NC Public Swimming Pools POOL BARRIERS – FENCES AND GATES ( .2528)

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.2528(a)(1)The top of the barrier shall be at least 48” above grade measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool.

Translated: The pool fence should measure at least 48” measured from ground measured from the outside of the fence.

The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be two inches measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool.

Translated: Maintain 2” or less under the fence measured from the ground on the outside.

48”

2”

.2528(a)(2)Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a four-inch diameter sphere and shall provide no external handholds or footholds.

Translation: No openings greater than a 4”x4” sphere could fit through – 4” between pickets.

Solid barriers that do not have openings shall not contain indentations or protrusions except for normal construction tolerances and tooled masonry joints.

Translation: Provide no footholds on the outside of a solid barrier fence.

4”

DefinitionsNormal Construction Tolerances – ½” or less

Foothold – Anything that protrudes on the fence or located within 48” of the fence that may present a foothold for a child to utilize to get over the fence.

Fencing – Footholds

Measures 45” or less

<45”

Gate Footholds

Gate Footholds

Gate Hinges and HandlesGate hinges/handles that protrude >2” and are below 45” in height require permit action.

Gate hinges/handle that protrude <2” – no permit action.

Gate Handles Gate handle below 40” measured from ground will require permit action.

Gate handle above 40” measured from ground – no permit action. ADA compliance requires handle at 40”.

Push to Enter/Exit Buttons Push to Enter(Exit) buttons located on doors or next to doorway to get into pool enclosure – No height requirements.

Push to Exit buttons on interior of enclosure (to get out of pool) – should not be easily accessible to public to reach and open easily.

Automatic SensorsSensors located inside pool barrier – sensor should not remain engaged for more than 20 seconds. ◦ General Comment sensor and allow 2 weeks to

correct.

Sensors located on door into the pool deck –not permitted. ◦ Requires immediate repair.

Landscaping Outside of Fence or GateLandscape outside of a pool fence or gate that provides a foothold (<45” measured from ground) will require permit action.

.2528(a)(3)Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is 45” or more, spacing between the vertical members shall not exceed four inches.

Translation: Maintain 45” between bottom horizontal and next horizontal on fences 48” or greater in height with no openings >4”.

Where there are decorative cutouts within the vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1.75 inches in width.

Translation: No more than 1.75” in width for decorative cutouts.

.2528(a)(4)Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is less than 45”, the horizontal members shall be located on the swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between the vertical members shall not exceed 1.75” in width. Where there are decorative cutouts within the vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed 1.75 inches in width.

.2528(a)(4)Translation:

If the distance between horizontals is less than 45”, horizontals must be located on the inside of the fence.

Maintain 1.75” or less in width between verticals and for decorative cut-outs.

.2528(a)(5)Maximum mesh size for chain link fences shall be a 2.25” square unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom that reduce the openings to no more than 1.75”.

Translation: No greater than 2.25” x 2.25” for meshing.

2.25”

.2528(a)(6)Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal members shall be no more than 1.75”

Translation: No greater than 1.75” between diagonal parts of the fence.

.2528(a)(7)Access gates shall comply with the dimensional requirements for fences and shall be equipped to accommodate a locking device.

Translation: Gates, regardless of dates, must comply with all fencing rules.

Effective April 1, 2011, pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device except where a gate attendant and lifeguard are on duty.

Translation: Gates must open away from the pool and self-close, self-latch unless the pool has a gate attendant AND lifeguard present.

Pedestrian Access Gate = Where patrons enter the pool area.

.2528(a)(7) and .2537(b)Gates other than pedestrian access gates shall have a self-latching device.

Translation: Gates shall latch when closed.

All gates and doors shall be equipped with self-closing and positive self-latching closure mechanisms.

Translation: All gates and doors must self-latch, self-close.

https://youtu.be/W5F_-kWEWn8

.2528(a)(7)Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54” from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism shall require the use of a key, combination or card reader to open or…

Translation: Gate latch must measure 54” to top of latch measured from ground.

If latch is below 54”, the latch must use a key, combination punch code reader, or card/key fob reader to open the gate. These do not need to be 54” in height.

.2528(a)(7)…shall be located on the pool side of the gate at least three inches below the top of the gate, and the gate and barrier shall have no openings greater than ½” within 18” of latch the release mechanism.

Translation: If gate latch is not 54” measured from ground, the latch should be on the inside of the gate.

Gate latch should be at least 3” down from the top of the gate on the inside.

Measure 18” around the latch. No openings >1/2” within 18” of latch.

