New home - Pool Safety

So I found this online...

An average of 600 children die from drowning in South Africa each year, with an overall average of 2 000 fatal drownings occurring including adults. This has contributed to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) updating the rules for private swimming pools.


The latest standard stipulates that it is not enough to have a fence surround a privately-owned pool, and that each pool must also have the extra precaution of being covered by a safety net or cover.

New pool safety standards


– A safety net or cover cannot be DIY-installed, but must rather be fitted by an “accredited responsible party”.

– A private swimming pool that can hold more than 30 centimeters of water must not only be surrounded by a childproof fence.


– A cover is disqualified if it allows rainwater to pool for more than five minutes.

– A cover is also disqualified if a child is able to unlock it – it is required to make use of special tools, locks or devices to unlock it.


– A larger swimming pool requires a cover or net that can carry a weight of at least 220 kilograms, as this is typically the weight of an adult and two children and “permits a rescue”.

– If a pool is less than 2.4 meters at its widest point, the weight requirement for the cover or net is 125 kilograms.

– A self-closing gate must be installed around the pool in conjunction with a net or cover on the pool itself.

– A renter or other non-owner of a pool must also ensure that any unsafe pool is completely drained.

– Those who are responsible for a pool must always make sure to keep a pole or leaf scooper near the pool. This can be used to assist in saving someone who may be drowning.

– Any and all fences or wires set up around pools must be at least 1.2 meters high and be sunk at least 50 centimeters into the ground.

– It is also recommended that a life guard be present when any pool parties are hosted.
 
I will soon be in the same situation, no real little ones around, don't really have friends with little ones, the ones there are have all been taught to swim. Is there a legal requirement to secure/protect/cover a pool?
yes there is , fencing ,gate , cover all covered in the regs .policed dont know, it falls under the building regulations .posted higher up , Gazetted 2011 ,
 
Clearly you are a first time pool owner :) Congrats!
The novelty will wear off quickly and you will realize soon that you only swam on the few extra hot days or when you have friends over.
Just get a cover and save yourself the maintenance.

First time pool owner & first time Daddy - Hence the paranoia :)
 
First time pool owner & first time Daddy - Hence the paranoia :)

In that case, first remove it from the equation, like this:


Then add a safer option to the equation, like this:

 
on a side note ensure you have fully approved home plans, we discovered our lapa, carport and one extension wasnt took 5 months and 32k to correct that

Wait a minute ... aren't there new laws and clauses that make those the problems of the seller - not of the buyer?
 
In that case, first remove it from the equation, like this:


Then add a safer option to the equation, like this:

Then I'd rather spend on getting it 100% secure.
Pool was one of the reasons we bought this house
 
Thanks
For now, going with the cover as it will stay on permanently throughout Winter.
When spring comes, will look at the fence.

26k is a good price when I compare it to the R25k quote I got for 20 meters of fencing with one gate, not painted.

Hmm I feel like my PVC fence was around 10k and is around 15m, with the gate.
 
Well firstly a fence is ugly and while it may stop a child 2 years and younger from getting in the pool, it will not stop 3+ year olds, they climb anything, except if you install a 6 foot fence.
Children figure out how the lock on the gate work easily. And if you just once forget to close that gate properly, its over.
The only thing going for a fence is that there is little hassle if you want to go swim.

Now a proper net/cover is the safest thing, but they become a hassle and people swim less because it is to much work to take of and put back. I think the nets are the safest. Things floating on the water is not safe, it has to be secured all the way around the pool.

It also depends on shape of pool. After a year or two the net was such a hassle(we like to swim a lot), that I build a steel frame. My pool is just straight rectangular. The frame was in two identical parts joint in the middle of pool with hinges. And then the net was tightly fitted to the frame.
So you could just flip half the frame open on top of the other in 10s and go for a quick splash in half the pool. Or take 20s and flip it twice and rest on wall.
Then swimming was great again and luckily my youngest could swim before she was 3 so from she was about 4 and could swim strong, and started doing front flips :D I removed everything.
 
What's the life of these pvc pool covers ? I am always scared that the pool cover will tear when someone falls and then since the pool is covered no one will notice or hear anything. Plus it wil be impossible to get out.
 
What's the life of these pvc pool covers ? I am always scared that the pool cover will tear when someone falls and then since the pool is covered no one will notice or hear anything. Plus it wil be impossible to get out.
Properly constructed ones are supposed to be able to carry the weight of two adults and a small child..

So if you do your homework and buy the right thing, no need to worry about it tearing..
 
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