Splish Splash- Swimming Pool Safety- Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspection Services

I was performing a recent home inspection that both the buyer and seller where present. During a walkthrough I made comment on the doors having direct access to the pool area should be alarmed.

The owner said “is that code”? My immediate response was “Yes”. But it made me think (ouch).

                                        Pool Safety

Pool safety really should not be taken lightly. It can only take a few minutes and someone, especially young children, can drown. Each year about 300 children under 5 drown in swimming pools. Most often the drowning occurs in the family pool. Drowning is the second most injury related fatality for children 14 and younger.

So here are some basic guidelines for pool safety-

Install a fence or other barrier, such as a wall, completely around the pool. If the house is part of the barrier, the doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with an alarm or the pool should have a power safety cover. The barrier needs to be 4 feet tall.  There are rules governing the barrier and gates that you should become familiar with.

                                                           Swimming Pool Barrier

As for the code… From the IRC (International Residential Code)
AG105.2 Outdoor swimming pool.

An outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, above-ground or on-ground pool, hot tub or spa shall be surrounded by a barrier which shall comply with the following:
1. The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. Where the top of the pool structure is above grade, such as an above-ground pool, the barrier may be at ground level, such as the pool structure, or mounted on top of the pool structure. Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier shall be 4 inches.

Here are a couple of articles that you should read on pool safety.

Drowning facts and Prevention
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools
How to plan for the Unexpected

Remember pools are great places to relax and enjoy the summer weather but they do have some inherent dangers.

Everyone in the home should learn how to swim, learn basic rescue techniques and CPR in case of an emergency. Planning ahead may just save someone’s life.

“One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.”

Arnold H Glasgow


NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

 
This post has been included in Washington Real Estate News Chelan County, WA Real Estate News
Post is included in group: Puget Sound - WA Real Estate
Post is included in group: WeBlog Anything (almost)!
Post is included in group: Methow Valley Realtors
Post is included in group: Home Inspectors across the country
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies

11 Comments on Splish Splash- Swimming Pool Safety

AUG
06
480,749 Points 59 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Donald,

I just went through this trainig with Internachi.

There are way too many accidents that could have been avoided by following a few simple rules.

Nice post to educate everyone about pool safety.

Have a good day in Wenatchee.

Best, Cint McKie 
6:51am • #1
293,498 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Clint,

I bet you see your fair share of swimming pools. Most people do not give it much thought when it comes to accident prevention.
7:24am • #2
568,210 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The CPSC doc goes into my reports as an attachment anytime the house has a pool. 
3:39pm • #3
293,498 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jim, Me too. Pool can be awesome but can be a very dangerous place. 
4:11pm • #4
917,830 Points 179 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master


What is a swimming pool?  Oh yea---now I remember---I saw one of those once.
5:57pm • #5
293,498 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Charlie, That is the same thing I think when I see one of the gas jobby thingies;) 
9:49pm • #6
AUG
07
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great post Don.  There are lots of private pools around here.  Each jurisdiction has its own rules, but most are the same.  And all address safety, of course.
4:43am • #7
447,681 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good post Donald, I couldn't begin to imagine the heart break of losing a small child. I would take every precaution imaginable to prevent an accident in a pool.
6:53am • #8
293,498 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jay, Thank you. We have our fair share of pools also. Pool safwry is very important.

 

Malcolm, That is how I feel also. I have grown up around water and have had a few close calls. It does not take long for an accident to happen.
7:18am • #9
AUG
21

>Each year about 300 children under 5 drown in swimming pools.

- Pretty sobering. Thanks for the great post.
6:44am • #10
293,498 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Richard, Thank you. Sometime we become so familiar with something we just do not think of some of the inherit dangers.
8:06am • #11


What does the graphic say?
Leave a response…

(optional)
Spam Prevention: