While having a self-closing, self-latching pool fence installed may make sense to many people, some may be wondering whether it is really necessary to go the additional step to have a lock installed on your pool fence gate. The answer to this question is yes. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends for pool owners to install a self-closing, self-latching, key lockable gate in any pool fence system. Even if you feel that a self-latching gate is enough to keep your children out, the added step of adding a lock will give you the security that your pool is completely inaccessible from authorized use by unsupervised children when it is not in use.

Accidental drowning is a leading cause of death for children under the age of five. Additionally, the majority of cases of an at-home pool drownings or near-drownings, occurred when parents were around the house or the pool area. The unfortunate reality is that it only takes mere seconds of distraction for a child to get into the pool area. Not having adequate safety measures in place can lead to catastrophic events for a family. And while a closed pool fence may keep toddlers out of the pool area, there is a risk of older children figuring out a way to open the gate. A locked pool gate keeps even the craftiest of children out of harm’s way.

If you already have a pool fence installed now is the time to install a lock on your gate. It is also a good time to check your fence and ensure it isn’t in need of any repairs and verify that the gate latches properly.

If you need to install new pool fencing, contact us today at (516) 766-5336. Warm weather is upon us in New York, which means now is the time to ensure your pool is a safe as can be.

Download our FREE Swimming Pool Safety Guide here.

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Water safety myths give parents a false sense of security, thus putting children at risk when in or around bodies of water. Here are 5 misconceptions about child swim safety and relevant facts every parent should know.

Misconception 1: If a child is drowning, he/she can easily be heard.

Fact: In real life, drowning is silent. There is little screaming and splashing, making it almost impossible to notice.

Misconception 2: A child can be left alone in or around a swimming pool or body of water.

Fact: In reality, once a child starts to struggle, he/she can drown in a matter of few seconds.

Misconception 3: It is fine to leave a child swimming in a pool since a lifeguard is actively supervising.

Fact: It is the parents’ responsibility to supervise their children while in the water. The primary responsibility of a Lifeguard is to ensure pool rules are being followed and to provide quick emergency response and rescue.

Misconception 4: A child had swimming lessons, and so there’s a lesser chance of drowning.

Fact: Swimming is a good skill to learn, however, the level of proficiency is different for every child, and so it is not an assurance that a child would be safe to swim alone. In fact, 47% of those who drowned in swimming pools knew how to swim.

Misconception 5: Once a child knows how to swim, he/she doesn’t need a life vest.

Fact: Water conditions change. When the water becomes cold and swift, the drowning risk increases. Wearing a life jacket improves the chance of survival.

Child drowning in swimming pools can be reduced to a great extent if parents know and understand the truth about child pool safety. Below are basic pool safety precautionary measures homeowners can apply to keep little ones safe from drowning.

• Installation of pool fence or barriers.
• Installation of pool safety cover and alarms.
• Do not leave your children unsupervised when in or around the pool.
• Always have safety and flotation devices around your pool, so you are prepared to help your child.

To learn more about child water safety, visit http://bit.ly/2aNxEny.

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A big float drifted in front of them and they couldn’t be seen. So now they were both under the water, silent, and no screams for help and there were adults, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all around them, some within arm’s reach. They were drowning and no one knew. I scanned the pool and couldn’t find my daughter Alexa. So frantically, I searched around the pool, looking for her in the sea of waves, laughs, and games. I got to the other side of the big float and then I saw Alexa and Douglas, under the water, drowning right in front of me and their entire family.

She had her floaters on, but she and the floaters were completely submerged under the water. I jumped in without thought and grabbed Alexa and Douglas. They were fine, it turned out I was just in the nick of time, and it was within seconds of this happening I pulled them out of the water and put their little feet on solid ground.

The most astonishing thing to me was because they were safe and I got them, it was OK. Everyone immediately went back to having fun. For me it was life changing, right then I knew that my eagle eye, my fatherly instinct of protecting my daughter was not enough. I turned my attention for a few moments, and the worst nightmare any parent could go through could’ve happened to me and my family. SUPERVISION CAN AND DOES FAIL! Drowning is a silent death with no cry for help. Thank God it didn’t happen to me.

Now I have my rules and it’s all about safety.

