Safety Barrier Guidelines 

for Residential Pools

Preventing Child Drownings

U.S. Consumer Product 

Safety Commission
This document is in the public domain. Therefore it may be reproduced, in part 

or in whole, without permission by an individual or organization. However, if 

it is reproduced, the Commission would appreciate attribution and knowing 

how it is used.

For more information, write:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Communications

4330 East West Highway

Bethesda, MD 20814

www.cpsc.gov

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or 

death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under 

the agency’s jurisdiction.
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 1

Each year, thousands of American families suffer swimming pool tragedies. The majority of the incidents involve drownings and non-fatal 

drownings of young children. These pool and spa injuries and deaths 

involve young children, ages 1 to 3 years old, and happen in residential 

settings. These tragedies are preventable.

This U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) booklet offers 

guidelines for pool barriers that can help prevent most drowning 

incidents involving young children. This handbook is for owners, 

purchasers, and builders of residential pools, spas, and hot tubs.

The swimming pool barrier guidelines are not a CPSC standard; nor 

are they mandatory requirements. CPSC believes that the guidelines 

recommended in this booklet will help make pools safer, promote pool 

safety awareness, and save lives. Barriers are not the sole method to 

prevent drowning of young children in pools; and barriers can never 

replace adult supervision.

Some states and localities have incorporated CPSC guidelines for safety 

barriers into their building codes. Check with your local authorities to 

see what your area’s building code or other regulations require.

Many communities have enacted safety regulations requiring barriers for 

residential in-ground and above-ground swimming pools. In addition to 

following your community’s laws, parents who own pools should take precautions to reduce the possibility that their youngsters will access the family 

pool, or a neighbor’s pool or spa, without supervision. This booklet provides 

tips for creating and maintaining effective barriers to pools and spas.
2 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

Swimming Pool Barrier Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 

drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for 1- to 

4-year-old children. Each year, nearly 300 children under age 5 drown 

in swimming pools. Many of these young victims could be saved if 

homeowners fenced in their pools completely and installed gates with 

self-closing and self-latching devices.

Anyone who has cared for a toddler knows how fast young children can 

move. Toddlers are inquisitive and impulsive, and they lack a realistic 

sense of danger. These behaviors in children make swimming pools 

particularly hazardous for households with young children.

CPSC staff has reviewed a great deal of data on drownings and child 

behavior and studied information on pool and pool barrier construction. Staff has concluded that one of the best ways for pool owners to 

reduce child drownings in residential pools is to construct and maintain 

barriers that will help prevent young children from gaining access to 

pools and spas.

The CPSC guidelines suggest ways for pool and spa owners to keep 

children from entering the pool area unaccompanied by a supervising 

adult. The guidelines also consider the variety of barriers available, and 

the guidelines specify how each type of barrier might be susceptible to 

a child trying to get on the other side of the barrier and into the pool 

or spa.

The swimming pool barrier guidelines are presented with illustrated 

descriptions. The definition of a “pool” includes spas and hot tubs. 

Therefore, the CPSC swimming pool barrier guidelines apply to these 

structures, as well as to above-ground pools and, possibly, larger 

portable pools.
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 3

Pool and Spa Submersions: 

Estimated Non-Fatal Drowning 

Injuries and Reported 

Drownings*

CPSC publishes an annual report 

on drowning and non-fatal 

drowning incidents. Key findings 

from the 2017 report include:

n Nearly 300 children younger than 5 drown in swimming pools 

and spas each year, representing 77 percent of the 356 fatalities 

reported for children younger than 15.

n Children ages 1 to 3 years (12 months through 47 months 

represented 65 percent of the reported fatalities and 61 percent of 

reported injuries in pools and spas.

n More than 4,400 children younger than 5 suffered non-fatal 

drowning injuries and required emergency department 

treatment.

n The majority of fatal drowning incidents and non-fatal drowning 

injuries involving victims younger than 5 years old occur in pools 

owned by family, friends, or relatives.

n Residential locations dominated incidents involving victims 

younger than 5 years old. Seventy-four percent of the fatalities 

occurred at residential pools or spas.

n Portable pools accounted for 4 percent of the total fatalities, with 

an average of 13 deaths per year for children younger than 15.

*The report presents average annual estimates for emergency department-treated injuries for 

2014 through 2016, and average annual estimates for fatal drownings for 2012 through 2014, as 

reported to CPSC staff. The years for reported injury and fatality statistics differ due to a lag in 

fatality reporting.

