A pool fence is all about safety. It doesn’t matter how good it looks, it’s got to protect a 3-year-old from getting over it, under it, or through it. If it doesn’t then the pool fails inspection and you have to pay for someone to fix your already paid for work. Most failures of pool enclosures happen because someone did not take the time to ensure that simple requirements were met.
Before someone can start digging a post hole, there are several things that you should know.
Pool Height & Building Requirements
The City of Knoxville wants to enforce Section 305 of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) that mandates a barrier for pools greater than 24″ of water. This applies to above ground pools as well as in ground pools. The barrier must be at least 48 inches tall. While the height of the fence is typically measured from the outside of the fence panel (i.e. exterior side), to determine compliance with minimum 4-foot.
For height requirements for barriers around pools that are located on slopes or lower areas of a yard, a line is drawn from the bottom of the fence along the ground at the exterior of the fence and that line is measured up to the top of the fence to establish compliance with the minimum 4-foot requirement.
The gap at the bottom gets checked just as closely:
No more than 2 inches between the bottom of the fence and the bottom of the yard (i.e. grass, dirt or gravel).
No more than 4 inches over a solid surface like a concrete pad.
The stepping of a slope can create triangular gaps between panels and posts. Many backyard enclosures are on sloping lots, and rackable aluminum panels are perfectly suited to follow the grade of your yard.
These are popular choices for pool enclosures. Once it has rained a few times after a fence has been installed, you will find that 1.5-inch-wide slits in the soil may have widened to as much as 3 inches or more. In such cases, it is very important that you re-grade and re-pack the soil along the fence lines until there are no wider slits in the soil.
Pool Gates & Access Rules
First, the weakest link in most pool fence systems is the gate (the only part of the fence which is frequently opened and closed). Every gate a person can walk through has to:
- Open outward, away from the pool
- Close on its own from any open position
- Latch on its own when it closes
The location of the release on the gate will also be subject to local ordinances. Typically, the release is required to be located on the pool side of the gate and at a minimum of 3 inches below the top of the gate. The area within 18 inches of the release on the gate must not have any opening greater than 1/2 inch.
Double drive gates (for use of lawn mowers, trailers, etc.) require a self-latching device as well. These gates are usually left open for periods of time on weekends and such. Unless you really need a gate at that location in your yard, do not install a gate at the pool area of your yard that requires a gate at the back of your house for access.
In circumstances where the back of a house forms part of the barrier surrounding a swimming pool, all doors leading from that house to the pool area are considered to be ‘gates’.
In such circumstances there are three methods by which compliance can be satisfied:
- Door alarms
- Powered safety covers
- self-closing doors
Spring tension in hinges weakens over time and lean posts pull fences out of alignment. That perfect closing latch point on a fence gate at the time of a municipal inspection can change appreciably within a year. Test fences once a month. Open and then release a half-closed fence gate. If it does not close and latch, then that fence needs to be “adjusted” within the week.
Pool Barrier Requirements
First, there is the height requirement. The rest of the pool barrier requirements are designed to keep children from going through the fence or climbing up to go over it. This can be tested with a 4-inch sphere, like a ball. The specific requirements to satisfy a pool barrier for fences would then be as follows:
Solid fences must be free of structural features which could serve as hand holds such as ledges, denting or bumps.
Horizontal rails less than 45 inches apart must face pool. Space between picket tips to be 1 3/4 inches or less.
The maximum size of picket spaces between rails that are greater than 45 inches apart is 4 inches.
Decorative cutouts and lattice work are allowed to a maximum of 1-3/4″ in width.
Chain Link Mesh Enclosures and Fence Enclosures
Chain link mesh greater than 1-3/4 inches (44 mm) shall be closed by slats. The rail rule catches a lot of people off guard. This means that a typical wooden picket fence has 2-3 rails behind the pickets. These rails are typically spaced 2 feet apart or so. If you reverse the pickets so that the rails face out, you’ve built a ladder and it will fail.
