How to Calculate a Pool's Maximum Bather Load

You may not give it much thought on a hot summer day, but engineers design public and private swimming pools to meet specific safety and usage requirements. The maximum bather load is one such requirement. The maximum bather load is the maximum number of users that a pool can safely accommodate at any one time. Before you run for the pool next time, see if you can calculate that pool's maximum bather load.

Things You'll Need

  • Yardstick or measuring tape
  • Calculator
Show More

Instructions

  1. Indoor Pool

    • 1

      Measure the length of the area of the pool that is 5 feet deep or less using a tape measure or yardstick. Five feet deep or less is considered shallow water. For example, the length of the area of the pool that is shallow may be 17 feet.

    • 2

      Measure the width of the area of the pool that is 5 feet deep or less using a tape measure or yardstick. For example, the width of the area of the pool that is shallow may be 11 feet.

    • 3

      Multiply the length of the shallow area of the pool by the width of the shallow area of the pool using a calculator. For example, multiple 17 and 11. The answer is 187.

    • 4

      Divide your answer by the minimum square feet of shallow-water pool surface area required for each individual bather. For example, the minimum square feet of shallow-water pool surface area required for each individual bather is 25. So, divide 187 by 25. The shallow-area value of the pool is 7.48.

    • 5

      Measure the length of the area of the pool that is deeper than 5 feet using a tape measure or yardstick. Water deeper than 5 feet is considered deep water. For example, the length of the area of the pool that is deep may be 17 feet.

    • 6

      Measure the width of the area of the pool that is deeper than 5 feet using a tape measure or yardstick. For example, the width of the area of the pool that is deep may be 11 feet.

    • 7

      Multiply the length by the width of the deep area of the pool using a calculator. For example, multiply 17 by 11. The answer is 187.

    • 8

      Divide your answer by the minimum square feet of deep-water pool surface area required for each individual bather. For example, the minimum square feet of deep-water pool surface area required for each individual bather is 25. So, multiply 187 by 25. The deep-area value of the pool is 6.233.

    • 9

      Add the shallow- and deep-area values of the pool using a calculator. For example, add 7.48 and 6.233. The answer is 13.713. The maximum bather load of this indoor pool is approximately 13 bathers.

    Outdoor Pool

    • 10

      Measure the length of the area of the pool that is 5 feet deep or less using a tape measure or yardstick. Five feet deep or less is considered shallow water. For example, the length of the area of the pool that is shallow may be 17 feet.

    • 11

      Measure the width of the area of the pool that is 5 feet deep or less using a tape measure or yardstick. For example, the width of the area of the pool that is shallow may be 11 feet.

    • 12

      Multiply the length of the deep area of the pool by the width of the shallow area of the pool using a calculator. For example, multiply 17 and 11. The answer is 187.

    • 13

      Divide your answer by the minimum square feet of shallow-water pool surface area required for each individual bather using a calculator. For example, the minimum square feet of shallow-water pool surface area required for each individual bather is 15. So divide 187 by 15. The shallow-area value of the pool is 12.466.

    • 14

      Measure the length of the area of the pool that is deeper than 5 feet using a tape measure or yardstick. Water deeper than 5 feet deep is considered deep water. For example, the length of the area of the pool that is deep may be 17 feet.

    • 15

      Measure the width of the area of the pool that is deeper than 5 feet using a tape measure or yardstick. For example, the width of the area of the pool that is deep may be 11 feet.

    • 16

      Multiply the length of the deep area of the pool by the width of the deep area of the pool using a calculator. For example, multiple 17 and 11. The answer is 187.

    • 17

      Divide your answer by the minimum square feet of deep-water pool surface area required for each individual bather. For example, the minimum square feet of deep-water pool surface area required for each individual bather is 25. So divide 187 by 25. The deep-area value of the pool is 6.233.

    • 18

      Add the shallow- and deep-area values of the pool using a calculator. For example, add 12.466 and 6.233. The answer is 18.699. The maximum bather load of this outdoor pool is approximately 18 bathers.