Pool Fence Massachusetts:

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE?

While the strength of Protect-A-Child Pool Fence posts make them the strongest mesh pool fences available, if a hurricane approaches we recommend that you remove the fence to prevent unnecessary damage just as you would with any other removable object on your patio.  Protect-A-Child Pool Fences are not warranted against acts of nature such as hurricanes and tornado's.

To remove your fence it is best to follow these guidelines:

First, it is a good idea to number each section of fence starting at your gate and number the first post of each section working clockwise around the swimming pool. This will make reinstallation easier after the storm has passed.

Next, unlatch all the sections to remove tension. Then, working counter clockwise, lift out each post and roll the section up. This will leave the numbered post on the outside for easy identification during reinstallation.  If your fence is equipped with the lock in deck feature, remember to remove it by twisting the post such that the screws on the post line up with the groove visible on top of the deck sleeve. This will properly align the lock in deck screw at the bottom of the post with the groove and allow you to lift the post out of the hole.  It may take a little wiggling to line it up for it to release.

Prior to reinstalling the fence it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to flush any dirt out of the holes with your garden hose to remove any debris that might have settled in the fence post holes.

To reinstall the fence, note that each section begins and ends where two holes are 2.5” (6 cm) apart. Start your sections at those locations and note that the molding on the post always faces away from the swimming pool. If you numbered each section as recommended above it will be easier. Each section should begin and end where two holes are 2.5” apart.

If your fence was left in place during the rush to prepare for the storm and damage has occurred, please call your local distributor and they will be glad to assist you.

Also, let us know how well your fence made it through the storm. We enjoy reading the many testimonials of how well our fence has withstood tornados, hurricanes, etc. Many of these testimonials can be read on our website.

Below are links that can help you track the storm and plan during hurricane season:

NATIONAL HURRICANE SOCIETY TRACKING INFORMATION

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

HURRICANE TRACK

Can my child knock the fence over?

Protect-A-Child Pool Fencing has been helping prevent children of non-swimming age from reaching their home swimming pool for over 26 years. During that time it has become one of the most effective pool safety devices for one reason. It does an effective job of preventing children under age 5 from reaching the pool.   At Protect-A-Child, we have the advantage of 26 years field experience protecting children around swimming pools.  From our experience with thousands of families and children we know what strength our posts need to be to provide a good strong fence for you. As a result, Protect-A-Child's aluminum posts are approximately 30% stronger than competitors and our composite fiberglass pool fence posts are as much as triple the strength of many competing aluminum fence posts.  We go to these lengths to provide you with a safer and more attractive pool fence.  For 2011 we will provide an "Unlimited unbreakable and unbendable warranty" on our Premier Line fiberglass posts.  Producing a fence with such strong posts minimizes the need for repairs on your fence.  This saves you (and our distributors) time and money. While we don’t want to foster any false sense of security that might lead you to believe you can leave your child unsupervised at any time, Protect-A-Child Pool Fencing can help bridge the gap left by momentary lapses of supervision. Our promotional video includes footage of children running into our fence to help you gain a perspective of just how strong Protect-A-Child Pool Fencing is.  Remember, this is an important buying decision as you will likely only purchase a pool fence once.  Choosing a fence with strong posts will eliminate the maintenance headaches that come from weak fences that continually break.

 

Can my child climb the fence?

The mesh surface of Protect-A-Child Pool Fencing will not allow finger or toe holds thus making our fence one of the least climbable fences available. However, parents must continue to supervise their children because you never know if they might try and pull a chair up to the fence to gain a height advantage.

 

Can my child lift the posts out of the holes?

Proper installation of the fence provides a “tension fit” that pulls the mesh taut and "binds" the fence post into the hole.  With very young children this is sufficient to prevent them from lifting the pool fence out and gaining access to the pool. However, this tension fit does not mechanically hold the pool fence into the patio. For complete peace of mind Protect-A-Child offers our patented Lock-in-deck feature.  This feature mechanically twist locks the fence posts into the patio preventing their removal by children.  Yet the pool fence remains removable by an adult.

 

Can my child unlatch the sections?

To prevent this we offer another patented safety feature.  Our patented Point Lock Secure Latch was invented to improve safety by preventing children from unlatching the simple safety gate hook latches found on most mesh pool fences. The Point Lock Latch, with it’s patented double locking mechanism, is the safest section latch available for children. It dramatically increases safety by preventing a child from unlatching the sections.  In addition it is lockable (without the need for padlocks), adjustable, and easier to use (once you understand the intricacies of its functionality).

 

Can I lock the fence sections together if I want to?

Yes.  We offer two types of section latches that can actually accept a keyed padlock if you wish to keep access to your pool under lock and key.  In addition, our Magna Latch self closing gate latch is also key lockable.

How should I clean my fence?

Pool fences constructed with dark mesh such as brown and black are very transparent and rarely show dirt.  This explains their popularity. However if you have a lighter color pool fence mesh or just wish to clean your fence, soap and water with a sponge, rag, or scrub brush work fine.  If there happens to be any pressure washing taking place around your home the fence can easily be pressure washed using minimum pressure.

 I removed my fence with no problem. How do I know how to re-install it?

Note the pattern of small holes in your patio. Every 12'-15' you will see two holes together approximately 2” apart. These designate where fence sections begin and end.  The pool fence is made in 12'-15' sections so that it is easier to handle when removing and reinstalling.  For this reason, two sections come together and are latched 2 1/2" apart.  Start a section where you see the two holes together placing the molding side of the pool fence opposite the pool (facing the child side). Note that while the majority of sections are 12’ or 15' in length (12.5' or 10’ in the 5’ height) your fence may have 9’, 6’, or even a custom length section tailored on one end. Noting the position of the customized section and the number of posts in it will help you ascertain its’ correct position.  Make sure that each section goes in properly and begins and ends where two holes are 2 1/2" apart so that another section can start next to it so they can be latched together for safety.