Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Swimming Pool
Section I: Outdoor swimming pool
An outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground or above ground pool, hot tub, or spa, should be
provided with a barrier which complies withthe following:
1. The top of the barrier should be at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier
which faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the
bottom of the barrier should be 4 inches measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from
the swimming pool.Where the top of the pool structure is above grade, such as an above ground pool,
the barrier may be at ground level, such as the pool structure, or mounted on top of the pool structure.
Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between
the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier should be 4 inches.
2. Openings in the barrier should not allow passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere.
3. Solid barriers, which do not have openings, such as a masonry or stone wall, should not contain
indentations or protrusions except for normal construction tolerances and tooled masonry joints.
4. When the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops
of the horizontal members is less than 45 inches, the horizontal members should be located on the
swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between vertical members should not exceed 1-3/4 inches
in width. When there are decorative cutouts, spacing within the cutouts should not exceed 1-3/4
inches in width
5. When the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops
of the horizontal members is 45 inches or more, spacing between vertical members should not exceed
4 inches. When there are decorative cutouts, spacing within the cutouts should not exceed 1-3/4
inches in width.
6. Maximum mesh size for chain link fences should not exceed 1-3/4 inch square unless the fence is
provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the openings to no more than 1-3/4
inches.
7. When the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as a lattice fence, the maximum opening
formed by the diagonal members should be no more than 1-3/4 inches.
8. Access gates to the pool should comply with Section I, Paragraphs 1 through 7,and should be
equipped to accommodate alocking device. Pedestrian access gates should open outward, away from
the pool, and should be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Gates other than pedestrian
access gates should have a self-latching device. When the release mechanism of the self-latching
device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, (a) the release mechanism should
belocated on the pool side of the gate at least 3 inchesbelow the top of the gate and (b) the gate and
barrier should have no opening greater than 1/2 inch within18 inches of the release mechanism.
9. When a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, one of the following should apply:
(a) All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall should be equipped with an alarm which
produces an audible warning when the door and its screen, if present, are opened. The alarm should
sound continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds within 7 seconds of the door being opened. Alarms
should meet therequirements of UL2017 General-Purpose Signaling Devices and Systems, Section
77. The alarm should have a minimum sound pressure rating of 85 dBA at 10 feet and the sound of
the alarm should be distinctive from other household sounds, such as smoke alarms, telephones, and
door bells. The alarm should automatically reset under all conditions. The alarm should be equipped
with manual means, such as touchpads or switches, to temporarily deactivate the alarm for a single
opening of the door from either direction. Such deactivation should last for nomore than 15 seconds.
The deactivation touchpads or switches should be located at least 54 inches above the threshold of
the door. (b) The pool should be equipped with a power safety cover which complies with ASTM
F1346-91 listed below. (c) Other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching
devices, are acceptable as long as the degree of protection provided is not less than the protection
provided by (a) or (b) described above.
10. When an aboveground pool structure is used as a barrier or when the barrier is mounted on top of the
pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, then (a) the ladder to the pool or steps
should be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access, or (b) the ladder or steps
should be surrounded by a barrier which meets Section I, Paragraphs 1 through 9. When the ladder or
steps are secured, locked, or removed any opening created should not allow the passage of a
4-inchdiameter sphere.
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