If your facility has a gutter trough system, you’re sure to often see people hop, stand, and sit on the grates. While children are the usual culprits, chances are you’ve seen a fair share of adults do it too. Asking your guests to stay off the grates can be a difficult rule to enforce, particularly if the gutter is at deck level.
Other high-risk areas of your pool are easier to identify, but there are ways to ensure an even greater level of safety for both you and your visitors.
Check your pool grates.
Many of the most common types of pool gutter grating are made from fiberglass and have an inferior mild texture. Fiberglass results in a brittle grate that is not effective at supporting the weight of a teenager or adult. Aquatic design professionals frequently recommend installing grates made from polymers such as PVC or HDPE. In addition, the lack of purposeful slip-resistant treads raises another safety concern: slipping.

Slip-resistant pool deck.
