by Rob Cox, November 11, 2010

Swimming Pool Alarm Laws & Legislation

More states are adding new pool and spa alarm laws, regulating residential pools, both in ground and above ground. Often the new pool safety laws are the result of tragic local drownings in all types of pools and bodies of water, not just in ground pools.

You can count on this trend for new pool safety legislation to continue. And you can count on poolcenter.com to monitor the situation and keep our readers alerted to new proposed legislation and new state and federal residential pool safety requirements.

Below is our first list of state pool safety alarm laws on the books, or current state pool alarm laws. Noticable is the requirement to be code compliant for any considerable "pool renovation". When a pool renovation (not just a pool pump replacement, but is taking place on your pool, if your contractor does not mention new guidelines for pool safety, consider him suspect. Pulling the permits for a considerable pool renovation requires bringing older pools "up to code" - when they don't meet current legislative guidelines and mandates.

Iif you have any questions about pool legislation, please contact me at the link above!

CALIFORNIA: Always a leader in "propositions", California pool laws are always ahead of the curve, both in safety and energy.

• Every pool must have at least one drowing prevention safety item - one "Layer of Protection". Required on all new pool installations, or renovation of existing pool.

CONNECTICUT: Home to many pools, despite the cold weather, Connecticut pool laws were among the first to consider pools under 36" of depth as an attractive nuisance, requiring new pool laws to keep the public safe.

• All pools must have at least one drowning prevention safety item - for all new pool installations or any pool renovation requiring permits.
• Pool alarms installed must sound an alarm of at least 50 decibels, when an object of 15lbsor more (think bowling ball) enters the water.
  

 
TENNESSEE: Katie Beth's law, requires all pools to have a pool alarm installed before the pool is made operational.

• No permit shall be issued for construction or remodeling of a residential pool unless project specs include a pool alarm.
• Every pool dealer, or entity that sells pools to the public must post a prominent sign in their place of business stating "STATE LAW REQUIRES A POOL ALARM BE INSTALLED".

NEW YORK: Busy lawmakers in New York. Very active in crafting new pool laws and pool legislation for all bodies of water

• All pools that are substantially renovated, and new pool construction, must be equpped with a new pool alarm.
• Pool alarms must detect pool entry at any point in the pool (large pools may need more than one pool alarm).
• Pool alarms must detect entry of object and sound audible alarm - both poolside and in the main structure (house).

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