Learn essential safety tips surrounding your pool cover.
The answer depends on your cover type, and understanding the difference could save a life.
Every Minnesota pool owner eventually asks this question, usually after watching snow accumulate on their covered pool or wondering about pet safety. The answer isn't simple because "pool cover" describes multiple different products with vastly different weight-bearing capabilities.
Some pool covers are designed to support multiple adults. Others will collapse under a toddler's weight, creating a drowning hazard worse than leaving the pool uncovered.
With Plan Pools' ASTM certified automatic safety covers included in every installation, you get genuine weight capacity and protection that many pool contractors don't provide.
Before answering "can you stand on your pool cover," you must first identify which type of cover you have.
Automatic safety covers and mesh safety covers that meet ASTM F1346 standards are specifically designed to support human weight.
These covers must withstand at least 485 pounds concentrated in a 2-foot by 2-foot area anywhere on the cover. This means an average adult (or multiple children) can walk on these covers without falling through into the water.
The purpose of this design requirement is drowning prevention. If a child wanders onto a properly installed ASTM certified safety cover, the cover will support their weight and prevent them from entering the water.
Plan Pools installs only ASTM F1346 certified automatic safety covers because we believe genuine safety protection is non-negotiable.
Traditional winter covers (solid tarps held by water bags or stakes) and solar bubble covers provide ZERO weight support.
If you step on a winter cover or solar cover, you will immediately fall through into the water below. Worse, the cover material may wrap around you, creating an entrapment hazard that can lead to drowning even in shallow water.
These covers are designed for debris protection (winter covers) or heat retention (solar covers), not safety. They should never be treated as if they can support weight.
Many budget pool contractors install winter covers as standard equipment, creating a false sense of security. At Plan Pools, we include automatic safety covers because we've seen too many close calls with inadequate cover systems.
Minnesota swimming pool owners need to identify their cover type to understand its capabilities and limitations.
Physical characteristics:
Weight capacity: 485+ pounds (ASTM F1346 certified models)Can you stand on it?: Yes, but avoid when possible to preserve lifespan
Safety protection: Prevents drowning if child or pet ventures onto covered pool
Plan Pools includes automatic safety covers with every installation. They provide superior protection compared to manual cover systems.
Physical characteristics:
Weight capacity: 485+ pounds (when ASTM F1346 certified and properly installed)Can you stand on it?: Technically yes, but anchors can loosen over time compromising safety
Safety protection: Provides drowning prevention when properly maintained
Physical characteristics:
Weight capacity: NONE - not designed to support any weight
Can you stand on it?: Absolutely not - immediate fall-through hazard
Safety protection: Zero - creates entrapment hazard
Physical characteristics:
Weight capacity: NONE - not designed to support any weight
Can you stand on it?: Absolutely not - immediate fall-through hazard
Safety protection: Zero - provides false security
Understanding the engineering behind different cover types helps you make informed decisions about your backyard swimming pool.
ASTM certified safety covers are engineered specifically for load bearing:
Strong fabric materials: Woven vinyl or mesh with high tensile strength designed to distribute weight across entire cover surface
Reinforced webbing: Heavy-duty webbing sewn into cover creates load-bearing structure that prevents fabric from tearing under concentrated weight
Secure anchoring: Multiple anchor points around entire perimeter (typically every 2-3 feet) distribute load into deck structure
Maintained tension: Proper tension keeps cover taut, preventing sagging pockets where someone could fall through
Quality stitching: Double or triple stitched seams with UV-resistant thread that won't fail under stress
Plan Pools' automatic safety covers incorporate all these design elements, meeting or exceeding ASTM F1346 requirements.
Winter covers are fundamentally different in design and purpose:
Thin material: Lightweight tarp material designed for economy and easy handling, not strength
No structural support: No webbing or reinforcement to distribute loads
Loose placement: Sits on water surface with no tension, immediate collapse under weight
Perimeter-only attachment: Held only at edges with no internal support structure
Wrong application: Designed for debris protection, not safety
Some pool contractors sell "safety covers" that look like safety covers but don't meet ASTM F1346 standards. These covers may have some webbing and anchors but lack the engineering and testing to reliably support weight.
Critical warning: Only covers specifically labeled as ASTM F1346 certified should be trusted to support weight. Marketing claims like "safety cover" mean nothing without this certification.
Even with ASTM certified safety covers designed to support weight, you should understand proper usage.
