# COMAR Title 09 — Maryland Department of Labor

## Subtitle 12 — Division of Labor and Industry

### Chapter 63 — Water Slides Erected Permanently or Temporarily in the State

**Authority:** Business Regulation Article, §§3-307—3-313, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: October 15, 1986 (13:16 Md. R. 1826)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .07A amended effective June 12, 1989 (16:11 Md. R. 1218)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .08 amended effective June 12, 1989 (16:11 Md. R. 1218)

#### Regulation .01 Purpose.

*COMAR 09.12.63.01*

A. This chapter establishes specific requirements for water slides in addition to the general requirements contained in COMAR 09.12.62, in order to ensure that water slides erected permanently or temporarily in the State are safely constructed, operated, and maintained.

B. Design, construction, maintenance, and operation requirements for any public swimming pool associated with a water slide are under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Department of Health.

#### Regulation .02 Definitions.

*COMAR 09.12.63.02*

A. The following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

  (1) “Deck” means the area surrounding a pool or flume which is specifically constructed or installed for use by sliders.

  (2) “Dispatcher” means the attendant who directly controls the operation at the top of the water slide.

  (3) “Flume” means an inclined channel containing water which provides a transit path for conveying people.

  (4) “Grouping” means more than two persons.

  (5) “Runout” means the horizontal portion at the end of a flume which contains a flow of water and allows for safe deceleration and exit of sliders.

  (6) “Splash pool” means a pool at the base of the slide from which sliders exit to the deck.

  (7) “Splash pool supervisor” means the attendant who directly controls the activity in the splash pool and immediate vicinity.

  (8) “Upper pool” means a shallow trough or pool at the top of the slide where the slider begins the descent.

  (9) “Water slide” means a recreational device which:

    (a) Has a total vertical drop of 10 feet or more;

    (b) Uses flowing water to provide low friction in the slide bed or flume;

    (c) Is designed to provide a descending ride into a splash pool or runout at the base of the slide; and

    (d) May consist of one or more flumes, an upper pool, a splash pool, a pump reservoir, and water treatment and pumping facilities.

#### Regulation .03 Manual.

*COMAR 09.12.63.03*

A. Each owner of a water slide shall develop or obtain a detailed written operational manual for all phases of operation and maintenance of each component of the water slide.

B. Each owner shall ensure that the manual is legible, in English, and readily accessible.

C. The manual shall include:

  (1) Water slide maintenance and cleanup procedures;

  (2) Repair procedures for water slides and decks;

  (3) Equipment operation instructions;

  (4) Inspection procedures;

  (5) Operator job descriptions;

  (6) First aid procedures;

  (7) A list of emergency medical telephone numbers;

  (8) Recordkeeping logs for:

    (a) Operational activities including daily inspections; and

    (b) Injuries;

  (9) A written emergency plan which, in addition to the requirements contained in COMAR 09.12.62.08, includes:

    (a) Procedures for cessation of slide operations when:

      (i) The water supply is cut off; or

      (ii) A power outage occurs during nighttime operations;

    (b) Methods of crowd control during general evacuation of the water slide;

    (c) Provisions for first aid;

    (d) Employee responsibilities; and

    (e) An effective signaling system such as warning bells or bull horns.

#### Regulation .04 Posted Warning Signs.

*COMAR 09.12.63.04*

A. At the entrance of each water slide, the owner shall post a sign conveying the following directions:

  (1) Obey all instructions given by the dispatcher and splash pool supervisor who have the authority to prevent any condition which leads to unsafe operation of the water slide;

  (2) The following activities are strictly prohibited:

    (a) Use of this slide when under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

    (b) Diving, running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, or stopping in flumes or tunnels;

    (c) Traveling head first down slide; and

    (d) Grouping or forming chains;

  (3) Hands shall be kept inside the flume;

  (4) After exiting from slide, sliders shall leave the splash pool promptly;

  (5) Glass, bottles, or food are not allowed in water slide vicinity.

B. The directions contained in §A(2)(a) and (5) of this regulation may be posted at the entrance of the park.

C. The directions may be conveyed by means of words, in English and, if appropriate, in other languages, pictures, symbols, or any combination of them.

D. The sign shall:

  (1) Be constructed of wood, metal, or other material which can endure for several years;

  (2) Be constructed and placed in such a manner that it poses no hazard; and

  (3) Contain lettering at least 1 inch high, on a contrasting background.

#### Regulation .05 Daily Inspections.

*COMAR 09.12.63.05*

A. Inspections and Records.

  (1) In accordance with COMAR 09.12.62.09, the water slide owner shall ensure that the water slide is inspected on each day of use to determine that:

    (a) The water slide is in safe operating condition; and

    (b) Conforms to the requirements in this chapter and COMAR 09.12.62.

  (2) The owner shall ensure that the inspections are conducted in a manner which permits close scrutiny of the slide and all of its parts.

  (3) Appropriate records shall be kept.

B. The flume shall be inspected before the water is circulated, and in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.

C. Before the water is circulated, the water slide shall be inspected for safety hazards, including, but not limited to:

  (1) Loose railings;

  (2) Leaking seals at the butt-joints which affect operational safety;

  (3) Rough patching of cracks or joints;

  (4) Loose or missing guards on the flume turns;

  (5) Sharp edges on the flume safety rails;

  (6) Projections into the flume troughs;

  (7) Unusual movement of the flume bed;

  (8) Evidence of deterioration of the wooden flume support structures;

  (9) An obstructed view of the splash pool at the exit of the flume.