When planning a pool party for our children, we tend to put more focus on the fun and games of the party. Any successful event is an event without accident or injury. Pool safety should be our first priority when owning a pool or when planning a swimming pool themed event for our children. Our guests will feel more at ease and more comfortable when we have instituted layers of protection. We need to come as close as possible to a fail-safe system of preventing drowning and near drowning incidents.

THERE IS NO COMPROMISE WHEN IT COMES TO POOL SAFETY. WE ARE DEALING WITH A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION.

Have a set of Pool Rules.

We all have tendencies to give a little leeway on rules with our children. But with a pool, our rules must be definite and our children must abide by them.

Supervision is our first and most important layer in our rules. When having a party share the responsibility with other parents and adults attending. Get a whistle and a timer, set the timer for 20-30 minute intervals and put the whistle in the hand of the adult in charge of supervising for that time period. What the whistle does more than anything else, is it becomes a reminder for the entire time period that you are the Life Guard, it’s your job, you cannot be focused on anything else whatsoever at all. It also gives everyone a chance to have fun knowing that there is someone doing nothing else other than supervising the activities in and around the pool. Your guests must understand that for that time period, the person supervising cannot be distracted.

When having a pool party, sometimes the pool can get a bit crowded. You may have older kids jumping in the pool and creating waves. If there are younger ones in floats or swimmies these waves could cause them to take on the water. Just like a blow-up bouncer for a party, we never let older kids and toddlers in the bouncy at the same time. Why? Because we don’t want our little kids to get hurt. It is the same idea when it comes to a pool but 1 million times worse. We need to keep horseplay to a minimum and to separate the pool time for older kids and toddlers.

Don’t allow for any circumstance an adult to take a child into the pool without a life vest. This gives the toddler a false sense of security. It says that it’s ok to go in without a life vest. Maybe their older brother or sister isn’t wearing one because they are a strong swimmer, they’re fine and they’re having fun. The toddler figures their having fun it must OK. We tend to get more involved in the fun rather than focus on the apparent danger.

If you owned a boat and got stopped by the Coast Guard, and they did a check of your boat. They would first make sure that you have enough life vests to accommodate all your guests on that boat. When you have a pool party, wouldn’t be wise to have life vests for at least your young guests on hand? Swimming pools are a leading cause of child drownings and yet we never think about what we could do to make our pools safer. You would never leave a loaded gun on a coffee table in your house, especially with children around. Then why would we have an unprotected swimming pool around our kids? The outcome of both is the same and there really is no difference. It’s just a matter of time until that gun goes off.

Safety is all about planning and getting as close as possible to that fail safe system. Have as many layers of protection as possible when you own a pool. Have a definitive set of pool rules, where there is no leeway only your way. Be a dictator when it comes to those rules. Lives depend on it.

For more information visit: http://www.poolfenceny.com/swimming-pool-safety/.

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Do-It-Yourself Pool Fences. Are They The Best Option?

Your first option would be installing them yourself and buying a pool fence DIY online. Depending on your needs, this may or may not be the best plan. Consulting a local professional is advised. However if you do look online, you will find many options available on Amazon, for example. The cost for a Pool Fence DIY ranges from $9.00 per foot to $12.00 per foot, plus drill rental, shipping, and accessories.

In my opinion, all the do-it-yourself pool fences are the same quality and are manufactured overseas. So paying more doesn’t mean you’re getting the best quality. However, all these fences are made and sold with the assumption that the fence is being installed into a concrete deck. The sleeves are only 3″ to 4″ long and do not work in other deck surfaces such as Pavers, Bricks, dirt or wood. In these surfaces, the sleeve just isn’t long enough. A paver deck sits on a bed of sand that’s either on a crushed rock surface or a dry mix of cement surface. In either case, the brick or paver is typically about 3″ long. So what that means is if you used the sleeves that the fence came with? It would only take a push or a wind gust to knock it down.

A pool fence only works if the foundation is strong. DIY fences also have no warranty to speak of and are considered a lower grade fence with low break strengths.

By the time you’re done with purchasing the DIY fence – the shipping, the accessories, the drill rental fee, the cost of the drill bits and your time installing the DIY fence will only save you between $100-$300 dollars. Considering this, isn’t it worth it to hire a professional who carries a warranty, has a better fence and can install properly into any surface you may have? Pool fences installed by professionals add up to the overall beauty of your pool.

