Are Hand-holds required in AZ (Pima County)

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R

RogueDO

New member
Nov 24, 2024
3
Tucson, AZ
I am doing a quasi DIY pool build with a local DIY consultant . He has mentioned that hand holds are required on my proposed RBB but my tile contractor is saying not necessary for Pima Co.

Looking for any insight from AZ pool owners (especially Pima Co).

Thanks
 
RBB = Raised Bond Beam
No idea what "hand holds" mean.

The OP should add their actual city, state in account details.
They mention Pima County and AZ - but the location listed resolves to a lodge in Equador.
 
proavia said:
No idea what "hand holds" mean
Click to expand...
Exactly that. A soap dish like spot to grab onto when there is a raised wall on a deep side.

There's a million styles of course.

Screenshot_20250123_113547_Chrome.jpg


Code or no code, I'd want them if I had little kids, or i'd still be living there when it was time to watch the grandkids down the road. .
 
Coco Solo was a United States Navy submarine base and naval air station near the Panama Canal, active from 1918 to the 1960s.

Coco Solo, the former U.S. military base on Panama's Atlantic coast where Arizona Senator John McCain was born.

Coco Solo means Lonely Coconut in Spanish.
 
323.1 Handholds Required
Washington Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2021 > 3 General Compliance > 323 Safety > 323.1 Handholds Required
Go To Full Code Chapter
Where the depth below the design waterline of a pool or spa exceeds 42 inches (1067 mm), handholds along the perimeter shall be provided. Handholds shall be located at the top of deck or coping.

Exceptions:
Handholds shall not be required where an underwater bench, seat or swimout is installed.
Handholds shall not be required for wave action pools and action rivers.
323.1.1 Height Above Water
Handholds shall be located not more than 12 inches (305 mm) above the design waterline.
323.1.2 Handhold Type
Handholds shall be one or more of the following:
Top of pool deck or coping.
Secured rope.
Rail.
Rock.
Ledge.
Ladder.
Stair step.
Any design that allows holding on with one hand while at the side of the pool.
323.1.3 Handhold Spacing
Handholds shall be horizontally spaced not greater than 4 feet (1219 mm) apart.
 
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Basically, if you have a raised wall over 12" above the water and over 4' wide and the water depth is over 42", you are required to have some type of handhold or an underwater bench, seat or swimout.

Contact the city and ask them.

The Town of Pima, Arizona's building code enforcement is handled by the Public Works Director at 110 W. Center, Pima, AZ 85543.

The phone number is (928) 485-2611.
 
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Section 323.1 of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) requires handholds at the perimeter of pools and spas that are deeper than 42 inches below the waterline.

Handholds are not required for wave action pools, action rivers, or pools with underwater benches, seats, or swimouts.
Requirements
Handholds must be located at the top of the deck or coping
Handholds can be a secured rope, rail, rock, ledge, ladder, or stair step
Handholds should be no more than 12 inches above the waterline
Exceptions
Handholds are not required for wave action pools
Handholds are not required for action rivers
Handholds are not required for pools with underwater benches, seats, or swimouts
The ISPSC is a code that sets minimum regulations for public and residential pools, spas, and hot tubs.
 

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JamesW said:
Adopted Codes: 2018 I Codes, 2017 NEC
Click to expand...

Find Codes

ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
codes.iccsafe.org codes.iccsafe.org

2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)

ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
codes.iccsafe.org codes.iccsafe.org

1737652990100.png


1737653206499.png

CHAPTER 3 GENERAL COMPLIANCE - 2018 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODE (ISPSC)

ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
codes.iccsafe.org codes.iccsafe.org
 
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323.1 Handholds required.

Where the depth below the design waterline of a pool or spa exceeds 42 inches (1067 mm), handholds along the perimeter shall be provided.

Handholds shall be located at the top of deck or coping.

Exceptions:

1.Handholds shall not be required where an underwater bench, seat or swimout is installed.

2.Handholds shall not be required for wave action pools and action rivers.

323.1.1 Height above water.

Handholds shall be located not more than 12 inches (305 mm) above the design waterline.

2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)
Categories:

About this Title.

The only comprehensive swimming pool code coordinated with the current requirements in the I-Codes and APSP standards.

Developed with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), to establish minimum regulations for public and residential pools, spas, and hot tubs using prescriptive and performance-related provisions.

The ISPSC integrates seamlessly with the family of I-Codes and contains requirements that meet or exceed the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.

The ISPSC also contains APSP-7 Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance.

Digital Codes

ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
codes.iccsafe.org codes.iccsafe.org
 
Only the Authority Having Jurisdiction can determine definitively if hand holds are required.

Regardless of the requirement, I believe they are very important for safety.
 
.ben said:
Only the Authority Having Jurisdiction can determine definitively if hand holds are required.

Regardless of the requirement, I believe they are very important for safety.
Click to expand...
It says that they have adopted the 2018 I Codes and the 2017 NEC, so that makes it applicable building code.

The 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) is adopted, so that applies.

The 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) specifies the requirements for Hand Holds.

So, it seems clear that the AHJ has indicated that handholds are required as specified in the code.

You can ask the Inspector if you want because they have the final say on what passes and what does not pass.
1737659842104.png

 

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JamesW said:
Coco Solo was a United States Navy submarine base and naval air station near the Panama Canal, active from 1918 to the 1960s.

Coco Solo, the former U.S. military base on Panama's Atlantic coast where Arizona Senator John McCain was born.

Coco Solo means Lonely Coconut in Spanish.
Click to expand...
I was stationed there back in the 1990s but at that time Coco Solo (as far as U.S. property) was only a small hospital and a very small barracks. The installations on the East side at that time were FT Sherman and FT Davis.

I spent last month down there but no sure why it still listed my location as down there.
 
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