§ 503. Barrier requirements.

A.

Application. These design controls are intended to provide protection against potential drowning and near drowning by restricting access to swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.

B.

Indoor and outdoor swimming pool. An indoor or outdoor swimming pool, including an in-ground, above-ground or on-ground pool, hot tub or spa shall be provided with a barrier, which shall comply with the following:

1.

Private swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, containing water more than twenty-four (24) inches in depth shall be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least forty-eight (48) inches in height above the finished ground level measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool.

2.

The barrier shall have no opening in the barrier through which a spherical object four (4) inches in diameter can pass.

3.

Access shall be restricted as follows:

a.

Gates and doors in such barriers shall be self-closing and self-latching.

b.

Where the self-latching device is less than fifty-four (54) inches above the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism shall be located on the poolside of the gate. Self-closing and self-latching gates shall be maintained such that the gate will positively close and latch when released.

c.

Hinged doors and gates shall open outward from the pool.

4.

For above-ground swimming pools where the sides of the pool are used as the barrier, any access ladder or steps shall be removable without tools and secured in an inaccessible position with a latching device not less than fifty-four (54) inches above the ground when the pool is not in use.

5.

Access gates shall comply with the requirements of Section 503.B, Items 1. through 5., and shall be equipped to accommodate a locking device.

a.

Pedestrian access gates shall open outward away from the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device.

b.

Gates other than pedestrian access gates shall have a self-latching device.

c.

Where gates are not equipped with a locking device, and the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than fifty-four (54) inches from the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism and openings shall comply with the following:

i.

The release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate at least three (3) inches below the top of the gate; and

ii.

The gate and barrier shall have no opening larger than one-half (½) inch within eighteen (18) inches of the release mechanism.

6.

Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, one (1) of the following conditions shall be met:

a.

The pool shall be equipped with an approved safety pool cover that meets all requirements of ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications F 1346-91.

b.

The pool shall incorporate removable mesh pool fencing that meets ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications F 2286 standards in conjunction with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device.

c.

The residence shall be equipped with exit alarms on those doors providing direct access to the pool.

d.

All doors providing direct access from the home to the swimming pool shall be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than fifty-four (54) inches above the floor.

e.

Swimming pool alarms shall be placed in pools, which will sound upon detection of accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. These alarms shall meet and be independently certified to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F 2208 "Standard Specification for Pool Alarms," which includes surfaced motion, pressure, sonar, laser, and infrared type alarms.

f.

Other means of protection, may be substituted if the degree of protection afforded is equal to or greater than that afforded by any of the devices set forth above, and have been independently verified by an approved testing laboratory as meeting standards for those devices established by the ASTM International , formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), or as approved by the Building, Housing and Fire Prevention Appeals Board.

Exception: Swimming pools, spas or hot tubs with a safety cover, which complies with ASTM International , formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F 1346-91, as listed in Section 107, shall be exempt from these provisions.

( Ord. No. 23601 , § 1, 11-30-2016)