This analysis was prepared by CPSC staff and has not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the 

Commission.

CPSC Hotline: 1-800-638-CPSC (2772) CPSC's Web Site: http://www.cpsc.gov

Pool or Spa Submersion: Estimated Nonfatal Drowning Injuries and 

Reported Drownings, 2017 Report

May 2017

Ted Yang

Directorate for Epidemiology

Division of Hazard Analysis

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East West Highway

Bethesda, MD 20814
4 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

Barriers

Barriers include a fence or wall, door alarms for the house, and a power 

safety cover over the pool. Barriers are not childproof, but barriers do 

provide layers of protection for a child when there is a lapse in adult 

supervision. Barriers give parents additional time to find a child before 

the unexpected can occur.

Use the following recommendations as a guide:

Locations

Barriers should be located to prohibit children from using permanent 

structures, equipment, or similar objects to climb the barriers.

Construction 

A barrier that completely surrounds the pool is better than a fence 

that encloses the pool on three sides with the house serving as the 

fourth side of the barrier. Fences should be a minimum of 4 feet high. 

However, fences 5 feet or higher are preferable.

If an outside wall of the home serves as one side of the barrier, install 

door alarms on all doors leading to the pool area. Make sure the doors 

have self-closing and self-latching devices or locks that are beyond the 

reach of children. This will keep children from opening the doors and 

gaining access to the pool.

Pool covers add another layer of protection. There are a wide variety 

of pool cover styles on the market. Make sure that the pool cover is well 

maintained, and keep the control device for the pool cover out of the 

reach of children.
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 5

How to Prevent a Child from Going OVER a Pool Barrier

A young child can climb over a pool barrier if the barrier is too low or if 

the barrier has handholds or footholds that children can use to climb. 

The top of a pool barrier should be at least 48 inches above grade, 

measured on the exterior side of the fence or barrier. Some states, 

counties, or municipalities require pool barriers to be 60 inches above 

grade. 

Eliminate handholds and 

footholds on barriers 

and minimize the size 

of openings when 

constructing a barrier.

Make sure that there are no 

indentations or protrusions on 

the barrier that may allow a 

child to climb over the barrier.

48"

4"

4"

Equal to or more than 45"

An effective pool barrier prevents a child from 

going OVER, UNDER, or THROUGH the barrier 

and keeps children from accessing the pool 

when supervising adults are not present.

Figure 1

Figure 2
6 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

For a Barrier with Horizontal and Vertical Members

If the distance between the top side of the horizontal members of 

the barrier or fence is less than 45 inches high, then the horizontal 

members should be located on the interior side of the fence. 

The spacing between vertical 

members and within decorative 

cutouts should not exceed 13⁄4 

inches. This size is based on the 

foot width of a young child and is 

intended to reduce the potential 

for a child to gain a foothold and 

attempt to climb the barrier.

If the distance between the tops 

of the horizontal members is more 

than 45 inches high, the horizontal 

members can be located on the 

exterior side of the fence. The 

spacing between vertical members 

should not exceed 4 inches. This size 

is based on the head breadth and 

chest depth of a young child and 

is intended to prevent a child from 

passing through or getting stuck in 

an opening. 

Figure 3

Figure 4

13⁄4" 13⁄4"

Less than 45"

13⁄4" 4"

45" or more 
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 7

For a Chain-Link Fence

The openings in the mesh of a chain-link fence should not exceed 

11⁄4 inches square unless slats, fastened at the top or bottom of 

the fence, are used to reduce the mesh openings to no more than 

13⁄4 inches.

For a Fence with Diagonal Members or Latticework

The maximum opening in the 

latticework should not exceed 

13⁄4 inches.

13⁄4"

11⁄4" 13⁄4"

Figure 5 Figure 6

Figure 7
8 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

For Above-Ground Pools 

Above-ground pools should have barriers. The pool structure can serve 

as a barrier if the walls of the pool are high enough, or if a barrier can be 

mounted onto the top of the pool structure. 

If the pool walls are not high enough, or there are other structures 

close to the pool, such as a ladder or a table or a chair, often children 

are able to access the pool. There are ways to prevent young children 

from climbing and gaining access to an above-ground pool. The steps 

or ladder leading to the pool can be designed to be secured, locked, or 

removed to prevent access; or the steps or ladder 

can be surrounded by a barrier, such as the 

barriers described in these guidelines.

