Swimming pool safety fence, cover, abri, alarm

Swimming Pool Perimeter Alarms

Swimming pool perimeter alarms are usually comprised of four posts mounted at the outer edge of the paved area surrounding the pool. Infra red beams between each post form an invisible boundary. If a child crosses the beam, the alarm sounds. They cost around €700, on top of which you'll need to pay for professional installation.

Perimeter Alarms Don't Prevent Accidents

Perimeter alarms give fractionally more warning than in-pool alarms which sound after the child has fallen in the pool. However, when you think how quickly even a toddler can run, they may still be at the bottom of the pool by the time you've had a chance to react.

Not A Moment's Peace

If there is no physical barrier between where children play and the perimeter alarm, there's every chance that they'll be continually wandering into the beam and triggering the alarm. So, as with in-pool alarms, a perimeter alarm will not allow you to relax for a second.

Perimeter alarms do not suffer the same problem as in in-pool alarms which can triggered by the movement of water on a windy day. But false alarms are still possible if the beam is broken by the family dog (or a wild animal).

Du Toit says:

Installation of a perimeter alarm is enough to meet your obligation under the law. But in our opinion, they are only suitable for pools which are never visited by children, or as a secondary back-up to other protection measures.