Child Safety Pool Fence Knoxville TN

WHAT ARE THE POOL CODES?

CHILD SAFETY POOL FENCE KNOXVILLE TN

Knox County Pool Code CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER IMAGE

New code rules are put into effect as the need arises. Most communities will adopt nationally recognized residential building codes book such as IRC (International Residential Code Book) or BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators Book). The reason many communities adopt the existing codebook is for limited resources to develop their own set of building codes. The official codebook is normally revised and reissued every few years as needed. Most community commissions will adopt a newer codebook update every few years as shown in public records. Check below for the most current code adoption diagram.

Is the county commission limited to the codes book that they adopt and record? NO! The individual communities are required by law to meet these MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. However, they may exceed the minimums and require their own add-ons. Even Knox County Commission may add addendums to the code requirements as they become aware of a specific requirement in between the adoption of the latest code release dates.

For example, Knoxville (inside of Knox County) requires a 5′ high perimeter fence and gate around residential fencing (whereas Knox County adopted code requires only 4′ height). Any community may add more stringent requirements as adopted and recorded in commission meetings. For example, new requirements for door alarms from house entry to pool areas, motion detectors for water disturbance over 25 pounds, and safety filter covers to stop children from hair getting caught underwater.  All these are newer safety regulations for the protection of children. Instead of waiting for the newest codes book release and adoption commission will adopt now.

Check with your local codes administration office for complete updated pool codes fencing requirements.

Pool code-approved fencing is only ONE PART of a pool safety strategy.

CHILD SAFETY POOL FENCE KNOXVILLE TN – GATES

CHILD SAFETY POOL FENCE KNOXVILLE TN

Latch outside reach of small child. Magnetic pool code latch style by D&D Industries

Children watch adults enter the pool area through the gates, and thus gates are a PRIMARY point of interest in protecting children from pool entry. Government statistics show that drownings and near-drownings of small children are those living at the residence or visiting. Codes enforcement is there to protect your children.

Pool code gates are required to be a minimum of 48″ high, cannot allow a 4″ sphere to pass through between pickets, gates are to open outward away from the pool area, are self-closing and self-latching, and the latch mechanism is 54″ above outside grade!