Adolph Kiefer & Associates POOL DESIGN GUIDE

FINA Facilities Rules -an outline- DIVING FACILITIES (FR-5)

(See FINA Handbook 2005-2009, Part IX, FR 5 for exact wording)

FR 5.1 Springboard Diving

5.1.1 Boards shall be min. 4.8m (15.75’) long and 0.5m (19.68”) wide. At all FINA Events the type of
board shall be determined by FINA.
5.1.2 Boards shall be provided with a satisfactory non-slip surface.
5.1.3 Springboards shall be provided with movable fulcrums, easily adjustable by the diver.
5.1.4 Distance from surface of platform supporting fulcrum to top of board shall be 0.365m (14.37”).
Distance from front edge of fulcrum assembly (which is 0.676m (26.6”) long) to front edge of
supporting platform shall be max. 0.68m (26.77”). If front edge of platform projects past this
point, the projecting top surface must slope down at 1 vertical to 3 horizontal.
5.1.5 Min. distance from the rear to the centerline of the fulcrum shall be as per the manufacturer.
5.1.6 Springboards shall be installed dead level at the leading edge when the movable fulcrum is in
any position.
5.1.7 Springboards should be placed on either one or both sides of the supporting platform. For
synchronized diving it is preferred that min. of 2 springboards, at same height, be placed side by
side and no objects should obstruct the visibility, in any part of the dive, between the divers.

FR 5.2 Platform Diving

5.2.1 Each platform shall be rigid and horizontal.
5.2.2 Minimum dimensions of the platform shall be:
0.6m to 1.0m platform 0.6m (23.62”) width 5.0m (16.40’) length
2.6m to 3.0m platform 0.6m width 5.0m length
[preferred 1.5m (59.06”)]
5.0m platform 1.5m width 6.0m (19.68’) length
7.5m platform 1.5m width 6.0m length
10m platform 3.0m (9.84’) width* 6.0m length
*On 10m platforms, with a width less than 3m, the handrails on each side, for a min. distance
of 3m from the front edge, may be shaped as detailed below, with removable sections of
handrail to provide arm clearance at each side for synchronized diving.

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5.2.3 Preferred thickness of front edge of platform shall be 0.2m (7.87”), but not exceed 0.3m
(11.81”) and can be vertical or at a 10° max. angle from vertical inside the plummet line.
5.2.4 Surface and front edge of platform shall be covered with a resilient non-slip surface- covered
separately in order to achieve a clean 90° angle or as described in FR 5.2.3.
5.2.5 Front of 10.0m and 7.5m platforms shall project min. 1.5m (59.05”) beyond edge of pool; for
2.6m-3.0m and 5.0m platforms, 1.25m (49.21”) is acceptable; and for 0.6m-1.0m platforms,
0.75m (29.53”) is acceptable.
5.2.6 Where a platform is directly underneath another platform, the one above shall project min.
0.75m (preferred 1.25m) beyond the one below.
5.2.7 The back and sides of each platform (except a 1.0m) shall be surrounded by handrails with min.
clearance of 1.8m (70.87”) between pairs, min. height shall be 1.0m (39.37”), with at least two
crossbars, placed outside the platform, beginning 0.8m (31.50”) from the front edge of the
platform.
5.2.8 Each platform shall be accessible by suitable stairs (not ladders).
5.2.9 Preferable that a platform is not constructed directly under any other platform.
5.2.10 Requirements for the supporting structure. For platforms and supporting structure of the
springboards the design load is p=350 kiloponds [kilograms force] per linear metre (235.23#/ft).
In addition to the static requirements and for the comfort and safety of the user with respect to the
movement of the towers, the following limits shall be observed, with respect to the platforms and
springboards supports:
Fundamental frequency of platforms 10.0 Hz
Fundamental frequency of tower 3.5 Hz
Oscillation of total structure 3.5 Hz
The spatial deformation of the front edge of the platforms as a result of 100 kiloponds (220.50#) in each
of the three common axes x, y, and z (Px horizontally forward, Py vertically downward, Pz horizontally
sideward) shall be a maximum of 1mm (.03937”).
These requirements can be met most adequately by a reinforced concrete structure. The proof of the
dynamic behavior is to be provided together with the static calculations for the whole structure.

FR 5.3 General Requirements

5.3.1 For pools designed and constructed after Mar. ’91 the min. dimensions in metres as detailed on
the “FINA Dimensions for Diving Facilities” table and the Diving Facilities diagram (below,
from official FINA Handbook) shall prevail, using the plummet line as a point of reference (a
vertical line extending through the center of the front edge of the springboard or platform). It is
recommended that the preferred dimensions be used for projects considered to have an
important status.
5.3.2 The C dimensions from plummet to adjacent plummet in the table apply to platforms with
widths as detailed in FR 5.2.2. If platform widths are increased, the C dimensions shall be
increased by half the additional widths.
5.3.3 The height of the springboards and platforms above the water level may vary by plus 0.05m
(1.97”) minus 0.00m from the heights prescribed in the rules.
5.3.4 The end of a 5m platform must not project beyond the ends of the 3m springboards.
5.3.5 In the area of full water depth, the bottom of the pool may rise up to 2%. In the diving pool, the
depth of water shall not be less than 1.8m (70.87”).
5.3.6 In outdoor pools recommended that springboards and platforms face north in the northern
hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere.
5.3.7 Min. illumination at a level 1m above the water shall be 600 lux.
5.3.8 Sources of natural and artificial light shall be provided with controls for glare.
5.3.9 Water temperature shall be min. 26oC (79oF).
5.3.10 Mechanical surface agitation shall be installed under the diving facilities to aid in the visual
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perception of the surface of the water. In pools equipped with an underwater bubble machine,
the machine should only be used for this purpose if it creates sufficient water agitation when
working with a very low pressure; otherwise a horizontal water sprinkler system should be used.
5.3.11 and 5.3.12 (placement of diving judges) -not included here-

