Alright I have a question about some pool related stuff. I just bought an 42 inch deep insta-pool and I was wondering if it was legal to set it up in my non-fence having back yard.
I live in Fairfax Va and I found these requirements. Now, I’m a little unclear about them, but unfortunately the office isn’t open until monday.
I’m wondering if I can set up the pool and frolick in it, locking it up at night, or should I drain it to 24 inches deep, or what.
Does anyone know what the law is specifically? Do I have wiggle-room with this sort of pool?
Just a personal note without a cite, but I’m thinking that any regs on a back yard pool are going to mainly concern the fact that small children can and do die in un-attended swimming pools. That said, I wouldn’t "wiggle-room’ anything until the area is safe.
IANAL but I don’t think the drain to 23.5" bit is gonna fly. Esp. if a neighborhood kid drowns in your pool.
Follow the rules, then is something goes south, you have a defence.
Get real. It wouldn’t be “skirting the law”. My suggestion would place the pool fully within the local county law. The edge would be 48 inches above finished ground level.
Nothing can stop you from being sued, but being in compliance with the law could help show you weren’t negligent.
From the way that site reads, it looks like if the top of your pool is at least 48" high (Eleusis’ platform idea sounds like it would work) then you’ll be fine.
it also states that if you are using the above ground pool as a barrier itself, the ladder must then be surrounded by a barrier meeting all criteria as well. Even with a 48" tall pool, you would still have to surround the ladder with a barrier.
If you built a platform 6" above the pool, how would you get across the platform? Any ladder or door would be subject to the 9 requirements listed for the basic perimeter structure.
FWIW I work in marketing for a home security company here in FL, and our pool codes are very similar. We generally deal with new homeowners, and we tell them to just fence in the entire back yard, and we wire their doors and windows for an electronic alarm. The only other feasible option is to contruct a 48" wall separately around the pool, which looks stupid.
NOTE:I have seen, at some trade shows, a “portable” pool fence…it meets all of Florida’s statutes, and you can install it yourself, it is a heavy duty mesh type thing, and cheaper than enclosing your entire yard. It also has the self locking gate.
I personally find them a lil cheesy, but it would be something to look into. If I can find an old exhibitor list from a show I have run, I’ll get the name of the company for you
Oh one more goofy thing with our codes here–anyone with a home security system must have a SEPARATE pool alarm system, even though most security systems can perform the exact same functions as the pool alarm…
it will not pass final inspection…we have to install two separate systems
Don’t forget zoning regulations. Your pool will probably have to be set back a certain distance from property lines. the house, and any overhead utility lines, if applicable. It also can’t be built over any utility easements.
The zoning regulations of Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax are different. I know someone in the City of Fairfax Planning Department, if you’re in the city limits.
BTW those ladders which are standard with the cheaper pools are just three steps up, three steps down. It’s easy to pick up and just dump the whole thing in pool.
The pool you describe seems to be more of a temporary structure. Its not dug in and its not anchored to the ground. Its really nothing more than a bigger plastic kiddie pool. Set the filter up on a wheeled platform to make it even more portable.
Temporary structures tend to have different and less stringent codes than permanent ones. Check on this setup when you call in Monday as well.
IHMO: When I was a kid (mid 80’s early 90’s) I was taught not to play in the neighbors or even friends pools if they weren’t around and hadn’t given permission, as were the freinds I hung out with. Modern saftey laws are makeing parents less responsible for the actions of thier children and screwing the rest of us. Let Darwin reign, put up your pool and go have fun.
Hmm…Actually perhaps I should have been a little more specific. I’m not trying to make the pool dangerous to children or anything of the sort. If you’ll check the link, the pool has a covering-which I have added a few padlocks to, to further prevent entry.
Also, I have a fence around most of the yard, except for one side. On the fenceless side, the fence that was there rotted away.
I am interested in the idea of a “portable” pool fence. I’ll have to check that out.
I saw a commercial for it on a local channel today, its called
“Babyguard”
but if i recall, it works by permanently mounting recepticle holes in concrete, then when you want to put up the fence, u just pop the poles down , lock them in, and hook it all together.
to remain up to code, you have to leave it up all the time though, and it is more suited to an inground pool, surrounded by an existing concrete deck.
I would just find a way to enclose that last side…but once you do that, you will still need to fence the pool off from the house, or install a pool alarm on every door and window facing the pool.
The alarm could get pretty expensive, depending on how your house is constructed (basement? one story? full attic?) and how many openings you have.
This is the wrong forum for that, NevarMore. Otherwise I would respond by saying that no reasonable person could seriously think that an ambiguous, amorphous, and totally unproven reduction in the value of “responsibility” is worth the deaths of hundreds of children every year who have had no say in how responsibly their parents behave.
