Safety Fence

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Accident Prevention at the Pool: Why You Need Safety Fencing​

As a pool owner, no doubt one of your biggest concerns is keeping children and pets from entering the pool area unsupervised and getting hurt. All safety experts agree that the top solution you can offer immediately by way of prevention is to install a pool safety fence.

Pool fencing restricts access to the swimming pool when you are not around and as noted by the safety experts, as one of the best ways that a tragedy can be avoided. All you need to do is to ensure you have your fencing in place. While it is your best bet, it isn’t always as easy as it sounds to complete this project.

There are a multitude of products on the market today. Everything from wooden to, wrought iron, to plastic. You will also want to consider whether you will make yours permanent or removable.

Add to this, the fact that depending on where you will, you will need to meet federal, state and municipal regulations. It is therefore critical that you become familiar with your local requirements for fencing and inspections by visiting your local municipal building department.

The International Building Code (IBC), developed by the International Code Council is the model most used by municipalities for their pool fence codes. Another guide would be the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which published the Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools - Preventing Child Drowningsinformation.

Typical Pool Fence Requirements

• Pool fences should be at least 48” high from finished ground level
• No more than a 2” gap from the bottom of the fence to the ground
• The fence should block anything more than 4” in diameter from passing through one of its openings
• The fence or barrier must not be climbable
• Pedestrian Pool fence gates must be self-closing, must open outwards from the pool, and must have a self-latching/locking device
• Gates are to swing out away from the pool/spa only. Double swing gates are not permitted. The gate must swing close and latch automatically. The latch is to be located 54 inches high as measured from the bottom of the gate.
• Gates that are not meant for pedestrian use must have a self-latching device
• Chain link fences should have a mesh no larger than 2 1/4 inches unless the fence is provided with privacy slats fastened at the top or bottom which reduce the opening to 1 3/4" or less
• Lattice type fences should have no opening more than 1 3/4 inches between diagonals

Safety Latches

This section deserves a fair amount of attention as it is the potential ‘weak link’ in your poolside safety fencing plan. Let’s look at a few tips below:

Make sure your latch is weatherproof (includes winter): latches made from aluminum are ideal. Like all metals, over time, aluminum will corrode gradually, but nowhere near the rate that iron and steel will. Look for an aluminum latch that has also been coated with added weather-resistance.

Select Metal only: On your quest for a secure latch, you will see some nice plastic ones that look really great and cost significantly less. While the temptation is there, don’t be pulled off track. Plastic latches actually succumb to weather exposure worse than metal does. Not only will it oxidize faster than metal, it will also look unseemly in a shorter span of time.

Self-Closing and Self-Latching: Choose the best gate that includes self-closing. Pair that gate with a self-latching latch. This is a helpful safety feature made to intervene in case human error has one forget to close the gate manually. Choosing a latch that will latch automatically is a great addition to this type of gate.

Choose your Latch model that can also be secured with a key: For those who choose not to use a self-closing or latching gate latch, be sure anyway to use a locking pool fence latch. This helps to keep unsupervised children or elderly adults away from any potential danger. Ensure the lock can be both locked and unlocked from both sides of the gate.

Choose a latch that can easily be replaced: If you choose the latch from the same company as the pool fence gate manufacturer, it is probably warrantied to last the same amount of time as the gate itself. But on the chance the latch malfunctions, it should be quickly replaced by the manufacturer if that is needed since the product line is most likely still available.

Final thoughts

You have many options regarding your fencing and gate locking selections available. Fencing is one way to ensure safety at your pool to be used in combination with other safety measures, such as pool alarms and safety covers. Regardless of these measures, remember that there is no substitute for alert adult supervision, especially whenever children or elderly who need care are poolside.

Pool Fences old

Pool fence requirements vary with the state, county and municipality. You need to find out what your local requirements are for fencing and inspections by calling or visiting your local building department.

Many municipalities have used the International Building Code(IBC) as a model for their pool fence codes. The IBC is developed by the International Code Council.

Typical requirements include:

• Pool fences should be at least 48” high from finished ground level
• No more than a 2” gap from the bottom of the fence to the ground
• The fence should block anything more than 4” in diameter from passing through one of its openings
• The fence or barrier must not be climbable
• Pedestrian Pool fence gates must be self closing, must open outwards from the pool, and must have a self latching/locking device
• Gates are to swing out away from the pool/spa only. Double swing gates are not permitted. The gate must swing close and latch automatically. The latch is to be located 54 inches high as measured from the bottom of the gate.
• Gates that are not meant for pedestrian use must have a self latching device
• Chain link fences should have a mesh no larger than 2 1/4 inches unless the fence is provided with privacy slats fastened at the top or bottom which reduce the opening to 1 3/4" or less
• Lattice type fences should have no opening more than 1 3/4 inches between diagonals

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has published Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools - Preventing Child Drownings.

Self Closing Latch

Many areas require fence gates that are self closing and have a child proof latch.

Magna-Latch has child resistant latches with and without alarms.

LokkLatch® MAGNETIC latch works on solid fences.

TruClose® Safety Gate Hinges can be used to meet automatic closing requirements.

Removeable Pool Fences

A swimming pool can be enclosed by a removeable fence with a mesh barrier that is childproof.

Life Saver Pool Fence

Pool Fence DIY