Pool Fencing

POOL FENCING 101 SHOULD I HAVE FENCING INSTALLED AROUND MY POOL? FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE NEWLY INSTALLED SWIMMING POOLS OR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME, HAVING A FENCE INSTALLED AROUND IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO FOR THE FAMILY. IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS AND PETS THAT YOU CAN'T KEEP ANY EYE ON EVERY SECOND, A STURDY BARRICADE THAT KEEPS THEM OFF THE WATER CAN SAVE YOU THE ANXIETY AND ENERGY IT TAKES TO GUARD THEM. ADDITIONALLY, JUST ABOUT EVERY JURISDICTION IN NEW JERSEY REQUIRES PROPER POOL FENCING BY STATUTE. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE ONE? IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD QUALITY FENCE ENCLOSE YOUR SWIMMING POOL. IN THE SAME WAY A PARENT SECURES THE SAFETY OF HIS OR HER CHILDREN THROUGH BABY GATES, CAR SEATS, BABY MONITORS AND SAFETY LOCKS, A FENCE IS A GOOD LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST ANY UNTOWARD ACCIDENTS LIKE FATAL SLIPS AND DROWNING. WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A GOOD POOL FENCE? ACCORDING TO THE INFANT SWIMMING RESOURCE (ISR), CERTAIN STANDARDS NEED TO BE MET FOR A POOL FENCE TO BE CONSIDERED REALLY EFFECTIVE: O IT SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF FOUR FEET IN HEIGHT. O IT SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED AROUND THE POOL. O IT SHOULD COMPLETELY ENCLOSE THE ENTIRE POOL AREA. O IT CAN BE INSTALLED JUST AROUND THE POOL OR AROUND THE PERIMETER OF YOUR PROPERTY AS LONG AS IT MEETS ALL APPLICABLE SAFETY CODES. IN ADDITION, THE BUILDING OFFICIALS AND CODE ADMINISTRATORS (BOCA) HAS LISTED QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE IDEAL POOL FENCE: O YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE YOUR OWN POOL FENCE AND CAN NOT USE ANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS FENCING AS A BARRIER TO YOUR POOL. O FENCE MUST MINIMUM FOUR FEET HIGH O FROM THE BOTTOM HORIZONTAL RAIL TO THE SECOND HORIZONTAL RAIL MUST BE A MINUMUM 45 INCHES APART OR SPACING MUST BE REDUCED TO 1 3/4 INCHES MAXIMUM O ALL HORIZONTAL RAILS ON FENCE MUST LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE FENCE. O THE SPACE BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE BOTTOM HORIZONTAL RAIL SHOULD BE LESS THAN TWO INCHES. O THE GATES MUST SELF-CLOSE AND SELF-LATCH. O THE GATES MUST OPEN OUTWARD AWAY FROM THE POOL AREA. O THE GATE LATCH MUST BE AT LEAST 54 INCHES FROM GROUND. O PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK WITH YOUR MUNICIPAL ZONING OFFICIAL FOR LOCAL ORDINANCES. IF YOU HAVE OTHER CONCERNS IN REGARD TO POOL FENCE SPECIFICATIONS AND INSTALLATION, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS.