Pool Slides

Above all, remember that pool slides are just as dangerous as diving boards – people can be injured from falling off, crashing into other swimmers, sliding into walls or hitting the bottom of the pool or slipping on any wet surface surrounding the slide. Whether you build your own slide or install a pre-fabricated one, safety must be your top concern.

There are a number of factors involved in the performance of pool slides: slope, the number and degree of curves, the slide material and whether there is any water on the surface on the slide. All these factors also play into slide safety. The steeper the slide is and the more curves it has, the more fun it is likely to be, but the more dangerous it is. Consider a less steep, but still longer, more meandering slide. Not only will swimmers have to climb fewer steps to get on to the slide, but it will increase the time it takes to get from the slide to the water. Increasing the time between entrances reduces the risk of swimmers crashing into one another. The greater the amount of water flowing down the slide, the faster and more dangerous the ride will be. However, water also prevents chafing and burning so it is important to determine the right amount of water to use on the slide’s surface.

Other areas to look out for include the stairs and the sides of pool slides. Steps are safer than stairs, and you should always have, sturdy, slip resistant railing. Metal stairs are almost always a bad idea, even if they are treated to be slip-proof. If you are building stairs to a particularly steep and therefore tall slide, consider using a landing to break up the stairs and enhance safety. Put a landing pad at the top of the slide where swimmers can safely wait until the slide and pool are clear.  Pool slides with higher sides mean that swimmers are less likely to fall. Some custom slide builders prefer to use tubes for safety. Tubes have the added benefit of allowing for hairpin turns.

If you are looking at manufactured pool slides rather than custom, chances are, whatever slide you choose will meet pool slide safety standards. Still, there are some things to keep in mind that will help you choose the safest slide possible. Only use pool slides that comply with national safety standards – slides specifically designed for use with water – never use regular backyard or playground slides. Such slides will be too slippery, too unstable, and will be unable to stand up to the chlorinated water. Look for slides with high walls and steps instead of stairs. With manufactured pool slides, you generally have to place and install them yourself. Ask the manufacturer to review your plans and placement for safety – most do.

One thing to be wary of is the terminus of the slide. Most manufactured pool slides end above the deck and water. This is just an opportunity for someone to bump their head. If you are building your own slide, try to have the end of slide flow beneath the surface of the water. Look for a manufactured slide that does the same. Pool slides that end below the surface of the water cushion the swimmer’s landing and require less depth than pool slides that don’t. Even so, pool slides should flatten out or turn slightly up at the bottom to slow down the swimmer and reduce the force of the impact with the water.

Pool slides are a lot of fun for the whole family. With the proper planning for safety, pool owners can easily build or install pool slides themselves and have hours of fun with whole family slipping and sliding into the water.