• Pool decks must have railings installed for protection.poolside image by isatori from Fotolia.com
  
  The Georgia Department of Community Health's mission is to create regulations that reduce illness and injuries that are associated with swimming pools. The department has created regulations for safety railings on pool decks, and according to Georgia Code 31-45-10, swimming pools made before Dec. 31, 2000 are required to undergo a remodeling to conform to the safety rules and regulations adopted by state.
  
  

Access

• In Georgia, pool deck railings should be built in a way that discourages climbing. Access gates leading to the deck are required to have a self-closing and self-latching device. Pool deck railings with a release mechanism less than 54 inches from its bottom must have its mechanism located on the side facing the pool, at least three inches below the gate.
  
  

Types of Railing

• Pool deck railings made out of solid materials like stone cannot have indentations or protrusions, according to state department regulations. The spacing between bars on deck railings made of horizontal or vertical bars can't be larger than 1 1/4 inches wide. Decorative elements on the railing can't be larger than 1 1/4 wide either.
  
  

Height

• According to the Georgia Department of Community Health, the top of a pool deck railing must be at least 48 inches above the ground on the side of the barrier that faces away from the pool. In above-ground pools, the railing can be at ground level but below-ground pools are allowed only four inches between the ground and the bottom of the deck barrier.
  
  

Materials

• The Georgia Department of Community Health requires that all materials used in the pool's construction and use be non-toxic to humans and the environment. The deck railing material must be able to withstand stress and weather, and should be easy to clean and maintain. The department also requires that the materials be capable of fulfilling the "design, installation and intended use requirements."