Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/89769
60 • NOVEMBER 2012 • WORLD FENCE NEWS As part of an ongoing and long- standing series, World Fence News of- fers this "snapshot" of building ordinances which affect fence installa- tions from municipalities across the United States and Canada. This infor- mation was taken from official sources, but you should always consult the ap- propriate building departments where you plan to work for specific require- ments. City of Venus, Texas (Editor's note: The following is Fence ordinances from around the U.S. not the complete fencing ordinance from the city of Venus, which is lo- cated south of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This segment deals with swimming pool fencing, as well as fencing around gravel pit ponds, which we wish more municipalities re- quired.) An outdoor swimming pool shall be provided with a barrier that shall be installed, inspected and approved prior to plastering or filling with water. The barrier shall comply with the follow- ing: A. The top of the barrier shall be at least 6 feet above grade measured on the side of the barrier that faces away from the swimming pool. The maxi- mum vertical clearance between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches measured on the side of the bar- rier that faces away from the swim- ming pool. The maximum vertical clearance at the bottom of the barrier may be in- creased to 4 inches when grade is a solid surface such as a concrete deck, or when the barrier is mounted on the top of the aboveground pool structure. When barriers have horizontal members spaced less than 45 inches apart, the horizontal members shall be placed on the pool side of the barrier. Any decorative design work on the side away from the swimming pool, such as protrusions, indentations or cutouts, which render the barrier easily climbable, is prohibited. B. Openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 1¾ inch-diam- eter sphere. Exceptions: 1. When vertical spacing between such openings is 45 inches or more, the opening size may be increased such that the passage of a 4-inch di- ameter sphere is not allowed. 2. For fencing composed of verti- cal and horizontal members, the spac- ing between vertical members may be increased up to 4 inches when the dis- tance between the tops of horizontal members is 45 inches or more. C. Chain link fences used as the barrier shall not be less than 11 guage. D. Pedestrian access gates shall be self-closing and have a self-latching device. Where the release mechanism of the self-latching device is located less than 54 inches from the bottom of the gate, (1) the release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the barrier at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, and (2) the gate and barrier shall have no opening greater than ½ inch within 18 inches of the release mechanism. Pedestrian gates shall swing away from the pool. Any gates other than pedestrian access gates shall be equipped with lockable hardware or padlocks and shall remain locked at all times when not in use. E. Where a wall of a Group R, Di- vision 3 Occupancy dwelling unit, continued on page 62