Safety is the most important reason to buy a pool fence, however, you shouldn’t sacrifice aesthetics at all. Cheaper pool fences with low break strengths, bend easy and can make a pool look awful if the angles drilled aren’t drilled properly. Pool fences work on Bi-Lateral tension, meaning they rely on its own tension for its support. When making turns, you need to consider how hard the fence is pulling at that turning point and adjust your drilling angle accordingly.

Professional Installation

The next choice for a pool fence is to hire a professional. Now this can be very confusing. Every contractor says they carry the best product and they are the best installer in the whole wide world. Who do you believe?

You have to compare the prices. In New York, pool fences range from $16.00 per foot to $24.00 per foot installed. Why is there such a huge difference in price? What makes one better than the other? And if you buy the most expensive pool fence are you really purchasing the best? How is the contractor installing the fence? Is he using the right sleeves, latches, gates, mesh, etc.? After all we are buying this fence to protect our kids. It has to work and it has to last.

Types of Swimming Pool Poles

It is important to consider the poles that are used in the fence. There are many choices – hollow poles, X poles, Y poles, Fiberglass poles, Peg poles, I-beam poles, reinforced poles, etc. Every salesperson, I guarantee you, will all say that they have the strongest pole in the industry. It’s up to you to figure out who really does. After all, that salesperson is probably working on an 8-10% commission.

A typical pool fence in New York uses bout 105 linear feet of fence and a gate. The average price based on this would around $20.00 per foot and $450.00 for the gate, so total price would be $2,550.00. That means a salesperson would get a commission of around $230.00 for that sale. I think they’re going to tell you anything you want to hear.

Aluminum Poles

Basically, there are 2 choices for poles, both with variations on each. First, there are Aluminum poles with different extrusions (Peg pole, X-pole, Y pole, I-beam pole, Solid pole). It’s real easy to figure out which one works best. It’s pure logic, all aluminum is sold by weight. Aluminum is traded on the stock exchange by weight. Therefore, wouldn’t be logical to assume that the fence which has the most weight will be the strongest? If you took a twig and tried to snap it, wouldn’t it be fairly easy? But if you tried to snap a branch it would be harder.

The Pool Fence pole is the backbone of the mesh fence itself and must be strong. So clearly just by picking up a section of each salesperson’s samples, it would be clear which one is the strongest.

Fiberglass Poles

The second is Fiberglass poles, with different variations. One is the honeycomb fiberglass pole. And that’s just a thin layer of fiberglass surrounding a plastic honeycomb reinforcement. This pole to my knowledge is only carried by 2-3 manufacturers. It has the lowest break strength of all pool fence poles. And fiberglass poles break down over time, the screw holes that hold the mesh onto the pole cause hairline fractures that travel down the pole over time, due to the natural tension of the fence, the wind, children hitting, etc. So these poles actually split and fall apart over time.

Another fiberglass pole choice is thick walled hollow fiberglass pole reinforced with a 3″ solid fiberglass rod glued into it. It has the second highest break strength in the industry. However, much like its predecessor, it deteriorates overtime and cracks and splits.

Here is a link to a pool fence pole break strength comparison done by Life Saver Pool Fence. They had it tested by unbiased engineers and it really speaks for itself: http://www.poolfenceny.com/galleries/video-gallery/

Types of Pool Fence Latches

The next consideration in purchasing a pool fence is really the most obvious – one that keeps your child out of the fence. It is the latch which connects each section to the next section on an average pool of 105 linear feet with a gate. There is usually 9-10 latches used. The latch is what keeps a child out.

There are basically 3 types of latches that are most commonly used in the pool fence industry. First, there is the Hook and eye latch. These latches have been used to connect sections since 1965 when the first pool fence was introduced. I find it amazing that 90% of pool fence manufacturers still use this latch. Some sell it with a suitcase lock to lock the sections, however, they charge extra for that. And shouldn’t your pool fence be safe without using a lock. After all, what if you lose that little key? I have luggage that came with those little keys, but I don’t know where those keys are now. And how much is a new key? How long will it take to get one? Will the lock rust in weather conditions?