.2528(a)(7)OPENINGS NO GREATER THAN ½” WITHIN 18” OF LATCH MECHANISM EXAMPLE OF GATE LATCH ON INSIDE OF GATE

.2528(a)(8)Ground level doors and windows opening from occupied buildings to inside the pool enclosure shall be self-closing or child protected by means of a barrier or audible alarm.

Translation: Doors that open directly on to your pool deck must self-close, self-latch OR self-close with audible alarm.

Windows that open on to your pool deck should be protected with audible alarm or affixed to not open more than 4” (comes from 4”x4” sphere requirement).

Windows on to Pool Deck 1. No greater than 4” openings on to deck2. Must be permanently installed

Doors on to Pool Deck

NOW LET ’S TALK ABOUT THE CONFUSING PARTS…

.2528(b)Public swimming pool fences constructed prior to May 1, 2010 may vary from the provisions of Paragraph (a) of the Rule as follows:

Translation: If a pool was built before May 1, 2010, there are exemptions.

.2528(b)(1)The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier may exceed two inches, but shall not exceed four inches.

Translation: No more than 4” under a fence or gate measured from the ground to the bottom horizontal. ◦ Pre-May 2, 2010

.2528(b)(2)Where the barrier is composed of vertical and horizontal members and the space between vertical members exceeds 1.75”, the distance between the tops of the bottom horizontal member and the next higher horizontal member may be less than 45”, but shall not be less than 30”.

Translation: Distance between horizontals on fence and gates can range from 30” to greater than 45”.◦ Pre-May 1, 2010

.2528(b)(3)Gates other than pedestrian access gates are not required to have self-latching devices if the gates are kept locked.

Translation: If a gate is a service gate, the gate must self-close but can be kept permanently locked if a self-latching device isn’t installed.◦ Pre-May 1, 2010

.2528(b)(4)Gates may swing towards a pool where natural topography, landscape position or emergency egress requirements prevent gates from swinging away from the pool.

Translation: A gate may swing into the pool of the landscape or safety prevents it from opening away from the pool.◦ Pre-May 1, 2010

.2528(c)Public swimming pools permitted prior to April 1, 2010 with existing fences that do not comply with the dimensional requirements of Subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(6) and (b)(1) through (b)(2) shall not be dined an operation permit solely due to the preexisting non-compliance.

Translation: If a pool was built prior to April 1, 2010, a permit should not be denied if it is not in compliance with sections of the rule.

Fences and gates must be in compliance with .2528(a)(7) and (a)(8) and (b)(3) and (b)(4).

No Exceptions for items below:

(a)(7) Gates must comply with all dimensional requirements for fences and must be equipped with latch mechanisms that meet the rule.

(a)(8) Ground level doors must be self-closing, self-latching or child protected by means of a barrier (4” opening) or audible alarm.

(b)(3) Pedestrian access gates can be kept locked if self-latching and constructed pre-April 1, 2010.

(b)(4) Gates may have opposite swing of topography, etc. prevents it from swinging away from the pool.

.2528(c)Operation permits shall be denied to an owner or operator who fails to comply with Subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(6) and (b)(1) through (b)(2) of this Rule when:

(1) at least 50% of the fence has been damaged or destroyed; or

(2) the owner or operator elects to replace the fence.

Translation: Deny a permit if the more than 50% of the fence is damaged or the fence has been replaced and it doesn’t meet current code requirements.

Wading PoolsBARRIER REQUIREMENTS

.2531(a)Wading pools shall meet all design specifications for swimming pools and wading pools included in Rules.2512 through .2530 of this Section with the following exceptions:

Translation: Wading pools must comply with all rules under .2528 regardless of installation date.

.2531(a)(7)Wading pools shall be located in the vicinity of the shallow end of the swimming pool and shall be separated from the swimming pool by a fence or structure similar to that described in Rule .2528 of this Section, that shall be equipped with a self-closing and positive self-latching closure mechanism, and shall be equipped with permanent locking devices.

Translation: Wading pools should be located at the shallow end of the main pool. Barrier should meet rule requirements of .2528 and gates should self-close, self-latch.

.2531(a)(7)Wading pool entrance gates located inside another public swimming pool enclosure shall open away from the deeper pool.

Translation: Wading pool gates shall swing into the wading pool.

.2528(a)(7)Wading pool fences constructed after April 1, 2000 shall be at least four feet high.

Translation: Wading pool fences should be at least 4 ft high unless built prior to April 1, 2000.

Built prior to April 1, 2000, fence can be a minimum of 30 inches.

Questions??