Above-Ground Pool with 

Barrier on Top of Pool 

If an above-ground pool has a barrier 

on top of the pool, the maximum 

vertical clearance between the top of 

the pool and the bottom of the barrier 

should not exceed 4 inches.

4"

Figure 8a

Figure 8b

Figure 8c

Figure 9
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 9

How to Prevent a Child from Going UNDER a Pool Barrier

For any pool barrier, the maximum clearance at the bottom 

of the barrier should not exceed 

4 inches above the surface or 

ground, when the measurement is 

done on the outside of the barrier. 

If the bottom of the gate or fence 

rests on a non-solid surface, 

such as grass or gravel, industry 

recommends that the clearance 

should not exceed 2 inches. 

How to Prevent a Child from Going THROUGH a Pool Barrier 

To prevent a child from going through a 

pool barrier, restrict the size of openings 

in the barrier, and use self-closing and 

self-latching gates. 

To prevent a young child from 

going through a fence or other 

barrier, make sure all openings 

in the barrier are small enough 

to prevent a 4-inch diameter 

sphere from passing through any 

opening. This size is based on the 

head breadth and chest depth of a 

young child.

4"

2" 4"

Figure 10

Figure 11
10 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

Removable Mesh Fences

Mesh fences are made specifically for swimming pools or other 

small bodies of water. Although 

mesh fences are meant to be 

removable, the safest mesh 

fences for pools are locked into 

the pool deck so that the fence 

cannot be removed without 

extensive use of tools.

Like other pool fences, mesh fences should be a minimum of 48 

inches in height. The distance between vertical support poles and 

the attached mesh, along with other manufactured features, should 

be designed to keep a child from climbing the fence. The removable 

vertical support posts should extend a minimum of 3 inches below 

grade, and they should be spaced no farther apart than 40 inches. The 

bottom of the mesh barrier should not be more than 1 inch above the 

deck or installed surface.

For more information on Removable Mesh Fencing see ASTM standard F 2286 – 05.

Portable Pools

Portable pools are becoming more 

popular. Portable pools vary in size and 

height, from tiny blow-up pools to larger designs that can hold thousands of 

gallons of water. Portable pools present 

a real danger to young children.

Never leave children around a portable 

pool unsupervised. Portable pools 

should be fenced, covered, or emptied 

and stored away when not in use. Tell 

neighbors, friends, and caregivers that 

you have a portable pool and advise 

them of the potential dangers of a 

portable pool in your yard.
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 11

Gates

There are several kinds of gates that might be found on a residential 

property: pedestrian gates and vehicle or other types of gates. Gates 

can be used as a swimming pool barrier. All gates should be designed 

with a locking device.

Pedestrian Gates

These are gates people walk 

through. Swimming pool barriers 

should be equipped with one or 

more gates that restrict access to 

the pool.

Gates should open out from the 

pool and should be self-closing and 

self-latching. With this design, if the 

gate is not closed completely, a 

young child pushing on the gate 

in an effort to enter the pool area 

will actually be closing the gate, 

which may then safely latch.

Figure 12
12 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

When the release mechanism of the 

self-latching device on the gate is less 

than 54 inches from the bottom of the 

gate, the release mechanism for the 

gate should be at least 3 inches below 

the top of the gate on the interior side. 

Placing the release mechanism at this 

height prevents a young child from 

reaching over the top of a gate and 

releasing the latch. 

Additionally, the gate and barrier 

should have no opening greater than 

1⁄2 inch within 18 inches of the latch-release mechanism. This prevents a 

young child from reaching through the gate and releasing the latch.

All Other Gates (Vehicle Entrances)

Other gates should be equipped with self-latching devices. The 

self-latching devices should be installed as described for pedestrian 

gates.

3"

18"

1⁄2"

The weak link in the strongest and highest fence is a gate that 

fails to close and latch completely. For a gate to close completely 

every time, the gate must be in proper working order.

Figure 13
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 13

When One Side of the House Forms Part of the Pool Barrier 

In many homes, doors open directly from the house to the pool area or to 

a patio leading to the pool. In these cases, the side of the house that leads 

to the pool is an important part of the pool 

barrier. Passage through any door from the 

house to the pool should be controlled by 

security measures. 

The importance of controlling a young 

child’s movement from the house to the 

pool is demonstrated by the statistics 

obtained from the CPSC drowning reports. 

Incidents at residential locations dominate 

the accidents involving children younger 

than 5, accounting for 87 percent of 

fatalities and 54 percent of injuries (from 

the CPSC 2015 Pool or Spa Submersion 

Report, page 3). 

