Pool safety starts long before anyone ever jumps into the water.

On this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, Joe Trusty sits down with Jeremy Brongo, owner of Florida State Fence, to discuss one of the most overlooked — but most important — layers of protection around residential swimming pools: safety barriers and fencing. 

During Water Safety Month, the conversation takes a deep dive into the real-world role pool fences play in preventing accidental drownings, particularly involving young children. Jeremy explains why simply having “a fence” around the yard doesn’t necessarily mean a homeowner is compliant with code, and breaks down many of the misconceptions surrounding Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. 

The discussion also explores the critical details many homeowners never think about — from climbable fence designs and improperly functioning gates to self-latching hardware, outward-swinging gate requirements, pool alarms, and the hidden dangers created by nearby furniture, AC units, and pool equipment. Jeremy shares firsthand insight into the kinds of safety risks his company encounters regularly and explains why ongoing maintenance of a barrier system is just as important as the initial installation itself.

Topics Covered Include:

• The importance of pool barriers in preventing accidental drownings
 • Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act requirements
 • Common misconceptions about pool fence compliance
 • Pool fence height and spacing requirements
 • Climbable fence designs that violate code
 • Self-closing and self-latching gate requirements
 • Why pool gates must swing outward
 • Using the home as part of a pool barrier system
 • Hidden backyard hazards homeowners overlook
 • Common pool barrier maintenance mistakes
 • How often pool fences and gates should be inspected
 • When pool fencing should be planned
 • Balancing pool safety with backyard aesthetics
 • The importance of layered protection around pools

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Aquamatic Cover Systems
Aquamatic Cover Systems are the industry leaders in retractable swimming pool safety cover systems.

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