It’s a mighty code out there!
1.06.10
To: Our customers, the Building Material Professionals, who make this industry work. And all the rest who enjoy reading 'The Southern Blog':
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It is minus 15 degrees and colder in some parts of the country. We know what is on people’s minds: Pool codes!
Have you ever been on a job and a situation arose with your local building code inspector?
Southern recently had an interesting issue come up. We learned a lot and we thought we would share with you.
A customer installed a unique fence recently. Southern helped the customer design this fence several years ago. The customer regularly bought the fence for inventory, then pulled the fence out of inventory to complete various jobs as they came up.
In this case, the customer installed the custom fence around a private pool on the Outer Banks.
The fence failed inspection. Why? Since the time we designed this fence, the pool code in North Carolina has gone through transitions. Based on these changes, the Building Code inspector deemed the top and bottom rails were too close together to pass. The rails were 44-3/4” apart, from the top of the bottom rail to the top of the top rail; He wanted the rails at least 45” apart. This fence style never failed an inspection before.
No problem.
Southern jumped into action. We proposed five separate solutions, all acceptable to the inspector. There was one solution the homeowner especially liked, since it added real beauty and value to the installation.
Within short order, we supplied the chosen modification, the customer’s installation passed inspection and the contractor was on and off the job.
In addition, Southern slightly modified our CAD designs so this issue will never occur in future installations. The distance from the top of the top rail to the top of the bottom rail now measures 45-1/4”. We know the Building Code officials are happy with the results. Mind you, this fence would have been perfectly acceptable if it had been installed anywhere other than around a private pool. And in many communities we talked to around the state, the building code inspector would not have given this pool fence application a second look. But, the rationale around this rule is to address where a small child might place his/her hands and feet and to keep that child safe. And in Currituck County, the inspector held firm, which is what we want him to do.
Codes change. Southern is here to help you find solutions when these changes happen. Let us help you get on and off the job quickly.
Below is some additional detail about North Carolina swimming pool codes. Do you know the situation in your community?
North Carolina General Statute G.S. 130A-280 deals with public swimming pools, the kind you find in municipal, school, hotel, motel, apartment, boarding house, athletic club, or other membership facility pools and spas. Effective 4/1/2010, the statute will be updated for fence enclosures around public swimming pools. New height and dimension requirements come into play. http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/images/pti/amendments10.pdf
Specifically, for public swimming pools, the top of the top rail on the fence must be at least 48” above grade. The bottom of the bottom rail must be no more than 2” above grade. Pickets may be spaced a maximum 4” apart and there must be 45” spacing between the top and bottom rails(distance measured between the top of each rail). If the spacing between pickets is no more than 1-3/4”, the top and bottom rail spacing can be as close as 30”, (usually means a mid-rail is involved) providing the top of the top rail is at least 48” above grade.
Southern’s pool style fences meet this new code. Go to Southern’s online catalog http://stocknet.svmllc.com/entrynet/start.asp and use the quick find to locate CAD drawings for Z10 (3-3/4” spacing) and Z12 (1-3/4” spacing) fences.
But, what if you are building a fence around a private pool? A private pool serves a single family dwelling and is used only by the residents of the dwelling and their guests. Many of the changes now being adopted for public swimming pools are already in effect for private pools. See http://www.scribd.com/doc/4237135/PoolCodeBrochure2008 for an excellent description of the codes, written by the Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement personnel in Charlotte, NC.
We spoke with Building Code Officials around the state. Some of the localities were aware of the private pool requirements. Many were not. When we Google pool requirements, we see many websites referring to older standards. So, many people may not be aware of the requirements for private pools that went into effect earlier in certain communities like Currituck County and the upcoming changes for public pools in North Carolina that will go into effect in 2010.
We design Southern systems to help you meet codes. As codes change, Southern will be there. And if you have a unique situation, let us know. Put the knowledge and experience of the Southern team to work for you.
We thought you might like to know.
Southern Vinyl. Setting the Standards.
Questions? Comments? e-mail Southern at svm@svmllc.com
