During the recent renovation of their Phoenix home, Rachel and Catlipton studied the protection of their four young children - Adelaide, 8 years old, Thatcher, 6 years old, and Soo, 3 years old. Er and 6-month-old Abbe-the option of unsupervised access to the family swimming pool.
They decided to install a gridded, rust-colored wrought iron fence. They researched other options, but wanted something permanent.
"There is no time when we don't want to build swimming pool fences for our children, our friends' children, nieces and nephews... even grandchildren," Rachel Lipton said.
According to the recent U.S. Housing Survey, water safety in the Greater Phoenix area is a concern throughout the year, where 42.8% of households have swimming pools-well above the national average of 15.7%.
Arizona regulations require any family with a swimming pool and children under the age of 6 to erect walls, fences, or barriers around the swimming pool area. The Arizona Department of Health Services has a set of requirements for each type of barrier, but some city and county government requirements are even more restrictive.
As the chairman of the Arizona Drowning Prevention Coalition, which has researched and saved statistics on drowning events for nearly 26 years, Lori Schmidt knows what happens when swimming pool barriers are not in place or installed incorrectly.
"Research shows that the safest option is a 5-foot-long wrought iron swimming pool fence," she said.
But for the homeowner, cost, aesthetics and "troublesome" factors can also influence the decision.
The price of wrought iron fences ranges from $28 per linear foot for standard fences to $150 per linear foot for decorative fences. The hinged door that closes automatically adds an additional $235, and the safety lock on the door is about $115.
Some families prefer the flexibility of the mesh fence, which can be removed and replaced as needed. Scottsdale residents Krista and Doug Robinson have two children: 10-year-old Isabella and 8-year-old Aidan. The couple chose a mesh fence when protecting Isabella who was 6 months old at the time.
"We used a mesh fence because we wanted to be able to remove it for aesthetic reasons," Christa Robinson said.
Chris Amato, owner and president of Pool Barrier in Scottsdale, Arizona, said that compared to standard wrought iron fences, the powder-coated aluminum poles used for mesh fences are lighter, stronger, and rust-resistant. The mesh is divided into three quality levels—"good, better, or best"—providing a "breaking strength" of 40, 60, or 100 pounds, respectively.
"I walk into so many people's homes and see the iron fence once or twice a week. It does collapse due to rust," Amato said.
For families choosing this type of barrier, Schmidt recommends using a 5-foot fence on the 4-foot option.
"The higher the better," Schmidt said, he also emphasized the importance of replacing the fence immediately after it is temporarily removed for reasons such as adult parties.
Amato said that the "good" mid-tier price is $13 per linear foot, plus $280 to $400 for the automatic door closing. The cost of mesh fences for medium-sized swimming pools can be as high as $1,400.
Parents who don't like the appearance of mesh or wrought iron fences may be interested in frameless glass pool fences, which use tempered safety glass panels and stainless steel hardware, and have a modern, high-end appearance—and a reasonable price match. The cost per linear foot of a frameless glass pool fence using a fixture system with heavy hardware and heavy glass is approximately $200.
Schmidt advises parents who wish to install any barriers to consider the approval of their city, the availability of the product, and any reported violations.
Swimming pool covers are an alternative to pool fences, and there are many types, from nets to mechanized vinyl covers.
Scottsdale interior designer Sara Uribe and her husband Luis-both architects and the parents of 9-year-old Oscar and 7-year-old Oliver-chose a mechanized pool cover when remodeling the pool. They knew that they wanted to see their large backyard unobstructed from the glass-walled entrance of a modern house.
"We like aesthetics, but it's not maintenance-free," Sara Uribe said.
Vinyl covers need to be thoroughly cleaned every few months, and rocks and debris on the track must be removed. When it rains, they use pumps to remove the water, forming a "pool top pool."
Uribe said that safety has never been a problem, but he admits that if the lid is closed all day in summer, the water in the swimming pool will become too hot to swim. The price of the mechanized cover varies, but the price of a standard-size swimming pool can reach US$7,000.
Cool family photos: We love the swimming pool near Phoenix
The swimming pool net has many characteristics of the mechanized swimming pool cover, but the price is relatively low. Krista Robinson of Scottsdale said her family decided to use Katchakid nets in winter because the pool fence made half of the grass play area in their yard inaccessible.
But during the summer swimming season, when the play area is not so attractive, Robinson closes the net and relies entirely on the fence.
Schmidt emphasized the time commitment required for the pool net: "It takes at least 5 to 7 minutes to remove or put it on. You must be committed to keeping that barrier in place. If it doesn’t do you any good, it’s yours. In the yard."
Liz and Perry Mathis of Phoenix used Katchakid when their daughters—Avery, 11, and Alison, 9, Alison—were still young. Liz Mathis agrees that putting on and taking off the net requires effort, but said that peace of mind is worthwhile. She appreciates the clear view of her swimming pool without having to look at the "ugly fence".
The cost of Katchakid nets, rollers and ratchets for a standard size swimming pool is approximately US$1,400.
Pool alarms, wearable alarms, and high latches on doors and windows also count as obstacles. However, although they may meet the requirements of city regulations, Schmidt warned that they should be used as additional protection—not as a substitute for pool fences or covers.
No matter which pool barrier you choose, “if you use it incorrectly, no barrier is 100% effective,” Schmidt said, who said that adult supervision is irreplaceable.
Arizona requirements for swimming pool barriers
• The entire pool area must be enclosed.
• Must be at least 5 feet high (4 feet when the living area forms part of a fence).
• Except for doors or gates, there must be no openings through which objects with a diameter of 4 inches can pass.
• There must be no openings, handles or footholds that can be used to climb obstacles.
• Must be at least 20 inches from the water.
• A key switch must be required to operate.
• Must meet the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (astm.org).
Doors or windows leading to the swimming pool
• There must be a self-locking device, which is not less than 54 inches from the ground.
• Must have a screw-in wire mesh cover or key lock to prevent openings exceeding 4 inches.
• There must be a non-climbable outer side that is at least 4 feet high.
• There must be a movable ladder or step.
• The swimming pool must be able to be protected when it is not in use.
• Must open outwards from the swimming pool.
• Must be self-closing and self-locking.
• Must be at least 54 inches above the ground on the pool side of the gate.
• There must be a release mechanism located at least 5 inches below the top of the gate.
• There must be no openings larger than ½ inch within 24 inches of the release mechanism.
• It must be secured by a padlock or similar device that requires a key, electric opening, or an integrated combination.
— Source: Arizona State Department of Health Services Office of Environmental Sanitation. City and county requirements may be stricter and supersede state requirements.
Editor's note: This article is an excerpt from the May issue of "Raising the Children in Arizona" magazine. Find more information on RaisingArizonaKids.com and facebook.com/RAKmagazine, or follow @RAKmagazine on Twitter.