Are splash pads considered pools?

Splash pads sit in their own regulatory category, separate from swimming pools. Most state health codes use terms like 'interactive water feature,' 'spray ground,' 'aquatic play feature,' or 'spray park' to distinguish them from pools. The defining difference is standing water: pools have it, splash pads don't. That distinction triggers different code requirements. Pools require fencing (typically 4-6 feet), lifeguards above certain depth and capacity thresholds, depth markings, lane lines, and stricter chemistry monitoring. Splash pads have lighter requirements: no lifeguards, often no fencing, and zero-depth surfaces. However, splash pads still must meet electrical, chemical, and surface safety standards, and recirculating splash pads must follow detailed water-quality rules. From a parent's view, the practical effect is that splash pads are dramatically safer for small kids on drowning risk, but other risks (slips, sanitation) require active management.