Pool Fences Save Lives.
That may sound dramatic, but it is backed by science. Studies consistently show that pool fencing significantly lowers the risk of drowning. In fact, if you have a fence that wraps all the way around your pool (all four sides), it reduces the risk of drowning by up to 83%!
Young children are especially susceptible to pool-related accidents. So, having a barrier prevents them (and pets) from wandering into the pool.
But what if you don’t have any children and aren’t planning to? Do you still need a pool fence? Yes. We still highly recommend it even if you are a confirmed bachelor or bachelorette living on a private island. Because it reduces your potential liability.
There’s no federal code for pool fences, so states and localities have implemented regulations.
Because there are no nationwide regulations, it falls onto the states and local communities to promote pool safety.
Thankfully, most have adopted standards like the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) Model Code and the International Code Council (ICC) / BOCA Code. Those may sound like dense stacks of legal jargon, but the guidelines are actually very straightforward.
We’ve summarized them below. But be sure to check your local laws for any additional requirements. To help you out, here is a breakdown of pool fencing laws & requirements by state.
Pool Fencing Guidelines:
- Must have a minimum height of 4 feet. However, some areas require a minimum height of 5 feet.
- The pool fence must include a self-closing, self-latching gate. It must open outwards, away from the pool area. And the latch must be out of reach of small children (54 inches above the ground)
- The gap between the bottom of the fence and the ground cannot exceed 2 inches.
- There cannot be any openings in the fence wider than 4 inches to prevent children from squeezing through.
- The pool must have a barrier on all four sides. However, the house can serve as one of the sides if it meets the rest of the requirements.
- Fences must not be climbable. Wouldn’t be a very good fence if it were. Basically, if your fence has horizontal slats instead of vertical pickets, it cannot have a gap vertically longer than 1¾ inches.
- Lastly, there should be a clear zone of at least 36 inches around the outside of the fence. Basically, you don’t want anything near the outside of your fence that might help someone climb over.
These all apply to in-ground pools. But what about above-ground pools? Again, local laws vary, but we recommend everyone err on the side of caution by adhering to these regulations.
That Still Leaves you Plenty of Customization!
Our fences already fulfill those guidelines, assuming you choose the right gate, of course. But that still leaves plenty of customization! You can choose the color, finials, type of caps, and more. We have a whole blog about all those details here.
However, the biggest choice is often the panel designs. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from. We recommend the Floridian, Outback, Sierra, and Carolina panels for pool fences. They all have a flat top; one horizontal bar runs the whole length. That makes it really easy to throw your towel over the edge and set it out to dry.
The Appalachian, Manhattan, Castle, and XP designs all have pickets running across the top. Having finials poking out from the top certainly helps against climbing. However, their regal looks might clash with the relaxing vibes of an outdoor pool. They certainly have their place among more traditional homes. And taste is subjective.
The Floridian, Outback, Sierra, and Carolina all have clean, sleek designs. So they pair well with any pool.
Privacy Fences are Ideal for Pools.
Aluminum privacy fences use horizontal slats instead of vertical pickets to block visibility. This is ideal for pool areas where you especially want privacy. If you have a pool on a beachfront property, privacy fencing can prevent sand from blowing in.
The standard gap between the slats is ⅜ inch, smaller than the width of your pinky finger. However, you can also opt for ½ inch (around the width of your pinky) or even 1 inch. All of these adhere to the guidelines above.
You can also choose to have no gap: a full privacy panel. The slats slot into each other for a solid panel. If you have a beachside pool, we highly recommend the full privacy panels.
Whether you’re a homeowner, property manager, or construction contractor, pool fences keep you safe!
