Recent Events in the News

Got a Pool in NY? Better get a pool alarm

Posted on Jul 12, 2007

New Regulations Requiring Pool Alarms Posted: 12 Jul 2007 08:12 AM CDT Thinking about having that pool installed in the back yard? Well if so, you are going to have to install a pool alarm to prevent drowning incidents. Yesterday the Department of State announced new emergency regulations which provide that any residential or commercial swimming pool constructed or substantially modified after December 14, 2006 will require an acceptable pool alarm capable of detecting a child entering the water and giving an audible alarm. According to the Department of State, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths in children between the ages of one and fourteen nationwide, and the third leading cause of injury-related deaths of children in New York. There are now several different types of pool alarms designed to sound a warning if a child falls into the water. The new rules will be contained in a new part 1288.2 of 19 NYCRR - the State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, and they are similar to other emergency rules, the latest which expired on June 21, 2007. The State Department intends to adopt these new emergency rules as permanent. Hot tubs and spas equipped with safety covers are exempted from the new rules. For a full statement of the Department of State's rule making for these regulations Click Here and scroll down to page 19 of the PDF.