Pool Design Guidelines

Designing a pool takes more than simply digging a hole and filling it with water. Whether he designs a small wading pool or an Olympic-sized one, the designer has many factors to consider and pays close attention to detail.

Considerations

• The American National Standards Institute recognizes the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals document, "The Standard for Public Swimming Pools" as an American national standard. State and local public health officials use these guidelines as a starting point for their own codes for pool design and operation. As such, uniform national standards do not exist.

Size

• The size of a pool determines its overall capacity as well as the population it will serve. The pool designer designs the pool's dimensions including the length, distance and depth of each area. In pools with different depths, such as the wading or diving areas, she must also consider the transitional floor slopes.

Features

• A pool designer must consider construction materials, structural and dimensional design, filters, pumps and motors, heaters, water supply and disposal, among other factors. He must also consider the space required for stairs and decks, or, for public pools, lifeguard chairs and changing areas.