Stairs and elevated deck surfaces around pools

[Barry Adair]

Originally Posted by jpope

That would be a "non-issue" in my book Barry. The "fall" into the water from that level, as compared to the other side, will result in the same consequences - you will get wet.

Common pool safety should be an adequate recommendation. . .

Jeff,

Yes it should, as should supervision of pool users but this rarely happens throughout an entire day's pool activities...I'm the "mother hen" when our grandkids are over...probably from previous life experiecne...

A barrier/guardrail recommendation/installation at the elevated area may stop the once in a million from occurring.

Bobby's fall (SCI) was into 6' of water, the exact depth of the pool depicted...a little more then just getting wet

Not all of us that used the same pool that day wound up SCI but one did and it only took that one to alter many lives forever...especially his

[James F. McKee]

it is easy to see why You would be sensitive to this issue Barry....all good points imo....jim

[bdoles2]

A quick glance and you'd think it's not an issue - chances are just walking by and falling in will not be an issue. But it only takes the one visitor that has never been to that particular pool, and dives into the pool not realizing how shallow it really is.

Some people don't realize the difference between diving in and falling in. It's huge.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Whether this fall occurred at the raised area or the lower area (most likely) made little difference.

This unfortunate consequence can occur from any edge of a pool.

The next extreme would be someone using the top of the rail as a jump-point. Then we have to consider adding rails at the patio cover - where I often see teenage jumpers.

There's no "violation" depicted in your pictures, so a recommendation for additional railing is unwarranted IMHO.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by badair

This may all seem extreme to some readers...

Nothing wrong with making a recommendation for enhanced safety based on experience.

If a home, up here for instance, has a south facing entry porch on an eave wall with some steps (even less than 4 rises) chances are I'll recommend a railing because I have experience with water dripping and refreezing on the steps during thaws. It is not required and they don't have to install it but I'll share my experience with them.