(1) Unless otherwise provided in this rule, a rope and float line with floats spaced no more than five feet apart shall separate the shallow portion of the pool from the deep portion of the pool. It shall be strung across the pool at the shallow end and no deeper than the five foot depth level.

(a) The rope and float line shall be securely fastened to wall anchors of corrosion-resistant materials which shall be recessed or have no projection that will constitute a hazard when the line is removed. The line shall be of sufficient size and strength to offer a good handhold and to support loads normally imposed by users.

(b) A rope and float line must be in place at all times except when the pool use is restricted to lap swimming by competent swimmers, during water exercise classes, or during supervised swim instruction by a swimming instructor.

(2) In pools with uniform slopes not exceeding one foot of drop in 12 feet of run from the shallow end to the deep end a safety float line is not required, but a marking line must be installed or painted across the bottom of the pool at the five foot depth in at least a four inch wide marking in a color contrasting with the color of the floor of the pool.

(3) A rope and float line must be provided between pools that are interconnected if one of the pools is or has a portion that is deeper than five feet.

(4) A rope and float line must be provided to separate water slide catch pools from other swimming areas. On all new pools constructed after March 1, 2010, a marking line on the bottom of the pool must be installed in a color contrasting with the color of the floor and must be at least four inches wide to designate the location of each rope and float line required by this rule in order to provide an additional designation showing a change in pool depth or pool type.