Swimming Pool Safety Fencing
Pool safety fences are a removable mesh fences whose primary purpose is to keep unsupervised children out of the pool and out of harm's way. According to baby safety expert Jeff Baril of Safe Beginnings, a pool safety fence retailer in New England: "Your children's safety should be your highest priority. If you're resisting installing a pool safety fence because you don't like the way it looks, then that's a wrong answer." Does this Spark an idea?
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Pool Fence or Cover?
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Swimming pool owners may believe that a swimming pool cover can be used in lieu of a safety fence. Pool covers aren't designed for safety, they are made to keep leaves --not children-- out of the water. Pool covers only restrict entry to the pool when they are on during fall and winter; the pool usually stays uncovered in good weather when children are most likely to play outside. Pool safety fences are designed specifically for a child's safety -- to keep her out of the pool when you're not watching.
Do It Yourself or Hire a Professional?
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There are do-it-yourself safety fences and fences produced exclusively for professional installation. Self-installed fences save you roughly 30 percent compared to a professional, but those costs are cut in the quality of materials. A professional knows how to drill holes properly and has better tools. A drilling error of two or three degrees in the ground will result in a much steeper angle once you place the post.
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Placement
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Fences should be far enough from the edge of the pool that it won't impede people exiting the water or cleaning the pool. Place the safety fence at the edge of the deck (the concrete walkway around the pool); building a fence into a yard or garden is more complicated and costly to install. For a child's safety, the area the pool fence encloses shouldn't include the yard or play space.
Choosing a Pool Safety Fence
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When choosing a fence, ask how long the manufacturer has been in business. In 2001, many states passed new pool safety legislation and opportunistic companies sprang up to capitalize on the opportunity. A manufacturer who has been making safety fences for more than a decade probably has more integrity in the industry. Ask about warranties. Most reputable providers offer a lifetime warranty on materials, but won't warranty fences destroyed by fallen trees and similar damage. A competent installation professional should only need three to five hours to install a fence around a medium-sized pool.
Latching Systems
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Latches can be a hook-and-eye, a self-closing spring-loaded lock or removable posts that create an opening. Look for a latching system that requires an adult's size and strength to open (crafty children standing on a chair can open a hook-and-eye latch). Self-closing locks require readjustment each time a fence is set up, so avoid self-closing locks if you plan on taking your fence down several times per season.
Regulations
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States and cities interpret the national building codes differently, so check your community's building codes for pool safety regulations. Many homeowners' insurance includes additional safety requirements for pools, so check with your insurance provider. Even if their community doesn't require pool fencing, pool owners should take safety measures and install some kind of childproofing around their pool to prevent tragedy.
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References
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- Photo Credit © Jerry Schiller | Dreamstime.com
