Pool Safety at Home: How an Automatic Door Can Keep Your Family Secure

Owning a pool can be a source of endless enjoyment, but it also comes with important safety responsibilities, especially if children or pets are around. In recent years, provinces like Quebec have strengthened their Residential Swimming Pool Safety Regulations, making it clear that barriers, gates, doors, and controlled access points are not optional...they are essential.

In fact, starting September 30, 2025, Quebec will require all outdoor pools, no matter when they were installed, to meet updated safety standards. Among these rules, one of the most critical requirements is that access to the pool must be self-closing and self-latching. Homeowners are realizing that sliding patio doors leading directly to the pool area deserve and need self-closing and self-latching functions.

The Overlooked Access Point: Sliding Patio Doors

For many backyards, the path from the kitchen or living room to the pool is through a sliding glass door. Unlike a gate in a fence, these doors are often left open during summer months, providing an unguarded route to the pool.

The problem? A standard sliding door:

• Doesn’t close automatically...if you forget, it stays open.
• Lacks built-in latching mechanisms that meet pool safety standards.
• Can be easily left unsecured by accident.

This creates a safety gap that’s often overlooked, but one that’s just as important as the fence itself.

How the AutoGlide Solves the Problem

The AutoGlide is an automatic sliding door operator that can be integrated into your existing patio door. Originally designed for accessibility and convenience, it turns out the AutoGlide is also a game-changer for pool safety.

Here’s how it works for your pool area:

• Self-Closing – The AutoGlide automatically closes the sliding door after someone passes through. No more worrying if someone forgot to pull it shut.
• Self-Latching – The AutoGlide has internal electric locking mechanism that will automatically secure the door after closing, helping you meet the same safety principles required for pool gates.
• Activation Options – Wireless wall buttons allow you to place them in an area that prevents kids from accessing them. Other secure options, such as a keypad or use of the Autoslide Pro App, provide even more limited access to control of your doors.
• Customizable Delay – Set how quickly the door closes after opening, balancing safety with convenience.

Why It Matters More Now

With Quebec’s 2025 deadline approaching and similar conversations happening in other provinces, there’s growing recognition that all points of entry to a pool area need to be controlled and not just the fence gate.

For families, this means that proactive safety upgrades like adding the AutoGlide to your sliding patio door can:

• Reduce the risk of accidental entry to the pool
• Increase compliance with current and upcoming regulations
• Provide peace of mind when kids, guests, or pets are nearby

Safety, Security, and Peace of Mind

Adding an AutoGlide isn’t just about checking a regulatory box...it’s about creating a layered safety system. Your fence and gate may stop someone from getting in from the yard, but the AutoGlide ensures the house-to-pool route is just as secure.

Whether you’re preparing for Quebec’s rule changes or simply taking a smarter approach to backyard safety, an AutoGlide-equipped sliding patio door can be one of the most effective, and convenient, ways to protect your family.

Ready to make your sliding patio door self-closing and self-latching?
Contact us today to learn more about installing the AutoGlide for enhanced pool safety and security.