1)
Check local pool & fence codes.
Call or pay a visit to your
local building department to get up to date information on your local city, township,
or village codes. Codes are regulations or rules which govern specific situations.
In this case ask specifically for the codes required for pool fence installations.
2)
Obtain a property survey.
Obtain a recent survey of your property so that you have knowledge of the exact
property and lot lines. If a survey is not within your budget, then look for city
records of your property or review the papers that accompany your mortgage loan
to locate your plat map. Keep in mind that there are disclaimers on most plat
maps that the measurements referenced may be plus or minus footage.
3)
Coordinate, develop, and design your plans with the pool, fence, and landscape
professionals to accommodate your codes, your vision, and current safety regulations.
Work side-by-side with the contractors you hire to develop your pool, landscape,
and fence plan. For this portion of your project you will utilize the survey and
code information you have obtained. For those of you who live in a development,
check to see if your homeowner's association has any other codes or guidelines
which you will need to follow. Remember to check and see if you need their approval
prior to moving forward with your project. When laying-out your landscape plan
pay close attention to any setback rules which your city may recommend. The distance
from your property lines to the placement of your pool or fence structures is
usually referred to as the "setback".
4)
Obtain a permit for your pool fence project.
For your protection the contractors you hire should be responsible for this
portion of your check list. Now that your project has been well thought out
and planned, make sure that the pool and fence contractor pull the permits necessary
for your job. Be leery of the contractor who is too busy to pull permits! For
your own protection it is best that the contractors pull all permits. This measure
will also protect you from choosing a contractor who is not allowed to work in
your city due to previous violations or poor work ethic.
5)
Seek outside resources for pool fence code information if your city has no specific
ordinance in place.
If current codes are vague, here are a
couple of agencies which can help you in your search for pool codes governing
pool and spa safety.
BOCA
National Building Code (Building Officials and Code Administrators International
Inc.)
This nonprofit agency has members who span the building community
from code enforcement officials to materials manufacturers. These officials have
developed strict guidelines for safety of outdoor, indoor, private, and public
pool, hot tub, and spa settings. They have set the standard for model codes in
the aforementioned areas. Refer to section 421.10 for enclosures for private swimming
pools, spas, and hot tubs.
www.bocai.org
The
National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI)
This organization offers industry
professionals education and technical training/certifications for the safe construction,
design, and installation of pool and spa products. It also promotes the accepted
standards in the industry.
www.nspi.org
6)
Search for fences which are specifically designed to accommodate pool safety codes
and regulations.
Following please find fencing options which meet and/or exceed the BOCA pool fence
codes referenced in this article. Please feel free to shop for the styles below
by clicking on the product of interest. You will be taken directly to the section
of our site that references style and specification information. All on-line orders
are processed and directly shipped to your location.
All
fence heights meet boca pool code requirements. See your area building code authority
for local compliance.
Following please find the styles we sell which meet
BOCA pool fence codes:
A.
Vinyl fencing products by Veka:
B.
Wrought Iron Fence:
C.
Ornamental Aluminum Fence:
7)
Select the appropriate gate closures to meet code.
To
meet pool codes, all gates must have self-closing, self-latching hardware. When
installed properly, this hardware will enable the gate to automatically close
behind those entering or exiting the pool area.
Thank you for taking the time to read our informative articles. This article
was contributed by Ruth Tekavec; an owner of this site. Fence-Depot.com is a family
owned company whose sales premise is based on integrity, quality, and 20 years
of fence installation experience with proven field-tested products.