Door Alarms 

All doors that allow access to a swimming pool should be equipped with 

an audible alarm that sounds when the door and/or screen are opened. 

Alarms should meet the requirements of UL 2017, General-Purpose Signaling 

Devices and Systems, Section 77, and have the following features:

n The alarm sound should last for 30 seconds or more and start within 

7 seconds after the door is opened. 

n The alarm should be loud: at least 85 dB (decibels), when measured 

10 feet away from the alarm mechanism. 

n The alarm sound should be distinct from other sounds in the house, 

such as the telephone, doorbell, and smoke alarm. 

n The alarm should have an automatic reset feature to deactivate 

the alarm temporarily for up to 15 seconds, to allow adults to pass 

through house doors without setting off the alarm. The deactivation 

switch could be a touchpad (keypad), or a manual switch, and should 

be located at least 54 inches above the threshold and out of the 

reach of children. 

Self-closing doors with self-latching devices could be used along with door 

alarms to safeguard doors that give access to a swimming pool. 

54"

Figure 14
14 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

Power Safety Covers 

Power safety covers can be installed on pools to provide security 

barriers, especially when one side of the house serves as the fourth 

wall or side of a barrier. Power safety covers should conform to the 

specifications in the ASTM F 1346-91 standard, which specifies safety 

performance requirements for pool covers to protect young children 

from drowning.

Indoor Pools

When a pool is located 

completely inside a house, 

the walls that surround the 

pool should be equipped to 

serve as pool safety barriers. 

Guidelines recommended 

for using door alarms, pool 

alarms, and covers where the 

house wall serves as part of 

a safety barrier also apply for 

all the walls surrounding an 

indoor pool.

Pet or Doggy Doors

Never have a pet or doggy door if the door leads directly to a pool 

or other backyard water. An isolation barrier or fence is the best 

defense when pet doors are installed. Remember, pet door openings, 

often overlooked by adults, provide curious children with access to 

backyard adventures. Locking these doors is not sufficient and could 

lead to accidents and tragedies. Children regularly drown in backyard 

pools that they were able to access through pet doors. Some municipalities have building codes that prohibit doggy doors in homes with 

pools, unless there is an isolation fence around the pool.

Figure 15
Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools 15

Barriers for Residential Swimming 

Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs

The CPSC pool barrier guidelines are designed to make it easier for pool owners, 

purchasers, builders, technicians, and others to understand and apply the guidelines to 

their particular properties or situations. Reading the guidelines, in conjunction with the 

diagrams or figures in this booklet, may be helpful. For more information, consult your 

local building department or code authority.

Outdoor Swimming Pools

All outdoor swimming pools, including in-ground, above-ground, or on-ground pools, 

hot tubs, or spas, should have a barrier that complies with the following:

1. The top of the barrier should be at least 48 inches above the surface measured on 

the interior side of the barrier (figure 1).

2. The maximum vertical clearance between the surface and the bottom of the 

barrier should be 4 inches, measured on the exterior side of the barrier. In the case 

of a non-solid surface, such as grass or pebbles, the distance should be reduced to 

2 inches, and 1 inch for removable mesh fences (figures 1 and 10). 

3. Where the top of the pool structure is above grade or surface, such as an 

above-ground pool, the barrier may be at ground level, like the pool structure, 

or mounted on top of the pool structure. Where the barrier is mounted on top of 

the pool structure, the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool 

structure and the bottom of the barrier should be 4 inches (figure 9).

4. Openings in the barrier should not allow passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere 

(figure 11).

5. Solid barriers, which do not have openings, such as masonry or stone walls, 

should not contain indentations or protrusions that may allow a child to climb over 

the barrier (figure 2). 

6. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members, and the 

distance between the bottom and top horizontal members is less than 45 inches, 

the horizontal members should be located on the interior side of the fence 

(figure 3). 

7. Spacing between vertical members should not exceed 13⁄4 inches in width. 

Where there are decorative cutouts, spacing within the cutouts should not exceed 

13⁄4 inches in width (figure 4).

8. Maximum mesh size for chain link fences should not exceed 11⁄4 inch square, 

unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the bottom that 

reduce the openings to no more than 13⁄4 inches (figures 5 and 6).

9. Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, such as a lattice fence, the 

maximum opening formed by the diagonal members should be no more than 

13⁄4 inches (figure 7).

