A swimming pool safety net is a proven and secure safety system that prevents children and pets from entering your swimming pool, protecting them from drowning. In fact, when a custom-fitted pool safety net is properly installed and in use, it is 100% safe.
Let’s take a look at 10 features of a swimming pool safety net that makes it the number one way to prevent drownings among children.
1. Child safe
Drowning is listed as one of the leading causes of unnatural deaths among children in South Africa.
We have dealt with the issue of children drowning at home in previous posts and the fact that a pool safety net is considered as “layer zero” that prevents drowning.
The South African Bureau of Standards is in the final stages of updating rules for private swimming pools because children were still drowning in residential swimming pools.
According to its new draft requirements, every private swimming pool that can hold more than 30cm of water should be fitted with a pool safety net or a safety cover.
Moreover, it is common knowledge that a pool fence alone does not provide enough protection as it does not completely remove water from the situation.
The 10cm x 10cm mesh squares that make up swimming pool safety nets are designed to be too small for a toddler’s head to fit through yet too big for a toddler to be able to crawl on. This makes the pool safety net the perfect pool safety solution.
2. Aesthetically pleasing
A pool safety net is aesthetically pleasing. It does not detract from the beauty of the pool or water feature design in any way.
Unlike a solar blanket which obscures the visibility of the water, a pool safety net does not block your view of the water.
A safety net, available in blue or black, is an unobtrusive covering and will offer protection for most rock pools, ponds, water features and jacuzzis.
The colour-coded plates, which secure the durable, non-corrosive hooks, are available in four colours to complement the colour of your pool paving.
3. Allows rainwater into the pool
This is such an important safety aspect. It’s a well-known fact that children can drown in just 30cm of water.
According to the updated SABS standards, a pool cover will be deemed illegal if it allows rainwater to collect on it for longer than five minutes.
A pool safety net allows rainwater to flow into the pool. And with a central float in place, which is supplied with the safety net, the height of the net is kept well above the surface of the water, keeping a child safe from any potential harm.
4. Safety in any season
One of the biggest misnomers about swimming pool safety is that drownings only occur in summer. However, winter days in South Africa can be warm and sunny and children can be drawn to the water while playing outside.
In winter children will be wearing more clothing as well as shoes and socks making them much heavier if they fall into the water. A pool safety net provides a safety barrier – whatever the weather.
5. Resistant to chemicals and UV
The 3.5mm durable polyethene braided net is resistant to pool chemicals and the sun’s harsh ultraviolet rays, which means they offer safety under any conditions.
6. Protection for fish and water features
In addition to providing protection for children, a safety net can also protect your fish from predators.
7. Easy to remove and replace
An adult can easily remove and replace the pools safety net in a matter of minutes. A series of pulleys and ropes are used to control the tension in the net making it easy to loosen or tighten once the hooks have either been removed or inserted into the plates.
8. Pool cleaner compatible
Having a pool safety on your pool doesn’t mean you can’t clean it. The beauty of a pool safety net is that your automatic pool cleaner can carry on cleaning the surface of your pool unhindered.
9. Warranty
The pool safety nets supplied by Nets for Africa carry a three-year warranty and as mentioned above are UV, climate and chemical resistant.
10. Custom sizing
The pool safety nets are sized and custom-fitted to any shape or size pool and can be tailored to fit other applications such as water features, spas, rock pool and koi ponds.
Find out more on our Usage Guide or contact us if you have any queries