Has anyone noticed that dogs cost more than kids?  They have to be taken to the veterinarian, they need nutritious food and sometimes even need an education.  We even have to worry about their safety and keep them from harming others.  This post follows one I did on things you need to consider when looking at invisible fences (one’s that are buried in the ground).  From that post you probably got the distinct impression that I am not a big fan of invisible fencing, so what do I recommend?

When it comes to the actual fencing itself, you need something that is sturdy enough to handle a dog jumping up against it whether from the inside or the outside. A big mistake some people make is thinking, “Well I only have an 8 pound toy poodle, so I only need a 3 foot high fence.”  It is true that will save you a bunch of money on the fence, but it will not protect your dog.  Whether you have a big dog or a small one the fencing should be the same in my opinion.  Either you are trying to keep your big dog in or other big dogs out ( as well as children ).

So, what do I recommend?  Start with a fence that is 5 feet in height.  This is sufficient to keep most dogs on or out and little kids can not reach over the top.  Also,  the spacing between pickets or the diamond size of chain link should be less than 2-1/4 inches.  This should keep the heads of most dogs from poking through.  If you are concerned about little fingers from children go with a solid type fence, but keep in mind that a solid fence can cause your dog to bark at every little noise that occurs outside of his/her vision.

Most fencing found at home improvement stores present you with another problem.  In an effort to give you the lowest price possible a certain, mostly unseen, detail is compromised …. the thickness of the profiles.  Chain link fencing should be a minimum of 11-1/2 gauge ( the higher the number the thinner the wire ).  If the chain link is vinyl coated you want a gauge of 8 overall ( this includes the metal core wire and the vinyl coating ).  Wood fencing should have vertical boards at least 1/2 inch thick ( a standard 1×4 board is 3/4 inch thick ) and horizontal “backers” at least 1-1/2 inches thick and 3-1/2 inches tall ( this is a standard 2 x 4 ).  The pickets should be nailed, never stapled. When it comes to Vinyl / PVC fencing I like pickets that are 1/2 inch square or 7/8 inch thick by 3 inches wide.  On an ornamental aluminum fence the pickets should be at least 5/8 x 5/8 inch and have a wall thickness no less than .050 .

The final detail is also the most important, the gate hardware.  The gate hardware is often times the last thing to go on the fence. Because of this people often try to save money here.  Resist this temptation !!   The gate is the part of the fence that you will interact with the most, sometimes several times a day.  Because of this your dog follows you to and from it constantly and if he / she is going to try and get out, this is the place. For this reason I tell people to use the same type of hardware you would use for pool gate safety.  This will consist of a self-closing hinge and a self-latching latch.  A good choice for the self-closing hinge is the Tru-Close Hinge.  It is tension adjustable and come with a limited lifetime warranty.  A good choice for the self-latching latch is the Magna Latch Top Pull or Magna-Latch Vertical Pull.  Both of these latches offer no resistance to closure ( little chance of bounce back ) and dogs can not lift/open the latch with their nose ( like they do with traditional fork type latches ).  An added benefit is small kids have a hard time opening the latch, so they can’t let the dog out.

Transcript:

Frolicking in the family swimming pool can provide hours of fun, entertainment and exercise, but safety experts warn that pools can be hazardous, as well as enjoyable. Statistics tell us that drowning is the number two cause of accidental death nationwide, in children under the age of five.

“Studies in Australia, as well as the United States, have shown that 50% to 90% of all child drownings can be prevented by an effective fence with a working gate that self closes and self latches every time. So it is really important that a gate is working, that it is self closing, self latching, opens away from the pool and that the latch is at the required height.”

Fitting all of these requirements, the award winning Magna Latch by D & D Technologies, the world leader in pool safety gate hardware. Magnetically triggered and key lockable, the revolutionary Magna Latch is the world’s number one child safety gate latch.

“The product is easy to install because of self aligning legs and dove-tail tracking and it installs to any pool gate in minutes. It also includes vertical and horizontal adjustability which can be made during the installation or after the installation which is particularly important. The product is warranted for life. It will never chip, crack, peel or corrode, which is particularly important in pool environments. Over a million units of Magna Latch have been sold worldwide, which makes us a very popular product for both child and pool safety”.

With layers of protection achieved through products like safety gate hardware from D & D Technologies, your family can look forward to safely enjoying your swimming pool for years to come.

The following information is from a brochure from D&D Technologies called “A Blueprint for Pool Gate Safety”.

A swimming pool can be a beautiful oasis in your backyard, affording many hours of family fun, serving as a great, low-impact exercise center, and adding value to your home. Protect your investment and ensure you’ll always enjoy your pool by taking steps to make it a safe environment.

Supervision of children around water is essential, but most parents and caregivers will admit that constant, uninterrupted supervision of children is an unrealistic expectation. Toddlers’ curiosity and lack of fear can test even the best caregiver’s ability to keep up. This brochure will give you helpful safety suggestions.

