What makes a Swimming Pool Safety Cover Safe?

Well, that sounds a little too obvious, doesn't it?  There are, of course, Federal and industry guidelines concerning the minimum standards for a cover to be represented as a safety cover.  But the technical details are actually fairly unimportant, because any pool cover manufacturer who is a member of the APSP (Association of Pool and Spa Professionals) knows and complies with these standards for the covers that they call safety covers.  Not all covers are manufactured to be safety covers. The fact that a cover is anchored to the concrete does not necessarily make it a safety cover.  And the fact that it may once have been a safety cover does not necessarily make it safe.

The purpose of a swimming pool safety cover is just that.  Safety.  It must prevent the accidental drowning or entrapment of children, adults, and pets.  The cover must not be removable by a child.  It should not be removable without a tool.  The material should be in good condition, and there must not be any gaps large enough for a child to crawl under or through.  The straps should be tight enough that a child cannot lift them off the deck (ex: child pulls up on strap near the cover, sticks their neck under the strap, and can't get free, becomes strangled).  The cover must not hold standing water.  It must be able to support the weight of  snow an ice, in addition to anyone who might inadvertently walk or fall onto the cover.  Once a safety cover has been properly installed, it should be inspected periodically to make sure it stays safe, that it is not worn or deteriorated.  Even though swimming pool safety cover is designed to prevent accidental drowning, remember that it is not a toy, it is not a trampoline.  Children and pets must be taught to stay off the cover - not just the part over the pool, but also the part which is over the deck.  walking on the cover causes premature wear.

Safety Cover Inspection:  What To Look For

    When an in ground swimming pool safety cover has been properly installed by a qualified professional, it will provide many years of protection from accidental drowning.  However, there is the need for occasional minor maintenance, and the cover should be checked for wear and damage at least yearly. 

    While it may look like your safety cover is tightly attached, you should check it to make sure that it is properly and evenly adjusted.  The cover is not rigid, so there is some movement.  Vibration and weight from wind, rain, snow, and other elements cause movement of the cover, even though you often won't notice it.  This movement can cause natural wear, and manufacturers allow for this in the design of their safety covers.  Good quality covers have wear strips on the underside of the cover, which guard against abrasion of the fabric.  You should check the cover each year before it is put on, to make sure the wear strips are in good condition, particularly where the cover meets the edge of the pool.  If there seems to be excessive wear, you may need to pad the edge of the pool to keep it from cutting through the cover.  You should also check to see that the springs and buckles are in good condition, and that the straps are not becoming worn or frayed, and that there are not holes in the fabric between the straps.  Check to make sure that the anchors are in good condition, and firmly mounted in the deck, that the part where the spring attaches is not rounded off, and that the anchor screws up and down easily.  If you have a cable system around a water feature, check to see that the cable is not worn or rusted, and that the cable clamps are tight and in good condition.  Anchors should be cleaned and lubricated yearly.  Proper installation and a little maintenance will insure that you get the most from your investment.

  Under God"

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