Pool Fencing Requirements Include Temporary Swimming Pools
Thursday, July 01, 2010 01:52 PM EDT
Topic: Environmental Health, General, Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2010
BURLINGTON – As the heat of summer continues to affect residents throughout North Carolina, Alamance County environmental health and building inspections officials have received many inquiries about fencing requirements around swimming pools. Drownings are the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4, and three children die every day in the United States as a result of drowning. Recent drowning and near-drowning incidents have shown that proper fencing is one of the smartest things you can do to have a safe pool season.
According to Bob Strowbridge, Director of Inspections for Alamance County, any swimming pool that contains water over more than 24 inches deep requires fencing under North Carolina Residential Code (NCRC). This includes temporary above ground pools, which can be assembled or inflated and taken down at the end of the summer swimming season.
NCRC Section AG105 requires a fence around the pool which shall be at least 48 inches above grade on the outside of the fence. The maximum clearance below the fence to grade is two (2) inches. Other clearance requirements do apply. Also, if the dwelling serves as part of the fence with doors accessing the pool, other conditions for safety must be met. Access gates to the pool shall be equipped with a self-closing device and a latch. The gate shall open out away from the pool and the latch must be on the inside of the gate, 54 inches above the bottom of the gate or three (3) inches below the top of the gate.
The Alamance County Health Department wants everyone to stay cool by the pool and have fun, throughout this holiday weekend and the rest of the summer. Adults should not be distracted, know CPR, and have an emergency phone close by when they are supervising children in the pool. Remembering safety and following building code requirements for proper fence barriers are key to preventing tragedies from occurring at your home.
Homeowners with questions about pool or barrier fence requirements can call the Alamance County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (336) 570-6367 or the Alamance County Inspections Department at (336) 570-4057.
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