Are your children safe from your pool or your neighbors pool? Attorneys and the court call swimming pools an attractive nuisance, that is something on your property attracting children... like new swingset, trampoline, and yes swimming pools.

So what's all this fuss about pool fencing and pool safety? Government statistics show...most drownings and near drownings are family members and friends of family visiting. It only takes a few seconds for tragedy to strike. So all the fuss is to protect the lives of small children, mostly 5 years and under who don't know better or are fascinated  by the pool.

Here is the skinny on regular fencing vs pool code fencing.  Regular fencing does not have to meet pool code restrictions, some may meet code so here are the basic code requirements.

Pool Fencing is to be a minimum of 48" high from the outside grade (meaning 4' high on the outside). Many communities and insurance companies will require 5' fence height.

Pool Fencing is to have less than 4" space between vertical members (pickets). The same idea is with stair rails of less than 4" opening. So if a child can push head between the pickets the body can follow.

Pool Fencing is to have non climbing rails (40" between the structure rails).

Pool Gates  are to be self closing AND self latching (spring loaded hinges with adjustable tension and magnetic tube latches with built in locks are great!) Self latching mechanisms are to have the release button at 54" high (even if fence is only 48" high).

Pool Gates are to open out and away from the pool area (the thinking behind this is if a child jimmies the gate open it may close leaving the child outside the fence, if the gate were to open in to the pool area then once opened the child enters and the gate closes locking the child inside the danger zone.)

Pool fence and gates are only one part of a total pool safety program. See your local community codes administrator for up to date codes.