If you have kids in the house and you’re thinking about installing a new pool, you should also think about how to keep the kids safe while enjoying the pool. Pool safety is most homeowners’ main concern when it comes to a backyard pool. The number one cause of death for children under the age of five in the United States is accidental drowning. One way to ensure that your pool is as safe as it can be for your little ones is to install both a pool barrier and a pool alarm.
Phoenix-area homeowners are required to have a barrier to help prevent accidental drowning. Homeowners must have a fence separating the pool from neighboring properties. In addition to that fence, Phoenix homeowners must also provide a physical barrier between a house and a swimming pool on the same property. There are a few options available to homeowners to meet this requirement:
One option to meet Phoenix barrier standards is to construct an inner barrier fence around the entire pool. The barrier fence is subject to the following requirements (among others):
Additionally, any gate must be self-closing and self-latching and able to accommodate a lock. Gates must swing outward from the pool area, and the latch must be 54 inches minimum above the ground. The gate must also meet the same construction requirements as the barrier fence. Phoenix homeowners can find out more about the gate and inner barrier fence requirements by reading the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) with the City of Phoenix Amendments.
In addition to the required barrier, some homeowners may choose to install pool alarms as an added layer of protection. Call Specialty Pools today to explore your options!
Another option for homeowners looking to satisfy the City of Phoenix’s barrier requirements is to install a motorized pool cover that complies with ASTM F-1346. Pool contractors, such as the professionals at Specialty Pools here in Phoenix, Arizona, can help homeowners choose the best option for their home.
The barrier requirements for homeowners with pools were implemented in April 1990. Some homeowners may have questions about their property and pool, such as whether they need to have a barrier if no children are present.
No, the City of Phoenix requires that a physical, automatically-closing barrier must separate the pool from other properties and the house on the same property as the pool. While other options are encouraged, they only serve as an additional layer of protection for small children. These options include:
Any pool permitted after May 4, 1990, requires a physical barrier. You cannot remove the barrier if your children leave the house. The codes are intended to eventually apply to all pools, not just pools that small children have access to. The only reason there is an exception in the code is for homeowners with pools permitted before 1990 that small children do not have access to; in these cases, the aim is to minimize the impact on those homeowners in particular, not homeowners without children.
Immediately. The barrier is part of the inspection process, which a pool contractor can help walk you through if you’re ready to get started on your brand new pool!
Here at Specialty Pools in Phoenix, we assign a personal superintendent to every single pool build. They will be the person you deal with from design to completion to the final startup. At most pool companies, you will have 4-5 people to deal with in the design-build process. By streamlining our processes and eliminating a showroom, we can use higher quality components in our build, provide more personalized attention, and provide competitive pricing. With a team of experienced professionals that are with you every step of the way, you can be sure you’ll get everything you want in a customized pool, built to last. Call today to get started!