The warmer weather is right around the corner, and before you know it, people will be flocking to the community pool. Opening Day for Pool Season is quickly approaching and We want to help you have a seamless opening day!
Addressing issues now before the Pool is inspected can be the difference between passing or failing.
While many Property Managers and Communities are aware that they need to prepare the pool for summer months, not everyone is on top of their swimming pool safety requirements.
Is your HOA doing all it can to keep residents safe? Today we will be reviewing some key areas of your community pool that you can assess to ensure it is safe and ready for your guests!
Gates:
Make sure your gates can protect your swimmers and your swimming pool area.
Gate Height:
Does your gate meet the minimum height requirements? Gates must meet your
states minimum height requirements. Gate height minimum includes the gate and fencing surrounding it.
This minimum is to prevent people from hopping over the fence and mainly to ensure that young children are unable to access the pool to prevent accidental drownings.
Self Closing & Self Latching:
Does your gate automatically close and positively-latch? On the outside of your gate do you see a closer? Make sure that it is attached to the gate and that it is self closing.
You know you have a self closing & latching gate if there is enough pressure from the closer to ensure it shuts completely and latches. Having a self closing and self latching gate can help prevent young children from being able to enter from a propped gate and reduces the likelihood of an accidental drowning.
If the gate is not completely latched, a young child pushing on the outside of the gate will close the gate and engage the latch and it won’t swing open. We recommend self-closing and self-latching gate hardware on all pool gates to help prevent children from accidental drownings.
Swing Direction:
Does your gate swing outwards? Gates must swing outwards from the main pool area unless topography or landscape prevents it. All pool gates that were constructed after 2010 are automatically out swing gates.
This means the gate opens toward you. This is important for several reasons; the first being preventing small children from leaning on the gate and it falling inward allowing a chance of accidental drowning, and the second for people inside the pool to be able to exit quickly in an emergency by pushing on the bar to open.
Locking Mechanism:
Does your gate’s release mechanism require the use of a key, combination, or card reader to open? Your gate needs to be locking with either a key, combination, or card reader (utilizing a key card, fob, or mobile credential) to comply with code.
This is to prevent unauthorized people from accessing the pool or community amenities.
We also recommend looking at any other entry points that need to be secured as well. Doors leading from the club house to the swimming pool should also have self-closing and self-latching devices.
Cameras:
Cameras are a key component to ensuring safety at pools and clubhouses. We recommend having A Cloud Based Camera System that can be seen and monitored from anywhere!
Cameras can help you:
monitor who is at the pool
see what activity is happening at the pool
count guests
track frequently used areas (e.g., bathrooms, changing rooms)
While it is certainly possible for a single camera to perform all these functions,
most applications require more than one camera. We recommend one of the best products in the industry for viewing your property remotely from a mobile device on an easy to use app, tablet, or computer. You also have the ability to view multiple locations from one screen. T
he best part is that it is all stored in the cloud! There is no DVR or designated computer that holds all the footage. Because footage lives in the cloud, you can easily view your property in real time from home, on vacation, or even while traveling internationally.
Key Card Systems & Access Control:
If your pool is open for use, it's important to protect your members from accidents and vandalism that can be caused by unauthorized visitors. With visitor management software and a little planning, you can keep everyone safe and avoid some common problems at the pool.
Key card systems are one of the most effective tools for keeping unwanted swimmers out of your pool area. They work by using access control to set permissions for pool members and guests. Members can gain access when they
present their key card or key fob at the gate while visitors can be given one-time entry cards to gain access after they've checked in with the homeowners association office or clubhouse.
Every key card activated and deactivated can be logged, creating a digital audit trail that shows who has accessed the community amenities. This gives your HOA board peace of mind that no one is sneaking in after hours and also provides a record if there are any problems with vandalism or theft at the pool.
A big advantage of using key card systems is that they allow you to set restrictions for whoever you want to exclude from accessing the area. Easily manage who can access your amenities based on their member dues, let vendors in, and see who is onsite after hours. You can manage your entire community amenities from the comfort of home! From the pool and clubhouse, to tennis courts and more, a cohesive cloud based system makes running a community easier than ever.
Each swimming pool has unique safety challenges, whether it's open year-round, only in the summer — or is inside a fitness center, hotel or club. Improving safety for residents is an important ongoing investment that helps property managers manage their assets and protect residents from harm.
If you need help assessing if your pool security is ready for the season, contact us today!
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