In the time it takes to answer your door or phone, a child can wander to your backyard and fall into your pool. Layers of protection between your home and the water can give you those critical few seconds needed to re-establish contact when a momentary lapse in supervision occurs.

Isolation fencing, which completely separates the pool from the home, has been proven in numerous studies to be the most effective barrier to keep children away from a pool or other danger.

The Latch

The latch should offer extensive vertical and horizontal adjustment so it can be adjusted after installation if needed, due to ground shifting or children swinging on the gate.

The latch bolt should not be able to be opened using implements such as popsicle sticks, pencils, screwdrivers, etc.

The latch should not be able to be disengaged by pulling, shaking or twisting the gate.

The release knob should work independently of the latch bolt, so that if the release mechanism fails, the latch will still trigger shut.

The latch should be key lockable for added security, and should not be able to be locked in the ‘open’ position, as this could prevent safe latching.

The Fence and Gate

• Should be minimum of 48″ tall – five feet is even better! (Check with your local building department for requirements in your area)

• The latch and the hinges should be rust-free, as rust impedes closure. (Non-corrosive materials such as high-tech polymers used in D & D Technologies’ products ensure they’ll be rust-free for life)

• Must be non-climbable, with no footholds or handholds

• The gate must open away from the pool, and must be self-closing and self-latching

• Vertical bars should not permit the passage of a 4″ sphere

• Fence clearance should be no more than 4″ from the ground for a solid surface, 2″ above a non-solid surface such as gravel or grass

D & D Technologies’ Magna Latch, the World’s #1 child safety gate latch

This magnetic, self-latching gate latch and Tru-Close self-closing hinges meet or exceed all the requirements listed in this brochure. The Magna Latch comes in a longer Top Pull model to bring the latch release to the required height on a shorter fence; the Vertical Pull model is ideal for gates at least five feet tall.

The Hinges

• All hinges should be self-closing (spring loaded). Ensure both hinges carry a spring. (D & D Tru-Close hinges enclose stainless steel springs.)

• Hinges should be tension adjustable so the gate doesn’t close too slowly or too quickly. Both hinges must be adjusted to the same tension.

Safety Checklist:

• Gate opens away from the pool or other danger
• Latch release is at least 54″ above ground level (or to local requirements)
• Latch and hinges are rust-free
• Gate is self-latching
• Hinges are self-closing and easily tension-adjustable
• Both hinges carry a closing spring
• Latch cannot be locked in the ‘open’ position
• Latch cannot be opened using implements (popsicle stick, etc.)
• Gate latch cannot be shaken, jolted or bounced open
• Gate will latch from any position, including resting on the latching mechanism
• Gate complies with all local, state and federal codes and regulations

NOTE: The information provided in this brochure is supplied an expressed by D & D Technologies (USA) Inc. in the interest of public safety. Fences, gates and latches cannot substitute for adult supervision.

For more detailed recommendations, see the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov or call the CPSC @ 800.638.2772

Latches and Hinges are Critical to Safety Gates

Generally, latches mounted with the release mechanism at least 54″ above the ground level offer child-resistance for children under five years. Check with your building department for local requirements.

Isolation fencing around pools is vital. Gates with faulty or inadequate latches and hinges, or gates that have been propped open by adults or older children, present a danger to young children which can lead to accidental drowning.

Most codes require latches to be key-lockable which provides added peace of mind. Gates must open away from the hazard (pool, traffic, etc.), so any attempt by a child to use chairs or other equipment to access the latches will be foiled.

The most reliable hinges and latches will never rust or bind.

This act was signed into law by President Bush on December 19, 2007 and is named for the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III . At the age of 7, Virginia drowned after being trapped underwater by the suction of a drain in a spa. I am writing this article to share my professional opinion on how this law affects the fence and gate around your pool.

*Update 05/05/2009 – Just some added information. This law also covers other aspect of pool safety including the pool drains which in some cases have trapped and injured/killed. Here is a link to an article that somewhat deals with that subject:

Federal Pool Safety Law Can’t be Enforced without State Endorsement

*Update 10/01/2009 – VGB Enforcement has begun – The CPSC has started sending out letters warning public pool owners of impending fines and or imprisonment if they do not get their pools up to the new pool code.  See link below to view an actual letter:

VGB Enforcement has Begun

*Update 01/20/2011 – The ADA is trying to clarify their stand on accessibility around pools.  In their attempt to do this they have messed the whole thing up and would have been better off leaving it alone.  The old rule was the safety of children outweighed the accessibility issue so pool were exempt from the ADA.  The new rule states the latch can not be greater than 54 inches from the ground.  This does not seem like a problem until the building inspector comes out and measures 54 inches from the bottom of the gate which is normally 2 inches off the ground.  Now the two absolutely conflict.  So what do you do?  Until they get this sorted out, ask the building inspector and see what they say.  More than likely they are not even aware.