Diving boards are not just for public pools. You can add one to your backyard pool as well. While it’s a lot of fun making big splashes with your family on the weekend, it’s essential to have the diving board installed correctly to ensure safety.

This blog discusses different requirements and types of diving boards that you can add to your backyard pool.

Minimum Depth of the Pool

According to the American Standards Institute (ANSI), your pool should be 7.5 to 9 feet deep to install a diving board. This depth ensures that the diver won’t hit the pool floor while diving. Your entire pool doesn’t necessarily need to have the depth as mentioned above, throughout. However, the area around the diving board called the ‘well’ should have this safe depth.

Minimum Pool Size

A pool that’s 16×32 feet or bigger serves as the perfect size to install a diving board. If you have an option for enlarging your pool, do so. It will give you ample shallow space for your young ones to play and you to recline and relax.

Regardless of considering space to relax, you’d need a shallow end to meet the pool’s slope requirements defined by the government.

Other Requirements

Never install diving boards on a pool that’s above the ground. You can’t make them deep and hence will end up violating regulations.

You can install a diving board in a freeform swimming pool as long as the pool’s ‘dive envelope’ (slope from the diving well till the shallow end) remains intact.

Diving boards should be made bespoke to your backyard’s pool. If you want to use an old diving board from your previous home, ensure that its length, structure, and material are feasible to the new pool’s dimensions and depth.

High platforms and springboards need more depth. If you’re considering installing one, consult a professional pool contractor before doing so.

The Kind of Board

It purely depends on your space’s aesthetic and design needs. The length of your board will be proportional to the pool’s depth.

The board’s base is also an aesthetic factor. Depending on the base, you can have an option to store the board indoor in the offseason, move around the pool, or have it permanently laid.

Boards come in a plethora of different shapes and shades. They also allow you to be playful and show off your personality through the different color options.

Are you looking to install a diving board on your backyard pool or get a pool installed in your home? Contact Perfect Pools. Our team of expert pool builders and landscape designers can transform your backyard into your dream space.