Permanent Pool Fences

Fencing around your swimming pool is obviously a necessity for your safety and for the safety of your family and friends. But it is important to remember that they can be beautiful as well as very functional. Your swimming pool is a long term investment. And you need to look at your fencing, gate and locking mechanism as items which must have the same type of longevity and reliability. In addition, you should invest just a small amount of time to explore the decorative value that your fence can add to your landscaping.  

Security Number One

Regardless of your other choices, remember that your first priority for any swimming pool is that the entire environment be safe and secure for everyone. Security for your family and for potential intruders is your responsibility. Sadly, we must make provisions to lock others out for their own safety and for the safety of your family and guests. Children inherently look for any opportunity for mischief so we as responsible adults must ensure that our home and our swimming pool are both child proof and intruder proof to a reasonable standard.

The goal of a permanent swimming pool fence is to keep unsupervised children from getting over, under, or through it. The fence should enclose the pool completely, unless one edge of the border is formed by the house itself. Gates should swing shut and latch automatically.

Most cities require permanent fences around pools at homes where children 6 years old and younger are living. Pool fences also are recommended for homes where young children visit or spend any length of time.

When UNIQUE Landscapes and Custom Pools installs a fence, we first review the guidelines of your municipality. We make sure that the fence meets specifications as to spacing of slats or chain links, as well as any other requirements.

The City of Phoenix requirements call for:

• Permanent 5-foot, non-climbable fences that have self-closing and self-latching gates and open outward from the pool.
• Latches must be 4 1/2 feet above ground or inaccessible from the outside by small children. Any opening in the fence must be less than 4 inches wide.
• If a wall of the home is used as part of the pool enclosure, doors leading from the home into the pool area must also be self-closing and self-latching.

 Check with the city of Phoenix or your municipality for more pool barrier ordinance information.

Pool fences need to be maintained like cars and appliances to be effective. Be sure any existing pool fence is in good condition and stable, not wobbly or falling over. Regularly check that the gate latches securely and that spring mechanisms work properly. Proper care and maintenance as well as proper adult supervision is required to ensure safety around any pool.