For everyone’s health, safety and security, there are important rules and regulations when it comes to pool fences.
From homeowners associations to town municipalities to state governments, there are quite a few governing bodies that set out important regulations for your backyard pool. These rules can include the depth of your pool, its location in your yard and even the size and type of the fence surrounding it. If you are undertaking any part of the pool or pool fence DIY project on your own, you will definitely want to be familiar with these different rules and the reasons behind them.
The main rules
One of the most important parts of a pool fence is the lock and latch. The fence must have the abilities to self-latch and self-lock. These types of locks and latches are readily available when you purchase the fence, with different grades of locks if you are taking on the project as a pool fence DIY.
The International Code Council (ICC) has set safety standards that are strongly suggested in most states. In addition to a self-closing lock or latch, the height of the fence should be at least 48 inches. The space between the pickets should be no more than four inches. One interesting safety standard that surprises many people is that the gate to the pool fence should open out, away from the pool.
One last measurement that must be in place involves how far away the locking mechanism must be from the ground and on which side of the fence it must be situated. This varies depending on how tall the fence is and on which side the mechanism is housed, so be sure to check your state or municipality’s rules carefully before proceeding.
The reasons
It might seem obvious that the main reason there are so many safety regulations around pools is to prevent any accidental drownings. It’s important to understand every circumstance that could occur and how to make changes to keep everyone safe.
The reason the fence must self-latch and self-lock is strictly due to user error. It is unbelievably easy to forget to close a door behind you, especially if you are just visiting a friend’s house and presume the door will close or lock automatically. Having a rule that everyone’s gate must do this eradicates any possibility of a door being accidentally left open.
The size of the fence itself and the gap between pickets exists to avoid any youngsters having the ability to climb over or through the fence. Children are curious and do not see the danger in situations the way adults do. That’s why it is ideal to make sure there is no chance for a child to get into a pool area.
Taking on the project of putting up your own pool fence is doable, but you have to remember to do your research. The rules are there not only for your own family’s protection, but also for other people around you. Even adults can find themselves in precarious situations if they are wandering into a dark area at night without realizing what is around them. Keeping everyone safe is the main goal when it comes to anything related to your backyard pool and fence.
