Swimming pools can be a luxurious addition to a home. However, specific precautions should be in place in order to maximize safety for persons in and around the pool.
First, drowning is the biggest potential safety concern with regard to swimming pools. The best way to prevent drowning is to have an automatic pool cover installed. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has standards for pool covers which require them to hold a minimum of 485 pounds. These covers will be labeled as ASTM F1346 – 91. However, many pool covers are rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds. If your pool does not have an automatic pool cover and it has doors that lead directly from the home to the pool, there are other safety precautions that should be in place. The doors should have self-closing and self-latching devices and/or alarms that sound when the doors are opened.
Next, there are many recommendations for the barrier system around an outdoor pool to help prevent unwanted entry into the pool area. The pool barrier system should be a minimum of 48 inches tall and none of the openings in the barrier system should allow the passage of a 4-inch sphere. The barrier system should go around the circumference of the pool and should not be climbable. Additionally, if the barrier system is made of chain-link, it should not have openings that exceed 1 ¼”.
Third, regulations are established for gates that open to the pool area. To help prevent unwanted entry to the pool, the pool access gates should be self-closing and self-latching and should solely swing away from the pool. If the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism should be located on the pool side of the gate, and the gate and barrier should have no opening greater than ½-inch located within 18 inches of the release mechanism. Access gates should also be equipped to allow for a locking device.
Additionally, swimming pools that are at least five feet deep in the deepest portion of the pool should be equipped with a ladder and handrail system to aid in pool egress.
The pools main drain can be a hazardous component for swimmers if an anti-entrapment cover is not present. Anti-entrapment covers are installed to help reduce the powerful suction that the pool pump creates through the main drain. Swimmers can become pinned to the swimming pool floor if these safety devices are not installed. In fact, all public pools are required to have anti-entrapment covers installed according to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act) that was enacted by Congress and signed into law on December 19, 2007. All swimmers should check for anti-entrapment covers prior to entering a pool.
Finally, diving boards are considered to be one of the most dangerous additions to a swimming pool. Most residential swimming pools are not deep enough to allow for safe diving. The majority of jurisdictions require the pool depth to be a minimum of 8 or 9 feet if a diving board is installed. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, diving was the leading cause of sports and recreation related spinal injuries between 2010 and 2017. We recommend checking with a qualified local swimming pool contractor to determine if your pool is of adequate size to allow for safe diving.
In conclusion, ensuring that safety precautions are in place or knowing what corrections need to be made can allow for peace of mind when considering buying a home with a pool. If you would like a swimming pool inspection in the Portland / Vancouver metropolitan area, schedule an inspection today! Happy swimming!