For Olympic Games and World Championships(FR 6): 1. FR 5 in total shall apply; however, light
intensity 1m above water surface shall be a min. of 1500 lux. 2. Preferred measurements given in the
Dimensions table must be observed. 3. If swimming and diving pools are adjacent, they must have a
5m(16.40’) min. separation. [ from FR 3.16]

Note: (Dimensions in parentheses are approximate, rounded to 0.00 feet or in inches, and not included in
the FINA Handbook)

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FINA Dimensions for Diving Facilities

FINA Springboard Platform
Dimensions for Diving Facilities
1 metre 3 metres 1 metre 3 metres 5 metres 7.5 metres 10 metres

As of 3 March 1991 Length 4.80 4.80 5.00 5.00 6.00 6.00 6.00
(see FR 5.3.1) Width 0.50 0.50 0.60 0.60min 1.50 1.50 3.00
1.50pref
Height 1.00 3.00 0.60-1.00 2.60-3.00 5.00 7.50 10.00

Horiz Vert Horiz Vert Horiz Vert Horiz Vert Horiz Vert Horiz Vert Horiz Vert

A From Plummet Designation A-1 A-3 A- A-3pl A-5 A-7.5 A-10

BACK TO POOL WALL 1pl
Minimum 1.50 1.50 0.75 1.25 1.25 1.50 1.50

Preferred 1.80 1.80 0.75 1.25 1.25 1.50 1.50

A/A From plummet Designation A/A 5/1 A/A 7.5/3,1 A/A 10/5,3,1

BACK TO PLATFORM Minimum 0.75 0.75 0.75

plummet directly below Preferred 1.25 1.25 1.25

B From plummet to Designation B-1 B-3 B- B-3pl B-5 B-7.5 B-10

1pl
POOL WALL AT SIDE Minimum 2.50 3.50 2.30 2.80 3.25 4.25 5.25

Preferred 2.50 3.50 2.30 2.90 3.75 4.50 5.25

C From plummet to Designation C 1-1 C-3-3,3-1 C1-1pl C3-3pl,1pl C5-3,5-1 C7.5-5,3,1 C-10-7.5,
ADJACENT PLUMMET 5,3,1
Minimum 2.00 2.20 1.65 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75

Preferred 2.40 2.60 1.95 2.10 2.50 2.50 2.75

D From plummet to Designation D-1 D-3 D- D-3pl D-5 D-7.5 D-10

POOL WALL AHEAD 1pl
Minimum 9.00 10.25 8.00 9.50 10.25 11.00 13.50

Preferred 9.00 10.25 8.00 9.50 10.25 11.00 13.50

E On plummet, from Designation E-1 E-3 E-1pl E- E-5 E-7.5 E-10

3pl
BOARD TO CEILING Minimum 5.00 5.00 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.25 4.00

Preferred 5.00 5.00 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 5.00

F CLEAR OVERHEAD Designation F-1 E-1 F-3 E-3 F-1pl E-1pl F-3pl E- F-5 E-5 F-7.5 E-7.5 F-10 E-10
3pl
behind and each Minimum 2.50 5.00 2.50 5.00 2.75 3.25 2.75 3.25 2.75 3.25 2.75 3.25 2.75 4.00

side of plummet Preferred 2.50 5.00 2.50 5.00 2.75 3.50 2.75 3.50 2.75 3.50 2.75 3.50 2.75 5.00

G CLEAR OVERHEAD Designation G-1 E-1 G-3 E-3 G- E-1pl G-3pl E- G-5 E-5 G-7.5 E-7.5 G-10 E-10
1pl 3pl
ahead of plummet Minimum 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 3.25 5.00 3.25 5.00 3.25 5.00 3.25 6.00 4.00

Preferred 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 3.50 5.00 3.50 5.00 3.50 5.00 3.50 6.00 5.00

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FINA Springboard Platform

Dimensions for Diving Facilities

H DEPTH OF WATER Designation H-1 H-3 H- H- H-5 H- H-10

1pl 3pl 7.5
At plummet Minimum 3.40 3.70 3.20 3.50 3.70 4.10 4.50

Preferred 3.50 3.80 3.30 3.60 3.80 4.50 5.00

J DISTANCE AND Designation J-1 K-1 J-3 K-3 J- K- J- K- J-5 K-5 J- K- J-10 K-10
DEPTH 1pl 1pl 3pl 3pl 7.5 7.5
K ahead of plummet Minimum 5.00 3.30 6.00 3.60 4.50 3.10 5.50 3.40 6.00 3.60 8.00 4.00 11.00 4.25
Preferred 5.00 3.40 6.00 3.70 4.50 3.20 5.50 3.50 6.00 3.70 8.00 4.40 11.00 4.75

L DISTANCE AND Designation L-1 M-1 L-3 M-3 L- M- L- M- L-5 M-5 L- M- L-10 M-10
DEPTH 1pl 1pl 3pl 3pl 7.5 7.5
M each side of plummet Minimum 1.50 3.30 2.00 3.60 1.40 3.10 1.80 3.40 3.00 3.60 3.75 4.00 4.50 4.25
Preferred 2.00 3.40 2.50 3.70 1.90 3.20 2.30 3.50 3.50 3.70 4.50 4.40 5.25 4.75

N MAXIMUM SLOPE POOL 30 degrees Note: Dimensions C (plummet to adjacent plummet) apply to Platforms with widths as detailed. If
TO REDUCE DEPTH Platform widths are increased then C is to be increased by half the additional width(s).
DIMENSIONS CEILING 30 degrees
beyond full HT
requirements

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