Safety Savvy
By Alan E. Sanderfoot
Safety is always on the minds of pool and spa owners, especially those with young children. But with a little foresight -- and the right safety equipment -- your pool or hot tub can be a safer sanctuary, providing fun, fitness and enjoyment…incident-free.
Unfortunately, there is no single safety device that will prevent all backyard pool and hot tub accidents. That's why many experts, including the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, advocate layers of protection to safeguard your backyard pool or hot tub from accidents. Check out this suggested line-up for a safe poolscape.
Fencing
Most pool owners are required by their local municipalities to have some type of fencing -- either around their property, their pool, or both. So before constructing any fence, check with your local building department.
Barrier fencing around a pool -- specifically designed to prevent access by small children and pets -- differs from fencing used to enclose a backyard. This barrier fencing is often made of mesh or other finely woven transparent materials for strength, yet it allows an unimpeded visual of the pool area from inside the home. Unlike chain link and some other fencing materials that provide a place for young children to brace their small feet and hands into for climbing, it is impossible to grasp the mesh material used in safety fences.
Transparent fences are also flexible and easy to remove, roll up and store, and just as convenient to put back into place. Small holes are often installed around the pool to secure the fencing.
Invisible fences are wall-mounted and operate through infrared motion detectors. These are usually installed close to the pool patio, garage or other nearby location, and most protect at least an eight-yard semicircle. Battery-operated, they feature both movement and heat sensitive sensors that are activated only when a small child or animal moves and emits body heat within the patrol range.
More permanent styles -- typically along property boundaries but required around the pool itself in some municipalities -- can be as decorative as they are functional. Ornamental wrought iron or aluminum are popular because they add elegance and are maintenance-free. PVC fencing, often displayed at home improvement centers, is less luxurious but also requires no upkeep. Wooden picket or lattice styles are classic choices, but repainting or staining is recommended every few years.
Whatever you choose to prevent enticement (and trespassing) of outsiders, consider a fence that blocks the view of the pool from outside your property; it is a better deterrent -- visually and physically -- than a fence that allows a view. Even with ornamental fencing, a surround of thorny shrubs, such as roses or other plantings, add to your landscape punch while stopping unwanted wanderlust into your pool area. Of course, never leave objects like chairs or tables near the fence that children could use to help them climb into the pool area. Also, fences that are surrounded by thorny shrubs and flowerbeds are less likely to be climbed than those that offer a clear path.
Safety Covers
A safety cover creates an impenetrable barrier, made of thick vinyl and secured to the pool via tracks along the sides. With automatic units, the cover is powered by a motor operated with a key or an electronic control. Manual units, which are less expensive, must be physically pulled across the pool and retracted with a wrenching device. Cost differences between manual and automatic covers may be substantial, but for many, the convenience is worth it. The easier a cover is to operate, the more likely owners will use it whenever the pool isn't in use.
In order to qualify as a safety cover, it must meet strict standards set by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International, a voluntary standards development organization. These standards decree that the cover must support the weight of two adults and one child -- approximately 485 pounds -- within a 3-foot diameter.
Safety covers should be removed completely when the pool is being used so that swimmers do not become trapped beneath it. A tapered cover allows rainwater to drain off; one with a mesh panel permits water to drain through the cover. With a solid cover, use an automatic pump with an electronic sensor to drain pooled rainwater.
Spa covers are equally important. In addition to reducing evaporation, lowering heating costs and keeping water clean, they are the best means to prevent accidents. Spa covers can be manually secured and removed, but seriously consider a cover removal device -- often referred to as a "cover lift." Reason: Even though a new cover might weigh only 20 to 30 pounds, over time the foam core can absorb water and weigh more than 100 pounds. When this happens, the cover can be too heavy to handle easily. (In addition to making the cover easier to maneuver, lifting devices -- which come in different styles and choices -- properly store the cover off the ground, where it can become warped under its own weight or punctured by sharp rocks, twigs or even raised deck nails.)
Alarms
• Gate alarms are usually mounted on the gate with magnetic switches, and sound when there's a break in the electrical field on the latch. Most have a pass button that allows entry and exit for adults without sounding the alarm, but then automatically resets. Even with a gate alarm, it's important to have self-latching gates -- with the latch positioned well above the reach of small children -- to guard against unauthorized and unsupervised entry into the pool area.
• In-pool systems can be freefloating or attached on pool walls. Some activate when detecting wave motion on the surface or in the water; others provide electronic surveillance and sound when an intruder enters the pool area.
• Wrist alarms are worn and activated through a base station. They are set off when immersed in water or if the child wanders beyond a certain distance from the base station. The base units and wrist alarms are sold separately, so more than one child can be outfitted at the same time.
• Door and window alarms, usually installed for home and occupant security, provide an additional level of safety if a young child opens a door or attempts to scoot out a low-lying window to gain access to an outdoor pool. They are also a good option when a pool configuration is so unusual (a rock mound on one side, for example) that using a safety fence is not feasible.
• Perimeter alarms utilize laser or infrared light to form an unbroken beam of protection around a pool's perimeter. Sensors are positioned above the ground between 12 and 24 inches apart, and are adjustable in relation to a child's height.
Added Protection
• Surround the pool area with a tall barrier, such as a wall, fence or thicket
• Install locks on all doors and gates leading to the pool area
• Use light motion detectors that activate when someone steps on your property • Ask neighbors to keep a watchful eye when you're away
• Consider a home security service to alert police of anyone trying to pilfer a plunge. To be considered a safety fence -- and typically required -- a fence or other barrier must be at least 48 inches high; fences cannot have openings wider than 4 inches. It should also be extremely difficult to get a hand- or toehold on the fence for climbing. That means if you opt for chain link fencing, be sure to have plastic inserts, a hedge or planting barriers, to prevent climbing.