The second latch is basically a Toggle Bolt much like the ones you use in drywall in your house. The way this works is when you squeeze the toggle wings, you have to pass it through an enclosed eyelet. This latch was made to be safer than the hook and eye. And it does work. However, it gives the pool fence a very industrial look and isn’t aesthetically pleasing.

The third latch is called a Snap Latch. This latch doesn’t require a lock and can be opened by left or right handed adults and looks great. Here is a link to pool fence latches I made:

Mesh Pool Fences

Installing a mesh pool fence is a popular option if you are looking for a safety barrier that is cost-effective, versatile, durable, and stylish. They are fully removable and convenient, recommended for residential properties. However, we need to decide on which mesh is the best and the most see through. There are really only 2 choices used in the pool fence industry. First there is the 6-8 mil Lino weave mesh. Basically, its wider woven mesh and the claim is that it’s the most transparent and the strongest. The next mesh is the 12-12 mil Textilene mesh – a tighter woven mesh with a claim that it’s more see-through than any other. Textilene mesh is available in different colors. When choosing which color, bear in mind that some colors may appear to be more transparent than others. Choose a color that will provide a better view of the other side of the mesh. The truth is they are both good and see-through. Let’s face it when you look through the window in your home you’re looking through a 20-20 mil mesh and you never notice the screen. The difference between these 2 meshes is simple. The Wider woven mesh will wrinkle and stretch easier. If you have patio chairs and the seat is made of mesh, you’ll notice it’s a tightly woven mesh. This is done purposely so that when you sit down it will not sag. The same thing happens with pool fence mesh. And the more sags it has, the more noticeable it is.

Selecting The Best Pool Gates

The gate that comes with the fence is also very important. This is the part of the fence that is most frequented. It has to be strong and the locking mechanism needs to be mounted high out of a child’s reach. If it’s not then it is useless. Weaker gates are generally made of thinner aluminum frames and only rely on one upright to create tension. These types of gates are easy to spot because the locking mechanism is located in the middle of the gate where a child can reach it. A double truss gate is generally made of a thicker aluminum stock and the double uprights on each side double the strength, and the locking mechanism can be located at least 6″ higher than the fence, where a child won’t be able to reach it. The pricing of pool gates ranges from $325.00 to $500.00 and in most cases you actually get what you pay for.

Additional Layers of Pool Protection

When planning to install a swimming pool or pool barriers, it is important that you consult your local municipality for codes and regulations as well as zoning requirements. Aside from installing the best pool fences, here are other things you can do which will add layers of pool protection:

– Install a rigid and powered safety cover.
– Install swimming pool alarms that produce an audible warning and capable of being heard throughout the house.
– Keep rescue equipment and inflatable flotations devices handy, like life savers and life vests.
– Provide active adult supervision, especially if there are smaller kids.
– Teach kids how to swim.

I hope this helps in your decision-making process. For more information, get in touch with us at (516) 766-5336.

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On October 29th 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept across New York with winds of at least 75 miles per hour. This hurricane left a path of destruction to many people. After the storm, there were many fences that were swept away and damaged. When we were out to fix damaged fences that customers had, we found out that the fences were made with poles that have an average break strength and pressure of between 40-60 lbs. These poles had been broken and were rendered useless. However, those customers who chose the Life Saver Pool Fence Heavy Gauge model, with a break strength that exceeds 100 lbs. of pressure, did not break.

A mesh pool fence works on bi-lateral tension, meaning it creates its own tension from its opposing sides. Therefore, the fence is already by itself under constant duress. So the question is, can your child break a pole that has a break strength of between 40-60 lbs.? The answer is yes they can, and that’s why most pool fence companies sell and charge for replacement poles.

Fiberglass poles sound strong and there are claims that they are unbreakable. The truth is every pole is breakable, but at what point do they break? If you have a pool fence and a pole breaks, there is a very good chance a child could lift the mesh and crawl under because there is a 6′ span between poles, not a 3′ span. A fiberglass pole will split and deteriorate over time causing the pole to lose its strength over a course of a few years.

