STATE OF FLORIDA

BUILDING COMMISSION

 

In the Matter of

 

HOLLAND POOLS                                                    Case #:             DCA09-DEC-419

 

            Petitioner.

 

_________________________/

 

 

DECLARATORY STATEMENT

 

The foregoing proceeding came before the Florida Building Commission (the Commission) by a Petition from Kenneth Gregory of Holland Pools joined by Robert Deatherage, Osceola County Building Official, which was received on December 25, 2009, and subsequently amended on January 7, 2010.  Based on the statements in the petition, the material subsequently submitted and the subsequent request by the Petitioner, it is hereby ORDERED:

Findings of Fact

1.  The petition is filed pursuant to, and must conform to the requirements of Rule 28-105.002, Florida Administrative Code.

2.  The Petitioner is a pool contractor in Florida and performs work on pools in the State that is subject to the Florida Building Code.  The Petitioner is joined in this matter by the building official for Osceola County, Florida, who is responsible for enforcing the Florida Building Code within his jurisdiction.

3.  The Petitioner submitted a permit application to Osceola County regarding a commercial pool that includes a cabana bath facility which was assigned permit number P-09-003284.  The plans submitted by the Petitioner do not indicate the use of “panic hardware” on the gates provided.  The cabana bath facility has a “community room” of approximately 800 sq ft. The provided exit out of this room does not empty into the pool area but instead into the parking lot. This facility will be mostly unoccupied which is typical for these types of facilities. This facility will only be used by persons using this residential community pool.  The pool enclosure encompasses open deck area with an occupant load of 50 people or more.  The plan was approved by the Department of Health and meets the requirements for sanitary facilities and deck areas pursuant to Rule 64E-9.006(4)(2), Florida Administrative Code, and the 424.1.6.1, Florida Building Code, Building Volume (2007), referred to as FBC Building. It also meets the barrier requirements of Rule 64E-9, F.A.C. and Section 424.1.3.1.9 of the FBC Building.

4.  The Petitioner asks three questions regarding this project:

(a).  Does Section 1004.1.1, FBC Building, apply to an outdoor public swimming pool for the purpose of determining occupancy load as per Table 1004.1.1; and, applying Section 1008.1.9, does the Code require panic hardware on the required gates, in addition to the barrier requirements of Rule 64E-9, F.A.C. and Section 424.1.3.1.9.

(b)  Does Section 1004.1.1, FBC Building, apply to an outdoor public swimming pool for the purpose of determining occupancy load in accordance with Table 1004.1.1 of the Code; and whether this section requires additional sanitary facilities required to those required by Rule 64E-9, F.A.C. and Section 424.1.6?

(c) Does the Code require that the sanitary facilities required for the Cabana bath be added to the ones required for by the pool?

Conclusions of Law

1.  The Florida Building Commission has the specific statutory authority to interpret the provisions of the Florida Building Code by entering a declaratory statement.

2.  According to Section 303 of the FBC, Building, pool enclosure including deck area with an occupant load of 50 or more is to be classified Assembly Group A-4.

            3.  According to Section 1004.8 of the FBC, Building, outdoor areas accessible to and usable by the building occupants must be provided with means of egress as per Chapter 10 of the FBC, Building.

            4.  According to Section 1004.1 of the FBC, Building, in determining means of egress requirements, the number of occupants must be determined in accordance with Section 1004.1.1.

            5.  Sanitary facilities for a public swimming pool including deck area must be in accordance with Section 403.8 of the FBC, Plumbing.

            6.  Fixture count for the cabana is subject to Section 403.1 of the FBC, Plumbing.

            7.   In response to the Petitioner’s first question, in addition to meeting the requirements of Section 424.1.3.1.9, the project in question falls under Assembly Group A Occupancy and is subject to the requirements of Chapter 10, Means of Egress, including Table 1004.1.1, 1008.2 and 1008.1.9 as applicable.

            8.  In response to the Petitioner’s second question, the plumbing fixture count for the pool and the open deck area is subject to the requirements of Section 403.8 of the FBC, Plumbing. 

 

            9.  In response to the Petitioner’s final question, the project in question consists of two separate facilities which can be either treated independently or together with regard to the required fixture count.

Petitioner and all other interested parties are hereby advised of their right to seek judicial review of this Order in accordance with Section 120.68(2)(a), Florida Statutes, and with Fla. R. App. 9.030(b)(1)(C) and 9.110(a).  To initiate an appeal, a Notice of Appeal must be filed with Paula P. Ford, Clerk of the Commission, Sadowski Building, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100, and with the appropriate District Court of Appeal no later than thirty days after this Order is filed with the Clerk of the Commission.  A Notice of Appeal filed with the District Court of Appeal shall be accompanied by the filing fee specified by section 35.22(3), Florida Statutes.


 

 

DONE AND ORDERED this ______ of _____________, 2008, in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, State of Florida.

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Raul L. Rodriguez, AIA, Chair

                                                                                    Florida Building Commission

                                                                                    Department of Community Affairs

                                                                                    Sadowski Building

                                                                                    2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.

                                                                                    Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

 

            I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was sent to the following by the method indicated on this ________ day of __________, 2008.

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    PAULA P. FORD

                                                                                    Commission Clerk

 

Via U.S. Mail                                                             Via Hand Delivery

 

Kenneth Gregory                                                          Mo Madani, C.B.O. Manager

Holland Pools                                                               Codes and Standards Section

1090 Kensington Park Drive                                         Department of Community Affairs

Altamonte Springs, Florida 32817                                 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.

                                                                                    Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100

Robert Deathererage

Osceola County Building Official

1 Courthouse Square, Suite 1400

Kissimmee, Florida 34741