Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS › Chapter 31 - Special Construction › Section 3109 - SWIMMING POOL ENCLOSURES AND SAFETY DEVICES › Subsection 3109.4 - Residential swimming pools

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Residential swimming pools shall comply with Sections
				  3109.4.1 through 3109.4.3.
Exception:
A swimming pool with a power safety
				  cover or a spa with a safety cover complying with ASTM F 1346.
3109.4.1
Barrier height and
				clearances.
The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches (1219 mm)
				above grade measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the
				swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of
				the barrier shall be 2 inches (51 mm) measured on the side of the barrier that
				faces away from the swimming pool. Where the top of the pool structure is above
				grade, the barrier is authorized to be at ground level or mounted on top of the
				pool structure, and the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool
				structure and the bottom of the barrier shall be 4 inches (102 mm).
3109.4.1.1
Openings.
Openings in
				the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter (102 mm)
				sphere.
3109.4.1.2
Solid
				barrier surfaces.
Solid barriers which do not have openings shall not
				contain indentations or protrusions except for normal construction tolerances
				and tooled masonry joints.
3109.4.1.3
Closely spaced horizontal
				members.
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
				swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between vertical members shall not
				exceed 13/4 inches (44 mm) in
				width. Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing
				within the cutouts shall not exceed
				13/4 inches (44 mm) in
				width.
3109.4.1.4
Widely
				spaced horizontal members.
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, spacing between vertical members shall
				not exceed 4 inches (102 mm). Where there are decorative cutouts within
				vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall not exceed
				13/4 inches (44 mm) in
				width.
3109.4.1.5
Chain link
				dimensions.
Maximum mesh size for chain link fences shall be a
				21/4 inch square (57 mm
				square) unless the fence is provided with slats fastened at the top or the
				bottom which reduce the openings to no more than
				13/4 inches (44
				mm).
3109.4.1.6
Diagonal
				members.
Where the barrier is composed of diagonal members, the maximum
				opening formed by the diagonal members shall be no more than
				13/4 inches (44
				mm).
3109.4.1.7
Gates.
Access doors or gates shall comply with the requirements of
				Sections 3109.4.1.1 through 3109.4.1.6 and shall be equipped to accommodate a
				locking device. Pedestrian access doors or gates shall open outward away from
				the pool and shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Doors or
				gates other than pedestrian access doors or gates shall have a self-latching
				device. Release mechanisms shall be in accordance with Sections 1008.1.9 and
				1109.12. Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located
				less than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the bottom of the door or gate, the release
				mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the door or gate at least 3
				inches (76 mm) below the top of the door or gate, and the door or gate and
				barrier shall have no opening greater than
				1/2 inch (12.7 mm) within 18
				inches (457 mm) of the release mechanism.
3109.4.1.8
Dwelling wall as a
				barrier.
Where a wall of a
dwelling
serves as part of
				the barrier, one of the following shall apply:
1. Doors with direct access to the pool
				through that wall shall be equipped with an alarm that produces an audible
				warning when the door and/or its screen, if present, are opened. The alarm
				shall be
listed
and labeled in accordance with UL 2017. In
				dwellings not required to be
Accessible
units
,
Type A units
or
Type B
				units
, the deactivation switch shall be located 54 inches (1372 mm) or
				more above the threshold of the door. In dwellings required to be
Accessible
units
,
Type A
				units
or
Type B units
, the deactivation switch(es)
				shall be located at 54 inches (1372 mm) maximum and 48 inches (1219 mm) minimum
				above the threshold of the door.
2.
				The pool shall be equipped with a power safety cover that complies with ASTM F
				1346.
3. Other means of protection,
				such as self-closing doors with self-latching devices, which are
approved
, shall be accepted so long as the degree of
				protection afforded is not less than the protection afforded by Section
				3109.4.1.8, Item 1 or 2.
3109.4.1.9
Pool structure as
				barrier.
Where an aboveground 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, then the ladder or steps either shall be capable
				of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access, or the ladder or steps
				shall be surrounded by a barrier which meets the requirements of Sections
				3109.4.1.1 through 3109.4.1.8. When the ladder or steps are secured, locked or
				removed, any opening created shall not allow the passage of a 4-inch-diameter
				(102 mm) sphere.