall be provided for each 150 square feet, or fraction thereof;
   5. (5) the circulation system shall be designed to handle 100% of pool or spa flow through surface skimmers;
   6. (6) flow rate shall be no less than three gallons per minute per skimmer per weir inch;
   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; and
   8. (8) surface skimmer systems shall be provided with a skimmer equalizer pipe which is connected from the skimmer housing to the pool or spa below the weir and sized to satisfy pump demand and prevent air lock, and a skimmer equalizer valve device on the equalizer line that opens when water level inside the skimmer tank drops below operating level and remains closed during normal skimming as per NSFI-50.

4. (d) Perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming systems for new pools and spas. Perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming systems for new pools and spas shall comply with the following:

   1. (1) when a perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming system is used as the sole surface skimmer system, this system shall extend around a minimum of 50% of the perimeter of the pool or spa;
   2. (2) when perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming system is used, it shall be connected to the circulation system with a system surge capacity not less than one gallon for each square foot of pool surface;
   3. (3) when 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 two gallons for each square foot of spa surface; and
   4. (4) the hydraulic capacity of a perimeter overflow (gutter) surface skimming system shall be capable of handling 100% of the circulation flow.

Source Note:The provisions of this §265.191 adopted to be effective June 17, 1999, 24 TexReg 4365.