There are a number of criteria regarding the preparation of plans and engineering when pulling a permit for a swimming pool, including width, length and depth of the pool, set-backs from property lines and structures, adjacent slopes, soil integrity, retaining walls near pool wall, footings from patio covers and weight surcharges for structures on or near the pool walls.
The first step in pulling a permit for a swimming pool is to prepare a plot plan to scale showing property lines, structures on the property and slopes. The pool and any features like a waterfall are drawn in their location showing the necessary setbacks, normally five feet to water from all property lines and the house or structures.
The next step is to send the plans to a licensed engineering company with all of the details about the pool, elevations around and near the pool along with any object that might bear weight on the pool walls and vice versa.
For instance, if there is a slope that is deemed too close to the pool wall, the engineer can design the pool with what is called a freestanding wall, which basically means the wall is built with stronger steel reinforcement. If there is an existing patio post and or footing within a certain distance of the pool wall the engineer might have to design that part of the pool wall with extra steel reinforcement to offset the weight. When waterfalls, grottos or masonry slides are built on or near the pool walls they have their own specific set of engineering with footings and steel reinforcement and the wall of the pool around those areas need to be designed to bear the additional weight.
The pool engineer upon approval, wet stamps two original sets of plans and attaches original wet-stamped engineering details for any additional structures, like a reef ledge or beach entries into the pool, grottos, slides, retaining walls, slope details and returns them to us.
Look for the continuation to this article in the next issue of the Magazine of Santa Clarita.
To view some of the most amazing pools in the world, visit our elaborate website at www.scvpools.com or our design center at 17831 W. Sierra Highway in Canyon Country.