D. During slide operation the owner or the owner's designee shall periodically:

  (1) Observe the movement of the sliders, including:

    (a) The location of the sliders' bodies on side walls during turns;

    (b) Sliders' impacts with flume walls; and

    (c) Safety during sliders' exits into the splash pool;

  (2) Determine if any injuries have occurred which indicate a water slide hazard which may require additional inspection;

  (3) Ensure that there is a proper and steady flow of water throughout the flume.

#### Regulation .06 Control of Operation.

*COMAR 09.12.63.06*

A. The owner of a water slide shall:

  (1) Provide a sufficient number of attendants, at least two, to ensure:

    (a) Positive control of the water slide and each flume when in operation; and

    (b) That sliders comply with posted signs;

  (2) When determining the requisite number of attendants, take into account the:

    (a) Design and type of slide;

    (b) Proximity of the flumes; and

    (c) Number of sliders.

B. Each water slide attendant shall be trained in:

  (1) The use and function of water slide equipment which the attendant may operate;

  (2) Procedures for slide operations and slider control;

  (3) The directions to sliders which are posted; and

  (4) The water slide's general emergency plan.

C. At least one attendant shall be a dispatcher who is:

  (1) Trained in accordance with §B of this regulation;

  (2) In the immediate vicinity of the top of the slide during operation of the water slide; and

  (3) Responsible for:

    (a) Controlling crowds and sliders starting from the top of the water slide;

    (b) Controlling the timing of each slider on the slide; and

    (c) Supervising all visible portions of the flume.

D. At least one attendant shall be a splash pool supervisor who is:

  (1) Trained in accordance with §B of this regulation;

  (2) Qualified in life saving techniques through Red Cross training or its equivalent;

  (3) In the immediate vicinity of the splash pool during operation of the slide; and

  (4) In direct control of sliders in the splash pool by:

    (a) Keeping sliders moving into and out of the splash pool in a quick and orderly manner; and

    (b) Controlling any horseplay, running, or unsafe behavior in the lower flumes, the splash pool, and the pool deck.

#### Regulation .07 Design Criteria.

*COMAR 09.12.63.07*

A. Scope.

  (1) The design criteria contained in COMAR 09.12.62.10 apply to all water slides.

  (2) The criteria contained in this regulation shall apply to any slide for which:

    (a) A construction permit is issued after the effective date of this chapter; or

    (b) Construction or renovation has begun after the effective date of this chapter.

B. Overall Design.

  (1) The slide's structural design and materials shall:

    (a) Comply with generally accepted structural engineering practices; and

    (b) Provide a durable frame which shall safely sustain all weights and pressures for the projected operating life of the structure.

  (2) The materials for components and accessories to be used in and around slides shall be such that the operational strength of the entire assembly and its components is not adversely affected by exposure to rain, snow, ice, sunlight, local normal temperature extremes, local normal wind variations, local air pollution products, and the mechanical, electrical, and chemical environment in and around the slides.

  (3) Materials selected for components and accessories used in and around slides shall be such that all parts with external surfaces and edges that may come in contact with the slider are assembled, arranged, and finished so that they do not constitute a cutting, pinching, puncturing, or abrasion hazard in casual contact or intended use.

  (4) Surfaces shall be inert, nontoxic, smooth, and easy to clean.

  (5) The flumes shall be designed or ventilated, or both, to prevent concentrations of toxic disinfectant fumes.

C. Water Slide Flume.

  (1) Curves, turns, and tunnels within the path of a slide flume shall be designed so that body impact with the walls of the flume or ceiling of a tunnel does not present a hazard.

  (2) The slide flume shall be banked to keep the slider's body safely inside the flume or curve under all foreseeable circumstances.

  (3) Slopes within the path of the slide flume shall be designed so that the slider's speed does not exceed the level when a safe equilibrium of dynamic forces can be maintained on any curve or turn.

  (4) The construction, dimensions, and attachment of slide flume bed components shall be such that the surface of the slide flume is continuous and smooth.

  (5) The walls of the flume shall be designed so that the continuous and combined action of hydrostatic, dynamic, and static loads, and normal environmental deterioration do not cause structural failures which could result in injury or require patching of the original structure.

D. Flume Exit.

  (1) When the water slide ends in a splash pool, the following requirements apply:

    (a) The pool shall be of sufficient length and width so as to preclude a slider from contacting the walls, adjacent flume exits, and sliders exiting from multiple exit flumes;

    (b) Unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise, the flumes shall terminate:

      (i) At a depth of at least 6 inches below the splash pool's operating water surface level; or

      (ii) If the flume is level for a distance of at least 10 feet from its exit, at a height not more than 2 inches above the water's surface.

  (2) When the water slide ends in a runout, the owner shall ensure that the runout is of a sufficient length to allow for the safe deceleration of sliders.

E. Splash Pool.

  (1) Unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise, a splash pool depth of at least 3 feet shall be provided at the end of each flume for a distance of at least 20 feet.

  (2) Inlets from the water circulation system shall be designed so as to prevent injury to the splash pool user.

#### Regulation .08 Access, Egress, and Walking Surfaces.

*COMAR 09.12.63.08*

In addition to the access, egress, and walking surfaces requirements contained in COMAR 09.12.62.11, the owner shall ensure that the means of access and egress are slip-resistant and do not retain standing water.