The Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act
More children under 5 years of age drown in Florida's swimming pools than any other state, according to the Florida Department of Health. To promote safety and combat lack of supervision, Florida passed the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act Chapter 515 in 2000. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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The law applies to any new swimming pool construction after its passage in 2000. Compliance with the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act mandates that the pool have an enclosure barrier or an alarm on any doors and windows that allow pool access, or self-closing door latches at least 54 inches from the ground or a specific pool safety cover.
Enclosures
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Enclosure barriers must be a minimum of 4 feet high and high enough to prevent any children from climbing over the fence. The barrier cannot contain any spaces or gaps where a child can squeeze through. While the enclosure barrier must be close to the pool, placement must be far enough from the pool's edge to prevent a child from immediately falling into the pool if he gets around the barrier.
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Effects
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Failure to comply with the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act is a misdemeanor in the second degree in Florida. To avoid penalties, a pool owner has 45 days from notice of non-compliance to rectify any safety concerns. Additionally, the owner must complete a drowning prevention education program, if available, within the 45-day period.
Exceptions
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Spas, hot tubs, kiddy pools and public pools are exempt from the Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act.
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References
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- Photo Credit boy in swimming-pool image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com
