Swimming pool problems

[Phil]

Howdy neighbors, this is my first post so please be gentle with me!

I am trying to figure out the building code for a swimming pool in Hawaii (Puna), especially the safety part of it. I'm sorry I don't have a link but I hoped someone out there had experience with this.

As far as I can understand it, I have to have a fence all around the pool. Alternatively, I can have a fence on three sides and use the house as the 4th side, but then I need to have alarms on all the doors.

Alternatively again, I can just get a mechanical pool cover and I won't need any fences or alarms!

Can someone tell me how mistaken I am? Has the code changed recently? I have contacted the Planning people but their responses are ambiguous and I'm getting them from a third party.

Thank you!

[Seeb]

I don't think the mechanical cover part is true, but the rest is close. 4ft fence with self closing self locking gates

[David M]

Don't know about the mechanical cover, but the fencing is covered in the code. Building and electrical permits, inspections via building dept. I remember that at final inspection, he even measured the height of the self locking mechanism.

ETA: alarms weren't required, but that may have since changed.
David

Ninole Resident
Please visit vacation.ninolehawaii.com

[Peter Epperson]

It's all spelled out in IBC 3109.4 You can find it online. The mechanical cover is approved instead of fencing. It's an expensive way to go but has certain advantages.

[Phil]

Hi, thanks for the responses. Like Seeb and David, I too was surprised to read that a mechanical pool cover is all you need.
Thanks for the confirmation, Peter.

I can find IBC 3109.4 online at:
http://www.swimmpoolandpatio.com/pdfs/ct..._amend.pdf

I just can't find confirmation that it applies to Hawaii (though I'm sure it does).

Peter, I agree, it is expensive but it has a LOT of advantages (IMHO):
- no need for the expense (and ugliness) of fences
- no need for annoying door alarms (if you wanted to use the house as a 4th fence wall)
- pool is kept warmer during the winter
- less debris in the pool
- less sun damage to the pool

Once you subtract the cost of a fence and the long-term damage and cleaning, I wonder if a mechanical pool cover doesn't
actually save money! It seems almost a no-brainer to me, which is why I was wondering if this was a recent change or that I had misunderstood the code.

aloha
Phil
PS I know the above sounds like I'm spamming for pool covers but I assure you I'm not! I would like to hear of anyone's experiences (positive or negative) with these pool covers. Note that they do have to be mechanical.