FENCE EXAMPLE

COMMENTARY: The acceptance of a barrier mounted on top of a pool is based on the old standard of above-ground pool wall height of 48 inches. This would allow a barrier mounted on top of the pool to compensate for the normal leveling of the pool. Care must be taken when choosing this type of barrier that the pool itself does not create a climbable feature. This may be the case if the pool is placed in a hill or partially buried and/or the kickers on an oval pool.

 2. Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter (102 mm) sphere. Solid barriers which do not have openings, such as a masonry or stone wall, shall not contain indentations or protrusions except for normal construction tolerances and tooled masonry joints.

3. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is less than 45 inches (1143 mm), the horizontal members shall be located on the swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 1.75 inches (44 mm) in width. Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1.75 inches (44 mm) in width.

FENCE EXAMPLES

COMMENTARY: This size is based on the foot width of a young child and is intended to reduce the potential for a child to gain a foothold. If there are any decorative cutouts in the fence, the space within the cutouts should not exceed 1.75 inches in width.

FENCE EXAMPLES

COMMENTARY: This size is based on the head breadth and chest depth of a young child and is intended to prevent a child from passing through an opening. Again, if there are any decorative cutouts in the fence, the space within the cutouts should not exceed 1.75 inches in width.

 5. Maximum mesh size for chain link fences shall be a 2.25 inches (57 mm) square unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the openings to not more than 1.75 inches (44 mm).

 

FENCE EXAMPLES

6. Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as a lattice fence, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal members shall not be more than 1.75 inches (44 mm).

 

COMMENTARY: This size is based on the foot width of a young child and is intended to reduce the potential for a child to gain handholds and a foothold.

 7. Access gates shall comply with the requirements of Items 1 through 7, and shall be equipped to accommodate a locking device. Pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Gates other than pedestrian access gates shall have a self-latching device. Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism and openings shall comply with the following:

7.1 The release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate at least 3 inches (76 mm) below the top of the gate; and

7.2 The gate and barrier shall have no opening greater than 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) within 18 inches (457 mm) of the release mechanism.

COMMENTARY: There are two kinds of gates which might be found on a residential property. Both can play a part in the design of a swimming pool barrier. First are the pedestrian gates. These are the gates people walk through. Gates should open out from the pool and should be self-closing and self-latching. If a gate is properly designed, even if the gate is not completely latched, a young child pushing on the gate in order to enter the pool area will at least close the gate and may actually engage the latch. When the release mechanism of the self-latching device is less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism for the gate should be at least 3 inches below the top of the gate on the side facing the pool. Placing the release mechanism at this height prevents a young child from reaching over the top of a gate and releasing the latch. The gate and barrier should have no opening greater than 0.5 inch within 18 inches of the latch release mechanism. This prevents a young child from reaching through the gate and releasing the latch. All other gates (Vehicle Entrances, Etc.) should be equipped with self-latching devices. The self-latching devices should be installed as described for pedestrian gates.

 8. Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, one of the following conditions shall be met:

8.1 The pool shall be equipped with a listed and labeled powered safety cover in compliance with ASTM F1346-91 (1996); or

8.2 All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall shall be equipped with an alarm which produces an audible warning when the door and its screen, if present, are opened. The audible warning shall commence not more than 7 seconds after the door and door screen, if present, are opened and shall sound continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds. The alarm shall be capable of being heard throughout the house during normal household activities, and the sound of the alarm shall be distinctive from other household sounds such as smoke alarms, house alarms, telephones, and door bells. The alarm shall automatically reset under all conditions. The alarm system shall be equipped with a manual means, such as a touchpad or switch, to deactivate temporarily the alarm for a single opening. Such deactivation shall last for not more than 15 seconds. The deactivation switch(es) shall be located at least 54 inches (1372 mm) above the threshold of the door; or

8.3 All doors with direct access to the pool through the wall shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device with the release mechanism located a minimum of 54 inches (1372 mm) above the floor. Swinging doors shall open away from the pool area.

COMMENTARY: The alarm is intended to warn occupants in the house that a child has opened the door. The alarm audible requirements were designed to be heard throughout a normal house. An alarm on a door leading out of a separated section of a house, as is the case with an attached garage, could not be heard from all other sections of the house and would therefore not meet the need it was intended for and would not be approved. The door to the garage would need to comply with 8.3 or another barrier provided. In general, most whole house alarm systems and many general alarms do not comply with this alarm requirement. Verify that the alarm has been tested and approved for use as part of an approved barrier.

9. Where an above-ground pool structure is used as a barrier, or where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, then: The ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked, or removed to prevent access, or a barrier shall surround the ladder or steps which meets the requirements of Items 1 through 9 above. When the ladder or steps are removed or secured and locked up, there shall be no openings in the barrier that will allow a 4 inch sphere to pass or create a climbable feature over the barrier.

FENCE EXAMPLES

  

 10. Barriers shall be located so as to prohibit permanent structures, equipment, or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.

COMMENTARY: This is an important item that regularly gets overlooked. Having an object adjacent to the barrier allows a child the opportunity to climb on the object to get over the barrier. This is the case when the pool wall is being used as a barrier and the pool equipment is installed along side of the pool, or a fence is installed along side of an air conditioner. It can also be said about the ground along side of a pool that is installed in a hill or uneven grade. A good rule of thumb is that the barrier should be a minimum of 48 inches above any object or grade that is within 48 inches of the barrier side facing away from the pool.

  The following information is also available as a PDF for download.

5.         Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is 45 inches or more, or the top of the barrier is at least 60 inches (5 feet) above grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool, spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 4 inches.

10.3.    Other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching devices, which are approved by the governing body, shall be acceptable as long as the degree of protection afforded is not less than the protection afforded by Item 10.1 or 10.2 described above.

 

Inspections can be scheduled by calling the Building Department at 847-599-7550. A minimum of 48 hours notice is required. Please have your building permit number ready; it is required in order to schedule an inspection.