Pool Safety Informationfrom the Consumer Products Safety Commision*
*Note from HooverFence.Com: Part of our job here is to help our customers find the right fence for the right job. When we read this article in our trade Magazine "World Fence News" we knew we had to take some excerpts out of it. To read the full article, click here. (This link will take you outside our site.)
A
successful pool barrier prevents a child from getting over, under or through... |
"The
safest single barrier or protection is a good fence with an effective latching
mechanism" |
- Accidental drowning in pools (as well as spas and hot tubs) claims nearly 350 young lives a year
- ...good pool fences should allow at least 65% visibility through them so activity inside the pool area can be observed from outside. - Bill Ullrich, President - Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Instritute
Some of the CPSC Guidelines for Swimming Pool Barriers**
- pool barrier should be at least 48" above grade
- eliminate handholds and footholds and minimize the size of the openings
- For a solid barrier
- No indentations or protrusions should be present, other than normal construction tolerances
- For a barrier made up of horizontal and vertical
members
- If the distance between the tops of the horzontal members is less than 45", the horizontal members should be on the swimming pool side of the fence.
- The spacing of the vertical members should not exceed 1-3/4". This size is based on the foot width of a young child and intended to reduce the potential for a child to gaina foothold.
- The spacing between the vertical members should not exceed 4". This size is based on the head breadth and chest depth of a young child and is intended to prevent a young child from passing through an opening.
- The maximum clearance at the bottom of the barrier should not exceed 4" above the grade.
- Gates
- should open out from the pool
- should be self-closing and self-latching
- the release mechanism of the gate should be at least 54" from the bottom of the gate. This keeps a young child from reaching the latch and getting to the pool.
**ALWAYS CHECK YOUR LOCAL BUILDING CODES!
- Read more about pool-safe fencing from Hoover Fence Co.
- Need a child-safe latch for an existing fence?