Swimming Pool Fences Are Usually Subject to Strict Guidelines
Integrity Aluminum Products™ places a high priority on safety and we want you to be aware of potential hazards for children. Always remember that when a pool is involved, pool fences are subject to more restrictions for the safety of children. Please take the time to review our pool safety link.
Pool-safe Latches and Hinges for Swimming Pool Fences
Ordinary latches and hinges just don’t cut it when you are enclosing a swimming pool. The gates must be auto-closing and self-latching. Additionally, the latch mechanism that opens the gate must be positioned at least 54” above grade according to the BOCA pool safety code. This may seem to be in conflict with some fence styles that only have to be 48” tall to meet the same code that requires the latch to be 54” above grade! This rule can be satisfied with specially designed latches that attach to the gate but have a release mechanism that protrudes above the gate as needed. We carry a full line of gate latches and hinges, featured in our product gallery .
How Tall does a Pool Fence need to be?
That depends. And we’re not trying to be smart. Often, there is confusing and conflicting information about pool fence height requirements. Yes, a pool fence must be at least 48” tall. But not all 48” fences comply with this minimal requirement. Any fence that has more than 1.75” of space between vertical pickets (and most do) must then pass another hurdle: the lowest horizontal rail (some might call it a bar) must have a clearance of at least 45” from it to the top of the next higher horizontal rail. Let’s call this the 45” rule. This is to prevent children from slipping their feet between the vertical pickets and climb on the “bars”, using them like rungs on a ladder. So many fence styles with 3 horizontal rails must be taller than 48” in order to comply with the 45” rule. In fact, most flat top metal fences need to be 54” tall to comply, and most spear top fences need to be 60” tall to comply. How the bottom rail is positioned on a fence can also impact the overall height needed for compliance. For instance, a flush Bottom Rail can make the difference needed for a pool fence to comply in a slightly shorter overall height. Feel free to call us at 800-762-8876 if you need more information about whether a pool fence style complies with the B.O.C.A. pool safety code. We are happy to answer your questions.
Installation Tips for the Safety of Small Children
Keeping pool fencing a safe distance away from objects outside the pool area such as air conditioner units is addressed by the BOCA pool safety code and is almost universally enforced by inspectors. This is a good idea for the protection of children. When retaining walls are involved and it is not possible to maintain adequate clearance from the incline, consider installing your aluminum pool fence on the high ground! All of our Resort Collection™ aluminum pool fences comply with the rigid safety standards of BOCA!
Local Pool Fence Safety Codes Can Vary
While some communities have very relaxed codes, others have adopted more stringent safety laws. We recommend you review your local pool fence legal codes before ordering your aluminum pool fence, as these laws often vary from B.O.C.A. pool safety standards. If a permit is required, we recommend you obtain the permit before ordering your aluminum fence. Often, a neighborhood association may have restrictions as well. Sometimes, these restrictions are in conflict with the local government codes and this needs to be worked out (usually, government trumps the neighborhood). We provide the fence specifications you need to determine B.O.C.A. code compliance, but we don’t guarantee compliance with your local laws so it is important that you do your homework to determine what local codes you will be subject to, whether government- or association-initiated.
More Information about Swimming Pool Fencing
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