Finials

They can be, particularly for children and animals. Spear-top finials create a significant impaling risk if someone falls onto or against the fence — especially relevant for pool fences, play areas, and dog enclosures. Thrive offers flat-top ornamental steel panels as a safer alternative that retains the same aesthetic without exposed spear points.

Yes. Flat-top ornamental steel panels are available from major manufacturers including Ameristar. They provide the same clean ornamental steel look — vertical pickets, horizontal rails, powder-coated finish — without spear or lance finials. Thrive recommends flat-top panels for pool fences, households with children or pets.

Some pool codes and HOA rules restrict or prohibit pointed finials at pool enclosures because of the impaling risk they pose to children. The specific restriction varies by municipality. Thrive reviews finial requirements during the design phase for every pool fence project and recommends flat-top panels when pointed finials are restricted or inadvisable.