Hampshire Fence Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     421.10.1 Enclosures for private swimming pools: Private

      swimming pools shall be enclosed in accordance with

     Sections 421.10.1 or by other approved barriers.

     

     421.10.1 Outdoor private swimming pool: An

    outdoor-private swimming pool, including an in-ground,

    above-ground 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 finished ground level measured on the side of the

    barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. The

    maximum vertical clearance between finished ground level

    and the barrier shall be 2 inches measured on the side

    of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool.

    Where the top of the pool structure is above finished

    ground level, such as an above-ground pool, the barrier

    shall be at finished ground level, such as the pool

    structure, or shall be mounted on top of the pool

    structure. Where the barrier is mounted on the pool

    structure, the opening between the top surface of the

    pool frame and the bottom of the barrier shall not allow

    passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere.

     

    2. Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a

    4-inch diameter sphere.

     

    3. Solid barriers shall not contain indentations or

    protrusions except for normal construction tolerances

    and tooled masonry joints.

     

    4. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and

    vertical members and the distance between the 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. Decorative cutouts shall not

    exceed 1¾ inches in width.

     

    5. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and

    vertical members and the distance between the tops of

    the horizontal members is 45 inches or more, spacing

    between vertical members shall not exceed 4 inches.

    Decorative cutouts shall not exceed 13/4 inches in

    width.

    6. Maximum mesh size for chain link fences shall be a

    1 1/4-inch square unless the fence is provided with slats

    fastened at the top or the bottom which reduce the

    openings to not more than 1 3/4 inches.

     

    7. Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members,

    such as a lattice fence, the maximum opening formed by

    the diagonal members shall be not more than 1 3/4 inches.

     

    8. Access gates shall comply with the requirements of

    items 1 through 7 of Section 421.10.1, and shall be

    equipped to accommodate a locking device. Pedestrian

    access gates shall open outwards away from the pool and

    shall be equipped to accommodate a locking device.

    Pedestrian access gates shall open outwards away from

    the pool and shall be self-closing and have a

    self-latching device. Gates other than pedestrian access

    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: (a) the

    release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of

    the gate at least 3 inches below the top of the gate;

    and (b) the gate and barrier shall not have an opening

    greater than ½ inch within 18 inches of the release

    mechanism.

    9. Where a wall of a dwelling unit serves as part of the

    barrier and contains a door that provides direct access

    to the pool, one of the following shall apply:

     

    9.1. All 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 audible warning shall commence

    not more than 7 seconds after the door and door screen,

    if present, are opened and shall sound continuously for

    a minimum of 30 seconds. The alarm shall have a minimum

    sound pressure rating of 85 dBA at 10 feet and the sound

    of the alarm shall be distinctive from other household

    sounds such as smoke alarms, telephones and door bells.

    The alarm shall automatically reset under all

    conditions. The alarm shall be equipped with manual

    means, such as touchpads or switches, to deactivate

    temporarily the alarm for a single opening from either

    direction. Such deactivation shall last for not more

    than 15 seconds. The deactivation touchpads or switches

    shall be located at least 54 inches above the threshold

    of the door.

     

    9.2. All doors with direct access to the pool through

    that wall shall be equipped with a self-closing and

    self-latching device with the release mechanism located

    a minimum of 54 inches above the floor. Swinging doors

    shall open away from the pool area.

     

    9.3. The pool shall be equipped with an approved power safety

    cover.

     

    10. Where an above-ground pool structure is used as a

    barrier or where the barrier is mounted on top of the

    pool structure, and the means of access is a fixed or

    removable ladder or steps, the ladder or steps shall be

    surrounded by a barrier which meets the requirements of

    items 1 through 9 of Section 421.10.1. A removable

    ladder shall not constitute an acceptable alternative to

    enclosure requirements.

    LOCAL BUILDING DEPARTMENTS:

  SPRINGFIELD (413) 787-6031

  HOLYOKE (413) 534-2143

  CHICOPEE (413) 594-1442

  SO. HADLEY (413) 538-5010

  GRANBY (413) 467-7179

  LUDLOW (413) 583-5605

  E.LONGMEADOW (413) 525-5428

  LONGMEADOW (413) 565-4153

  AGAWAM (413) 786-0400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washington, D.C., 20207

     Web site: www.cpsc.gov

    Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools

    http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/Pool.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/chdrown.html

 

  American Academy of Pediatrics

  Pool Safety for Children

  http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

 

  Pool and Spa Emergency Procedures

  http://nspi.org/consumer_info/

 

  Drowning Prevention Tips

  http://nspi.org/consumer_info/

 

  Related Links:

  Physicians Communications Network.

  Search medical library using key word: "Drowning."

  http://www.Medem.com

 

  National Safety Commission - Water Safety Facts

  http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/drown.htm

 

  Safety campaign "Look before you Leap."

  http://www.greenweb.com.au/lookleap

 

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  http://www.cdc.gov

 

  Foundation for Aquatic Injury Prevention

  http://www.aquaticisf.org

 

  List of National, State and local resources

  http://www.calspec.org/drowning_prevention_tips.htm

 

  National Swimming Pool Foundation

  http://www.nspf.com

 

  Injury Free Coalition For Kids

  http://www.injuryfree.org

 

  Drowning Prevention Foundation

  http://www.drownprevention.com

 

  Canadian Pool Safety Links:

 

  Safety at the Pool and Playground-Links

  http://www.Safekid.org

 

  Parent Program of Canada

  http://www.Safekidscanada.ca

 

  Canadian Red Cross

  http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=1043

 

  Health Canada - Swimming Pool Safety

  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ehp/ehd/catalogue/psb_pubs/pools.htm