Interpretation #6557

Construction tolerances are for variations in field conditions typical in construction and NOT for conditions which are controllable at a manufacturing plant. A commission report prepared by National Institute of Health also addressed this issue. It noted that “standard chain link fencing… would allow most children ages 24 – 42 months to place their feet fully inside the openings. This design characteristic may account for reports of young children who drowned after scaling chain link fences of heights up to 6 ft”. This issue also came up during the ICC 2006 proposed code changes. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance filed a proposal to reduce the opening size to 1.25”; it was defeated and the MAXIMUM 2-1/4" mesh dimension was retained.