Emergency access: If you must reach something in the pool area and the cover is in place, ASTM covers support your weight safely
Pet rescue: If your pet ventures onto the cover, you can safely walk out to retrieve them without cover failure
Accidental weight: The primary purpose - if a child accidentally wanders onto the covered pool, the cover prevents drowning
Snow removal: You can carefully stand on specific areas to sweep or blow snow from cover surface (though working from edges is safer)
Routine maintenance: Use leaf blower or brush from pool edge rather than walking on cover
Showing off: Demonstrating weight capacity to friends accelerates wear without benefit
With sharp objects underfoot: Branches, ice, or debris can puncture cover when compressed by your weight
On wet covers: Extremely slippery, creating fall hazard even though cover supports weight
Repeatedly in same spots: Concentrating wear in specific areas compromises long-term integrity
Best practice: While safety covers can support your weight, avoid walking on them except when necessary. This preserves cover lifespan and maintains safety performance.
Understanding the risks helps emphasize the importance of proper cover selection.
When someone steps on a winter cover:
This scenario has resulted in numerous drowning deaths, particularly involving young children who ventured onto what parents thought was "safe."
Solar covers create similar immediate fall-through, but with thinner material that more readily wraps around the victim. The thin plastic can create a suffocation hazard even for someone who reaches the pool edge.
ASTM certified safety covers prevent this entire scenario:
This prevention capability is why Plan Pools includes ASTM certified automatic safety covers as standard equipment rather than cheaper alternatives.
Minnesota pool owners face unique challenges with snow and ice accumulation on covers.
Heavy snow can add thousands of pounds to your pool cover. A significant snowfall covering a 16x32 pool with 10 inches of wet snow adds approximately 4,000-6,000 pounds of weight.
ASTM certified safety covers are engineered to handle these snow loads when properly maintained. The distributed load across the entire cover surface remains within design parameters even with heavy accumulation.
Winter covers accumulate water and snow on the loose tarp surface. While the cover itself can't support weight, the water underneath somewhat supports the snow/water mixture on top. However, this creates a dangerous illusion - walking on a winter cover with snow on top is still extremely hazardous because your concentrated weight will break through.
Thick ice sheets can form on pool covers during extended cold periods. Some pool owners wonder if they can walk on ice-covered pool covers.
Critical warning: Ice on pool covers is unreliable and dangerous:
Never walk on ice-covered pool covers regardless of cover type. The risk far exceeds any benefit.
When heavy snow accumulates on your automatic safety cover:
Light snow (under 6 inches): Leave in place, will melt and drain naturally
Moderate snow (6-12 inches): Use soft push broom to sweep from pool edge, working from outside edge toward center
Heavy snow (12+ inches): Carefully remove using leaf blower or soft broom, avoiding any tools that could puncture cover fabric
Standing water/ice: Never attempt to break ice, carefully pump water from edges to create air space underneath that allows ice to sink and melt
Plan Pools' automatic safety covers include robust drainage systems that handle Minnesota precipitation better than standard covers.
ASTM F1346 certification requires rigorous testing to verify weight capacity claims.
Covers undergo laboratory testing where 485 pounds is placed on a 2-foot by 2-foot section anywhere on the cover. The cover must:
This test is repeated at multiple locations on the cover, including areas far from anchor points where load-bearing is most challenging.
ASTM certified covers typically perform well beyond minimum requirements:
Plan Pools' premium automatic safety covers consistently exceed ASTM minimums, providing superior protection for your family.
Important to understand testing limitations:
This is why regular inspection and maintenance are critical for maintaining safety performance.
If you're uncertain about your swimming pool cover's capabilities, follow these steps:
Look for ASTM F1346 label: Certified covers have permanent label sewn into fabric stating ASTM F1346 compliance and installation date
Check cover operation: Automatic or manual operation, mesh or solid material, anchoring system type
Review installation documents: Original paperwork from pool contractor should specify cover type and certification
Visual examination: Look for tears, worn areas, separated stitching, faded fabric indicating UV damage
Anchor check: Verify all anchors are secure and properly tensioned (safety covers only)
Operational test: For automatic covers, ensure smooth operation and proper tension when deployed
Check installation date: Most covers have label showing installation date
Consider lifespan: Automatic safety covers typically last 7-10 years with proper maintenance, mesh covers 10-15 years
Factor degradation: Even certified covers lose capacity as they age beyond manufacturer recommendations
If uncertain: Contact the pool contractor who installed your pool or the cover manufacturer directly
Request specifications: Ask for documentation of ASTM certification and weight capacity
Consider upgrade: If you have non-safety cover or cover beyond service life, strongly consider upgrading to ASTM certified automatic safety cover
Plan Pools provides complete documentation with every installation, including cover specifications, certification, and maintenance requirements.
Your pool's construction method impacts cover effectiveness and long-term performance.
Structural movement: Steel wall pools settle and shift over time, especially in Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles. This causes cover tracks to misalign, reducing safety performance.
