Responsible Pool Ownership
Selecting the right hardware for your pool fence increases security while offering peace of mind
While owning a pool can bring countless hours of relaxation and fun, it also comes with a great degree of responsibility. With most accidents occurring when children or pets gain unsupervised access to pools, it is imperative to control entry into a pool area. This can be done by installing a code-compliant fence with a gate that uses a child-resistant, locking safety latch.
Barrette Outdoor Living’s self-closing Butterfly Hinges meet pool safety codes and feature self-closing functionality with tension adjustments.
Barrette Outdoor Living’s self-closing Heavy-Duty Wrap Hinges meet pool safety codes and feature three-way adjustability, allowing for customization of resistance and speed of gate closure.
SELECTING THE RIGHT SAFETY LATCH FOR POOL GATES Once the necessary due diligence is handled to ensure the pool fence and gate are code compliant, selecting a self-closing, locking pool safety latch should be the next priority. “It is important for homeowners to carefully look at the placement of their pool area and consider every point of access,” says Jason Duffy, product manager at Barrette Outdoor Living. “Wherever there is an opportunity for a small child or pet to enter the area, whether through a fence gate or a back door that leads to a patio around the pool, a locking safety latch should be installed and positioned high enough that a child is unable to reach it.” Barrette Outdoor Living’s patented Locking Pool Safety Latch is self-closing, key-lockable and features a strong magnet. Set within the latch mechanism to protect it from the elements, the internal magnet provides long-lasting, dependable performance. The latch also has surpassed more than one million cycle tests to further ensure reliable openings and closings. Available in two sizes – standard (21 3/8” H) and compact (15 3/8” H) – Barrette Outdoor Living’s Locking Pool Safety Latch can be used with vinyl, aluminum, steel, wood, and chain link fencing. Made of a durable, polypropylene-based polymer with rust-resistant stainlesssteel components, Barrette Outdoor Living’s Locking Pool Safety Latch is designed for strength. The latch also undergoes rigorous weather testing to ensure reliability, even in the most extreme conditions.
Barrette Outdoor Living’s Locking Pool Safety Latch — available in standard and compact sizes — have surpassed a one million cycle test.
ADDITIONAL POOL GATE SAFETY TIPS Proper installation of pool latches calls for the opening mechanism of the latch to be placed at least 54” above the ground. This keeps the top of the latch well out of a child’s reach. Your pool gate must also be installed to open out, away from the pool area. For more information, check with code compliancy details specific to local areas. In addition to a self-closing latch, self-closing hinges, like Barrette Outdoor Living’s Wrap Hinges for use with vinyl fencing or Butterfly Hinges for use with aluminum fencing, area also required to meet pool code. These tension-controlled hinges work in tandem with the latch to ensure gates automatically close behind when someone exits or enters the pool area. To be code compliant, pool gates cannot use a cross brace. A cross brace may give small children a “step up” to reach the top of a pool latch or an easy way to climb over the gate into the pool area. Barrette Outdoor Living’s vinyl and aluminum gates do not use a cross brace. “It’s also a good idea to purchase a gate latch and hinges from the same company that manufactures your pool fencing and gate,” says Duffy. “This gives you a single point of contact for any warranty claim and provides a one-stop shop for all your fencing needs.” Lastly, it’s important to do routine maintenance to makes sure the gate stays aligned and that all hardware is functioning properly. Before opening the pool each season, check that the gate is level, oil hinges and tighten screws on all hardware.
To learn more about Barrette Outdoor Living’s Locking Pool Safety Latches and other hardware options, visit www.barretteoutdoorliving.com. 26
MAY 2022 | FENCE NEWS USA