Which pole you pick is very important to both the safety and the look of your pool fence. Weaker poles and fiberglass poles both bend very easily. A bent pole at corner may not be unsafe, but making an investment in a pool fence that doesn’t look good also affects how your backyard will look. A stronger pool fence pole will not only keep your children safer but it will also keep your fence looking great for as long as you need it.

You may have a few children of different ages, and as they get older they get bigger and stronger. A fence that worked well for you when you just had 1 child may not work well when there are 2 or 4 of them. They grow up, they give the fence more abuse. Your fence should be able to handle it. You may end up with a 10 year old, a 6 year old, and now a 2 year old, your fence will get plenty of abuse. If a pole breaks, who’s going to pay for it, you or the person who told you had a Lifetime Warranty? Always know what you’re getting not just today, but 8 or 12 or even 20 years later.

Watch our video to learn Life Saver pool fence poles’ strength:

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Children see their backyard swimming pool as a place where family fun happens. To them it’s a place where the family gathers in the summer and it’s a safe fun place where nothing bad can happen. They have no fear because all they see is fun. As parents this is very concerning and we need to have a plan to make sure our kids are safe.

In this coming New Year we will more than likely be spending more and more time in our own backyards, especially with what’s happening outside of our homes. But in our homes we have the say, we are the ruler of that kingdom. It is our job to make sure that the environment that we created is Safe Secure and Comfortable for all of our children.

Pool Safety comes in layers meaning. If one layer fails there must be other back up layers in place. It should be our New Years resolution to have a failsafe system in place with multiple back up layers of protection. Having a swimming pool in our backyards comes with great responsibility. Their lives truly depend upon our decisions, so they should be planned and well thought through.

Direct parental supervision is always the 1st layer of protection and we need to have rules in place so we don’t ever turn our focus from watching our children. Research has shown that 69% of all Drowning incidents happen when 1 or both parents were responsible supervising their child. So this tells us that we need other layers in place.

The second layer of protection is high locks on all home doors and gates leading into the backyard. If you have older children in your home who can reach these locks you may want hide the key so if they want to go out than they need to ask you.

A third Layer of Safety is Alarms on doors and gates leading into the backyard. Most homes have an alarm system in them and all have the chime mode feature, which will alert you if a door or window has been open. There are also several companies that make door alarms that also alert you when a door is open. Some may see these alarms as very annoying and opt out from using them, however when they sound they are doing what there supposed to, alerting you of a breach in your security. Get used to it – It Can Save A Life!

Another Layer is a Pool fence that blocks all access points to the swimming pool. It should have a gate that is self – closing and self – latching. The gate latch should be key lockable and mounted higher than the fence. The pool fence should be 4’ tall but always check your local codes for height regulations first. Your Pool safety fence should not have any staging platforms such as a table or a chair near it. It should also be see through, having a fence that blocks you from seeing the pool is not a good idea. You always want to be able to see the pool. Some people think that a pool fence will take away from the looks of your pool. Or say that they don’t want the holes in their deck and see it only as a eye soar. An unprotected pool is a huge threat to a child! Leaving a loaded gun on a coffee table in the living room is something none of us would ever do. But why are there so many unprotected Swimming pools then. The truth is there is no difference of that loaded gun and that unprotected pool they both have the same outcome. A pool fence is one of the most important layers in our failsafe plan.

A pool alarm that is in the swimming pool will sound if there is a disturbance to the water. They sound at the pool and in your home, there purposely set up to make you go to the pool to deactivate it from alarm mode so you must inspect the pool. Some believe this is annoying, again the pool alarm is doing it’s job when it sounds, even if it a false alarm from high winds it’s still doing its job. A pool alarm is a huge back up to a pool fence and should always be considered.

Swimming survival lessons is also very important for children and they should go from the time they can crawl. There are many programs available and should always be considered.

A Failsafe plan is a plan with multiple back up layers. Therefore for a drowning to occur – no ones watching the child – the door was left open – the door alarm was removed – The pool fence was taken down – the pool alarm was removed – the child never had swimming lessons. When you think pool safety you need to think hard core and you need multiple back ups. A safer happier family at pool time only happens when we have back up layers of safety.

If you live in the New York Area, remember that it is never too early to start planning for Spring Pool Safety! Share this with a friend if you have found it to be helpful.

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