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Swimming Pool Barriers

GENERAL INFORMATION

Pool barrier ordinances have always defined a pool to include swimming pools, spas, wading pools, etc. Pool barriers of some kind have always been required in Santa Cruz County.

APPLICABLE CODE

During the last several years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of swimming pool drowning's of small children in the San Francisco bay area. Such an accident is always a tragedy and always preventable. For this reason, at the urging of several county agencies including the District Attorney and Child Protective Services, the Planning Department requires that all swimming pool barriers meet the currently adopted code. The currently adopted code is Appendix chapter 4, Division I of the 2001 California Building Code. The code requirements are summarized below.

REQUIREMENTS

The 2001 California Building Code requires a barrier around the pool which meets the detailed requirements of Section 421.1. There are two complying configurations.

  1. A fence, which may include pedestrian access gates or other gates, all meeting the code requirements, completely surrounding the pool (separating the pool from surrounding parcels and from the dwelling associated with the pool). See site plan A.
  2. A fence, which may include pedestrian access gates or other gates, all meeting the code requirements, which separates the pool from surrounding parcels, but not from the dwelling associated with the pool, with the dwelling forming part of the fence. When the wall of the dwelling serves as part of the barrier, self closing, self latching doors with the latch a minimum 54" in height, alarms on the doors or other equivalent approved means of protection may be used. See barrier and gate details.
  3. Section 421.1 #5, exception 3, allows, when wall of the dwelling forms part of the barrier and contains doors, "Other means of protection.... so long as the degree of protection afforded is not less than that afforded by any of the devices described above." We recognize listed, self-closing, locking pool covers on swimming pools, and secured, locking covers on non self-contained spas as meeting this requirement. Note that these can be used ONLY when the wall of the dwelling forms part of the barrier.
  4. The code does not permit a perimeter fence to serve as a barrier. (a fence which surrounds the house and the pool completely). See site plan D.
  5. The code requires that gates other than pedestrian access gates be equipped with lockable hardware or padlocks and remain locked at all times when not in use. While this does not specifically prohibit driveway gates, it is not reasonable to assume that a swinging driveway gate will remain locked at all times when not in use. For this reason, driveway gates are not permitted as part of the required barrier. Service gates not on a driveway which permit intermittent vehicle access are not required to be self-closing. See site plan B.
  6. The above applies to all pools INCLUDING non-self-contained spas. A self-contained spa may have a listed safety cover and no other barrier. These terms are defined as:
    • Spa, non-self-contained, is a hydro massage pool or tub for recreational or therapeutic use, not located in health-care facilities, designed for immersion of users and usually having a filter, heater and motor-driven blower. In may be installed indoors or outdoors, on the ground or on a supporting structure, or in the ground or in a supporting structure. A non-self-contained spa is intended for recreational bathing and contains water over 24 inches (619 mm) deep.
    • Spa, self-contained, is a continuous-duty appliance in which all control, water-heating and water-circulating equipment is an integral part of the product, located entirely under the spa skirt. A self-contained spa is intended for recreational bathing and contains water over 24 inches (610 mm) deep.
  7. Barrier details are required on all swimming pool plans.
  8. When inspecting other types of work, (remodels, room additions, re-roofs, etc., the new work must meet code (for instance, doors from a room addition to the pool). In addition, inspectors will require that all pools and spas meet the current code barrier requirements. Regardless of whether the pool was constructed with a valid building permit, current requirements must be met. If work is done on the barrier to make it meet safety regulations, the new work must meet current code.
  9. Prior the sale of a home with a swimming pool, spa, or hot tub, the owner shall provide the buyer with written certification of barrier compliance per Section 421.7.
  10. Permits for remodeling or modification for homes with existing pools or spas shall require the suction outlets be upgraded with approved anti-entrapment covers retrofitted on the main drain and any sidewall suction outlets.
  11. Permits issued for new pools shall have at least two circulation drains per pump that shall be hydraulically balanced and symmetrically plumbed through one or more “T’ fittings, and that are separated by a distance of at least three feet in any direction between the drains. Suction outlets that are less than 12 inches across shall be covered with anti-entrapment grates, as specified in the ASME/ANSI Standard A112.19.8, which cannot be removed except with the use of tools.  Slots or openings in the grates or similar protective device shall be of a shape, area, and arrangement that would prevent physical entrapment and would not pose any suction hazard.

Although the code requires only one of the alternate measures above, we strongly encourage people installing pools to use all of the above measures.