Products · Ultra Aluminum · Pool Code Guide
BOCA pool code aluminum fence: how to order Ultra so it passes inspection.
Pool enclosures fail inspection on details — spacing, gaps, gate swing, latch height — not on the fence brand. Ultra Aluminum builds pool-compliant configurations to order: the factory order form itself asks whether the fence must comply with BOCA code for pools, and the line offers the close spacing, flush bottoms, racking, and self-latching hardware that pool barriers need. Here’s how to spec it.
First: the code is local
“BOCA pool code” is the industry shorthand for pool barrier requirements descended from the BOCA National Building Code, now carried forward in the model codes most jurisdictions adopt. The commonly adopted provisions are a minimum 48″ barrier height, limited openings that a small sphere cannot pass, limited clearance under the fence, and self-closing, self-latching gates that open away from the pool. Your local building department’s adopted edition and amendments govern — verify the numbers for the job’s jurisdiction before ordering, and we’ll build the order to match.
What Ultra builds for pool jobs
- Factory BOCA flag. Ultra’s order form (box 7, Legal Requirements) asks directly: “Does Fence Need to Comply with BOCA Code for Pools?” Every Fence-U pool order gets that flag set so the panels, gates, and punching are built for the application.
- Picket spacing options. Residential: 3-13/16″ standard or 1-5/8″ optional close spacing (the -01/-51 style series). Commercial/industrial: 3-5/8″ standard or 1-1/2″ optional. See the grades guide for the full spec comparison.
- Flush bottom construction. Bottom-rail placement is an order selection (standard or flush), and the residential line includes the flush-bottom flat top UAB-200 — the tool for holding ground clearance tight on patios and decks.
- Heights that clear 48″. Residential panels price at 48″, 54″, 60″, and 72″ (from $176.00 book at 48″ 3-rail flat top); commercial and industrial start at 48″.
- Short pickets. A 16″ short-picket bottom row (puppy pickets) adds $57.00 per residential section or gate leaf ($62.25 commercial), tightening the bottom of the fence where kids and pets probe.
- Racking for grade. Standard panels rack about 6″; free double- and triple-punching extends rack to roughly 20″ and 36″ so the fence follows the yard without step-gaps opening under panels. Racked walk gates are a no-charge factory service.
The gate is where inspections are won
Order the gate hardware with the gate — it is sold separately, and it is the checklist item inspectors reach for first:
| Hardware | Role | Book price |
|---|---|---|
| D&D MagnaLatch | Magnetic self-latching latch — listed in Ultra’s book as Pool Code Approved | $186.50 |
| D&D TruClose hinges | Self-closing gate hinges | $95.50 pair |
| D&D TruClose Multi Adjustable | Self-closing, tension-adjustable | $91.25 pair |
| Drop rod | Secures the inactive leaf of double gates | $39.25 |
Hang pool gates on a heavier post than the line run — the .125-wall 2″ post or a 2-1/2″ post on residential work. The post and gate selection guide covers the full post matrix and gate options.
A pool-ready order, in one pass
- Confirm required height, spacing, and gate rules with the local building department.
- Pick style and grade — most backyard pools run residential 48″ or 54″; commercial pools (hotels, HOAs, aquatic centers) step up to commercial grade. Choose standard or close picket spacing to suit the adopted code.
- Select flush bottom and short pickets where ground clearance is the risk.
- Flag BOCA compliance on the order — we set it on the factory form.
- Gates: self-closing TruClose hinges + MagnaLatch, swinging away from the pool.
Send footage, heights, gate count, and the jurisdiction to our account desk and we return the complete take-off at book pricing — account holders deduct 10%.
Pool season doesn’t wait