10. Access gates to the pool should be equipped with a locking device. Pedestrian 

access gates should open outward, away from the pool, and should be self-closing 

and have a self-latching device (figure 12). Gates other than pedestrian access 
16 Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools

gates should have a self-latching device. Where the release mechanism of the 

self-latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, 

(a) the release mechanism should be located on the interior side of the gate, at 

least 3 inches below the top of the gate; and 

(b) the gate and barrier should have no opening greater than 1⁄2 inch within 

18 inches of the release mechanism (figure 13). 

11. Where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, one of the following 

should apply: 

(a) All doors of a home that provide direct access to the pool should be 

equipped with an alarm that produces an audible warning when the door 

and its screen, if present, are opened. Alarms should meet the requirements 

of UL 2017, General-Purpose Signaling Devices and Systems, Section 77. For more 

details on alarms, see page 13. 

(b) The pool should be equipped with a power safety cover that complies with 

ASTM F1346-91, listed below. 

(c) Other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching 

devices, are acceptable, as long as the degree of protection afforded is not 

less than the protection afforded by (a) or (b), described above.

12. Where an above-ground pool structure is used as a barrier, or where the barrier 

is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or 

steps (figure 8a), then 

(a) the ladder to the pool or steps should be capable of being secured, locked, or 

removed to prevent access (figure 8b); or 

(b) the ladder or steps should be surrounded by a barrier (figure 8c). When the 

ladder or steps are secured, locked, or removed, any opening created should 

not allow the passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere.

For more information on

Fencing:

n ASTM F 1908-08 Standard Guide for Fences for Residential Outdoor Swimming 

Pools, Hot Tubs, and Spas: http://www.astm.org/Standards/F1908.htm 

n ASTM F 2286-05 Standard Design and Performance Specifications for Removable 

Mesh Fencing for Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, and Spas: http://www.astm.org/

Standards/F2286.htm

Covers: 

n ASTM F 1346-91 Standard Performance Specification for Safety Covers and 

Labeling Requirements for All Covers for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs: 

http://www.astm.org/Standards/F1346.htm

Note: ASTM Standards are available for a fee. You may want to contact a pool contractor.

Standards: 

n ASTM Standards: Contact ASTM online at: http://www.astm.org/CONTACT/

index.html.

n UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Relevant Pool and Spa Standards

http://www.ul.com. Look for Life Safety and Security Product
The CPSC Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign provides advice and tips 

on drowning and entrapment prevention. Installing barriers is just one of the Pool 

Safely Simple Steps for keeping children safe around all pools and spas. Here are 

others:

Rule # 1: Never leave a child unattended around 

a pool, spa, bath tub, or other body of water.

At pools, spas, and other recreational waters:

n Teach children basic water safety skills.

n Learn how to swim and make sure your children know how to swim.

n Avoid entrapment accidents by keeping children away from pool drains, pipes, 

and other openings.

n Have a phone nearby at all times when visiting a pool or spa.

n Know the address of your location so that you can direct emergency personnel 

to the scene, if needed.

n If a child is missing, look for the child in the pool or spa first, including neighbors’ pools or spas.

n Share safety instructions with family, friends, babysitters, and neighbors.

If you have a pool:

n Install a 4-foot non-climbable fence around the perimeter of the pool and spa, 

including portable pools.

n Use self-closing and self-latching gates. Ask neighbors to do the same if they 

have pools or spas.

n If the house serves as the fourth side of a fence around a pool, install and use a 

door or pool alarm and/or a pool or spa cover. 

n Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order.

n Ensure that any pool or spa that you use has anti-entrapment safety drain 

covers. Ask your pool service representative if you do not know.*

n Have life-saving equipment—such as life rings, floats, or a reaching pole—

available and easily accessible. 

*The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, a federal law, requires all public pools and spas 

to have anti-entrapment drain covers and other devices, where needed. Residential pools are not 

required to install these, but they are highly recommended. 

Visit www.PoolSafely.gov for more information. See the most recent CPSC submersion reports: 

2012-2016 Reported Circulation/Suction Entrapment Incidents Associated with Pools, Spas, and 

Whirlpool Bathtubs, 2017 Report and Pool or Spa Submersion: Estimated Nonfatal Drowning Injuries 

and Reported Drownings, 2017 Report.
CPSC 362 0617

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East West Highway

Bethesda, MD 20814

Twitter: @poolsafely

www.PoolSafely.gov

Email: poolsafely@cpsc.gov