Weak anchor points: Steel pool decks are often thinner and less robust, providing inferior anchor mounting. Anchors can pull loose over time.
Coping deterioration: Steel pools with vinyl liners often have plastic or aluminum coping that degrades, compromising cover attachment points.
Heat conduction: Steel walls conduct heat away from water, making covers work harder to retain warmth and creating thermal stress on cover materials.
Dimensional stability: Plan Pools' ICF concrete construction provides walls that never shift or settle. Cover tracks remain perfectly aligned forever.
Superior anchoring: Thick concrete decks provide robust, permanent anchor mounting that won't pull loose.
Durable coping: Properly installed concrete coping provides secure, long-lasting cover attachment surface.
Better insulation: ICF walls retain heat, reducing thermal stress on cover materials and extending cover lifespan.
Lifetime warranty: Our structural warranty means cover mounting points remain secure indefinitely.
When building a swimming pool, choose a contractor who understands how construction affects every component, including cover system safety and longevity.
Even with automatic safety covers, education is critical.
Never play on pool covers: Even safety covers should not be treated as play surfaces. They're slippery and intended for emergency protection, not recreation.
Stay away from covered pools: Pool area should be off-limits when covered, regardless of cover type.
Understand cover purpose: Older children should know covers are safety devices designed to prevent drowning.
Know emergency procedures: If someone falls onto cover, how to call for adult help immediately.
Pet awareness: Pets don't understand pool covers. Supervise pets near covered pools and teach children to keep pets away.
No single safety measure is foolproof. Implement comprehensive protection:
Barrier fencing: Four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates meeting Minnesota standards
Door alarms: Alarms on all doors accessing pool area
Adult supervision: Direct, dedicated supervision whenever children are near pool
Swimming lessons: Age-appropriate swimming instruction for all family members
Safety cover: ASTM certified safety cover as final barrier when pool is not in use
Emergency preparation: CPR training, rescue equipment, emergency phone access
Plan Pools can recommend local resources for fencing, alarms, and swimming lessons to complement the safety cover included with your pool.
Pool covers don't last forever. Replace your cover when safety performance is compromised.
Visible damage: Tears, punctures, or frayed areas in fabric
Separated stitching: Seams pulling apart along webbing or edges
Failed anchors: Anchors pulling out or no longer holding tension
Material degradation: Fabric feels brittle or cracks when flexed
UV damage: Excessive fading or chalky surface texture
Age exceeded: Cover beyond manufacturer's recommended lifespan
Operational problems: Automatic covers that bind, skip, or won't maintain tension
Do not compromise family safety by extending cover life beyond safe limits. The cost of replacement is insignificant compared to the value of your family's protection.
Plan Pools offers complete cover replacement services:
Premium automatic safety covers: Same quality included in new installations
Professional installation: Factory-trained technicians ensure proper setup
Warranty coverage: New warranty on replacement cover system
Disposal of old cover: Proper disposal of worn-out cover materials
Updated anchoring: Opportunity to upgrade anchoring system if needed
We also service and maintain covers installed by other pool contractors, though performance may be limited by original installation quality.
Many pool contractors offer automatic safety covers as expensive upgrades or don't offer them at all. Plan Pools includes ASTM certified automatic safety covers as standard equipment in every installation.
We've built hundreds of swimming pools across the Twin Cities metro in Lakeville, Prior Lake, Shakopee, Eagan, Maple Grove, and throughout Minnesota. We've seen close calls, heard the statistics, and understand the risks.
We believe family safety isn't optional. Every pool should include genuine safety protection, not economy covers that provide false security.
Plan Pools' automatic safety covers provide multiple benefits beyond weight capacity:
Compare this to pool contractors who install cheap winter covers, then charge thousands more for automatic cover upgrades. Plan Pools includes premium equipment because we build pools designed to outlast our competitors.
Whether building a new swimming pool or upgrading an existing cover system, choose based on your priorities.
ASTM F1346 certified automatic safety cover is the only choice. Plan Pools includes these as standard because we prioritize family protection.
Automatic covers win decisively. Push-button operation versus manual wrestling with tarps determines whether you actually use your cover consistently.
Automatic solid covers provide best heat retention, especially combined with Plan Pools' 60% heating cost savings from ICF construction.
Automatic safety covers deliver safety, efficiency, convenience, and protection in one system. The value proposition is unmatched.
Don't settle for pool contractors who cut corners on safety or charge heavily for automatic cover upgrades.
Plan Pools includes ASTM F1346 certified automatic safety covers with genuine 485+ pound weight capacity as standard equipment in every custom inground swimming pool we build.
Start your safe pool project today:
Your family deserves genuine protection - built into every pool we create, never an expensive upgrade.
