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HomeMy WebLinkAbout039-023-121BARRIERS FOR SW501ING POOLS, SPAS, AND HOT TUBS Effective Date: 1 Feb. 1994 GENERAL These provisions apply to til design and construction of barriers for swimming pools located on the premises of single and two family dwellings. DEFINITIONS . Abovegmund/on-ground pool. See definition for swimming pool. Barrier is a fence. wall. building wall or combination thereof, which completely surrounds the swimming pool and obstructs access to the swimming pool. Grade is the underlying surface such as earth or a walking surface. Hot tub. See definition for swimming pool. In -ground pool. See definition for swimming pool. Spa, son portable. See definition for swimming pool. Spa, portable, is a nonpermanent structure intended for recreational bathing, in which all the controls, water -heating and water -circulating equipment are an integral part of the product and which is cord connected (not permanently electrically wired). Swimming pool is any Structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 24 inches deep. This includes in -ground, aboveground and on -ground swimming pools, hot tubs and spas. Swimming pool, indoor, is a swimming pool which is totally contained within a residential structure and surrounded on all four sides by walls of said structure. Swimming pool, outdoor, is any swimming pool which is not an indoor pool. REQUIREMENTS Outdoor Swimming pool: An outdoor swimming pool, including an in -ground, aboveground or on -ground pool, hot tub or spa shall be provided with a barrier which shall comply with the following: 1. The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side of the battier which faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. (See figure "A") Where the top of the pool structure is above grade, such as in an aboveground pool, the barrier may be at ground level, such as the pool structure, or mounted on top of the pool structure. (See figure "B") Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier shall be 4 inches. (See figure "C"). 2. Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4 -inch -diameter sphere. 3. Solid barriers which do not have openings, such as masonry or stone wails, shall not contain indentations or protrusions except for tooled masonry joints. 4. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between tops of the horizontal members is less than 45 inches, the horizontal members shall be located on the swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 1-3/4 inches in width. Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1-3/4 inches in width. (See fig. "D"7. S. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of horizontal members is 45 inches or more, spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 4 inches. Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 3/4 inches in width. (See figure "E") 6. Maximum mesh size for chain link fences shall be 1-1/4 inch square unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the opening to no more than 1-3/4 inches. The wire shall be not less than 9 gauge. 7. Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as lattice fence, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal members shall be no more than 1-3/4 inches. S. Access gates shall comply with the requirements of Items I through 7 and shall be equipped to accommodate a locking device. Pedestrian -access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self -latching device. Gates other than pedestrian gates shall have a self -latching device. Where the release mechanism of the self -latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, (1) the release mechanism shall be located on the pool side at least 3 inches below the top of the gate and (2) the gate and barrier shall have no opening greater than 1/2 inch within IS inches of the release mechanism. (See figure "F") 9. Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, doors with direct access to the pool through that wall shall be equipped with an alarm which produces an audible warning when the door and its screen, if present, are opened. The alarm shall sound continuously for a minimum of 30 seconds immediately after the door is opened, and be capable of being heard throughout the house during normal household activities. The alarm shall automatically reset under all conditions. The alarm system shall be equipped with a manual means, such as a touchpad or switch, to temporarily deactivate the alarm for a single opening. Such deactivation shall last for no more than 15 seconds. The deactivating switch shall be located at least 54 inches above the threshold of the door. Other means of protection. such as self-closing doors with self -latching devices approved by the building official, shall be acceptable so long as the degree of protection afforded is not less than the protection afforded by the alarm system described above. 10. Where an aboveground pool structure is used as a barrier or where the barrier is mounted on the top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps. then (1) the ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access or (2) the ladder or steps shall be surrounded by a barrier which meets the requirements of 1 through 9. When the ladder or steps are secured, locked, or removed, any opening created shall not allow the passage of a 4 inch diameter sphere. Indoor Swimming pool. Doors with direct access to an indoor swimming pool shall comply with number 9 above. 1poma t.nm _qr Min. Barr e. Z"Max. ------------- ----------------- Grade leve! .......... . .. .. . . . . . . . . IN GROUND POOL: Figure "A" Barrier Ir M= opening W min. Grade level Grade ievei Figure "C' Figure "B" ABOVE GROUND POOL I Horizontal Members Vertical Members If less than 4.7 between member. Mammum spacing 1314" -7 install members on pool side. Ei.------ ------ ..... . . . . . L� d� .. . . . . . . . . . . . . om" Figure T" Horizontal Members Vertical Members If more than 45* between membra, Ma;dmum spacing = 4* -7 members may be installed either side- -- - -- ---------------- �07 Man Chm W . . . . . . . . . . . Figure "E" For gates other than pedestrian No opening greater than access gatcs, where latch is less 112 inch within IS inches than 54" from bottom of gam of release mechanism. Install latch on pool side. I 3* min. 1-7.5 .......... ... . ....... ... . ... .... .. .......... iYJ Figure T" x