Outdoor swimming pools must have a barrier designed to prevent the passage of what diameter sphere?

The requirement for outdoor swimming pools to have a barrier that prevents the passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere is critical for safety, particularly regarding young children. This specification ensures that the barrier effectively restricts access to the pool area by small children, as a sphere of that size represents a typical gap through which a child might fit.

The specifications set forth in pool safety codes are designed to mitigate the risk of accidental drowning, which is a serious concern. By enforcing a barrier that can withstand the passage of a 4-inch sphere, pool owners can create a safer environment that deters young children from gaining unsupervised access to the water.

Choosing a barrier that does not allow passage of anything larger than a 4-inch sphere adheres to safety standards set by organizations like the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which aim to reduce the number of child drownings associated with swimming pools. A barrier that permits larger entities to pass poses a greater risk, so the specification for a 4-inch diameter ensures that the barrier remains effective. This combination of factors highlights why a pool barrier must conform to this specific criterion for diameter.