Recently, NADRA code representative Glenn Mathewson participated in the International Code Council Committee Action Hearings for the development of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. While decks and swimming pools (or at least spas) seemingly belong together like peanut butter and jelly, the two industries occupy different segments in the backyard living marketplace. As Mathewson notes, the ISPSC is a relatively new code, and this was the first deck industry foray into their code development process.
Mathewson says that four deck-related proposals were submitted for Section 306 of the ISPSC. The first one focused on setting a standard for slip-resistance, while the second was an attempt to ensure that that the wood and composite decking materials familiar to decking pros could meet this standard. The third proposal was that the pool code should reference the IRC for the design and construction of stairs outside of a pool. Mathewson’s final proposal attempted to bridge the gap between the requirement for both a sloped deck and for gaps between decking material materials for drainage, asking for either one or the other, but not both.
Mathewson acknowledges that the term “pool deck” can mean different things to the different industry groups, leading to some of the confusion in the ISPSC. But he’s optimistic that combining the knowledge and experience of both groups can lead to a better version of the 2024 code, which is still a work in progress.