Interpretation #7421
Published November 05, 2014
Original Request
- Code Version
- 2010
- Code
- RESIDENT
- Code Description
- Residential
- Chapter
- 41
- Section
- 4101.17.1.2
- Topic
- Swimming pool barrier force
Question
Is it the intent of FBC R4101.17.1.2 when indicating "squeeze through" to mean when the design of the fence/barrier has members (pickets) that shall not allow passage of a 4- inch diameter sphere to also address the rigidity of the members so they are not simple flexed allowing a young child to squeeze through?
Answer Published 11/05/2014 at 4:23 PM
Yes.
Commentary
As written in the Code, rigidity is a feature of structural
components. "...or structural components..."
While we may have regulated common sense out of the
majority of the code, if you can push a 4" sphere through
it with only a "reasonable" amount of force, it probably
does not meet the requirement, whether the picket flexes or
not. The Code does not contain specific numeric
requirements and we, as an industry, must apply sound
reasoning to a requirement such as this. The intent and
background of the barrier requirement is to protect
children, the elderly and the medically frail from having
access to a pool without appropiate supervision. The 4"
sphere requirement comes from stairs and guardrails as a
way of preventing chidren from getting their heads caught
between the ballisters (vertical protection).