| HOLD YOUR FIRE |
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 Fire features are incredible at night; however, they are also a source of danger. Often powered by propane or natural gas, these features must be treated with respect. The obvious danger is child access to the flames or hot elements; therefore, it is highly recommend flame features are not used when children are present.A secondary option is to locate any fire features in an elevated area, out of the reach of little fingers. All fire features should be approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and/or the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) and must be installed by a licensed gas and/or electrical technician. |
What makes a swimming pool safe?
The pool’s interior design, which is often a forgotten frontier, is paramount to a layered safety plan. Therefore, the following should be considered:
Ease of entry/exit
All pools, depending on the size and physical layout, should be equipped with both a primary and secondary means of ingress/egress. Children (elderly, pets, and the physically challenged) will find it much easier and safer to exit a pool via built-in steps, rather than a standard pool ladder. Ideally, the steps should be positioned in the shallow end of the pool with a secondary means of egress from the deep end.
The secondary safety system could be as simple as a handhold, swim out, bench, or even a second set of built-in stairs. The coping surrounding the pool should also be rounded and provide a safe handhold for swimming children.
Traditional and safe design dictates the pool’s shallow end to be located near the home and be the primary means of entry. New visitors to a pool will often assume the end closest to the home is ‘safe,’ and, therefore, are not expecting deep water.
Water depth
Pool depth is a constant debate among pool professionals. From a safety point of view, a shallow pool wins. The so called ‘safety ledge,’ a common design element in the ’60s and ’70s, provided a shallow ledge (approximately 0.9 to 1.2 m [3 to 4 ft]) around the entire pool, which encouraged weaker swimmers to walk around the ledge and venture out into deeper water and potential danger. To prevent this from happening, safety ledges should not be included on new pool installations and should be removed on renovation projects.
Shallow pools are more practical as well as less expensive to build, maintain, and heat, making them more enjoyable for families with small children. Steep slopes, sharp edges, and unexpected obstacles should be avoided when designing pool interiors. Shallow lounging areas, rather, are ideal for infants (who are accompanied by a guardian), weaker swimmers, physically challenged, elderly, pets, and children. Ideally, a set of steps should border a shallow lounging area, avoiding a potential steep drop off into unexpected deeper water.
Pool surface
The interior surface of the pool can also be a safety concern. For instance, the advent of vinyl-over stairs can result in a slippery pool entrance if not maintained properly, while plaster pools, with age and poor water chemistry, are subject to extremely rough surfaces. Fibreglass pool interiors are generally considered safe, while tiled pool interiors are also very safe as long as rounded edges are used for corners and steps.
Benches, steps and swim outs on all pools should have their edges defined with a tile strip or colour differentiation to aid swimmers in identifying potential obstacles or safe areas of refuge.
Plumbing design
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) has brought a great deal of attention to the pool and spa industry. In fact, a number of well-publicized incidents have stimulated the industry into designing and building safer products.
Concerns regarding suction entrapment can be eliminated by using proper design and construction techniques. The combination of large-diameter plumbing, engineered-design, variable-drive pumps, and proper in-pool suction devices is one of the safest ways to eliminate suction entrapment. Perimeter overflow, vanishing-edge, and gutter pools should all be designed and constructed without the use of interior suction devices. Rather, water for the pool’s operation can be obtained from a remote surge tank that restricts bather access.
Single-source vacuum ports have no place in a safe pool design. Instead, engineered, in-floor cleaning systems, pressure/robotic cleaners, and pool services are all safer methods of pool maintenance.
Water features and spas should also follow these design and construction techniques. Properly-sized plumbing, interior water returns, safe suctions, and sufficient turnover and sanitization, will result in warm, clean and clear water for the aquatic environment.
Lighting
Safe lighting involves not only the pool’s interior, but also its surroundings. For instance, perimeter-lit pathways, means of egress, stairways, and poolside amenities are all part of the first line of defence, while interior pool lighting should be adequate to sufficiently see all areas of the pool at night.
Design and esthetic requirements should involve different lighting zones for safety and security. Stairs and pathways should always remain lit while the pool area is being utilized, and at least one battery-operated light (portable or stationary) should be immediately available for emergency use. It is also advisable to install large lights, which are sufficient at flooding the entire yard in the event of an emergency.
