House Walls

A house wall is frequently part of the access barrier system. Openings in the wall that provide access to the pool or spa should be equipped with some mechanism that either restricts unauthorized access to the pool or sounds an alarm if access is attempted. This includes openings such as the garage service door. A door should be self-closing and self-latching; this function is often disabled or not functioning properly on sliding doors. It is recommended, but not always required, that the door lock be at least 54 inches above the floor and that the door swing into the house. It is recommended, but not always required, that a window latch be at least 54 inches above the floor or that the window opening size be limited to 4 inches or less. An approved alarm may be substituted in place of the door and window requirements and recommendations.

Openings such as pet doors should not provide access to the pool area. Children can crawl through these openings.