Understanding Local & State Safety Codes

Swimming Pool Safety is All-Safe’s sole purpose for existing. We count on every reseller to be committed to pool safety above all else.  Nothing is more important and confusing than trying to navigate your way through local and state pool safety regulations.

Some of the Basics....

The first thing to understand is that not every local or state agency has the same rules and regulations. The vast majority of All-Safe installed products are for families wanting to protect their own children, grandchildren & pets from the dangers of a pool/spa/water feature and building codes/laws are not involved nor required. 

Some cities, counties and agencies have no rules to comply with, some have lenient rules while others have strict rules. Because these rules are ever changing, even as you read this, we cannot guarantee that you will pass an inspection based on this information and recommend that you check locally with the agency you are working with & the pool safety reseller you are working with PRIOR to installation. 

Below is some information to help guide you to having a better understanding, should you be asked to comply. 

ASTM Standards

ASTM International (ASTM), originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is an interna-

tional standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.

  • ASTM F1346-91 for pool covers 
  • ASTM F2286-16 for removable fences  (F2286-05 is the same standard, just a previous version)

There are two factors that make your installation ASTM compliant. 

  • The materials being used have been manufactured to ASTM standards, tested and approved by ASTM certified independent lab. 
  • The layout and detail of the installation must be according to the standard.

Not necessarily. For families trying to protect their children, pets, etc., you can determine your layout. Building code/Inspector circumstance, it will be up to them to determine the approved layout. Adoption, Daycare and Foster Care will require that you follow the ASTM layout standard. Always check prior to installation if you are working with an agency, city, etc.

Yes. All-Safe products are ASTM compliant when installed according to ASTM standards.

If your local reseller is installing All-Safe Pool Fencing or Covers, you are getting an ASTM approved material. We always recommend you speak with your local reseller prior to installing to verify your layout and installation are within ASTM compliance. All-Safe, the manufacturer, has no involvement with your resellers installation process.

In order to ensure that the materials you are purchasing for installation are in fact All-Safe products, please contact your reseller and ask them to provide you with a copy. Make sure you ask for the All-Safe brand by name!

Building Code

Every city’s Building Department can set their own rules. Those rules can also be interpreted by the inspector you may be working with. You will be surprised how hard it can be to find out what is being asked of you in order to comply. 

Here is a list of recommended questions to consider and ask your Building Department or Inspector before an installation takes place:

  • Will the All-Safe product you are wanting to use be accepted by the inspector/department? 
    • example: will a Mesh Fence pass the code/law?
  • Do they have any layout requirements? 
    • example: what path does the fence need to take to pass?
  • What height does the fence need to be? 
    • normally a 60 inch/ 5 foot fence is needed
  • Is a self-closing gate required? 
    • (normally yes) 
  • Does the fence need to be permanently installed?
  • How far from the pool edge does the fence need to be installed? 
  • Does the fence need to be bonded? 
    • If required, you will likely need your pool contractor to bond the fence


While building codes almost always cite the ASTM F2286-16 (or previous version, F2286-05) for the product, many times the layout may not meet the ASTM layout standard. This situation is up to your city/inspector to what fits into their codes/situations. 

 

Attention Los Angeles City and County Customers: 

Los Angeles Research Report, also known as LARR, installations require the fence to be permanently installed. Click here to read more about LARR

Adoption, DayCare & Foster Care

Most common rules from cities/counties for Adoption, Daycare and Foster Care 

  • Mesh Fences that meet ASTM F2286-05 standards are normally accepted. They must be 60 inches tall, block all points of access and include a self-closing, self-latching gate. 
  • Pool covers are normally not accepted. In the information you received from the city or county you may find covers that meet the ASTM F1836-91 standard are acceptable. However, the inspector will usually ask an adult to stand on the cover, and if any water passes through the cover will fail. The only All-Safe pool cover that will meet this request is the automatic pool cover. 


Private Foster Care and Adoption agencies

These agencies tend to be more lenient with their standards. Oftentimes they will accept a 4 foot fence and ASTM F1346-91 covers (such as a safety net).c

California Swimming Pool Safety Act

In California, starting January 1st 2018, SB 442 went into effect, enacting the Swimming Pool Safety Act. This act increased the requirements for safety devices if you have a residential pool or spa.

It applies throughout the state of California when you pull a permit for a new or remodeling of a swimming pool and spa or when an existing pool/spa is part of the sale of a home and specifies that the standard of 2 safety devices not is not be exceeded by any municipality. 

