Will these steps be dangerous?

17 years ago

I was told the steps in our pool design could be dangerous. Could you guys please take a look at this design and tell me if you think the design/placement of these steps is dangerous in terms of people falling of the sides of them.

I came up with the design and I am not sure if it's right.

I have the tanning ledge as the first step with 6" of water, then the three other steps each being 16" wide with the risers being 9.5"(first step at 15.5 inches, 2nd at 25", 3rd at 34.5"). (I came up with these numbers for the depth by working backwards from the deep end and assuming a slope of 1ft every 10feet on the shallow end, also there is no railing so I wanted them fairly gradual).

Any other issues with these steps or design?

Are there any standard measurements for steps in terms of the height of the risers and at what depths each step would be?

Thank you in advance!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pool design

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Comments (4)

jennifer_in_clyde
17 years ago
I think the problem might be that it looks like the steps round outward - so there is a smaller and smaller area to step down to - that looks like if someone was not paying attention they could fall off the steps near the edges if they don't keep walking toward the "middle" of the stairs. I think you need to make sure the stairs step down in increasing diameters so that is avoided (that might be your plan, but the drawing does not look that way).
huskyridor
17 years ago
Your design is what I've always called a classic Lightning bolt. It's always an AWESOME contemporary look.
I'd say your step depth's are fine.
Unless asked otherwise I put in 3 steps at water of 6", 18", 30" and the pool floor at 42 (3 1/2ft). 12" risers on every step.
16" is plenty wide.
Note, your 1st step will be 11" to 13" from the pool deck to the 6" water on your sunshelf depending on your choice of coping.
A good alternate 4 step depth step is water depth of 5", 14", 23", 32", and a 10" step to pool floor at 42". You end up with a 10,9,9,9,10 rise in each from either direction

Congrats on the new pool!!!

See ya,
Kelly
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tsunami
17 years ago
Congratulations, looks good! I don't see anything dangerous about it.

Pick a spot, any spot, anyone could slip and fall and hurt themselves. Or is it the change in direction of the pool walls? Every pool has that.
mwrede
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi, thanks everyone!
Huskyridor and tsunami thanks so much for reassuring me about the design. I am having a moment of analysis-paralysis I think. We first started thinking we'd do a rectagular pool and then decided on a shape given the constraints of working with the existing patio and keeping the pool in the sun. I must have done two dozen different designs before we picked this one and now I am starting to second guess myself again.

Plus my husband who wants this pool started ASAP has just decided he'd like to possibly add an attached spa so now I have to figure out where to put that. :)

Yes, jennifer_in_clyde that was exactly why I was told the steps might be dangerous - that the way i drew them someone could fall off the sides of the first step and given that the side of the pool is really close hit their head or something.
Would this be much better?
{{!gwi}}

I would prefer for the bottom step not to wrap around so my husband can still have a bit of a swim lane on the sides.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}