Above-ground pools are required to have a wall around the pool that is 48 inches or greater in height. That same wall can be used as the barrier. However, ladders, steps, etc. would need to be removed and either stored away or locked when not in use, or fenced off in some manner.
One major consideration that many people fail to take into account is where in relation to other potential climbing objects the fence will be installed. Such items could be a condenser unit for air conditioning, a pile of firewood, a large planter, children’s toys and so on. Such objects provide a natural ladder for toddlers to gain access to a pool area and can result in failure on an inspection.
Pool Fence Permits, Insurance, and HOAs
Pools located within the corporate limits of Knoxville require a building permit for a pool or spa greater than 24 inches in depth. This would include the checking of the barrier for compliance with pool codes.
In Knox County but outside of the city of Knoxville (e.g., Farragut, Maryville, Oak Ridge, etc.), pool permits are issued by Knox County’s Codes Department. The corporate limits of each city must be determined to confirm the proper jurisdiction to issue a permit for construction of a new pool.
As part of new residential construction of in-ground and above-ground pools, there is a new Tennessee law requiring a pool alarm to be installed on such structures. Ask your pool builder if this is something that they can do for you as part of their scope of work.
Before you begin to dig, contact Tennessee 811 to have buried gas, electricity and water lines identified. This service is free and required by law. Good fence installers include this in their scope of work. Ask your fence contractor if they have called 811 for you.
Your insurance agent needs to know that you are installing a pool as well because you have put in a compliant fence to ensure a locked gate. Also, some insurance companies charge more if your pool has diving boards or slides. Find out before you sign any contracts with the builder.
HOAs for subdivisions are also another item to check with for your pool fence. The rules can vary greatly for fence height, color, and even type of material to use. An aluminum fence in black is one of the most common options that many subdivisions choose for pool fences.
Having the architectural committee for your subdivision approve your fence in writing before purchasing is also recommended, as many fence panels are custom-made and cannot be returned once opened.
Also, remember that in the case of a conflict between your homeowners association rules and your local pool codes, the local code will always prevail. Thus, even though a 3-foot-high fence with decorative slats may comply with your HOA rules, such a fence will not pass a pool inspection by your local city or county codes department.
Common Pool Fence Materials
Most of pool fences that we install around pools in Knoxville are aluminum. This material meets all the requirements for pool code, does not rot, does not rust, and provides a clear view of the pool area. One note of caution here is to check the rail spacing on the pool fence panels that you are considering purchasing from a big box store. Most do not meet pool code.
A Vinyl fence would be a good solution if you wanted a fence that provided complete privacy around the pool area. The panels of a Vinyl fence are typically sold as solid panels with no openings between slats for children to place their feet on. However, because of the high humidity in our region, mildew can develop quickly on a north-facing vinyl fence and may require regular pressure washing to clean up.
The cheapest way to go around a pool is wood pickets for a fence. That type of fence will need to have the rails on the pool side of the fence. Most wood fences need to be stained or water-proofed every year. Also, be prepared for many of the boards to shrink and warp in a couple of summers and this will create large gaps between many of the pickets.
Chain link fence is one of the cheaper alternatives for pool fences but typically a residential chain link fence has 2-inch square mesh. This would need to be a smaller mesh or even privacy slats to be a suitable barrier to pool. Even then it would likely have the look and feel of a ball field fence.
Glass panels are high-end pool fence options that are installed for pool perimeter fence enclosures to provide an aesthetically pleasing fence for lake homes or luxury backyard pools.
Get Your Pool Fence Done Right the First Time
We install high-quality pool fences that will pass inspection on the first try. Our experience and training ensures that all fences are properly installed from the lowest point, gates are adjusted so that they close and latch every time, and all paperwork will be completed for any homeowners’ associations.
Set up an estimate with AV Fence Knoxville by calling or texting 865-421-8688. We’ll give you all the details about your pool fence after we go out and measure it.