  • Apartment complexes or any residential settings other than a single-family home
  • Hot tubs/spas with a locking safety cover that is ASTM F1346 compliant 
  • Public swimming pools

Section 115922 lays out all of the approved devices. Below is a summary of the listed devices

 

  • Removable Mesh Pool Fencing that meets ASTM F2286 standards and has a self-closing, self-latching and key lockable gate
  • An enclosure that meets 115923 like a fence, wall or other barrier that isolates the pool or spa from access to the residence
  • An approved safety cover that is manually or power operated that meets ASTM F1346-91 (outlined in 115921)
  • Exit Alarms that make audible, continuous sounds when any door or window with access to the pool area is left ajar or opened
  • A self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism that placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor on the door that provides direct access to the pool or spa
  • An alarm that when placed in the pool or spa that will sound when it detects unauthorized entrance into the water. Alarm must meet ASTM F2208. The alarm must be designed for individual use does not qualify
  • Other means of protection, if the degree of protection afforded is equal to or greater than that afforded by any of the features set forth above and has been independently verified by an approved testing laboratory as meeting standards for those features established by the ASTM or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

SB 442 requires that whenever there is a home inspection of a property in connection with the transfer of that property, the inspection must also include the pool or spa. This inspection is to be noninvasive on whether or not the pool or spa has been equipped with the two of the seven required safety devices and list this information on the home inspection report.  

 

This does not mean that the home inspector will be inspecting the pool structure, equipment, plumbing, electrical, or any other critical areas best left to a specialist. Failure to meet the requirements for safety devices will also not interfere with the sale of the home in any way, as the report will simply inform potential buyers that their pool does not currently have the required safety devices. The law simply requires the inspector to disclose whether or not two safety devices exist and are operating.

While planning and designing a new pool, the builder will need to be aware of the new requirements for safety devices and discuss the options with the homeowner. While different building departments will likely handle the permitting and approval process differently, it is most likely that the safety devices will need to be present for the final inspection of the finished pool. Having a list of the permitted devices to give to homeowners will help them prepare for the inspection, and to ensure that their pool is fully compliant.

My pool FENCE did not pass inspection. Now What?

We understand the frustration of having a fence installed and being told by your inspector that it needs to meet code. If you run into this issue, you will need to contact the reseller that installed your product to see what costs are involved in changing your installation. If you have a 4 foot fence installed and now need a 5 foot fence, there is no “extend” option to make it go from 4 foot to 5 foot. You will need a new, 5 foot fence installed. Costs to change/modify your existing fence are the responsibility of the pool owner. 

 

My pool COVER did not pass inspection. Now What?

We understand the frustration of having a cover installed and being told by your inspector that it needs to meet code. 

If you run into this issue, you will need to contact the reseller that installed your product. In some cases, you may need to change products entirely. Costs to change/modify your existing product are the responsibility of the pool owner.  Always check with your local inspector, agency or building department, prior to installation if you are going to need to meet code and want a safety cover. 

 

It is very important to understand that having an ASTM Compliant product installed no way guarantees that your installation will pass any inspection. 

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Color Variations

Colors on your screen or brochure may not match the actual color of your product.

Due to the many variations in monitors, phones, and browsers, color samples and product examples may appear different on different screens. Computers and mobile devices are not all calibrated equally and color reproduction on the Internet is not precise. The same is true for printed items such as brochures and other sales literature. 

In addition, the colors of our products photograph differently under different lighting conditions. For example, photos taken in full sunlight will vary from photos taken on a cloudy or overcast day. Similarly, shadows from nearby objects can affect the color and transparency of our products. If a precise color or specific shade is important, please inspect the actual color of your product prior to installation.

Colors will vary from batch to batch.

Many of our products’ materials are not available through typical stores and vendors and therefore must be custom manufactured specifically for our use. In order to control costs and provide you with the best value possible, our raw materials are produced in large batches and can often take several months to receive. The colors of our materials can, and often do, vary slightly from batch to batch. Although we make every effort to minimize color variations, we cannot be responsible for these differences when they occur. If a precise color or specific shade is important, please inspect the actual color of your product prior to installation.

Color names are subjective and may not be what you think the color should be.

For example, we use the name “putty” to describe some of our products. Your idea of the color “putty” may be different than someone else’s idea of “putty”. In addition, products may have the same color name but may not be the exact same color. For example, we have different shades of “black”. Please do not order using color names as your only guide. If a precise color or specific shade is important, please inspect the actual color of your product prior to installation.

Inspect the actual color of your product prior to installation.

If it is important that your product be an exact color or shade, it is highly recommended that you inspect the actual product prior to its installation and address any concerns with your local independent installer. Most independent installers do not offer refunds or accept returns due to color variations.