While swimming pools are a great source of fun and entertainment, we can't overlook the fact that every year hundreds of people are injured and even die in and around swimming pools. Pool safety is of paramount importance, and should be considered throughout the entire lifetime of the swimming pool, starting at the very beginning - when the pool is being designed.
Here are 10 Swimming Pool Design Safety Tips:
- Design your pool to include a fence or screen around it to prevent child from wandering into it.
- When children are swimming, there should always be adult supervision. When designing your pool, avoid visual obstructions that might prevent adults from seeing the entire pool. Carefully consider the placement of pillars and planters with respect to seating areas where adults are likely congregate.
- Diving boards and slides can be a lot of fun, but they are a big danger (and will drive up your insurance costs).
- If your pool is to have steps, design them to include small tiles that will help swimmers to see the steps and gauge the depth of each.
- If you have guests over who have small children, consider adding an additional security fence around your pool with child-proof latches.
- For added safety, consider having a gate alarm on the fence and/or a wave alarm on the pool that will sound when someone enters the water.
- If you are designing the area around your pool to include a step up to a seating area, kitchen or bar, make sure they are designed with visual cues so guests don't unexpectedly fall off or trip over the step.
- Design the area around your pool to have adequate lighting for when you swim or entertain in the evening.
- Avoid placing stone or metal edges of planters and other elements, right next to decks and pathways where people will be walking. They could could bump or fall into them causing an injury. Use landscaping as a safety buffer.
- Work with an experienced pool designer who has years of experience designing safe pools.
We at Grand Vista Pools have been designing safe pools for decades. If you're considering building or renovating a pool,, contact us today!
