Pool code fences Charleston fence around pool

803.0 Barrier Requirements.

803.1 General. An outdoor swimming pool (including an inground, aboveground, or onground pool), spa, or hot tub shall be provided with a barrier in accordance with Section 803.2 through Section 803.7 and enclosed on all sides.

803.2 Barrier Location. Barriers shall be not less than 48 inches (1219 mm) above a permanent object that is within 48 inches (1219 mm) of the outside of the barrier. Measurement shall be taken perpendicular from the height of the barrier.

803.3 Barrier Height. The top of the barrier shall be not less than 48 inches (1219 mm) above grade measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool, spa, or hot tub. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall not exceed 4 inches (102 mm) measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool, spa, or hot tub. Where the top of the pool, spa, or hot tub structure is above grade, the barrier shall be permitted to be at ground level or mounted on top of the pool structure only where permitted by the manufacturer.

Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between the top of structure and the bottom of the barrier shall not exceed 4 inches. 

803.3.1 openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4 inch diameter sphere. 

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

803.3.3 Horizontal and Vertical Members for Bar-rier. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is less than 45 inches (1143 mm), the horizontal members shall be located on the pool, spa, or hot tub side of the fence. The spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 1¾ inches (44 mm) in width.

Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is 45 inches (1143 mm) or more, the spacing between vertical members shall not exceed 4 inches (102 mm).

Where there are decorative cutouts, the spacing with the cutouts shall not exceed 1¾ inches (44 mm) in width.

inches (102 mm).

803.3.5 diagonal members. Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members such as lattice, the maximum opening formed by the diagonal members shall not exceed 13¾ inches (349 mm).

803.4 Access Gates or Doors. Pedestrian access gates or doors shall comply with Section 803.1 through Section 803.3.5 and shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device. Gates or doors shall open outward or away from the pool, spa, or hot tub area. Gates or doors other than pedestrian access gates or doors shall have a self-latching device. Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the bottom of the gate or door, the release mechanism shall be located on the pool, spa, or hot tub side of the gate at not less than 3 inches (76 mm) below the top of the gate and the gate/door, and the barrier shall have no opening greater than ½ inch (12.7 mm) within 18 inches (457 mm) of the release mechanism.

803.5 Barrier Wall. Where a wall of a building or structure serves as part of the barrier, one of the following conditions shall apply:

(1) The pool, spa, or hot tub shall be equipped with a powered safety cover in accordance with ASTM F1346.

(2) Doors, windows or any other openings providing direct access to the pool, spa, or hot tub through such wall shall be equipped with an alarm listed for the purpose in accordance with UL 2017 that produces an audible warning where the door and its screen, where present, are opened. The alarm shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturers installation, instructions, and the deactivation touchpads, or switches shall be located not less than 54 inches above the threshold of the door.

(3) Other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self latching devices shall be permit permitted where the degree of protection is not less than the protection and section 803.5.(1) or section 803.5(2)