NSW & VIC: Were your swimming pool, spa, fence or barriers built after May 1, 2013?
The Australian Standard AS1926.1-2012 applies to you.

This means in NSW or VIC, if your swimming pool, spa, fence or barriers were built or installed after May 1, 2013, they need to meet to and be maintained by the national standard ruling safe pool fences and barriers.

But let’s find out more about what the AS1926.1-2012 actually means – and why it needs to mean anything at all.

We ❤️ PoolSS

Swimming pools are the gateway to a vacation lifestyle. And Australia certainly loves their pools – with more than 374,000 pools in New South Wales, 250,000 pools in Queensland and 200,700 in Victoria. They’re also an Australian status symbol, significantly contributing towards boosting the value of our property and lifestyle.

But this impressive asset and vacation lifestyle also comes with the high risk of children aged 0-4 drowning.

The annual National Drowning Report released by Royal Life Saving Australia notes the yearly statistics of children aged 0-4 – which you can read >here.

Due to the tragic statistics of these drowning related deaths in Australia, local councils enforce pool safety compliance, issuing directions with fines or penalties to non-compliant home owners

The AS1926.1-2012 is the national standard ruling pool fences for all new pools built after May 1, 2013 in NSW and VIC. While there are previous versions of the standard for swimming pools and spas built around certain dates, the AS1926.1-2012 stands out as the most relevant pool safety standard for newly-built swimming pools, spas, fences and barriers to maintain our high building codes for ongoing safe pools.

But first, let’s start at the beginning.

What the heck is the AS1926.1?

The AS1926.1

As the owner of a property with a swimming pool or spa pool, the Australian Pool Safety Standard AS1926.1 means your swimming pool or spa

• must be registered with your state’s Swimming Pool Register
• is surrounded by a child-resistant safety barrier separating the pool from any residential building or any place neighbouring the property
• must allow restricted access with self-closing self-latching doors and gates 
• have surrounding fences and barriers designed, constructed, installed and maintained to comply with the Australian Standards and state codes
• feature correct signage, such as an up-to-date CPR sign or “pool under construction” signage permanently fixed within the vicinity of the pool

The Australian Standard AS1926.1 sets that swimming pool fences or barriers 

• must be at least 1200mm high (as measured from the finished ground level)
• must not leave a gap at the bottom bigger than 100mm from the finished ground level
• where a boundary fence is part of the pool fence, the barrier must be 1800mm high
• must have and maintain the 900mm NCZ Non Climbable Zone around the pool
• doors in pool barriers swing outwards away from the pool area and must close from the resting position
• gates require manual release and must self-latch and self-close
• feature correct signage such as an up-to-date CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation sign or “pool under construction” signage be in good condition and permanently fixed within 3 metres of the pool

What Is The AS1926.1-2012?

While the AS1926.1 applies to swimming pool and spa fences and barriers across Australia, each state government has their own laws and procedures regulating pool fence compliance.

The AS1926.1-2012 is the national standard ruling pool fences for all new pools built after May 1, 2013 in NSW and VIC. While there are previous versions of the standard for swimming pools and spas built around certain dates, the AS1926.1-2012 stands out as the most relevant pool safety standard for newly-built swimming pools, spas, fences and barriers.

From wherever the highest point is 500mm away from the barrier, measuring inside the barrier, the boundary barrier is a minimum of 1200mm.

No climbable objects in the 900mm NCZ Non-Climbable Zone with the barrier separating the pool from the house.

How The 1926.1-2012 differs state-to-state

NSW AS1926.1-2012 Pool Fence Laws

In 2016, NSW laws required all properties with a swimming pool or spa pool to comply with the NSW AS1926.1 pool safety laws, with valid safety certification, such as

• certificate of compliance
• certificate of non compliance, or
• relevant occupation certificate

Pools and spas built after May 1, 2013 are inspected to NSW AS1926.1-2012 legislation

• AS1926.1-2012, swimming pool safety, Part 1 safety barriers for swimming pools constructed after 1 May 2013

QLD MP 3.4 Pool Fence Laws

The 1926.1-2012 does not apply in QLD where the Mandatory Part 3.4 pool safety laws lies under the 1926-2007.

In 2012, QLD laws required all properties with a swimming pool or spa pool to comply with the MP 3.4 pool safety laws with valid safety certification, such as

• Form 23 Pool Safety Certificate
• Form 26 Nonconformity Notice, or
• relevant occupation certificate

Pools and spas are inspected to the state standard where the MP 3.4 swimming pool laws require all QLD swimming pool and spa owners be 

• registered with the QLD Swimming Pool Register
• responsible when tenants are occupying a premises with a pool to have a valid pool safety certificate
• surrounded by child-resistant safety barriers separating the pool from any residential building or any place neighbouring the property
• restricting access to the pool with self-closing doors and gates
• surrounding fences designed, constructed, installed and maintained to comply with the Australian Standards.
• featuring the correct signage, such as an up-to-date CPR sign or “pool under construction” signage permanently fixed within the vicinity of the pool

QLD swimming pools and spas are required to comply to the 2007 MP 3.4 standard – regardless of the year the pool or spa was built or the fence or barrier was installed. 

• Queensland MP 3.4 – Swimming pool barriers

VIC 1926.1-2012 Pool Fence Laws

In 2019, VIC laws required all properties with a swimming pool or spa to comply with the Australian Swimming Pool Standards. In VIC, there are 5 standards your pool or spa barriers are inspected to. Local council decides which of these 5 standards apply to you: 

• Checklist 1 (for pools and spas installed before 8 April 1991)
• Checklist 2 (for pools and spas installed between 8 April 1991 and 30 April 2010)
• Checklist 3 (for pools and spas installed from 1 May 2010)

 The VIC pool safety laws require valid safety certification for swimming pool and spa barriers, such as

• Form 23 certificate of pool and spa barrier compliance
• Form 24 certificate of pool and spa barrier non compliance, or
• relevant occupation certificate

 The VIC 1926.1-2012 swimming pool laws requires pools of VIC pool owners and managers be

• registered with the VIC Swimming Pool Register
• responsible when tenants are occupying a premises with a pool to have a valid Form 23 certificate of pool and spa barrier compliance
• surrounded by child-resistant safety barriers separating the pool from any residential building or any place neighbouring the property
• restricting access to the pool with self-closing doors and gates
• surrounding fences designed, constructed, installed and maintained to comply with the Australian Standards.

Newly-built swimming pools and spas installed from May 1, 2013 are inspected to the VIC 1926.1-2012

In Conclusion

NSW & VIC: Were your swimming pool, spa, fence or barriers built after May 1, 2013?
The Australian Standard AS1926.1-2012 applies to you.

This means in NSW or VIC, if your swimming pool, spa, fence or barriers were built or installed after May 1, 2013, they need to meet to and be maintained by the national standard ruling safe pool fences and barriers. 

Happy AS1926.1-2012-ing!

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