BARRIER/FENCING REQUIREMENTS
WHY POOL BARRIERS MATTER
At Delphina Pools, safety is our top priority. Founded by an Austin mom with two young kids, we understand how quickly accidents can happen. Pool barriers dramatically decrease the likelihood of an accident.​
Our pools require barriers that meet national, international, and local safety codes. While not childproof, these barriers add a critical layer of protection to prevent children from going over, under, or through them when adults aren’t supervising.
Learn more and view detailed guidelines in this helpful CPSC document.
HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
A barrier is a fence, house, or external structure that prevents access to the pool. It can be a barrier already part of your house or a separate, dedicated pool mesh fence.
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The top of a pool barrier should be at least 48 inches above grade, measured on the exterior side of the fence or barrier.
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The maximum vertical clearance between the ground and the bottom of the barrier should be:
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4 inches if on a solid surface like concrete
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2 inches if on a non-solid surface like grass or pebbles
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1 inch if a removable mesh fence
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Openings in the barrier should not allow passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere.
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Solid barriers, which do not have openings, such as masonry or stone walls, should not contain indentations or protrusions that may allow a child to climb over the barrier (Figure 2 CPSC doc).
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Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members, and the distance between the bottom and top horizontal members is less than 45 inches, the horizontal members should be located on the interior side of the fence (Figure 3 CPSC doc).
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Spacing between vertical members should not exceed 1¾ inches in width. Where there are decorative cutouts, spacing within the cutouts should not exceed 1¾ inches in width (Figue 4 CPSC doc).
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Maximum mesh size for chain link fences should not exceed 1¼ inch square, unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom that reduce the openings to no more than 1¾ inches (Figures 5 and 6 CPSC doc).
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Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as a lattice fence, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal members should be no more than 1¾ inches (Figure 7 CPSC doc).
ALARM REQUIREMENTS
​All doors or windows that allow access to a swimming pool should be equipped with an audible alarm that sounds when the door, window, or screen is opened. Alarms should meet the requirements of UL 2017, which specifies that the alarm must activate within 7 seconds of a door opening, sound distinctly at 85 dB or more for at least 30 seconds, and reset temporarily via a switch at least 54 inches high to prevent child access. Pet doors leading to pools should never be installed, as they pose significant drowning risks for children.
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Here are some available options:
ACCESS GATES
Access gates to the pool should be equipped with a locking device. Pedestrian access gates should open outward, away from the pool, and should be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Gates other than pedestrian access should 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 should be located on the interior side of the gate, at least 3 inches below the top of the gate; and
(b) the gate and barrier should have no opening greater than ½ inch within 18 inches of the release mechanism (figure 13 CPSC doc). This prevents a young child from reaching through the gate and releasing the latch.
SAFETY COVERS
There are safety covers that are designed specifically to hold heavy weight and prevent access to the pool. Installing an automatic safety cover meets the pool barrier code requirements, eliminating the need for a fence, gates, or alarms to meet code. We are so excited to announce that we have partnered with Cover Care to offer child-safety covers in 2025.
