Rules for Backyard Pools
Whether you are swimming in a backyard pool or in a community or hotel pool, you want to feel safe. The U.S. government has passed a number of laws regulating pool features, and most states have additional statutes addressing pool safety.
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Fencing
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Title 15, chapter 106 of the U.S. Code, commonly known as the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, requires a safety fence of at least 4 feet in height that completely surrounds a swimming pool. While the wall of a building may make up one part of the enclosure, any doors opening onto the pool area must be self-closing and self-latching.
Entrapment Protection
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The same part of the U.S. Code requires that pools have drain systems and suction devices that are designed to prevent someone from becoming trapped in the drains. Such systems include a vacuum release system or automatic pump shutoff that stops the pump or reverses the flow if a blockage is detected in the system. In addition, pools with main drains must have a cover over the drain.
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Other Provisions
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The U.S. code also recommends a safety cover to limit unsupervised access to the pool and a pool alarm that would alert adults if a child were to enter the pool.
State Laws
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Individual states have other pool regulations that may require depth markers, a line marking the transition from shallow to deep water, an emergency phone and prominently placed life-saving implements like a life-ring or a life-hook.
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References
- Photo Credit Swimming pool depth marker image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
